Reflecting on Progress: Tamsin Bowden's 2023 Recap & 2024 Aspirations

Tamsin Bowden a Gold Rivers Gifted and Talented Member, reflects on her journey through the 2023 season and looks ahead at the exciting prospects awaiting her in the coming year. With the new year's beginning, she finds herself in the middle of planning her race calendar, a perfect opportunity to update everyone on her journey and accomplishments.

Throughout the colder months, Tamsin expresses her gratitude for the invaluable support of Rivers. As the outdoors turned dangerous, training indoors became the best option, giving her a great place to improve.

Having secured a spot in the prestigious G&T scheme, Tamsin acknowledges the significant impact it had on her progress in the pursuit of her athletic goals. Leveraging her Rivers membership, she made remarkable strides forward, using the facilities to get herself closer to her ambitions.

One of the most important moments of her year unfolded during her debut on the international stage. Representing the Team GB Age Group team in Ibiza for duathlon in April 2023, she clinched a commendable bronze medal, a milestone that fuelled her aspirations and goals. Strengthened by this success, she set her sights optimistically on the Triathlon World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, in September.

However, the triathlon presented its own set of challenges, particularly in the swim leg, a big difference from her usual lake swims. Navigating a tidal river proved to be a demanding test. Despite swimming off course with a small group of competitors and emerging from the river in the 33rd position, Tamsin displayed tenacity. She steadily progressed, gaining ground during the bike leg to secure the 15th position and ultimately finished 7th overall. Notably, she achieved the second fastest run in her age group and emerged as the fastest British runner. Recognising the need for improvement in her swimming, she dedicated herself to refining her technique and building strength in the pool, frequenting Rivers Evesham 2-3 times a week.

Among her achievements, Tamsin proudly recalls securing the top spot among all female participants at the Shropshire triathlon in September. This unexpected victory marked a substantial improvement in her times from the previous year. Additionally, at a local race in Alcester, she achieved a personal best in her run time, breaking the 40-minute mark for a 10K for the first time in her career. Overwhelmed by emotion, she found herself shedding a tear, a testament to her unexpected progress at the age of 48.

Looking forward, Tamsin eagerly anticipates two Team GB races pencilled into her 2024 calendar. The European Duathlon Championships in Portugal in June and the Triathlon World Championships in Malaga in October present new challenges. The latter, featuring a sea swim, poses yet another test for her swimming prowess.

With a comprehensive training plan curated by her coach, Tamsin is poised to capitalise on her experiences from 2023 and aims to further improve her performance. Her commitment to improvement remains unwavering as she balances her training regimen with work commitments, utilising Rivers to its fullest potential.

Expressing heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering support received, Tamsin extends warm wishes for a Happy New Year to all!