I learnt to swim with GO TRI

Here Farina shares her GO TRI story, as she learnt to swim to inspire others and her daughter

'I was never particularly strong at sports throughout my childhood or even adult life, so now being able to say i've done a triathlon is just so exciting and makes me feel so proud! Even more so, as when I started my GO TRI journey I never really had triathlon in mind.

'It all started with me deciding to start adult swimming lessons when I turned 40. Which was down to me desperately wanting my daughter, who was 3 at the time, to feel comfortable in water and enjoy swimming, as this was something I had never felt growing up. My parents were never really into sport and I guess I wasn't really encouraged to swim as a child. I want things to be different for my daughter. 

'In October 2014, I decided I should lead by example and signed myself up to beginner adult swimming lessons, at my local pool. I spend six months in the small pool learning how to breathe, get water confident and learning the basics of front crawl. Six months later I moved up to the bigger pool, which was terifying but I kept going!

'Around this time my local leisure centre was starting to organise a series of events through GO TRI including duathlons, aquathlons and a triathlon to end the series. I nervously decided to give the duathlon a go, as my swimming was still in need of work. I entered the first duathlon of the series in March 2015 and finished last. However, the event was so well organised and dull of positive energy that it spurred me on to join a local running club to improve my running, and then during 2015 I completed a further two duathlons.

'All the while, I was working on my swimming and decided to take the plunge and enter the GO TRI triathlon in October 2016, after encouragement and gentle persuasion from Louise Shannon at Livewite and my swimming teacher. I managed to complete 10 lengths of front crawl -  I was elated, having only learnt to swim two years earlier, completing a full triathlon was incredible!

'My whole journey has been amazing! The GO TRI series and events really lifted my spirits and gave me focus. Earlier that year, I lost my mum after a long battle with Alzheimer's and the GO TRI events and swimming kept me going in a positive way during a period of loss and bereavement.

'A massive thanks to all involved in the GO TRI series for letting people like me complete an actual triathlon and showing that sport is accessible to all'

Want to learn how to swim like Farina? We run local GO TRI swimming activities to help you get ready for your next event. Find your nearest one here.