Emma Conquers the Ironman
Triathlete, Emma, shares how she manages exam stress through sports.
Congratulations to second year economist, Emma, who completed her first triathlon over the summer!
Emma took part in the gruelling Ironman 70.3, which involves a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run! Even more impressively, she began training for the triathlon alongside her Cambridge University exams. Emma said:
“As the football season came to an end, my week opened up a bit, so I decided to take on a new challenge to keep some balance as exams approached. Training for an Ironman 70.3 meant staying disciplined, with plenty of early morning swims and late-night runs.”
Although training for all three aspects of the race demanded a lot of time and commitment, Emma found that maintaining a non-academic project alongside her first-year exams helped her to manage revision stress. “Training alongside studying gave me a great sense of focus and a healthy outlet outside of work.”
Emma is a keen sportswoman and plays for Gedwards FC (the combined football club of Murray Edwards and Girton Colleges). Through football, and her other sporting activities, Emma has made new friends from different courses and colleges across Cambridge University. Taking up a sport is a brilliant way to expand your community and enrich your university experience, as you gain access to new opportunities, skills and a focal point outside of work.
Don’t feel like joining a team? Don’t worry – there are many ways to incorporate active hobbies into your university lifestyle. Even something as simple as getting a bike can offer unexpected new experiences, as herself Emma discovered:
“I love the freedom that cycling brings at uni; it lets me explore nearby towns and, after exams, I even took a long ride out to the beach in Norfolk!”
We are so proud of Emma for her impressive achievement, and we can’t wait to see which race she tackles next!