How to survive a triathlon swim: Dave Tonge

Helen heads to Cardiff, South Wales in this week's episode to spend a morning with Dave Tonge (ep. 103) at Heathwood Swimming. Dave has been teaching triathletes and swimmers how to swim for 25 years. He's also helped many former Wales Rugby Internationals with their swimming so they can take on Ironman Wales. Helen meets one such player, Alix Popham, and the 85 year old who is learning to swim. Then Helen has a session with Dave in Endless Pool. You'll hear: 06:00 Dave Tonge welcomes Helen to Heathwood swim 24:00 Meet Mike, the 85 year old who's been learning to swim with Dave for a year. He was scared of swimming and had never been in the pool. Mike's an inspirational guy who also goes to Crossfit 3 times a week. He decided to learn to swim in his mid-80s because it was on his bucket list. 23:30 Former Rugby International Alix Popham and Dave talk to Helen about the Channel Swim challenge they are involved in October of 2023. A team made up of former rugby union players is taking on a team of former rugby league players in a relay challenge across the English Channel. The majority of the teams have been impacted by early onset dementia. They are raising money for Head For Change. 47:00 Dave gets Helen in the endless pool to help her with her swim technique. Find out more about this week's guest: Heathwood Swimming website Dave Tonge Instagram Head for Change website Alix Popham instagram Podcast Sponsors Form Swim and Presca Sportswear are sponsoring the podcast on a bi-weekly basis so you can hear the best interviews in triathlon each week. FORM Swim - 15% off smart swimming goggles. Presca Sportswear - Sustainable Sportswear. Get 15% off with the code insidetri15 Like what you heard? Let me know! Connect with Inside Tri Show across Social Media, just search Inside Tri Show or click on the icons below GET YOUR HANDS ON AN EXCLUSIVE EPISODE! Sign up to be a vino buddy or a training buddy on Patreon and get your hands on two patrons-only episodes a year. Or just support the show by buying Helen a coffee every month by becoming a coffee buddy Patreon of the Inside Tri Show. Listener Discounts For 15% Discount on FORM Swim goggles: https://www.formswim.com/pages/insidetrishow Presca Sportswear - 15 % off here with the code insidetri15 - valid until the end of march 2023 Resilient Nutrition - Get 10% off here via this link. 33 Fuel You can also get a discount at komfuel.co.uk with the code insidetri This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices