With the London Triathlon looming we’re celebrating the celebs you didn’t know are triathletes plus the last minute triathlon tips you need to know
This weekend is the London triathlon and according to reports by the Triathlon Industry Association female triathletes are giving the men a run (swim and cycle) for their money right now. Since April 2013 the number of female British Triathlon members has increased by 86 per cent. On top of that, 30 per cent of qualified triathlon coaches are women, compared to a national sporting average of 17 per cent.
Melanie Berry a triathlete, coach and spokesperson from the Triathlon Industry Association explains that this could in part be due to the amazing sporting role models we’ve been faced with in recent years, in the Olympics and endurance competitions. ‘Women like Lucy Gossage who combines being an oncology doctor and iron man champion proves that you can do things if you really, truly want to.’
We reveal the six celebrities you didn’t know are triathletes plus Berry gives us her top tips for training – it’s time to get inspired.
Jennifer Lopez
The 47-year-old R&B starlet keeps looking fitter every year. Booty workouts have been named after the singer’s famous derriere and it’s not just dance moves that have kept the singer in shape over the years. When she was eight months pregnant with twins, Lopez was inspired to train for a triathlon and only six months after giving birth competed in the Nautica Malibu.
It was a classic triathlon which started with a half-mile swim, followed by an 18-mile bike ride and a four-mile run along the footpath of Malibu’s dreamy Zuma beach (someone sign us up!) She completed the triathlon in just two hours and 23 minutes PLUS she raised $127,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles in the process – talk about superwoman.
Pippa Middleton
There’s nothing like 32 candles on a cake to push you into proving how fit you are. Just one day after her birthday, Middleton sis Pippa took part in the 50-mile ÖTILLÖ swimming and running event in Stockholm, Sweden across 26 of the archipelago’s 1000 islands. Speaking to Reuters, Middleton said ‘It’s relentless. Almost three Ironman swims and one and a half marathons.
I want to learn to play a couple of songs on the guitar. I want to learn a few of those fancy dances from one of those Dancing with the Stars teachers. And I want to run a triathlon.
Much of the running is trail running on uneven ground, hopping over rocks on the shore line, dipping in and out of bays,’ (This, in the famously freezing Baltic sea). Joined by brother James Middleton, old friend Jöns Bartholdson and now-husband James Matthews (her team mates on the day) she completed the triathlon in 13 hours, four minutes and 24 seconds – phew!
Teri Hatcher
Lois Lane actress and Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher has completed the Nautica Malibu triathlon more than once, showing that her action-packed life doesn’t just belong on screen. She first took on the challenge in 2009 when she told People magazine that it was on her bucket list, ‘I want to learn to play a couple of songs on the guitar. I want to learn a few of those fancy dances from one of those Dancing with the Stars teachers. And I want to run a triathlon.’
Completing the triathlon in two hours and six minutes, the actress has kept herself fit over the years by following a hard core workout. According to the Daily Mail, her typical daily gym routine is said to include 10-minute workout of 20 lunges, squats, bicep curls, shoulder presses, push ups and chair dips. Plus she enjoys cycling, pilates and swimming.
Claire Holt
Another competitor in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon Ozzie actress and Vampire Diaries star Claire Holt completed the 2012 marathon in an amazing one hour and 44 minutes which earns her first place in the celebrity female division (even beating all but two of the celeb men). The blonde beauty competed on behalf of a cause that is close to her heart.
Speaking to Teen Vogue she said, ‘The triathlon benefits paediatric cancer research at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles… My father’s a doctor and my aunt’s a paediatrician, so I’ve spent my life around hospitals. I’ve seen the effects of cancer. My grandfather had cancer, and I think the disease affects everyone in some shape or form whether you know someone who had it or knows someone who knows someone who had it. It’s a really terrible disease, and I’ve definitely been affected by it, so it’s important for me to support this.’
Mel C
Former spice-girl Melanie Chisholm proved that her days of being Sporty Spice are far from over when she completed the Blenheim Palace Triathlon in Oxfordshire last year. Raising money for Bloodwise, a blood cancer charity it wasn’t the first time she’d completed a triathlon (she’s been racing since 2011). The 43-year-old completed the sprint distance race which included a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and 5-kilometre run in one hour and 40 minutes.
we are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for.
