SWIMMING, cycling, running in a supportive environment with a big smile on her face - doing that has proved to be life changing for Jess Adams.
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Adams is one of the ever growing number of female members of the Bathurst Wallabies Triathlon Club and come this Sunday, will be there swimming cycling and running when it stages its second women's only race.
"I would not have taken it up had it not been for that women in tri program, it really has transformed my life," Adams said.
"I'm a different person than I was 12 months ago. I am so vibrant and I have purpose and I'm fit and healthy. It really has transformed my life, it's been so good."
Looking for a way to become more involved in the community, Adams got her introduction to the sport at last December's inaugural women's only triathlon.
She enjoyed the training program in the build up with the Barnyard group then the race itself so much, she has since become a regular at Bathurst Wallabies events.
"I was fairly new to Bathurst still so I was looking for a supportive community or a way into the community and the Wallabies' women's tri allowed that," Adams said.
"It actually gave me a structure to me exercise, it wasn't like run for no reason, it gave me a purpose.
"Perhaps the reason I've stuck with it is because I've gained so many wonderful friendships from it and so much fitness and fun.
"The women's tri was such a lovely event it just enticed me to keep doing them."
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Prior to that event Adams had plenty of experience in the pool, but the cycle and run legs were a different story. It was daunting to embrace those new disciplines, but she is glad she did and encourages others to do the same.
"I'd swum a lot as a child, but I was completely new to cycling, I forgot how to ride a bike," she laughed.
"And running has always been a very big challenge of mine, so I was pretty new to running. I'd done the odd Parkrun but had never really been committed to running, it was all a little bit too hard.
I'm a different person than I was 12 months ago. I am so vibrant and I have purpose and I'm fit and healthy. It really has transformed my life, it's been so good.
- Jess Adams
"I would say that the Wallabies Triathlon Club is so inclusive and supportive that if there is something you feel you can not do, they will find a way to meet your needs. Whether they modify the event, whether they help you with your training, whether they support you in actually doing that particular leg, they will find a way to accommodate you.
"I think we grow most as humans when we take on challenges we think we can't do. So I would just encourage people to trust that they are in a supportive enough environment and they can do it."
With that sort of support, already this season Adams has tackled another triathlon first, contesting her maiden long course event in the first round of the Bathurst Wallabies' 2019-20 schedule.
READ MORE: Women get a chance to tri a different sport
She covered the 500 metres swim, 16 kilometre cycle, 5km run course event with a big smile on her face.
"That was a really lovely challenge, but one I was ready for. I trained for it in the winter so I was ready for it," she said. "The Wallabies have been there at every finish line cheering me on too."
Sunday's women's only triathlon will be a shorter distance, with competitors to tackle a 200m swim, 16km bike and 2.5km run. Adams said those who take part can expect plenty of encouragement along the way.
"They have totally embraced me and I'm so grateful for that, it has been very surprising," she said.
"All the sporting agencies I'd been involved with previously had a lot of politics behind them and things like that, whereas the Wallabies don't. They are purely there for the love of the sport and to encourage a wonderful, fit, healthy lifestyle.
"They encourage anybody and everybody to do whatever part they can."
Wallabies women's co-ordinator Anna Blackie said the way Adams has embraced the sport is a perfect example of what the emphasis on female participation can lead to.
"From a club's point of view, she just epitomises everything we are trying to achieve with the women's program," she said.
"She challenges herself, she trains really hard and she just inspires everybody with how she participates fully in everything. She is improving all the time, she's our little super star definitely."
Sunday's race starts at 9am.
