I am currently based in Scotland, about to go into 2nd year at the University of Edinburgh studying International Relations, Arabic and Chinese. I’ve been spending the summer training full-time in the UK, doing a few of the British Super Series races, and am really looking forward to competing at U23 World Champs (eek!) and Asian Sprint Champs in November.
What years were you part of 26?
I was around 11/12 when I first started at 26 with my twin sister Cade after watching the 26 athletes dominate at the Boxing Day Beach Run one year! I then quit within a few months after rediscovering my dislike for distance running. However, my younger sister Roxy decided to follow in Cade’s footsteps, and FOMO got the best of me! We all trained under 26 coaching until we left HK in 2019.
Which was your favourite 26 session and why?
My favourite 26 sessions were actually Tuesday and Thursday track! The main reason being the post session bubble tea that we would get in Aberdeen. After every session a big group of us would march over to Share Tea and get our usual order of ‘Milk bubble tea no ice extra sugar’. Sadly this tradition simultaneously died with our departure (all for bringing it back though!) In all seriousness, that fuelled me to have really good run sessions. I also, like Anju, thoroughly enjoyed smashing ourselves laps and laps around Redhill and then collapsing into the Repulse waters for a survival session.
What if your favourite 26 related memory?
Can’t just choose one but my favourite memories would have to be all the 26 BBQs and Christmas parties — Secret Santa used to always be so competitive. Another one would definitely be bull dogs before the Saturday beach run sessions! Though this stopped a few years back but it was always the best part of the session.
What advice would you give to current 26 athletes?
My advice for current (younger) 26 athletes would definitely be to have fun and don’t take it so seriously! A lot of athletes burnout or train so much they don’t enjoy it anymore a few years down the line. Keep training fun and enjoyable, and, carrying on from this, the friendships you make through 26 are lifelong. My sisters and I always used to think that one of the reasons for the success of the athletes came down to the environment 26 was able to create. We were all united and happy for each others’ success, whilst also being able to be each others’ greatest competitions. We were able to push each other at every session in a very healthy way, and for a long time I took this for granted. The triathlon friends I have made at 26 will always have a very special place in my heart and I know that we all will always want the best for each other, in and out of the triathlon scene.
