As a relative late-comer into triathlon, 29 year old Tash Jackson has spent the past two years on a self-coached journey.
Having started competing in triathlons in 2014 coming from a running background, but having to start swimming and cycling training from scratch, Tash has quickly moved up the ranks over the past 2 years.
2015 saw Tash qualify for the 2016 European Duathlon Age-Group Championships as well as the European Middle Distance Age-Group Championships which she will be competing at in Austria in September 2016.
Tash stated, “Having the support as an athlete from GLL Sport Foundation has been instrumental to my training and race performances to date, and I certainly wouldn’t have reached the level I am at now without their help. Outside triathlon, I work as a building services engineer for Skelly & Couch – designing buildings for various clients across the country. Fitting in swim, bike and run training around a 45-hour week is demanding at the best of times, but having access to over 200 GLL & Better Leisure facilities across the UK means that wherever my job takes me each day, I’m always able to work my training schedule around my job. I also feel incredibly privileged to have the London Aquatics centre pool and gym as my local sports centre! Coming from a non-swimming background when I started in the sport, I’ve spent countless tough sessions pushing myself through lap after lap in the 50m Olympic Pool, often training both before and after work. My swimming has certainly come on leaps and bounds since where I was a few years ago, and I can’t wait to put all into practice come race season!”.
“I can’t thank the GLL Sport Foundation enough for supporting me to date, making it possible for me to be able to compete at races across Europe this season, and experience my first Championship event. I’m hugely excited to see where this season takes me, and hope for many more successful races to come!”
With some big goals for the season ahead, Tash is now working with Julian Nagi (
www.juliannagicoaching.com) a top ironman-focused triathlon coach and plans to race on the Ironman 70.3 (half-ironman) circuit this year in the lead up to the European Championships, which will include racing Ironman UK 70.3 and Ironman Budapest 70.3. After seeing where she can get this season, she has her eye on competing at Ironman distance next year!
We are very proud to be supporting Tash for the 2016 season and are confident that she will reach her target to compete in an Ironman. Best of luck!
