PEOPLE » MICHAEL & LAUREN CANNON
while balancing family and careers.
We are both each other’s greatest
supporters and always push each other
to achieve the best, while still trying to
have some fun.
You met on stage in East London
when you were both winners of the
25-29 age groups at IRONMAN 70.3
South Africa. Rumour has it that
Lauren, who gets what she wants,
played her cards first. Who said
what to whom that saw the action
move on to Buccaneers?
MC: Is this a family magazine? On that
podium, I noticed this little blonde thing
next to me. I actually remember seeing
her on the run course that day, and even
waved and said hello. She played hard
to get and just ran on. The game was
on… That night at the awards ceremony
I stood next to her and asked her if she
was going out on the town afterwards.
Everyone is getting faster and faster,
so to answer your question, we would
say everyone starting on the beach that
morning will be a competitor.
If you both qualify for the IRONMAN
70.3 World Championship in
Nice in September, will you plan
the ultimate triathlon second
honeymoon by racing both
Lausanne and Nice together, just a
week and four-hours’-drive apart?
MC: For sure, we are both already in
for Triathlon Worlds in Lausanne, so we
just need to punch that ticket for 70.3
Worlds now, so that we can do both.
This trip would be amazing for us to
do together, but it’s going to be hard
leaving our two rats at home.
After that, what plans for Kona?
MC: I’ve got no plans for Kona this year.
There’s too much on the go at work.
"WE ARE BOTH EACH OTHER’S
GREATEST SUPPORTERS”
I spent some time on the sidelines
in PE with your coach Richard
Lawrie. He has been pretty open
about Mike needing to put in more
hours and Lauren needing to hit
the brakes occasionally. What’s
the magic number of hours in your
opinion, and what have you both
learned about successful training
over the past decade?
MC: Less is definitely more for us. I
try to keep my family, work, fun and
sporting life equally balanced. I prefer
doing more quality sessions, and avoid
the dead hours. Richard has been a
great coach to both Lauren and I. We
have our programmes set to around 18
hours per week, with every one of those
sessions made to count.
WINNING WAYS, from top: stronger
together; Lauren on the road to recovery
after her op; meeting on the East London
podium in 2013; Mike at IMSA in April.
58
You’re both Durban locals so know
the course conditions well. You’re
both in great form, too, so can we
expect a reunion on that top step?
Who are your main rivals in this
non-pro IRONMAN 70.3 race?
MC: The level of racing amongst the
age group athletes is getting ridiculous.
Next year, I am hoping to qualify and will
then go take on that beast. I would love
to see Lauren take on a full IRONMAN,
but she’s not ready to take the bait yet.
How do you guys see triathlon
growing? Will you motivate your
girls to get involved?
MC: Definitely, yes. I think it’s a great
sport, especially for the kids, as it
teaches them to love being outdoors,
keeping fit and having fun. Hopefully
they both inherited their mom’s
sporting genes.
What keeps you both in the sport
when many others burn out after
a few years?
MC: Not going overboard, and
consistently setting goals and trying
different sports. We both don’t want to
get old and say “When I was young I
could have…”. We would rather just get
on with it and do it now
What three pieces of non-essential
tri gear do you feel justify the
indulgence of extra spend?
MC: We both unanimously agree on
a power meter, deep section carbon
wheels and a porno trisuit!
FINISHERPIX
She very excitedly said yes, and that was
that. She was in love.