Welcome to a new feature on Tri247, supported by Gatorade (www.gatorade.co.uk). We know (because we have the statistics…), that races and race results are one of the most popular and well used resources on the site, which thousands of you rely upon. In association with Gatorade, we’ll be profiling our Athlete of the Month from that information.

Our choice may be based on one, or perhaps a combination of factors including:

• Outstanding performance at one race,
• Consistent performances over a number of events,
• Recognition of an athletes efforts over many months, years…or even decades in some cases!
• Overcoming setbacks, challenges or obstacles.

Or indeed, any other reason we can think of. We will also be asking you for your nominations.

As well as the recognition, each monthly winner will receive:

• Six month's supply of Gatorade
• A limited edition Gatorade bike top
• Six Gatorade bike bottles
• Two Gatorade gym bottles
• A Gatorade towel
• A personalised engraved plaque

At the end of the year, one athlete out of the twelve will be selected as the overall Athlete of the Year.

April 2008: Emma Dews

Like last month, for April at least, duathletes rule! We’ve chosen Emma as the second recipient of our Athlete of the Month following some excellent performances in April, which built upon more of the same in March. In early April, Emma won a freezing cold, and highly competitive Swindon Duathlon. She followed this up a week later with third place overall and age-group winner at the National Champs in Milton Keynes. And this was after winning Steyning and placing second overall at the Spring BallBuster in March - not bad for a girl who only started cycling in February 2007...

We called Emma to find out more, and tell her the good news..."Wow, you've made my day" was her first response. By day, Emma works as a marketing manager for Hasbro Toys, and so she's an expert in Play-Doh, amongst other pre-school toy products! As a US-based company this generally involves flying to Boston five times a year, plus various work trips into Europe and around the UK. So, this is an athlete with a real full-time job, and not an age-grouper living like a Pro.

Surprisingly, her season didn't appear to be starting too well: a car crash in December 07, injuries, illness and then getting mowed down on her bike by ... a postman (!) had left her in need of massage, physio and lacking in confidence. "The postman incident was my first ever bike crash, and it took me a while to get confident on two wheels again". Starting off with the BallBuster would not be most people's idea of easing your way into racing, but finishing second there was possibly her most important result of the year. "After everything that had happened, I had no idea what my fitness was like, and so to have a good race and finish second was really a great boost. BallBuster is such a tough race, a bit like the marathon, I think it's something you'll get better at with practice, so to do well first time was very pleasing".

Surprisingly for someone with such speed, Emma doesn't come from a distinguished sporting background, and only rode a bike for the first time in February 2007; "When a friend from the running club convinced me to go on a Joe Beer triathlon training camp in Lanzarote - I loved it!". Clearly a fast learner, in August last year she won a silver medal at the age group World Champs in Hungary. Her prior sporting background was running, which she started in 2002 with a challenge to run the New York marathon; "mainly because I was a bit drunk at the time". Even then, she didn't get that serious about running until 2006. She increased her mileage to 30-45 miles per week, and in April 2007 recorded 3:01 at the London Marathon; "very annoying!".

Enjoyment and fun is very important to Emma, which possibly explains why she hasn't swum yet this year; "I hate it!". She trains around eight hours per week on average, which she has built up to gradually; "since I don't have the miles in my legs from years of training, it takes time to be able to cope with more". She doesn't currently have a coach, but takes advice from friends and club-mates with experience, and hasn't to date been into the science side, though she has just bought a heart-rate monitor. This season she has also benefitted from a lovely new Pinarello bike, courtesy of the Thames Turbo / Sigma Sport team.

Emma feels her natural strengths will lie in endurance events, and her plans for the rest of the season include the World Long and Short Course Duathlon Champs, possibly a Powerman event, some Cyclosportives to build up some bike strength, the Cowman half-iron distance triathlon, running events and time-trials ... so she will certainly be a busy lady. Last season she finished a close second at the New Forest half-iron distance event; "which I loved", and would like to go back, though as it falls a week before Rimini that may have to wait for this year, along with trying to qualify for the Florida 70.3 World Champs.

It was a very tough choice this month, and honourable mentions, any of whom (and many more besides) who would have been worthy winners include:

• Lee Piercy (The Big Adventure Store). Lee was a consistent name in your nominations - both for his speedy performances, and his positive attitude to racing. Last month's award winner David Vaughan described him as "real class", which sums up his dominating win at the National Champs in Milton Keynes. An athlete consistently producing top results, perhaps not getting the recognition he deserves.
• Juliet Vickery (Cambridge Triathlon Club). Juliet has been quietly dominating the ladies 45-49 age-group this year, but not only that, challenging right up at the front of races too. Fifth overall at the National Duathlon Champs, followed the same position last month at Clumber Park, both of which were Mazda National Series Events. This past week she won the Breckland 10km in a very swift 37:48 too.
• Dave Mitchinson (Shorter Rochford/Exclusive Ranges). Dave has just entered the duathlon arena with possibly the best running credentials around; 29:22 for 10km and 64:22 for half marathon! His biking is not there yet, but he's made huge gains in every event he's done so far, including third overall and age-group winner behind Lee in Milton Keynes.

Do you know anyone who deserves this award? If so, tell us! Get in touch with us on aotm@tri247.com and tell us who you would like us to recognise and why.