Pat O'Brien
1. How did you get into Triathlon?
I’ve always been pretty active with hill walking, ski-ing and a bit of running. Then as time goes on the beer soaked challenges creep in, like half marathons. It was the first Tri to take place on my doorstep at Tatton that got me thinking “I could do that “, and my interest has remained since. The start-up of a club like KTC just fuels the fire, gives great coaching chances and introduces lots of new friends.
2. What training do you enjoy and what do you hate?
Swimming and cycling are my preferred choice, apart from Mark Hudson’s reference sets !! I enjoy all disciplines but there is a satisfaction in perfecting swim technique and in seeing the countryside from the bike, but less so when slogging along on foot.
3. Give us an insight into your day dreams when you are out training on your own?
…lots of counting. If I can do this many miles at this pace, then I need to improve by that much to achieve this race result. Lots of that and a bit of how I would spend my lottery winnings – daydreams to make the pains go away.
4. Give us one top training tip?
Don’t be daunted at the start of a difficult session. Break it down in your mind, you’ll soon be halfway though then the last few reps will quickly disappear.
5. Talk us through your best and worst tri events to date?
There have only been a couple of sprint events so far, both at Tatton. The first would be the best, cracking 90mins with little training. The worst is the second, not cracking 90mins with lots more training !! Tatton 2010 was COLD.
6. If you were doing (or thinking of doing) a triathlon for the first time, which one piece of advice would you give?
Join a club like KTC ! Don’t invest in too much kit until you have talked to a few people.
7. What’s your ultimate triathlon dream (e.g. win a race, complete an Ironman)?
In your idle moments your mind does tend to drift off to an Ironman. In this sport as an enthusiastic amateur it’s the one thing that really HAS to be tackled. The ultimate goal. Even if the family think that you are old enough to know better !!
8. What’s your favourite piece of tri kit/gadget that you own?
Its been said before but it has to be my Heart Rate Monitor. It’s a guide that’s always there to tell you where you are at, not just timing wise, but which zone you’re in and whether you think you can sustain at that rate, or that you should push on, or pull back a little.
9. What’s your post race indulgence (food and drink)?
Pint of Guinness / dodgy burger from the nearest van
10. Finally, who from KTC would you most like to pip on the finish line?
I guess I’d like to be out of the water before Cordelia or Abi, and off the bike before Robin – that should make for a decent time if I could still run !!
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