GRASSROOTS
CONSTANTLY pedalling is not the way most people would envisage spending their birthdays - but for triathlon starlet Daniel Dixon it was just what the doctor ordered, writes TONY HODGSON.
The Morpeth youngster - like most people confined to home because of coronavirus - decided to get on his bike to raise funds for the NHS.
He and Essex-based fellow triathlete Jack Stanton-Stock devised 18 Hours for 18 Years, a cycling marathon they undertook simulataneously at their respective homes.
The event was held on the day both lads reached 18 - and their birthday gift to the NHS proved to be a real tonic.
Thanks to company sponsorship and the support of family and friends, the pair raised an impressive £5,300.
Dixon - who hopes to turn professional soon - was delighted his and his colleague’s efforts paid off.
However, he admitted he did find it tough going in the saddle at times.
He said: “We pedalled for sessions of six hours with breaks of half an hour in between to get food and refreshments.
“I was fine in the first session but about two hours into the second I did start to wonder if I would be able to finish the marathon.
“I am used to having a heart rate of around 200 beats when I am competing in triathlons.
“Here it was only around 120130 but the constant pedalling just took a lot out of me.
“I could not eat anythng for the last six hours but just tried to concentrate on pedalling at a steady rate.
“I was in bits at the end but I gained a lot of mental strength from doing it, which should help me when I resume ny triathlons.
“It was definitely worth doing despite the pain I went through and to raise so much for the NHS was unbelievable.”
He added: “Jack and I just decided we wanted to do something to help the NHS and we are grateful to those who backed us.”
Dixon’s thoughts are now turning back to triathlons with the hope of action resuming soon following the lockdown.
As reported in Grassroots Sport earlier this year, the talented youngster has been signed up by French Grand Prix team CRV Lyon.
The club approached Dixon after becoming aware of his string of impressive performances in 2019.
They included his victory in the the youth boys’ event at a Super League triathlon meeting in Vittoriosa, Malta.
The talented youngster will be able to compete against professional triathletes on a regular basis as he prepares to turn professional himself in the near future.
He said: “It is a fantastic honour to get on to a team and the teams over there consist of multi-nationals within a single squad, not just French triathletes.
“This means the standard is very high and gives younger athletes like myself the chance to race against professionals.”