From couch to 25k - super Stanwick Sue smashes stress with charity boosting triathlon

A Stanwick woman diagnosed with workplace stress has crowned her year-long mental and physical transformation by successfully finishing a triathlon for charity.

As if in an effort to prove that you can do anything if you set your mind to it, Sue Foster completed her first triathlon just a year after returning to regular exercise.

Last month, Sue, from Stanwick, completed the Sywell Triathlon comprising a 500m swim, a 12-mile bike ride and a 5k run after a year of a new fitness regime starting with Park Run.

The 47-year-old said: "When I arrived at my first Park Run I sat in the car and cried because I thought I had no place there, but I made myself get out and do it – walking all the way round and finishing last, but I did it.

“With the help of the Couch to 5K app, I moved on to a mix of walking and running, gradually increasing how much I was running.

"Tri-January is a yearly introduction to triathlons, and I took advantage of free-swimming sessions at Northamptonshire Tri Club, which eventually introduced me to open water swimming.

"At that point I just thought ‘why not train for a triathlon?’. I had to learn to do front crawl, and I only had a mountain bike, not a road bike, but I made the decision and it just went from there."

Starting with a Park Run and aqua aerobics, followed eventually by open water swimming sessions at Sywell Reservoir, Sue found her health improving and her determination increasing.

She said: “After being really ill with stress, I found that I was doing something that made me feel good physically and mentally, I lost four stones and went from a size 18 to a size 10.

"I was really proud of myself and so were my family, and it has made such a difference to my life.”

Sponsorship money from Sue's triathlon will be going to The Travers Foundation, a Gretton-based charity that has supported her 19-year-old son, Matthew, who is a talented organist.

The organisation, which was set up to support young people’s development in sports, music, and the arts, helps fund Matthew’s music lessons.

She added: "It’s a fantastic charity and all about supporting young people. My target is £1,000 and I’ve raised almost £900, and I know there’s still pledges to come in.

"People supported me – I had people encouraging me and pushing me on right through the event, including people who weren’t even part of the event cycling or running alongside me to keep me going and motivate me.

“Finishing the triathlon was exciting and energising and I’m very proud of what I have achieved, and as The Travers Foundation is all about trying to improve yourself, it seems like the right cause to support.”

To support Sue's fundraising, visit her JustGiving page by clicking here.The Travers Foundation helps 13 to 30-year-olds improve their skills in sports, the creative arts and the performing arts and local teams, groups and individuals to achieve their potential, in Rutland, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire..

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