Back-to-Back at London T100: How Julia and Naomi Tackled Double Race Weekend Chaos
"Resilience is not only about having a good race; it is also about finding a way forward when everything feels difficult." Julia with her Sprint and Olympic finisher medals.
"My mind will give up before my body does." Naomi celebrating two finished Olympic distance races across one weekend at the London T100.
Taking on a single triathlon is a huge achievement, but lining up for two multisport events over 48 hours takes exceptional dedication. At the London T100, Women in Tri UK athletes Julia Gagliardi and Naomi Rumble did exactly that. Julia tackled the Sprint on Saturday followed by the Olympic distance on Sunday, while Naomi took on two full Olympic distance races back-to-back, right off the back of completing a 45km Swimathon challenge.
From non-moving trains and jammed wetsuit zips to Age Group top fives and post-race spa sessions, Julia and Naomi share the grit, refuelling strategies, and community support that carried them across two finish lines.
The Decision: Self-Promises and WhatsApp Peer Pressure
Choosing to race twice in one weekend requires equal parts physical preparation and mental determination. For both athletes, the motivation grew out of personal goals and community encouragement.
Julia's path to the London T100 start line was a year in the making. The Sprint distance was originally scheduled as her first-ever triathlon in 2025, but a bike crash days before the event resulted in forehead stitches, severe bruising, and an enforced DNS. After the T100 team granted a deferral to 2026, her training progressed quickly, leading her to complete a 70.3 Ironman as her official debut. Returning to London in 2026 to race both distances was about honouring the original promise she made to herself while testing how far her athletic ability had come.
Naomi’s double-header decision came straight from the Women in Tri UK WhatsApp group. Wanting to complete at least one triathlon this season, she held a spot on the waitlist for Sunday's Olympic route but wanted to race with fellow WIT members on Saturday.
"I expected them to support me with making a decision of WHICH ONE to choose. I did not expect them to tell me to do both! I even told them I needed to leave the group to get away from these ridiculous suggestions. An hour or so later, I was signed up for both."
Saturday Success: Community Vibes and Age Group Wins
Saturday brought ideal racing conditions and an uplifting community atmosphere at the Docklands venue. Naomi lined up for her first Olympic distance of the weekend alongside fellow WIT athletes, dancing at the swim start with volunteer and community fellow Afe and keeping her effort controlled to save energy for Sunday.
Julia executed a disciplined strategy during Saturday’s Sprint event. Working closely with her coach Jo Watkinson (Head Coach at Women in Tri UK), Julia followed her nutrition plan to the letter: taking a Maurten Gel 100 before the swim, a Maurten Solid 160 on the bike, a gel at T2, and protein and carbohydrates immediately after finishing. Her execution delivered impressive results: crossing the line in 1:32:26 to secure 4th place in the swim, 3rd on the bike, 7th on the run, and 5th overall in her Age Group category.
Sunday Chaos: Stuck Trains and Sticky Zips
While Saturday went according to plan, Sunday presented unexpected logistical hurdles before either athlete reached the water.
Julia woke up feeling dizzy and nauseous after noisy neighbours kept her awake most of the night. Her morning deteriorated further when an incident ahead caused her DLR train to stop between stations for a full hour. Sitting near the driver's cabin as the race clock ticked down, anxiety built rapidly around transition cut-offs and missed equipment drop-offs. Julia messaged both the T100 organisers and the WIT group chat for help. While T100 allowed affected athletes to move to later waves, Julia reached the swim briefing with barely five minutes to spare, stepping straight from train panic into race mode.
Naomi faced her own pre-race tension in transition. The Sunday event carried a visibly more competitive environment, and right before heading to the swim start, her wetsuit zipper jammed completely shut, while the exact same suit that had zipped without issue 24 hours earlier. Positive self-talk became her primary tool to lower her heart rate and keep calm before stepping into the water.
Grit in the Water: Overcoming Mental Battles
Without time to reset mentally, Julia entered a windy, choppy swim carrying high levels of stress. Experiencing moments of panic in the water, she paused to hold onto safety kayaks and regain control of her breathing, even stopping at points to help call kayaks over for other struggling swimmers.
"Throughout all of that, the one thought that kept coming back to me was: 'I didn’t get into that water to quit.' Resilience is not only about having a good race; it is also about finding a way forward when everything feels difficult."
Naomi relied on structured mental strategies to navigate her second 1,500m swim of the weekend. Reminding herself that the swim was a short portion of the day helped keep dark thoughts at bay. On the run course, soaring temperatures meant grabbing ice at aid stations, placing it inside her trisuit, and adjusting her expectations to ensure she reached the finish safely.
Recovery Secrets: Massages, Spas, and Lunchtime Swims
Refuelling and physical recovery between two high-intensity days required immediate action:
Targeted Bodywork: Naomi made full use of the post-race massage zone on Saturday, targeting her hamstrings, glutes, and calves, followed by personal foam rolling and a massage gun.
Thermal Therapy: A dedicated spa session featuring a steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, and cold shower helped prevent muscle stiffness for Naomi ahead of day two.
Proactive Hydration and Fuel: Julia consumed planned carbohydrate and protein recovery drinks immediately after Saturday's finish to prepare her muscles for Sunday.
Active Recovery: Proper fuelling enabled Julia to return to the pool for a gentle 30-minute recovery swim by Monday lunchtime with minimal soreness.
Key Lessons for Handling Race Day Curveballs
When race logistics go off script, keep these community-tested strategies in mind:
Focus on Immediate Action: When unexpected delays happen, focus entirely on the single next task rather than the whole timeline.
Practice Mind Management: Your mind often wants to slow down before your body actually needs to. Use self-talk, affirmations, and small milestones to stay positive.
Adapt Your Nutrition: High heat or pre-race stress can disrupt your gut. Be prepared to switch to liquids, electrolytes, or course options like bananas and Coke if solid food feels difficult.
Lean on Prior Experience: Remind yourself of the training volume, swim blocks, or long rides you have already completed. You are more prepared than you think.
Get Involved with Women in Tri UK
Ready to take your next step in swim, bike, run, or triathlon? Here is how you can connect with our community:
Apply for First Triathlon Sponsorship: Women doing their first triathlon can apply for sponsorship through the Women in Tri UK First Triathlon Programme (subject to T&Cs). The community also offers mentorship, brand discounts, coaching and other beginner support.
Join the Community: Connect with over 800 women across the UK for ride meetups, race day support, and training encouragement in our WhatsApp groups.
Explore Mentorship: Whether you want to build cycling confidence or guide a beginner through their first multisport event, join our triathlon and cycling mentorship programmes.
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