Writing on Facebook at the time she said, ‘I’ve had a few injuries and had completely lost my confidence… with the support of so many wonderful people in my life I found the courage to don a tri-suit again! I did it! I reminded myself today that thinking ‘anything is possible’ might be a little optimistic but we are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for. It’s no Ironman or marathon but it’s a big victory and a great day for little old me!’
Ellie Kemper
Hilarious actress Kemper, famous for her roles in both Bridesmaids, The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is a three-time triathlete who competed alongside her male co-stars Ed Helms, Oscar Nunez and Paul Lieberstein in the 2011 Nautica Malibu Triathlon.
find somewhere you can relax and put your feet up and get yourself in a great, chilled out mental state before race day.
Talking to Health magazine in the lead up to her most recent triathlon she said, ‘I’ve run for most of my life. It’s the only way I know how to keep my quads looking over-sized and mannish.’ The comedy star also uses SoulCycle as a way as a way to train and stay in shape but revealed that she doesn’t let an obsession with healthy eating dictate her life. Her dieting secret? ‘An extra helping of Ben & Jerry’s Tonight Dough every evening for sustenance!’
First timer? Here’s how to prep before a race
Melanie Berry, triathlete and coach shares her experience on the essential pre-race MUST do’s.
Have a chilled out evening
I like to try and find a calm place to be or just be around good friends that aren’t very stressful. Ordinarily (and especially for people doing their first event) it’s quite a stressful environment. If you’ve got people around you stressing as well it tends to increase anxiety so just find somewhere you can relax and put your feet up and get yourself in a great, chilled out mental state before race day.
A good pair of goggles is valuable, it really does help to see where you’re going.
Come prepared
Make sure you have all the right kit. If the race that you’re doing is in the lake or the sea, then you’re going to need a wetsuit so make sure you get a good, triathlon specific wetsuit. If you can – try not to borrow somebodies surfing wetsuit because that will sometimes make it a lot harder because it’s a different neoprene and fit and you can either rent those or borrow them from a triathlon club. A good pair of goggles is valuable, it really does help to see where you’re going.
If you can, get a road bike, it makes it easier because it’s usually lighter than a mountain bike and the tires on a road bike are slightly smaller in their width – it makes it a lot easier to cycle. And if you want a bit of extra speed and help then get yourself a pair of cycling shoes
Lace up
A great tip is elastic laces. You just have a draw cord and you pull the trainer or the running shoe tight and then you don’t have to worry about the faff of tying your shoe laces and then your shoe laces coming undone on race day.
energy gels are a great way of getting loads of energy into you in a very condensed way
Eat like a champ
Look at what you’re consuming whilst you’re training for your event and also on the day itself. I use a nutrition company called Hi 5 and they’re great because they’ve got really good energy drinks that are full of carbohydrates. And energy gels are a great way of getting loads of energy into you in a very condensed way – it’s a necessity in a tube.
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In the couple of days before an event, it’s about eating food that is high in carbohydrates and protein, vegetables, fruits and salads. Keeping hydrated is essential – and of course not drinking a bottle of wine the night before.
Speak to a club
Try and find a triathlon club that will give you a little bit of insight knowledge and support. They’ll show you where you need to go and it gives you a great opportunity to learn a bit from the coaches. If that’s not a possibility for you then when it comes to event day, no question is a stupid question – just ask people where to go and what to do. Find a club near you here.
Find likeminded friends that you want to share that experience with
Buddy up
Why not do it with a friend? That really breaks down the intimidation factor. Find likeminded friends that you want to share that experience with. The importance is to make it a social. It’s a really fun thing so celebrate that rather than turning it into something tedious or something that you don’t enjoy.
Feeling inspired but missed out on this weekend’s London Triathlon? This women-only ETE TriCamps retreat will give you one-on-one training in the beautiful Cypriot sun (count us in!) Or visit the British Triathlon website and sign up for an upcoming event.
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