Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 76, November 2015 | Page 13

category for the longer event, and not only came home
14th overall in the men’s race, but also first in the 20-24
category, although he almost didn’t finish the race…

having made the Boland Schools’ team, and dad Kim’s
provincial squash team won the 2015 SA Squash Champs
title in the 40-44 age category, despite only having one
player in that age bracket and all the others being much
older – so Michael comes from talented sporting genes.

PREFERENCE FOR TRAILS

Having enjoyed much success as a junior in road tri’s,
Michael says he much prefers the off-road events these
days. “I find the road events a bit boring, especially the
biking legs. Mountain biking is always more interesting,
especially for that ‘X factor’ up in the mountains, and
there are also far less spectators, so you have to motivate
yourself. Besides the challenge, scenery and enjoyment,
there is more of a mental aspect to it as well.”

Images: Volume Photography, Bradley Alcock and courtesy Michael Lord

Unsurprisingly, Michael says his favourite event on the
calendar is the two-day Fedhealth XTERRA Grabouw,
the off-road tri in February that not only serves as the
SA XTERRA Champs, but also as the African qualifier for
the Cross Tri World Champs. This year Michael won the
XTERRA Lite overall for the third time on the Saturday,
also taking the 15-19 age category as he crossed the line
just over two minutes clear of the next athlete. Then the
following day he also raced the XTERRA Full, this time
going in the 20-24 category because there is no junior

“It was not an important race for me, as my focus had
been on the Lite the previous day, and I X