Donna McHugh - Fusion Member since 2010
Sporting Background: Football until injury stopped play
Got into triathlon: Ah-hemmm, it was a drunken bet to be honest. I only thought it through the next day when sober my housemate gleefully reminded me not only had I entered an open water sprint triathlon but that I couldn’t swim. Like – actually COULDN’T swim!!! So, I did what any self-respecting stubborn git would do and took adult swimming lessons so as not to lose my bet and ended up walking most of the “swim” section of my first ever race. Pleased to say I no longer walk the swim
Once involved with Fusion triathlon Club I absolutely fell in love with the sport and the atmosphere at the club. Training sessions are great fun as well as challenging and supportive. There’s no way I’d have pushed myself as much on my own as we all do at the club sessions, the sport and the club grabbed me and hasn’t let go – it’s been the best drunken bet I’ve ever made!!
First Qualification race: Grafham Water Duathlon; Qualification for European Duathlon Championships in Horst, Holland. I entered this in the hope I might squeeze in as a rolldown slot or something but ended up finishing in 2nd place in my age group and securing a slot in my own right. I was absolutely gobsmacked!
First GB Age Group Race: European Sprint Duathlon Championships 2014. All unknown to me and travelling alone it was slightly daunting to start with until I met up with some very lovely GB athletes and made friends I’d never have met otherwise.
Best things about Age Group Racing: I’ve made friends for life who I catch up with at races all over the country and the world now, and you know whenever you go to race you will always find a friendly face regardless whether you knew anyone there before you went or not. It’s always such a supportive and friendly environment. Even friends from other countries!!
Sure, it can be daunting and a little overwhelming if you let yourself get sucked into everyone else’s stresses and anxieties but the best piece of advice I could give is to know what you are capable of, trust that, relax and be organised. There is always a lot of unnecessary flappy from people when it comes to these big events, it’s easy to get drawn into that but it’s just as easy to stay away from it and not get involved. Do what you can do and above all – enjoy the moment!
Races to Date:
2014 ETU European Duathlon Champs, Horst Holland: Silver
2014 ITU World Duathlon Champs, Pontevedra Spain: Gold
2015 ETU European Duathlon Champs, Alcobendas Spain: Silver
2016 ETU European Triathlon Champs, Lisbon Portugal: 18th
Bike mechanical with 10k to go on the bike provided a lesson on patience and holding it together when things go wrong. I was never going to quit so ran in with my bike, dumped it in transition and clocked the fastest run split of the day. Never ever quit
