After being asked by a friend to help him train for a triathlon he was working in Marbella, professional triathlete Ian Dempsey, father of three and ambassador for fitness clothing brand Freetrain, had no idea he would soon become a professional triathlon coach.
Having gone from a self-proclaimed “smoker and overweight”, he became “hooked” on the sport and encouraged people of all ages to get involved.
He told Express.co.uk: “Triathlon is a fantastic sport, not only is it a great way to keep fit and healthy but the variety means it’s never boring and you can really get stuck into achieving some fantastic goals.
“What are you waiting?”
Ian also offered three top tips for those curious about triathlon training, hailing it as “a great way to meet new people”.
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“It’s a great way to meet new people and there are lots of local Facebook groups or social platforms you can join.”
He explained that a training plan is very important when it comes to sports because people can find themselves training off the cuff and training in the wrong way which can lead to injuries.
“You don’t have to spend a fortune on them either, there are plenty of training plans to get you started – a progressive 12-week plan that takes you through swimming, cycling and running is a good place to start as it’s hard to balance the three,” he said is he.
“Following the plan will make it a little easier.”
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“Then I discovered the Freetrain training vest which is really a product I use all the time as it’s so handy to have my phone/any small things like keys hands free and in a comfortable position.”
Speaking to the Express and Star about his first race, he said: “I didn’t know anything about it or the distance and it ended up being a 1,900m swim, a 56-mile bike and a half marathon.
“I’ve never done anything like this in my life. It was a middle distance race and I finished it in six hours.
“I’ve been hooked ever since, that’s where it all started.”
Ian Dempsey is a professional triathlete, father of three and Freetrain ambassador. Known for their signature running vest that revolutionized hands-free phone wear while exercising, Freetrain has just marked its entry into the fitness apparel space with its first clothing line – The Emergence Collection. You can view the range here: freetrain.co.uk.
