PEOPLE » MICHAEL & LAUREN CANNON
Mike, you were nearing the end
of a massive IRONMAN training
block yet you also stamped your
ticket to join Lauren at Lausanne
Worlds. That’s impressive enough,
but despite a busy career, you also
managed to give your wife enough
support to get back to racing form.
What’s the secret to co-parenting
and racing at the highest level?
MC: A good balance definitely helps.
You have to make time for family, work
and racing. Although we are both very
competitive, we have a well laid out set
of priorities that allows us to keep it real,
but still manage to race. I must mention
that Lauren is my training partner. We
do the majority of our rides and swims
together, so we get to spend one-on-one
time together while training.
LC: Mike and I love spending time
together training as we feel we can
connect, solve the world’s problems and
just be together. He has dragged me
around Durban and Knysna on my bike
ensuring that I am as strong as I possibly
can be. Mike is always so positive and
encouraging towards everything I do.
When I lose it, he quickly calms me down
and explains that the training I am doing
is above average for a women, and that
I will be more than ready for race day.
This man believes in me like no other
and for that I cannot thank him enough
– he gives me the confidence and
reassurance I need before a race.
Lauren, you and I ran the Knysna
Half Marathon a few years ago when
you were pretty heavily pregnant.
The only way I was able to keep
up was when you slowed on the
downhills to avoid falling on your
bump! This speaks volumes about
your resilience and make-it-happen
attitude. Has it taken a lot of positive
self-talk to come back, or was it
simply a matter of ‘not if but when’?
LC: It was a matter of ‘when I get back
into it’, as it has become my norm.
Initially, when I set out on my recovery
and return to racing, it wasn’t about
winning, but rather just to be out there
again with Mike. Luckily, with hard work
and extreme dedication, my recovery
has gone really well, and the results have
followed.
Many couples insist that only one
partner can race if young kids are to
be nurtured successfully, yet your
little ladies are doing well. What
advice do you have for other parents
who enjoy endurance sport?
MC: Scarlett and Stella have grown up
with us both living very active lifestyles,
and this has become their norm. We are
very fortunate in that we have a great
support base at home, with the most
incredible nanny, Jabu, who loves our
two little girls like her own and takes
exceptional care of them when we head
out to train, even in the early mornings.
Our families are also in Durban, so come
race day, the girls will be on the side of
the road shouting for Mom and Dad to
“run faster” with Granny and Grandpa.
LC: As important as training is to us, our
girls are more important. All our off-time
is always dedicated to making sure we
spend as much quality time with them as
possible. Mike even plays dress up and
Barbie houses with them. We rarely ever
have downtime to read a book, take an
afternoon nap or go out on the town, as
we would both rather be playing with our
two little rats.
Indoor trainers at home clearly play
a role but you swim together at lunch
breaks. Describe a typical week of
Cannon life to tick your Training
Peaks boxes and still keep lunch
boxes full?
LC: Sleep-ins are definitely something
of the past as there is no time to catch
up on missed training with school drop-
offs, pick-ups and extra mural activities.
HAPPY FAMILIES, from top: dressed up
for a night out; learning to ride like Dad;
Mom gets support on the indoor trainer;
Jabu helps look after Scarlett and Stella.
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