When you find out there is a Professional Long Course Triathlete in you home town, my mind straight away started putting images together, and plucking up courage to reach out via Social Media. It still feels a bit odd, even after all these years, to reach out to a stranger and ask if they be interested in you taking some photographs of them. Thankfully more often than not I get a positive response, and I’m super grateful Lizzie said ‘Yes’ too.
For those of you not fully up to speed on Triathlon, it’s a single race event, first swimming, then a bike race and finally a run. It’s simple to type but the distances involved still stagger me! Lizzie races Half Ironman or ‘70.3’ thats the number of miles, or 113km in metric!
Starting with 1.2 miles or 1.9km of swimming, often in open water…….
then 56 miles or 90km on the bike…..
And to finish off 13.1 miles or 21.1 km, also know as a half marathon, to finish! Just staggering, and almost incomprehensible that Lizzie does this in around (hopefully under this year) 4 and a half hours. Mind blowing!
The day of the shoot was planned around Lizzie’s training schedule and turned out to be freezing cold (about 2 degrees) and foggy, it is January in England I suppose! This didn’t make a difference at the rapid 20 minute shoot between swim sessions at The Activity Zone, thanks for accommodating us.
Then up onto the The Common which was spectacular in its bleakness in the fog
Then round the corner to The Fosseway, a feature of so may bike rides for anyone in North Wiltshire.
Thanks again to Lizzie for listening to my waffling for a couple of hours, hopefully coffee and cake made up for it! Were hoping to do some more when the weather is warmer, possibly with some blue skies… in the meantime I’d encourage you to follow Lizzie on her socials, Facebook and Instagram, its a journey I’m going to be keeping an eye on.
I am so fortunate to live in the beautiful town that I do, but even more fortunate to spend time with those that make it so special. I am aways on the look out for new subjects for this portrait project, so if you are or know someone who you’d like to see me photograph, please get in touch.
Everyone is a story, it just needs a picture…
I’d love to hear what you think of the images, as always the easiest way is to comment the post on my page…..RupertBarker Photographer
Thanks, Rupert.