Episode 47 Featuring Agegrouper David Bagge

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Welcome to the Pod Agegroup Athlete David Bagge

Davids story of how he went from last in school sports day and not doing any sport until the age of 41 to GB Duathlon (run, bike, run) Champion and World Silver in the  55-59 Age Group. David had quite a few knock backs along the way but through 15 years of hard work and perseverance he achieved more than he  ever thought possible.  He  hope this inspires school kids who don’t feel encouraged at school sport or those later in life who might think it’s too late to start – it’s not!. It’s also a testimonial to triathlon and duathlon – sports that are wonderfully inclusive, with an ethos that finishing is winning and which give you a chance to compete internationally at any age. 

Anyone remember that humiliating ritual at school where you lined up to be picked for a team? David says he  was the skinny, scrawny, non athletic kid who was picked last. No wonder he hated the weekly sports sessions.  His  school sport focused on the sporty kids  and he was never given the chance to try something he might be good at and thus never got motivated. his build was suited to running but he doesn’t remember much running other than short track which needs power. The one time we did cross country he surprised himself by doing quite well and was encouraged by it only to be knocked down again

After a surprising result at cross country and think maybe running is for him.  So he stuck his hand up to be in the house team at school sports day and get put in the 400m. Well little did he know then that 400m is a very different race from endurance cross country – it’s all running right?. He  came last and was told by classmates in no uncertain terms that he had let them down,  they knew they should have never have picked me.  The faint flickering flame of love for sport was extinguished that day and he never ran again until he was 41 years old. 

David went through life not doing any sport  due to a deep ingrained belief that he was not made for it.
Then at the age of 40 his wife  decided to do a triathlon. David  took the kids to watch and saw that there were all sorts of people competing. That and the fact she had gone from doing nothing to getting a good result was inspiring. The finishing is winning ethos of triathlon was  particularly appealing and it didn’t matter if you came last. David  signed up for the September 2007  Sevenoaks triathlon and started training. As he still had a sporting inferiority complex He states he did train quite a bit and as a result surprised himself and came in well under his 2 hour target

David now had the bug,  so  started to sign up for some races and steadily improved. 

After a good set of results and some podiums, in 2013 I entered the GB Duathlon Championship. This was also a qualifier for the Duathlon World championship David came 7th in  age group but that was good enough to qualify as some of those above me were not GB eligible. He was over the moon and felt that the chance to compete at the Worlds in a GB trisuit with his name on it was prize enough. He went to Canada that year just looking to enjoy the Worlds 

He has since gone from strength to strength and has frequently represented GB.

please enjoy Davids story.

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