I’m Alison – long term couch potato turned triathlete – until a serious ankle injury curtailed my activities. I still love sport despite the wobbly bits, creaky bits and lack of talent.

I live in Manchester with husband Simon and Lyra the cat. I retired in 2023 after many years as a freelance marketing consultant. I love making things and crafting – my current favourites are polymer clay and dabbling with mixed media collage and I enjoy performing Gilbert & Sullivan operettas.

In 2015, age 53, I was diagnosed with breast cancer (but this is most definitely not a cancer blog). I had surgery but luckily no further treatment. It was a massive wake-up call. To help my recovery I started running with the Couch to 5k program.

Then I signed up for a triathlon and fell in love with multisports.

In 2021 I broke my ankle and was also diagnosed with osteoporosis. I no longer cycle or run but still love open water swimming. I’ve had to discover new ways of keeping active and have discovered Walking Cricket and Silver Swans ballet classes for the over 50s.