GEAR » PROFILE
is working quite well. This
weekly regimen is structured
around a year planner, in
which different blocks are
spaced around races to
highlight and emphasise
discipline weaknesses. For
me, it’s also very important
after each race to take a week
or two of rest/active rest and
doughnuts.
You are working hard on
your swim and we have
seen other natural bike-
runners like Rich Murray
make huge improvements
on a weakness that would
otherwise have kept you
guys in the smaller sport
of duathlon. What have
you learned in your short
time in triathlon that you
can share with others who
may have similar concerns
about being competitive?
Lesson 1: You cannot breathe
when you are drowning. So,
in swimming, technique is
king over volume and/or
intensity. And keeping your
mouth above water is pretty
important too! Generally
speaking, I can basically
summarise my answer with a
quote from James Watkins,
who said, “A river cuts through
a mountain, not because
of its power, but because
of its persistence.” Thus,
consistency is the only training
that matters. That, and
doughnuts, are the secret.
How much of what you
do is guided by a coach
versus by yourself? I’ve
always been a guy who trains
and races with very low self-
confidence, so I rely 100%
on my coach in terms of
weekly planning, training sets
and racing plans. I have to. I
try to stay clear of as much
of the clutter (everything
besides the actual work) as
possible, as I’ve learned that
getting too involved has a
track coach and squad in
Stellenbosch, and she can
kick the lastminute of a long
run as if someone shouted
“open the gates” during
school second break. Even
though our training work is so
different in terms of volumes,
intensities and goals in sets,
we do try and run together
every so often – because two
is better than one, right? And
this way, we get to spend
more time together.
“A BUSY, BALANCED
LIFE HAS BEEN KEY TO
REACHING MY GOALS”
major negative impact on my
mental fitness and wellness.
But yes, flexibility is important
to me, and life happens, so
sometimes I need to take it
into my own hands and make
off-the-page decisions – but
never without the knowledge
of Kent. And outside of
triathlon? Well, my doughnut
bingeing is completely
guided by myself. Don’t tell
my coach.
Does your wife enjoy
sport – if so do you ever
get to train together? Does
Sherpa-ing at my races count
as training together? In all
seriousness, though, my wife
is a champ in her own right.
She trains with a well-known
What’s in store for you in
2019? Will you be heading
to Nice in September to
defend your title on the
steep bike course? Even
though France is on the cards
and I’d love to compete in
World Champs again, I’m
still not sure what my 2019
looks like. I have to mow the
lawn, you know.
What are your long-term
tri aspirations? Where
would you like to be in the
sport in five years’ time?
A pro licence perhaps?
Do you see yourself
progressing to full-
distance racing in time? I
truly don’t see myself going
for a pro licence. I’ve been
asked that before, but I think
people are under a massive
misconception about what it
takes to be (1) a professional
triathlete and (2) to be a
competitive professional,
and to top all that, (3) a
South African athlete. Even
though ‘that Tokyo dream’ is
a good dream to have, it is
important to have one foot
on the ground and have a
future-thinking perspective.
That’s what I’m trying to do.
And call me Sam Appleton,
but full distance? Sorry, I
have never heard of her.
Maybe as a bucket-list race,
one day, yes… But until then,
I’ll stick with what I enjoy –
going fast(-ish). My long-
term aspirations for this sport
are exactly that. To keep it
long-term and sustainable,
while enjoying the process of
improving myself daily. If that
figuratively speaking leads
me to Kona or Tokyo, then
“Aloha” or “I say konnichiwa”,
but if it keeps me on a farm in
Klapmuts, then my joys
in life are in much bigger
things than blood, sweat and
golden medals.
Finally, who do you look
up to in the world of tri,
and why? Richard Murray,
whom I deem a hero and
friend, because he is that river
that cuts through mountains.
And everyone else that
doesn’t dope!
HAPPY DAYS, from left: honing his swim in cool kit; getting married to Aline last December; putting in the miles on Table Mountain.
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