Mission to get fit leads to duathlon world races
A quest to keep fit to enjoy time with his grandchildren has led a Forth Valley College chief to represent Great Britain as a duathlete.
Robert Myler, EPOS Coordinator, recently qualified to represent GB in cycling and running duathlon 60-64 agegroup, in the European Championships in May 2024, in a country still to be decided.
He will also compete in Queensland, Australia in August 2024 at the World Championships.
Robert, 59, who began his role in the college’s hospitality department in 2019, will compete in the Standard race at the Euros in a 10k run, 40k bike ride and then a 5k run, while in the Worlds down under he will compete in the sprint distances which involves a 5k run, 20k cycle and a then a 2.5k run to finish.
However, on Sunday at the Weston Park Duathlon in Telford, England, there was more good news when Robert managed to secure another qualification for the European Championships in the sprint distance.
He revealed how he only took up the sport when he started Grangemouth Triathlon Club in 2015 in an effort to keep fit to spend quality activity time with his young grandkids Harrison, six, Maddison, four, and Elise, three.
He said: “I am really delighted and honoured to have qualified and can’t wait for the championships to arrive. They will correspond with my wife Yvonne and I reaching our 60th birthdays, so we will be making sure we combine the competitions with a good holiday around them – especially in Australia where we will be hiring a camper van and doing some touring.
“My children Christopher, 37, and Helen-jane , 33, were looking to start their families and I realised I would need to try to keep as fit as I could to be able to keep up with my grandkids. I had never done any serious cycling or running before I had started the club, let alone competing in elite sport such as the Masters series, so it has been an amazing journey to this point. However, now that I have qualified, I don’t just want to go to take part, I want to compete for a medal place on the podium.”
Robert has a multitude of roles at the Grangemouth Triathlon Club where he is currently the club president and the head coach. He also volunteers as a technical official with Triathlon Scotland where he officiates at local and national events around the British Isles – and has overseen events where even Olympic medallists and the sport’s UK icons the Brownlee brothers (Alistair and Jonny), have competed.
Robert added: “I have worked in catering most of my life and I love working here at Forth Valley College, as it allows me to be consistently able to concentrate on my cycling, running and triathlon responsibilities in my free time.
“Everyone at FVC have been very supportive and encouraging with this and I have teamed up with Wai Mun Lee – FVC’S leisure facilities coordinator – who has set up a strength and conditioning training plan and is coaching me to be the strongest I can be on the start line. I would encourage my colleagues and any students to get involved in triathlon as it is a great sport to get into at any age.”
Robert still needs to raise funds to help with travel, clothing and equipment and is currently looking for any potential sponsors to get in touch. Anyone looking to find out more should contact Robert through www.grangemouthtriathlon.com