Firefighter...
As a former firefighter in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Jacqui Slack is a self-proclaimed late-bloomer when it comes to becoming a competitive triathlete. After taking some time out from work to solely focus on training, Jacqui moved Down Under where she’s been living for the past 8-years with her husband, Ben Allen, who also competes in many gruelling Tri events around the globe. With numerous top 5 finishes and the British Elite and Off-Road Triathlon Champion title, Jacqui is living proof that athletes aren’t born, they are nurtured, at any age and any stage of life. |
| Swim, bike, run... |
“I used to compete in swimming, that’s my background. But I didn’t get into triathlons until my 20s after I spectated at Bala Tri and I just felt so inspired by people in the event, and the women who were taking part, that I decided to try it out”, Jacqui shares. “I had no idea about anything, so I read up on what triathlons were and what was involved, and I went and entered my first Tri event. I remember my Mum and Grandad came with me for support, but it was only a small event with an indoor swimming pool and a 15km cycle stage. When I came off the bike to get ready for the running stage, I realised that I had left my shoes in my Grandad’s car! So my mum had to run across the field to meet me, and I still won in my age cat!”
Sabbatical...
With her first triathlon event under her belt, along with her first win, Jacqui entered more and more races including her first National event; “I won a voucher from that event, so I got myself a training coach, and that’s when it got more serious.” From there, Jacqui trained and raced her way onto Team GB for the World Champs in Switzerland, “that’s when I realised that’s where I wanted to be, an elite.” Jacqui’s first event as an elite athlete was the Windsor Tri. “In my first year, I came 9th. Then I came back the following year and came 6th, and then 3rd until finally, I came 1st in 2012.” During those attempted years of the Windsor Tri, Jacqui took a sabbatical from the fire service and headed out to Australia to train. Upon returning to the UK in 2010, Jacqui dominated the infamous Strathclyde Park Triathlon. From there, Jacqui became interested in more demanding race formats, like the Xterra Tri which is a cross-tri event that comprises swimming, mountain biking and trail running. By throwing herself into off-road Tri events, Jacqui has already racked up 5 top 10 Xterra Womens’ finishes and 9 Xterra World Tour wins. |
| Rocky drop |
With the onset of the global health crisis, Australia’s lockdown measures have been more relaxed than in other parts of the world. Jacqui explains, “At first, it felt like the rug had been ripped from underneath us and training was hard with little motivation. It was demoralising as I was very prepared for 2020, so I got stuck in my head a little, and it took a few weeks to really adjust and get used to a new routine and mindset. Even though I’m enjoying having a little break, I’m still training a lot at the moment. I have a gym at home, an indoor bike which I use with Zwift, and I still get outside for a run or cycle, but no swimming.”
Skype and Zwift...
In addition to training and racing, Jacqui also coaches over 20 aspiring athletes. Using Skype and Zwift to stay in touch and to keep making those gains, Jacqui is using this lockdown time to focus on strengthening weaknesses. “I try to experiment on myself with different techniques and workouts, and then I pass them onto my clients once I’m happy with the programme.” |
| Jacqui Slack |
It’s not just Jacqui who’s waiting for racing to start again, her Liv Pique Advanced 29er is also itching to get back out on the trails. This full-suspension cross-country bike is typically adorned with Schwalbe’s Racing Ralphs on the front and back for competition. Still, Jacqui confesses to preferring the Schwalbe Thunder Burt tyres, especially for dry conditions.
Suffice to say that Jacqui Slack is a real go-getter. Once she’s set her sights on achieving something, there’s no stopping her. To find out where Jacqui’s triathlon journey takes her, be sure to give her a follow on Instagram, and hopefully, it won’t be too long before we see her compete again.
Words: Jess Strange - Velo Me | Images: Carel @carelduplessis, Dominic Hook @dominichookphotovideo, Shioban @shabbi_adventures