Sue Toppin
Trail, Duathlete and Triathlete
A bit about me
Aged 46
Favourite Events:High Terrain’s Keilder Triathlon – this was my first open water swim and olympic distance lovely setting.Sport in Action Ullswater Triathlon – this was on home ground and the locals and family where out on the course to cheer me on.National Club relay Championships in Nottingham – Amazing experience and a excellent team effort
Favourite Races:High Terrain Dewentwater 13k – Fantastic location with views of Lake Derwentwater all the way round the course.Lakeland Trails Ullswater 10k with stunning views of Lake Ullswater and the surrounding fells.
Goals 2016:
To qualify for a Team GB Age Group place in either Duathlon or TriathlonComplete half Ironman and then possible look at full Ironman in 2017
Trail Running to Triathlon
My journey to triathlons started at the beginning of 2012 when asked to join a team to enter Total Warrior in the August at this point I had not done any running so I joined the local gym to start training.
August arrived and I completed my first 10k obstacle course I loved every minute of it and was then hooked on running.
I then started to compete in the Lakeland Trails 10k races and completed the Autumn series that year.
In 2013 I completed the Spring series of Lakeland Trails and won the 10k series for females and came 2nd in the Autumn series. I also started to increase distances and completed my first half marathon at Coniston.
In 2014 I started road cycling and completed the Jennings River Ride in the May. I then got the bug for road cycling and decided to enter Penrith Triathlon in the September. This gave me the Summer to train so my training increased with running early mornings though the week, swimming at lunchtimes and biking in an evening plus extra running and biking at weekends plus strength work in the gym.
September arrived and I was ready for my first triathlon. My weakest element was the swim so I was glad once I had completed it then it was out on bike course which I had practiced on a number of occasions through the Summer finally onto the run whilst half way through the run I was thinking to myself never again am I doing this but once I crossed the finishing line that was it I was already thinking about the next years event.
After completing sprint triathlons in Ulverston and Kendal I started thinking about stepping up to the Olympic Standard distance this again was going to be a new challenge as I had never done open water swimming.
I entered my first Olympic Standard Triathlon at Kielder I set off in the swim and after 5 minutes started to think why am I doing this never again after a further 5 minutes of getting things sorted in my head I carried on once out of the water it was onto the bike section which was an out and back route with a couple off small hills and the rest of course fairly flat I started passing people and moving up positions and then it was the run with such lovely views as you ran along the side of Keilder water I finally crossed the finish line in a time of 2hr 43mins and came in third female.
I then completed the Ullswater and Bassenthwaite Olympic distance triathlons, I also joined the local Triathlon club and represented the club at the National Relay Championships at Nottingham which was an amazing event.
I got introduced to Mountain fuel after a race at Keswick I used to have gels but once I started using Mountain Fuel I have not had a single gel. The first test for using the product was at Kielder and I found it kept my energy levels steady all the way through. Since using the Mountain Fuel products I have not looked back.
I have had an amazing year with good results and PB’s. It has been hard work but well worth it and I’m looking forward to this years competitions.
