Alison Freeman

Cumbria County, UK

Senior Reporter and Presenter at BBC

Generally windswept reporter & presenter for the BBC. RTS winner. All the views on here are my own and not those of the BBC.

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Articles

Triathlon Peeing Rules and Tips Explained

1 week ago | triathlete.com | Alison Freeman

There are certain conversations you can only have with other triathletes, and this is one of them: Let’s talk about triathlon peeing. In case you hadn’t heard, triathletes pee anywhere and everywhere in triathlon: in their wetsuit (before the swim, during it, and when jogging to T1), while riding their bike, in transition (usually sitting but sometimes standing), and when running.
The Ultimate Guide to Being the Best Race Support Crew for Your Triathlete

2 weeks ago | triathlete.com | Alison Freeman

You, the athlete, have a big race coming up. You’ve been training for months and months, and you really want the day to go well. And to give yourself the best chance at having one of those magical races, you could really use some support over race weekend to calm your nerves and help with logistics and such. Your friend or family member has volunteered for the job – yay! – but they’re not a triathlete, and they don’t really understand what they’ve signed up for or how to support you.
Aid Station Etiquette: Do's and Don'ts of Navigating Triathlon Aid Stations

2 weeks ago | triathlete.com | Alison Freeman

Aid stations at a race change everything. They lift the logistical burden of all those fully self-supported rides and runs you did in training and replace it with a fully catered racing experience. It’s hard to imagine completing a triathlon without tapping into the offerings from at least one aid station on the course, and more typically, almost all of them.
Festival to go ahead after new organiser appointed

2 weeks ago | bbc.com | Alison Freeman

Festival to go ahead after new organiser appointedAlison FreemanBBC News, North East and CumbriaLindisfarne FestivalThe Lindisfarne Festival is due to be held over the last weekend in AugustAn annual coastal music festival will go ahead despite uncertainty over its organisers, it has been confirmed. Investors behind the Lindisfarne Festival in Northumberland have appointed its founder, Conleth Maenpaa, to ensure it goes ahead on the last weekend of August.
No, You Don’t Wear Underwear Under Your Tri Kit

2 weeks ago | triathlete.com | Alison Freeman

TL;DR version: No, you do not wear underwear under your tri kit. Because: chafing. For those who aren’t yet convinced, here’s the full story:The last time I wore underwear while exercising was in 1994. Seriously. I was training for the New York Marathon (back when you could actually get an entry for the New York Marathon) and learned on one of my first truly long runs why underwear and exercise are the opposite of peanut butter and chocolate.
Patterdale mountain rescuers warn of looming breaking point

4 weeks ago | bbc.com | Alison Freeman

'Social media doesn't show you trauma of mountain rescue'Alison FreemanBBC News, North East & CumbriaBBCPatterdale Mountain Rescue Team had 110 call outs last yearMountain rescue teams say they could reach breaking point due to a rapid increase in the number of call-outs. Volunteers share their experiences with a hope of making people take safety more seriously. Social media shows the "nice bits" of walking in the Lake District, Matt Neilson says.
Three dads take on walking challenge for suicide helpline

2 months ago | bbc.com | Alison Freeman

Three dads take on walking challenge for helplineAlison FreemanBBC News, North East and CumbriaBBCTim Owen, Mike Palmer and Andy Airey are to begin another walking challenge in JuneThree fathers who each lost a daughter to suicide are to begin another walking challenge to try to keep a charity helpline open. Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen said they plan to hike more than 130 miles (209km) around the coast of Anglesey in Wales on 14 June.
Three dads take on walking challenge for helpline

2 months ago | yahoo.com | Alison Freeman

Three fathers who each lost a daughter to suicide are to begin another walking challenge to try to keep a charity helpline open. Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen said they plan to hike more than 130 miles (209km) around the coast of Anglesey in Wales on 14 June. Suicide prevention charity Papyrus, who the trio have previously raised more than £1m for, said it had seen a drop in donations which could spell the end for its 24-hour helpline.
Adolescence 'an important watch', says murdered Holly Newton's mum

2 months ago | bbc.com | Alison Freeman

Adolescence 'important watch' - Holly Newton's mumAlison FreemanBBC News, North East and CumbriaFamily handoutHolly, 15, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend who stabbed her to death in NorthumberlandThe mother of murdered schoolgirl Holly Newton has backed a move to show the TV series Adolescence in schools. Holly, 15, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Logan MacPhail, who stabbed her to death in a frenzied attack in Northumberland in January 2023 after she ended the relationship.
A 16-Week Low-Volume Ironman Triathlon Training Plan

Mar 18, 2025 | triathlete.com | Alison Freeman

Every good myth is backed by a somewhat credible story, and in triathlon, the myth of the 10-hour Ironman training plan is legend. Everyone in the sport seems to know someone whose friend or training buddy set a PR or qualified for the Ironman World Championship off such a plan, to the point that people swear it works, even though they’ve never been able to figure it out for themselves.