A Middleton Hall Retirement Village Health & Wellbeing Centre member has completed her own two-day triathlon as part of a joint fundraising challenge with her friend, raising £950 so far for Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice in Middlesbrough.
Angela Robinson, who has been a member for more than two years, cycled 24km, swam one mile – 160 lengths of the Health & Wellbeing Centre pool – and ran 10km on the treadmill.
The fundraising challenge came about after Angela’s friend Steph signed up for the Couch to 5K programme and then entered the Great North Run. The friends then decided to take on their own challenges over the same weekend as Steph’s run to raise money for Zoe’s Place.
“I wanted to keep my friend company, so I thought I’d give it a go and take on a challenge too. I think I might have got the short straw, mine took me two days!” Angela joked.
Angela completed the cycling and swimming on the Saturday, with the Centre’s Wellbeing Advisor Ellie helping to keep her going and even bringing sweets “to keep my energy up”, before returning to the gym on Sunday to complete the 10km run as Steph took part in the Great North Run.
“It’s a great local cause,” Angela said of their choice of charity.
Looking back on her training, Angela said it had been hard work, although she had enjoyed the process.
“The training has been hard work, and I was enjoying it until life got in the way and it fell away a bit,” she said.
Angela first joined the Health & Wellbeing Centre after starting a new job which involved spending a lot of time sitting at a laptop. She now usually visits three times a week and says the training has also helped with a longstanding knee problem.
“I have a bad knee, but the training has actually helped with it.”
Angela normally goes to the gym with her daughter, who has recently had a baby, and is looking forward to getting back to training together when childcare allows.
She has a longstanding connection with Middleton Hall. Before starting her current job, Angela ran the Reception team at the retirement village and enjoys returning as a member adding: “It’s lovely seeing some of the residents I knew and also the Middleton Hall co-owners I worked with.”
She also praised the Health & Wellbeing team for their support: “They’ve been brilliant and incredibly supportive.”
The challenge proved more enjoyable than Angela expected.
“I survived but weirdly enjoyed it and think I have found my sport,” she said.
“I felt a great sense of achievement, a bit of ‘I have done that’, even though I had blisters on my blisters.”
Angela and Steph have so far raised £950 for Zoe’s Place and are continuing to fundraise. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/page/steph-and-angela