profile

My Career as an Elite Age Group athlete has rewarded me with many trophies, course records and accolades I will cherish for the rest of my life.  But the biggest reward is the healthy lifestyle it has given me.  I consider myself very fortunate to have encountered the sport and aside from my successes, it has helped me excel in many other areas of my life, both on a personal and professional level.

So, two decades later at the young age of 51, I am still here and engrossed in the sport as much today as when I first started.  The one thing that compels me to continue in the sport, apart from my competitive spirit, is the opportunity to continue to visit beautiful places and meet amazing people!

Aside from my triathlon life, like most age group triathletes, I work full time.  Currently I work as a legal assistant at a law firm specializing in civil law.  I also have a fun second job where I manage, alongside my husband, our triathlon coaching business www.imjcoaching.com

My leisure pursuits are  cooking, coffee rides, entertaining with friends, listening to music, running the trails with my dog Sassy; and most of all spending quality time with my husband, Scott Jones, elite triathlete and head coach at IMJ Coaching.

Sporting Background

I grew up in a sport playing family with 3 brothers who were all soccer crazy.  Soccer is one of my favorite team sports I like to watch.  During High School I competed in track and field.  I quickly found out that I could sprint the 100m and 200m.  Don’t ask me how but I also got selected for my school team in the shot-put and high jump.  I actually won a medal at the shot-put and soon discovered that the high jump was definitely not for me.  During college I played goal attack in a local netball team in the UK.  But my career in netball was short lived.  Unfortunately I did not grow any taller than 5’ 3” therefore I could not get the ball in the net with the goal defense girls towering over me! 

Once I finished college and started to work I discovered a different lifestyle, I let my athletics fall by the wayside and spent my early twenties working and travelling - it wasn’t until about a decade later that I went back to running, this time it was to be distance running and eventually triathlon.

My Passions

My passions are many but the two closest to my heart are travel and health and wellness.  I love to visit different countries to learn about and experience different cultures.  I have a cool map of the world where I mark with a pin every country and city I have visited.  Competing in triathlon allows me to prolong my passion for travel.

I believe in the wise saying “we are what we eat”.  Eating the right foods and having a balanced diet plays a major role in the quality of your daily life as well as contributes to your success as an athlete.  I love to cook in harmony with nature and continually explore the health benefits of different foods.

One of my pet hates is the way food is grown and processed today, contributing to the obesity epidemic; and how fast food companies have enticed an entire generation away from natural and healthy eating habits.

Training and Racing

Whilst training for triathlon requires a lot of discipline and commitment, loving what you do can make all the difference!  Otherwise it would be hard to do it day in and day out.  I love to race and travel so that part is easy for me.  Training in three disciplines can often be challenging; trying to fit training in with work and other life commitments, but it is about balance, being able to do something worthwhile and fun and most importantly adding value to your life.  For me, the other extras are being able to ride in the mountains, on country scenic roads and run on epic trails. That’s got to be hard to beat!

When it comes to training and competition, having the support of family, friends and teammates is essential.  Research shows that having a good support network aids confidence and success.  Share your goals and plans with family and friends who will in turn encourage and support you.

Having a coach is your biggest support system.  A coach provides structure and takes care of details, keeps you focused, provides positive feedback and is completely invested in your personal success – so if you don’t have one, I highly recommend going and finding one.

Through my website and blog I hope we can share our experiences and knowledge!

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