Local Woman Prepares For Triathlon Challenge At Lonsdale Pool.

An IT project manager from Derby has completed her first triathlon and is already planning her next challenge having re-discovered her love of swimming at Lonsdale pool.

Danielle Bastiaens (31), who works remotely for a London IT company, wanted to raise her fitness levels and, in June, signed up for the York Triathlon.

With only months to train for the event, she started attending early morning swimming sessions at Lonsdale Pool near her home in Mickleover twice a week and shared her goal with pool manager Lynn Palmer who has been giving her hints and tips to improve her front crawl stroke technique.

Danielle completed the York Triathlon’s 400m pool swim, 15km cycle and 5km run in a very respectable 1.5 hours and immediately signed up for a half ironman competition next year in Mallorca.

As well as training for the cycle and run legs, she has signed up for swimming lessons at Lonsdale Pool so she is fully prepared for the 2,000m swim which, this time, will be in the sea.

Danielle explained: “I loved the York Triathlon and was really pleased with my time so I have definitely caught ‘the bug’ and have started training for the Mallorca event next May.

“The swim is definitely my biggest challenge but Lynn was a huge help in getting me started and I am looking forward to the lessons to improve my technique and ensure I conserve my energy for what lies ahead.

“Triathlon sounds like a scary prospect but everybody is so encouraging and there is a great atmosphere amongst the competitors and the spectators.”

Lonsdale Pool manager Lynn Palmer added: “We are all so proud of Danielle.  People swim at our pools at Lonsdale in Mickleover and Gayton in Littleover for all sorts of reasons – whether that is with a specific goal in mind or simply for physical health and mental wellbeing.

“Learning the right stroke techniques are definitely a benefit – particularly in a competitive arena such as triathlons – so I am looking forward to working with her to give her the best chance of doing well at the event next year.”

We are proud to offer lessons all year round at both of our pool facilities. Our team of qualified instructors adhere to the Swim England framework for swimming instruction. This framework ensures that regardless of your swimming ability, we focus on building your confidence and technique.  To find out more about swimming sessions for babies and children, as well as adults, please visit https://www.lsst.org.uk/lessons-classes/lessons/