I want to swim like a dolphin can swim

.. Sung David Bowie on his hit song Heroes. Well one person who can lay claim to that and being a hero to many is Chrissie Wellington.

I, along with 99 other raffle winner s, were invited along to a Question and Answer session with Chrissie courtesy of Audiofuel with whom she has released some audio training sessions.

The event was held at Bespoke Cycles on Farringdon Road in London where all matter of carbon delights adorn the walls.

After a demo on the tracks, Chrissie spoke across a number of subjects relating to training, tackling your first Ironman, winning her 4th Ironman World Champ title race, and answering my question about what makes a good coach. (Being "athlete centred" was the response).

The night finished with a signing session. She spent quality time with everyone there and gave my some very useful advice about coaching certain types of athletes.



Now I'm not a massive hero worshipper, I think you grow out of it a bit as you get older, but Chrissie ticks all the boxes: successful, inspirational, approachable, humourous and very down to earth.

One quote I will take away from the night was something her former coach Brett Sutton once told her after a tough training session.

"Some sessions are stars, some sessions are stones: all sessions are rocks with which we can build on"

And today I had a Star session. It was my fastest ever Parkrun. I clocked 20.11 at Black Park. The elusive sub 20 result isn't far off.

"Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it."

T. Alun Armstrong