Channah Brandsema Triathlete

Channah is a Dutch triathlete who has achieved some awesome things. She talks to Sundried about life as an athlete and her training goals for this year.

Have you always been into sport?

I've been into sports ever since I was little. I did rock climbing when I was a child and I even competed in my home country of the Netherlands. 

What made you decide to enter triathlon?

I had a nasty crash on my bike which led to an injury meaning I couldn't cycle for a while. Because of this, I did swimming instead to keep my fitness up. In 2015, I found myself stuck in a small village in Germany with no bike and no swimming pool, so I took up running. I decided to put all three together, and after getting to know a triathlete, I entered a triathlon in my hometown of Utrecht. 

What’s been your best race to date?

My best race was the second triathlon I ever did. I had a good swim but a slow first transition because I didn't have all the right gear yet. Despite this, I managed to get into the lead after the first 5km of the bike and by the run, I had a 1-minute lead. I managed all this with a sprained ankle! 

And your proudest achievement?

My proudest achievement: last year winning in the first and top division with my team of Hellas Utrecht. 

Have you ever had any racing disasters / your toughest race yet?

My toughest race was in 2015 when I sprained my ankle after the first 1.5km of the run. I thought it was just a blister so I carried on, but by the finish, I realised just how bad it was! I still won! 

How do you overcome setbacks?

Keep calm, do things you enjoy, and get support from people who care about you.

What is the best bit of advice you wish someone had told you before you started competing

Just have fun! You can do it! 

What are your goals for 2017?

I had an operation on my ankle in April so my main goal is to get back up to full health. I am participating in the World Championship in Rotterdam in September so my main goal is to train for that. Of course, I won't be as good as I would've hope because of the operation, but it'll still be a great experience. 

What do you like about Sundried and what’s your favourite bit of our kit?

I like that Sundried is designed by athletes for athletes. My favourite bit of kit is the Women's Tri-Suit because it looks and performs beautifully!