Meet James Cope: Our Chairman Racing Towards Change

Meet James Cope: Our Chairman Racing Towards Change

James Cope is the Chair of the Trustees here at Wychavon Leisure. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, our main goal is to inspire active and healthy lifestyles throughout Worcestershire and the surrounding areas. By actively engaging in fundraising and leading an active lifestyle, James sets an example and contributes directly to our mission.

James brings dedication and passion for community-driven change. With a passion for active lifestyles and an unwavering commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our local residents, James is lacing up his running shoes for a monumental cause.

His journey into the world of triathlons was sparked by an inspiring story of resilience. James discovered triathlons through a book that told the story of someone facing a big health hurdle. This story sparked his passion for triathlons, motivating him to pursue similar athletic challenges for personal growth.

Before stumbling upon that book, James enjoyed running and cycling as hobbies, occasionally joining local races. His swimming skills were minimal (he’ll openly admit that!). However, just like the book’s author, he was captivated by the immense challenge that a triathlon offered. Over the next few months, he delved deep into triathlon training, devouring books, magazines, podcasts, and online videos. This immersion helped James to craft the initial blueprint for his training plan.

From being a recreational runner and cyclist, to diving into the depths of triathlon training, James began a transformational journey—one that required conquering the waters, despite his initial swimming struggles.

James isn’t just steering the helm, but is also leading by example. His journey from a leisure centre enthusiast to a triathlete , shows his unwavering commitment to wellness and community.

Triathlon, with its challenging trifecta of swimming, cycling, and running, wasn’t just a personal goal for James - it was a pathway to personal improvement and growth.

The deeper James delved into his training, the clearer it became: he could enhance his running and cycling by simply investing more time, but improving his swimming demanded a focus on technique – an area where he needed guidance. Admittedly, he could swim, albeit not proficiently enough to tackle a Triathlon. While he had some swimming lessons during his school years and occasional recreational swims with his family, his forward movement in the water hardly matched the energy he put into splashing around.

To tackle this hurdle, James enrolled in adult swimming lessons at Evesham Leisure Centre, dedicating a mere 30 minutes every Monday night. The group was a mix, ranging from beginners nervous about the water to adept swimmers aiming to refine their strokes. Surprisingly, his progress in those initial months surpassed what he had achieved in the past 15 years. What was once a lukewarm attitude toward swimming soon transformed into genuine enjoyment, though the ultimate challenge – open water – awaited him.

As his swimming skills developed, James sought further refinement by joining a masters swimming group to fine-tune his stroke. Yet, the next obstacle loomed: swimming in natural settings, without the reassuring confines of a pool. His first open water session occurred on a freezing March morning at the picturesque Lenches lake. Despite wearing a seldom-used wetsuit and lacking swim socks or gloves, the biting cold numbed his limbs within minutes. Surprisingly, he found solace in the experience and persisted with regular Saturday sessions (now equipped with socks and gloves!). Gradually, he embraced diverse open water environments and temperatures, even venturing into winter swims at Droitwich Lido.

Over time, James honed his running and cycling skills and continued refining his swimming techniques. Today, he not only revels in the sport itself but also cherishes the training and the perpetual challenges it brings.

His dedication to improve his swimming skills, reflects his approach towards challenges: facing them head-on and achieving goals with determination.

Now, James is gearing up for an epic challenge—the 2024 London Marathon. But it wasn't just about personal achievement. Beyond the physical and mental endurance, his marathon journey is a testament to his support for the Westbourne Park Family Centre. With a goal to raise £5,000+, James invites us all to be a part of this journey by scanning his lime green tee’s QR code and contributing to this noble cause.

Join us in rallying behind James as he aims to raise £5,000+ for this worthy cause. Look out for him around town sporting a lime green tee with a QR code to his fundraising page — your way to show your support.