Dereham triathlete Grace has come a long way in a year
Dereham triathlete Grace Bird. Picture: James Nice - Credit: Archant
Dereham Runners triathlete Grace Bird has qualified for the Team GB age group squad and is set to compete in the European Sprint Championships in Glasgow next year.
Grace, 23, works as a teaching assistant at the Fred Nicholson School on Westfield Road, having previously studied at UEA.
She only entered her first triathlon a year ago, and despite not undertaking any specific training managed to finish fifth woman overall. This motivated her to train harder, practicing each of the three disciplines several times a week.
Sprint distance triathlons typically involve a swim of 750 metres, followed by a bike ride of 20km, and a run of 5km. Grace's current personal best over the sprint distance is 1:14.49, achieved at Thorpe Park on September 17.
'I finished knowing I had given everything, and came sixth in my age group,' she said. 'Happily this was the qualifying event for the Great Britain age group team (demale 20-24), so I'll be competing in Glasgow next August.'
As a teenager Grace was a leading light in Dereham Otters Swimming Club. Although the bike is now her strongest triathlon stage, she remains fast in the water.
'In fact at the Woodlands Tri on Sunday I ended up swimming two extra lengths in the pool, because the marshal wasn't paying attention. Yet somehow I still managed to get a PB!
Most Read
- 1 Man dies after collapsing during dog walk in Norfolk village
- 2 A47 reopens after serious crash near Swaffham
- 3 Young people transform care home's garden in just four days
- 4 Man charged in connection with burglary at Dereham home
- 5 Why has my car been covered in dust?
- 6 Final details revealed ahead of Queen's Dragoon Guards freedom parade
- 7 'Proper farming' sees dairy family crowned Norfolk farm champions
- 8 'Being a mum is all she wants' - Fund launched for 26-year-old's IVF dream
- 9 Car driven by Elvis going on display at Armed Forces Day celebration
- 10 Customers travelling especially to visit charming new café at fishery
'I've now competed in eight triathlons and am honestly a little bit shocked that I've managed to come so far in a year. All the training has really paid off and I'm determined to do my best and enjoy the European Championships next year.'