Annie Emmerson is a familiar voice to triathlon fans having been a BBC and Super League Triathlon summariser and commentator for more than a decade.
A former world duathlon champion and coach, she still holds performance goals of her own and having just turned 50 is aiming for a new marathon personal best in Edinburgh in May.
Over to Annie to explain how it all began, why she loves commentating and who she considers to be the real heroes of tri…
The sliding doors moment
I was 19, had returned from Spain and was working in a telesales job not quite knowing what to do with my life. Having started swimming in a pool in Brentford before work to make sure I left the pub a bit earlier the night before, I met a triathlon coach called Andrew Potter.
He suggested triathlon and it was a sliding doors moment. It was what I needed in my life.
My first national championship in Wakefield is etched in my mind. I started the race thinking: ‘What the hell am I doing here?!’ Then spent the rest of the day saying: ‘I came third! I came third at the national champs!’
I won the first half-iron-distance race in the UK in Llanberis – a brutal course on a brutal day where I had an out-of-body experience on the run and managed to clock the second fastest half-marathon overall.
I’d woken up thinking I don’t want to do this, it’s raining and cold, and ended thinking: ‘I f’ing nailed that!’ There’s a brilliant clip where the camera is on me and I look back down the road, there’s nobody for miles and I pump my fist.
Working with Tim Don was a buzz. When two people know the sport inside out, all that’s missing is a glass of wine!
The adrenaline of broadcasting live
I started in broadcasting after Human Race founder John Lunt put me in touch with the brilliant Dream Team who would broadcast domestic racing. My first event was the Windsor Triathlon.
I was the on-site commentator for London 2012 and a couple of years later I received a call from the BBC to commentate on the World Series. I’ve now been to three Commonwealth Games and two Olympics for the BBC. When I think about that, it’s pretty cool.
Commentary is always challenging. You’re never going to make everyone happy and you have to get over that – that’s the tough part. The good part is the adrenaline when broadcasting live.
In Abu Dhabi [at the 2022 World Triathlon Grand Final] I had a brilliant opportunity to work with Tim Don who’d not commentated before. That was a buzz. When two people know the sport inside out and can chat with excitement about it, all that’s missing is a glass of wine!
Shoving microphones in someone's face
Super League is an initiative triathlon needed and I think this season really showed what it’s all about: the variety of courses, locations, younger to more experienced athletes, and I loved being team captain.
I think we got on top of the team concept as well and in the future will have team versus team events.
From a broadcast perspective, it’s unlike anything I've ever done. I’m flying around shoving a microphone in someone's face trying to bring the athlete experience to the viewer, but it’s mega fun.
Much more is possible
It’s the amazing age-groupers who are doing it for their own fulfillment and to keep themselves fit and healthy who inspire me. I coach Eddie Brocklesby, who turns 80 in March, and is still the funnest person to be with.
Another lady I coach called Theresa is in her late 60s, has had a hip replacement, but went to Ironman Barcelona last year and finished in just over 13hrs. Having these people in my life shows me that so much more is possible.
I’m running the Edinburgh marathon in May, although I haven’t told my husband yet! It will be four years since I ran 2.56, but when I throw myself into things, I’m all in. I know it’s cliched, but even I need that discipline of a goal. They’ll be A, B, C and D plans, and if I could go under 2.56 that would be amazing.
If you’re thinking about trying tri remember nothing is ever as hard as you think it’s going to be! Can I do it? Yes. Will I meet like minded people? Yes. For longevity in our lives it’s really important to have something that’s not just healthy but that we really enjoy doing.
Top image credit: Darren Wheeler – That Cameraman/SuperLeague
