Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 52, November 2013 | Page 10

In the Lead

Supreme
Back in 2011, Modern Athlete chatted to a then 69-year-old who had run nine
silver medals in his 21 Comrades Marathons while also securing age-category wins or
podium ?nishes at several Ironman events around the world. Now 71, Ken Poole is
still posting times faster than athletes half his age, and in September he won a gold
medal in his age category at the ITU World Triathlon Grand Finale in London. We
chatted to him about his impressive performances, his successful training partnership
with great friend Rob Coulsen, and how he still plans to go after more medals and
podiums! – BY LAUREN VAN DER VYVER

H

aving focused on the full Ironman distance in
recent years, training for the considerably shorter Olympic
distance of 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run
meant that Ken and Rob had to alter their usual training
programme. After all, the last time Ken actually raced
such a short triathlon was in 2004 in Cancun, Mexico,
where he placed fourth in his age group. “For shorter
triathlons, you have to readjust your racing strategy from
start to ?nish – and go out strong from start to ?nish,”
says Ken. “Our swim training sprints therefore went up
from 50m to 100m, 200m, while during long rides we
included short 10km, 20km and 30km time trials. Our
running also included quick track sessions.”
That change in focus did the trick for the veteran pair
from Johannesburg, because Ken and Rob went into
the recent ITU World Triathlon Grand Finale in London
with much improved speed, and it showed in Ken’s ?rst
place in the 70-74 age category in 2:24:12 as well as
Rob’s seventh place in the 60-64 category in 2:12:18. “I
remember having a good swim, which was reduced due
to cold weather, and ride at the tri, but got lost at the lap
split. Eventually I ended up with a good run,” says Ken,
who then, at the last minute, also entered the pair in the
London Aquathlon World Champs, where Ken claimed
another gold medal and world championship in his age
Modern Athlete November.fh11 10/18/13 8:06 AM Page 1
group in 41:52, and Rob took ?fth in his age group in
39:24!

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ISSUE 52 NOVEMBER 2013 / www.modernathlete.co.za

FRIENDS IN TRAINING
These incredible performances are just the latest in a
long list of achievements by Ken and Rob thanks to their
highly successful friendship and training partnership.
“I would never have got the results without Rob by my
side through training every day,” says Ken. “Rob and
I train wisely and consistently, and I think that comes
with experience. Through the years that we’ve been
training together, we’ve found a programme that’s
suited us. It’s always great to have someone around you
motivating you to push on and work harder.”

Ken and
Rob have
done many
Comrades
Marathons
together.
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Y

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Ken also feels that he needs to up his game because
he’s a decade older than Rob, and that has pushed
him on to greater achievements. “We did the
Comrades, Ironman, Duzi and Midmar Mile together,
and we climbed Kilimanjaro, and it’s great to share
those experiences,” says Ken. “I remember going to
Kona in 2001 by myself and it’s not the same – you
need someone to share your sport with.” The pair
met at Jeppe Quandam Athletics Club in late 1997
when Rob started training for his ?rst Comrades
Marathon. “Rob took a pub bet with a friend that they
could do Comrades and so joined the club. That’s
when we started training together, and with Rob’s
background in playing and coaching baseball, I knew
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