Experiencing the Triathlon: Hilary's Edition

We returned to catch up with Hilary after her phenomenal triathlon experience on the Jurassic Coast this past weekend. Miles of trekking trail, a satisfying canoe phase where her training paid off, and riding smooth tarmac with gorgeous views. Hilary gives us the lowdown from a participant perspective on why this triathlon makes a perfect day out and spoiler alert: "you don’t need to be a cycling superstar or a speed walker!" 

The last in the Race the Sun series for 2025, the Jurassic Coast triathlon felt particularly monumental. For Hilary, it was time to see if all her hard work and training had paid off as she took a step back into the world of triathlons. Hilary and Mike, also happen to be parents of our Event Director Chris, so this added an extra special element to what was already a fantastic finale to our season. 

• Hello again Hilary. A massive "Well done" on your triathlon! Did it meet your expectations?

'The event TOTALLY met my expectations. It was hard, it was fun, fellow participants (I’m NOT calling them competitors) were very friendly, encouraging and chatty.'

• Amazing. Yes, the beauty of the Race the Sun series is it gives people the chance to experience a triathlon without the heat of a competitive element. It creates a warm, supportive atmosphere. You nailed the bike, hike and canoe; did you have a favourite phase?

'I really enjoyed the bike phase, loved the kayak and as expected my enthusiasm and enjoyment of the walk waned. The bike route, although challenging, is just a lovely, scenic route. The hike phase is also a wonderful route in terms of the scenery and landscape but just as I was starting to find it hard, it started to rain! Part of the kayak enjoyment was that it had stopped raining and the sun was almost out. However I got so much satisfaction from feeling strong on it; all those sessions on the hand cycle machine at the gym had definitely paid off. We even overtook a kayak!'

Nice work! A triathlon can sometimes be somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster however every participant tends to have a favourite phase or particular strength they can utilise. 

• How did you find the transition between phases? Any top tips for smooth transitions?

'Transitions were strange. In traditional triathlons, transitions are seen as the fourth discipline. In this event, it was all very laid back and chilled. There was chat, change of clothing, food, more food, drinks, exchange of tips and experiences. I don’t know if any teams or pairs raced through but no one we saw seemed to be in a hurry. We had used dry bags to keep kit in, however the large lidded boxes were a much better idea. I was very glad I’d put in a change robe - not just for changing but it meant I was nice and warm while eating, drinking, chatting etc.'

• Especially useful when the lidded boxes are see-through to make it even easier to dig out your kit between phases. We definitely strive for our triathlons to be welcoming and accessible so that is music to our ears to hear the transitions have that feel. What did you find the biggest challenge during the day?

'The biggest challenge of the day was getting into and out of the kayak while the waves were breaking against the boat. It was choppy conditions but it added to the challenge factor!'

• Our feed stations and celebration meals are always enthusiastically received. Did you have a favourite snack?

'The feed station sweets were much appreciated, in particular the muffins were really good. I was definitely well fuelled to get me around the course!'

• We know from our last chat that you really dedicated yourself to your training. Did you feel your preparation was sufficient? Would you do anything differently if there is a next time?

'I do think we had trained sufficiently. Since Easter we have been doing regular bike rides of around 30 miles and walks of 5 miles or more. Another time I would maybe do more doubling up such as a bike ride followed by a walk to replicate the triathlon sequence. I would also practise getting on and off the kayak!'

• What was your favourite moment of the day?

'Getting to the top of Steeple hill and knowing we had done with the uphill for a while. And overtaking a kayak! Sorry, but they had overtaken us on the walk!'

• The Jurassic is certainly home to a few hills and undulating terrain! Now having experienced the full event and seeing the crowd of participants, did you feel like there was a good gender split and women representation at the event?

'The gender split was really interesting. I don’t know what it actually was but it definitely didn’t seem male dominated and I would guess it was near a 50/50 split. I did find this quite uplifting. Another thing I really enjoyed was that the start line was not made up of hardcore athletes. They were people like us who were challenging themselves and raising money for a charity.'

That is what it is all about: challenging yourself and making a difference. No pressure, comparison or competition. Just fun on the trail for a good cause!

• And last but not least, your advice to anyone on the fence about signing up to a triathlon in 2026?

'If anyone is thinking about doing it, I’d say this; you do need to be prepared. If you get yourself fit you can enjoy it. If you are not fit enough, it would be a very long, hard day. That said, you don’t need to be a cycling superstar or a speed walker, just used to steady pace exercise for several hours. And practise getting on and off the kayak!'

Amazing. Thank you for your time, Hilary, and a huge congratulations to you and Mike for your triathlon efforts. 

You can check out the next Race the Sun triathlons over on the Action Medical Research website or drop us a message.