The Lakesman British Middle Distance Champs – 15 June 2025
After the heat and heartbreak of the European Champs in Pamplona, Dani was – by her own admission – tired. She’d ticked off the training, done the work, and stood on the start line in Spain ready to race. But it didn’t quite click. And when that happens, when the performance doesn’t match the preparation, it leaves a bit of a hole.
There was just one race left in the season before a well-earned break. One more 70.3 – The Lakesman, also doubling up as the British Middle Distance Championships. A beautiful course, a big race, and maybe, just maybe, a shot at redemption.
But here’s the thing: Dani didn’t show up chasing redemption. She showed up looking to execute. To run her race. To finish the season with something that felt like progress – not perfection.
And that’s exactly what she did.
“Past Dani clearly had more confidence in Future Dani than Present Dani currently had.”
Scrolling through her old race goals in TrainingPeaks, Dani laughed at the ambitious targets she’d set when signing up:
- Sub-35 swim
- Sub-3 bike
- Sub-1:35 run
- Finish time: 5:15
- Top 5 AG
It was a useful reminder: goal-setting is a snapshot in time. Sometimes we hit them, sometimes we miss them, and sometimes the goals themselves evolve. Dani didn’t let them become a burden. They gave her direction – but not pressure.
Calm in the Chaos: A Composed Swim
“I hadn’t done a mass deep-water start for a while, but I stayed calm in the chaos … sighted regularly … focussed on my stroke.”
The Lakesman swim takes place in the cold, clean waters of Derwent Water – a deep-water mass start around Derwent Isle. For many, it’s a frantic, heart-rate-spiking experience. But not for Dani.
Even when leaky goggles slowed her down and the buoys got crowded, she kept her head. The swim was two minutes faster than Pamplona, and more importantly – it felt good. A composed start to a race often sets the tone for everything that follows.
Patience on the Bike: Confidence in the Plan
“I squeezed the brakes – nothing but a screech. I hadn’t considered how wet they were from sitting out overnight.”
Racing in the Lakes isn’t flat by most people’s standards. The bike course was described as “Lake District flat” – which translates to over 2,500 feet of elevation and some technical early sections on wet roads.
After a sketchy few corners and a cautious start, Dani settled into aero, managed her effort at a steady 7/10, and didn’t chase others riding harder around her.
“I focussed on keeping my RPE steady … rode efficiently … and trusted I’d make up time later.”
That’s confidence. That’s maturity. And it paid off – especially on the run.
The Courage to Hold Steady on the Run
“7:30s felt comfortable, but I wasn’t sure if I could hold it. I stuck with it, trusting my training.”
This is where the race was won – not literally, but internally. Dani didn’t go too hard, didn’t back off. She ticked off the laps, took on nutrition, and – despite a now-famous flooded field section – ran with consistency and control.
When the final lap came, she pushed again. And at 800m to go, she passed one athlete. Then another. She didn’t know their age groups – but she raced them anyway.
“I passed a girl who’d flown past me on the bike … I remembered thinking, ‘Wow, she’s fast.’ She was. And she was in my age group. I beat her by 20 seconds.”
Racing With Friends, Racing With Joy
Amongst all the pacing and planning, it’s easy to forget the power of community. But Dani’s report is full of these little moments:
- Bumping into friends on the walk to transition
- Cheering on other athletes on the course
- Laughing off the flooded field
- Swapping stories with Matt at the finish line (after he’d had a nap and a full cooked breakfast!)
“The crowd was amazing … it gave me a real boost.”
“I gave Matt stick for skipping both swim and run training!”
There’s something powerful about not doing it alone. The shared journey matters. The messages from the squad post-race mattered. This wasn’t just a solo effort – it was part of something bigger.
Execution Over Expectation
“Final time: 5h35. A long way from the dream sub-5:15 of Past Dani – but a solid race, executed well, and one I’m genuinely proud of.”
That’s the line that stood out most.
Not because of what it lacked (PBs, podium guarantees, magic numbers). But because of what it showed: ownership, perspective, maturity. She didn’t need to chase perfection – because she executed to the best of her ability on the day.
And in doing so … she landed 3rd in her Age Group.
At the British Middle Distance Championships.
And So, The Podium Pizza.
“Better than any time goal I could’ve set. I may not have earned a PB Pizza – but I’d earned a Podium Pizza, and it tasted even better.”
Well raced, Dani. You didn’t just finish strong. You raced smart. You raced with heart.
You turned disappointment into progress – and doubt into belief.
Coach’s Final Word:
Sometimes the most rewarding races aren’t the perfect ones – they’re the ones where you show up feeling unsure, a bit tired, maybe even doubting yourself … and still deliver.
That’s exactly what Dani did at The Lakesman.
She didn’t chase ghosts or panic about targets set by Past Dani. Instead, she trusted the work, stayed composed, and made smart decisions across the day. The calmness in the swim, the patience on the bike, and the guts to hold pace on the run – it all added up.
But what I loved most was her ability to stay in the moment. No chasing splits, no spiralling after setbacks – just racing with clarity, purpose, and heart.
The podium is a brilliant reward, but the bigger win is this: Dani backed herself. Quietly, steadily, without fanfare.
And that’s the kind of racing that builds a serious athlete.
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