Am I Too Old to Start Triathlon?
By Jacqui Saxon — BTF Level 2 coach, Trisutto certified, mentored by Brett Sutton. Started triathlon at 52; raced for Great Britain at 55. Last updated: July 2026. No. You
Maybe you’ve got a bike gathering dust in the garage. Maybe you can’t swim front crawl. Maybe you’re 50-odd and wondering if you’ve left it too late.
You haven’t. I started at 52. I represented Great Britain at 55.
We’ve taught hundreds of people front crawl from scratch — some in their 60s, some who couldn’t put their face in the water on day one. One length. Stop. Breathe. Another length. That’s week one.
And if you’re the other sort — an age-grouper chasing a podium — we coach those too, all the way to world champion level. What matters isn’t how fast you are. It’s whether you want a real coach or a PDF.
Wherever you’re starting from, the first step is the same: a chat. Not a sales call — a conversation about where you’re at and whether we’re the right fit for each other. If we’re not, we’ll say so.
The same pool the British Triathlon elite squad uses for their camps. A track two minutes away. Quiet roads, warm sun, and two coaches watching everything you do.
“Will I be able to keep up?” Yes. Small numbers, ride groups for every level, and swim feedback that’s yours — not shouted at a lane. Complete beginners have thrived on these camps; so have podium chasers.
Sessions are done by lunchtime — afternoons are yours for the beach, the golf, or a nap. Coached pool sessions with 1-to-1 feedback, progressive rides, run technique, brick sessions, and honest conversations about your training over coffee and cake at Mourapão.
Autumn mini camp: 5-8 November 2026, £225. Spring full week: 12-17 April 2027, £550, up to ten athletes. Coaching-only — flights and accommodation are your own, and they’re cheap and cheerful to Faro.
I have just returned home from Jacqui and Ollie's Vilamoura Camp in Portugal. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am at the very stages of tri - athlon (not done an event yet). Really I was looking for a week where I could just do my activities without having to juggle everything else I have to do - it was perfect. The coaches skillfully nudged me in the right direction with areas of technique and my swimming in particular has come on no end. I have already committed to next year!
Ollie is a great coach to work with. He is very attentive and responsive - I enjoy the training sessions he schedules for me, and have seen the results in terms of race performance. This season so far I have had 2 podium finishes out of 2 races - which is a huge improvement from my 'middle of the pack' results.
When I first came into the world of Triathlon, I knew I’d found my “home”.
And while I really enjoy competing as a Great Britain Age Group Athlete, I’m happiest when I’m coaching other people to reach and exceed their own goals.
There really is no feeling like helping someone push through barriers they thought they never could and achieve things they never thought they would. Having been a Trisutto athlete since 2015, I understand that the real key to success lies in understanding and working WITH my clients. I endeavour to ensure that my clients have training plans that not only get results, but that they can stick to without burning themselves out.
Afterall, the trick to being a successful triathlete is being able to stay the course, and that means steady, sustainable progress. Because you can’t train if you go off too hard and end up injured can you?
It’s no exaggeration to say that sport is my main passion in life.
However…It became apparent early on, that getting my arms and legs to do what my brain wanted wasn’t always straightforward!
But this turned out to be a good thing, because it made me work harder, and really study the “how” and the “why” of the sports I liked, until I could master them. Which gave me a deep understanding of sport and stood me in good stead to become a coach. Back in 2012 I started competing in Triathlons, and it soon became clear that while I love competing for myself, my real love is coaching other people.
So that’s what I did, in 2013 I started training people, and since then I’ve worked my way through various qualifications, culminating in becoming Trisutto certified, and being mentored by the man himself – Brett Sutton.
Suitable for all abilities, with three levels to choose from:
Fair question. Two coaches on every athlete — both Trisutto qualified, both mentored by Brett Sutton. One of us started at 52 and ended up racing for GB; the other came up through hard racing. We coach by feel, not gadgets, and we build the plan around your life — never a template.
By Jacqui Saxon — BTF Level 2 coach, Trisutto certified, mentored by Brett Sutton. Started triathlon at 52; raced for Great Britain at 55. Last updated: July 2026. No. You
Crowle Triathlon is the Triathlon England Small Event of the Year because the event is well managed and welcoming, offering people a great experience, especially those giving triathlon a go for the first time.