Meet the member – Miriam Staunton

Well Miriam, how’s the form? How’s everything going for you?

Things are going pretty well for me right now. I was diagnosed with cancer back in 2018 and I’m in treatment since then but things are pretty stable right now and I am enjoying being able to swim bike and run even if it is all slower than my previous life. Like everyone else I am over this pandemic and ready to get back to life as we knew it, bring on the vaccine!

Tell us about how you got interested in Triathlon and how you came to join Pulse?

I always say it started with a 5k run and kind of snowballed from there. I started running after I had to give up football after the kids came along. My brother in law and sister in law talked me into giving triathlon a go. I did two tris that year (2009) the second one being Port Beach. I really liked the ethos of the club so decided to join pulse

Tell us about your first race?

It’s so long ago I barely remember it. I wore a shorty wetsuit from Lidl and was on my brother in law’s bike. There were hills. I remember feeling really meh at the finish because I didn’t know anyone for the post race analysis. I decided then that I wanted to join a club and was on the lookout when I was hooked by pulse later that summer 🙂

What’s your favourite race/distance to race?

I would say Olympic or middle are my favourite distances to race.  Sprint is just too fast and furious and Ironman can take over your life but Olympic and middle are just right 🙂

What’s your favourite Pulse memory so far?

There’s so many, do I have to pick?

Well for sure the hell of the west weekends with prosecco and crisps on the seafront but also I loved overseas racing craic in Barcelona, Klagenfurt, Frankfurt & Mallorca. The training week in Mallorca was so much fun.  Supporting at IM Barcelona may have been best of all, some craic and the Oktoberfest there just topped it off.

What’s the best thing about being in a Triathlon club?

For sure it is the people you meet and the friends you make. This year has obviously been a bit difficult on that score, so I would urge any recent joiners to stick with it. You’ll meet a really wide circle of pulsers and find your people when we get back to training and racing together next year

When you’re not swimming or pedalling or running, what keeps you busy?

Well I have 3 children who keep me somewhat occupied and I am back at work part time, plus my hospital visits keeps me pretty much busy. I have found that swimming, biking and running is essential for my mental health

Outside of Triathlon, what’s your favourite sporting memory or achievement?

My favourite sporting achievement outside of tri was winning the intervarsities football championship way back in the last century. We had some craic travelling the country. My fave sporting memory would be the 1990 world cup when the whole country came to a standstill for a few weeks

What’s the bucket list, once in a lifetime race you’d love to experience?

Oh I have a lot of items on my bucket list. I want to complete Mizen2Malin cycle, which we had to complete virtually this year. Damn you Covid 19. I’d like to get back to Chicago at some point and do the treble triathlon weekend, then there’s the Stelvio pass and Triathlon Alpe D’Heuz. I also want to bag an entry to Escape from Alcatraz. I am open to further suggestions if anyone has any more ideas

What’s the next Triathlon goal you’d like to tick off?

I just want to get back and race please. I’ve really missed the training and racing this year.

Finally, what one nugget of advice would you give to a new member starting out on their Triathlon journey?

Enjoy it. Enjoy your training, for most of us we are not going to become professional triathletes, we are doing it for personal challenge and fun. Always remember that. You don’t ‘have to’ train, you’re doing it because you want to.