There’s something about racing through adversity that reveals the strength you don’t always know you’ve built. That was Sammie at Cholmondeley Castle.
This wasn’t just a test of fitness – it was a test of patience, heat tolerance, and mindset. And she passed on all fronts.
Not Ideal Conditions
In the three nights before the race, Sammie didn’t sleep well. No air con. Hot house. Jenson the dog was up and down. Sammie ended up sleeping on the sofa in the living room just to keep him cool.
“Not like it was as a kid,” she wrote. “Sore back, sore hip flexors, arm … I’m getting old 🤣”
These are the real-life things behind the bib number. The unseen effort before the start line. The stuff that doesn’t show up in race photos or finish times – but it shapes the day.
Heat, Mud and Mind Games
Sammie was hoping for a non-wetsuit swim – she’d been swimming well without one in the docks. But with the water temp at 23.5, wetsuits were optional. She went with it.
It wasn’t easy:
“The warmth hit me like an oven … I couldn’t settle into my stroke … the lake was grim, like you couldn’t see anything but black.”
She lost her swim cap, goggles leaked, and at one point she could only sight out of one eye with hair in her face. And yet? She came out of lap one in 6th place.
“Oh, OK … so my sh*t swim wasn’t too sh*t. Crack on.”
That’s composure. That’s perspective. That’s resilience.
“Stay in Your Lane”
Bryan’s mantra was on loop as she got on the bike: Stay in your lane. Focus on your race. Don’t chase. Ride smart.
And that’s exactly what she did.
One by one, Sammie reeled in the other female athletes (except for first). “Ticking off the laps … gel every 30 minutes … water, electrolytes, on it.” Then came the rain – followed by the headwind. She adapted, rode steady, stayed alert. She saw another athlete crash on a corner but kept it safe, controlled and calm.
“Every time I went up a hill like it was nothing, I had a little giggle to myself.”
Strong legs, smart riding, fuelled well. And mentally dialled in.
Brutal Run, But No Backing Down
The run was the real battle.
Humidity through the roof. Grass. Gravel. Rabbit holes. “A lot less tarmac than I’d expected,” she said. But she adjusted. Took every aid station. Water over the head. Gels in. Coke down. And she kept going.
“My brain was telling me to crack on. We weren’t DNF’ing. Leeds is going to be twice as long and could be hotter.”
That’s mental toughness. And perspective. It wasn’t about the result – it was about the prep for something bigger.
Even when runners passed her (normally demotivating), she held her ground. And with 100m to go, she found the sprint. Overtook one more competitor. Crossed the line emptied.
Reflections That Matter
After the race, Sammie was honest:
“I initially was disappointed. I felt like my run had let me down again.”
But a message from Ellie helped her reframe it: It was a horrible, hard run – and she ran stronger than she thought.
“Do you know what,” she wrote. “I am mentally ready to tackle Leeds. I can just keep going.”
As a Coach
There’s so much I love in this race. Not just the result – but how Sammie raced. Her determination. Her calmness. Her adaptability. The mental skills she used. The patience. The awareness. And the pride in the process, not just the place.
“Today, I didn’t care where I finished, if I’m really honest. The result was great, but I was most happy that I got to race endo pain-free. And while I felt dehydrated, I feel strong enough to race Leeds.”
That’s the win.
And the rest is just confirmation.
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