Triathlete Teacher represents Team GB for Age-group at European Triathlon Championships

Mr Crome, Assistant Principal at East Point Academy has represented Team GB Age-group (40-44 year old) at the European Triathlon Championships in Vichy, France in September. Qualifying at the end of the 2023 triathlon season with one of his best races in Bala, Wales; Mr Crome has been working hard training and increasing his performance whilst also balancing work and family commitments.

Training for this race needed consistency and determination with work starting in December 2023 before a busy season of 2024 races including Super Sprint, Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons leading up to September 2024. An Olympic distance triathlon involves a 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre bike ride and finishes with a 10 kilometre run, a real test of endurance racing. Some of the training included 3-hour early morning bike rides at the weekend, using online platform “Zwift” for bike sessions in the gym, interval training, long distance runs and evening swim sessions to total 7-10 hours of training per week. Mr Crome is a real example of pushing yourself to perform better and being dedicated to achieving your goals.

Mr Crome said,

“Qualifying for the European Championship race was the product of the hard work I had put in over the course of the season and gave me a great sense of achievement. The key to performing at my best on race day has been completing the weekly training sessions consistently and finding ways to overcome the barriers rather than letting them get in my way. Race day is a product of all the individual training sessions and persevering when it was tough. This is what motivates me to train and compete in Triathlons and to test myself at the GB Age Group level. I enjoy pushing myself to find my limits and what I can achieve."

On race day the weather was far from ideal for racing, with thunderstorms and torrential rain greeting competitors. However, this didn’t put a damper on spirits and after prepping and setting up equipment in the transition area the race began at the sound of the claxon.

First up was a single 1500 metre loop to swim, where the impact of the weather was felt in rough waters making it difficult to make progress.

Mr Crome said, “I was glad to get out of the water and not in last place!”

After the swim competitors entered the first transition area where you prepare for the 40-kilometre bike ride, putting on shoes, a helmet and refuelling before heading back out onto the course. The wet weather had made the course slippery, and some competitors even ended up crashing, coming off their bikes into the verge or were seen recovering by the side of the road. Finding his legs on the bike, Mr Crome made some passes in this section and gained places in the race, but with weather conditions battling on it started to affect his performance.

Mr Crome said, “I found my bike legs and made several passes, until suddenly the cold and wet got to my legs and I cramped up.”

Approaching the second time in the transition zone to prepare for the 10-kilometre run, Mr Crome swapped his bike for his trainers and cautiously made his way out again for the final leg of the race. Soon finding his rhythm, he was able to make further passes and run back into a good position in the race. Two laps of a twisting course in the wet meant that staying steady under foot and not overstretching this close to the finish, but even in the final moments Mr Crome was able to pass another athlete just before the finishing straight.

Mr Crome said:

“The event in Vichy was a fantastic experience, racing against a high-quality field, and having the opportunity to watch and race on the same course as Elite Professional Triathletes. Although the race itself was in challenging conditions on a tough course, it was an amazing experience, and I am very proud to have had the opportunity to represent my country as an Age-group Athlete.

After an amazing post-race meal and good night's sleep, it was a less fun 16hr drive back home ready for work on Tuesday morning!”