5 minutes with... Alistair Brownlee
Alistair out where he loves to be
He is down to earth. He likes flying kites. He loves his running. He loves off-road running especially. He would quite like to do more mountain running and was GB’s top Olympian in the Beijing triathlon. He is Alistair Brownlee – one of the biggest talents in triathlon right now.
You have a real pedigree in running, especially cross country, how does this still fit into your schedule, now that you are predominantly a triathlete?
I do as many cross country races as I can in the winter and a few fell races from time to time. I try to do the Yorkshire fell champs every year and a few when my triathlon season finishes, like the FRA relays and Dave Woodhead’s races. I would like to do more but the summer months are quite busy for me! I really enjoy fell and cross country running. I think its great fun, good for me and a way to break up the monotony of winter training. I like to try run well in the major champs in the new year (Yorkshires, Northerns, Nationals, BUCS, Inter-counties) although my fitness seems to be a bit hit and miss.
Would you therefore consider yourself a triathlete first and ‘runner’ second?
No, I like to consider myself a triathlete and a runner. I do mainly running in the winter and triathlon in the summer like someone might run cross countries in the winter and track in the summer.
Triathlon is where its at right now for Alistair
Is it all about 2012 right now, or are you taking each year as it comes?
I am taking each year as it comes as thinking too far ahead isn’t one of my strong points! It is still a long way off and if someone asked me about Beijing in 2005 I would have laughed so a lot can happen in three years but it is in the back of my mind.
How has this winter gone, both in training and competition (off-road running)?
It seems to have gone well. It has been very different from last year because by now I had spent six weeks warm weather training and was about to start racing world cups to try improve my world ranking for Olympic qualification. This year has been much more relaxed I have only spent a week away so my training has been more consistent but less race specific. The races have gone ok, I had good runs at the Yorkshire and Northern champs but the National champs were a disaster. I had a particularly bad day!
On the country...
Bad day?
It was a disaster. The first lap was ok and I was in the top 20 but I started to feel awful about halfway and could do nothing more than get round. I’m not a big fan of over analysing things so I’ve put it down to a bad day.
You were also at the Saab Salomon Outdoor Team’s first training camp at Langdale in January. How did that come about?
I was talking to John (Heneghan) and Nick (Swinburn) the week before at the Northern and they mentioned they were going to the Lakes. John asked Tim if I could come along and he kindly said it was fine. So I went to Langdale the next weekend! I really like to vary my training so I jumped at the chance of spending a weekend somewhere different with different people.
Is mountain running something that you see still being a big part of your schedule? And how about the World Mountain Running Champs at some point in the future?
Yes I would definitely like to do some more mountain running in the future. I went to three world trophies as a junior and loved the experience. I think up hill only races in particular could fit in well I just need a bit of luck with scheduling of the trial races and triathlons. You never know, it would be great to have a different focus for a year somewhere along the line.
What gets you excited outside of running?
Cycling! I do love riding my bike (when it’s not raining) but not as much as running. Apart from that (obviously) I enjoy travelling, reading, walking, flying kites, eating and just generally being active and outside.
Cycling is a big love for Alistair
Alistair or Jonathan Brownlee, who is the greatest?!
That’s a tough one. I don’t think either of us are great and we are both very different athletes at the moment. Maybe you should ask Jonathan.
