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James Tobin Takes The Triathlon Challenge

I can’t put my finger on exactly why but triathlon has always appealed to me. Certainly its the endurance aspect - I enjoy the mental challenge of fighting through the pain and I’ve always had great respect and admiration for endurance athletes.

It’s the variety - triathlon training is never boring. It's the people you meet - in a swim squad, riding or running group, or on the ‘4th leg’ celebrating with a few drinks after you’ve all gotten through the event. Triathlon is just great fun. It gets you fit and the people you meet through triathlon are good people.

I’m not particularly naturally talented or gifted in any of the disciplines and I swim like wounded giraffe, but combining all three legs is very satisfying.

I speak like I’m a veteran but I couldn’t be further from experienced. Close to 10 years ago I had a shot at a couple of events. Noosa was my first, and what a fantastic baptism it was! Is there a better venue for a multi-sport event anywhere in the world!? Then i did Nepean. Then I stopped.

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I really enjoyed the training back then, but I was training without any real direction. Just kinda doing what I thought might be right from what I’d read in a few magazines. This time around I decided I was going to do things differently.

Earlier this year publicity at Sunrise told me they were entering a team in the Nissan BRW corporate tri and asked if I’d do a leg; the swim... my favorite! After a few moments dread I said “righto, but if I’m going to be involved I’d rather do the whole thing” and we were away. I pulled out the old running gear and swimmers and very quickly realised I’d effectively done nothing physically demanding for close to 5 years. I was unfit. Sure, I’d been going to the gym every so often but I think I’d been fooling myself that my occasional weights sessions were doing much.

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So I started plodding along in what could arguably be called a run, and swimming a bit, but the bike was an issue. My bike was new when Lance Armstrong was racing for the US Postal Service team. Time to get a new bike. A beautiful new bike, now my pride and joy, a Giant TCR. Probably the reason I love riding so much. I just love bikes, in my mind they’re simply pieces of art.

Now to do the work! I started training more and feeling my fitness improve. I was lucky to have Dan MacPherson in my corner. He very generously took me out on a few training runs and gave me a few pointers. I say ‘generously’ because i was moving at a speed that was barely breaking a sweat for him. The guy’s a superb triathlete and Ironman who has reached the lofty heights of the sport and conquered Hawaii. Perfect training partner!

Training tips from 3 time Noosa Champion, Courtney Atkinson

So the Sydney Nissan BRW tri came around. I had serious nerves before the swim... did I mention I’m not a great swimmer? The starters gun went and I was off. I came out of the water puffing like a steam train but I’d made it. I felt good on the bike and finished the run strongly. For me, it was a great result. I didn’t care about my time, my goal had been to get through it and to feel strong throughout and I’d achieved that. And I was hooked! That afternoon was spent in the pub talking up plans for future triathlons... and now I’ve got to make good on drunken promises!

So, that's how we got here, and now that Noosa’s around 10 weeks away its time to get serious. Until now I’ve been riding with the Tour de Cure guys and girls on their training rides, which has been fantastic. They’re a great group of people as well as excellent cyclists and I’m pushing myself to my limits to keep up... but getting stronger because of it.

In the other disciplines I’ve been floundering around in the pool a bit and going for the occasional run with a friend but I’ve decided this time I’d like a bit more direction. I wanted to get a few pointers from a coach and a program so that I know I’m training smarter. I spoke to the guys at BANZAI and Trizone and they said there’s only one man to speak to... Mark Newton. He’s done it all. Coached the Australian National triathlon team. Coached world number 1 Chris McCormack. Now his toughest challenge... help this half weatherman-half-snail-half tortoise get over the line in Noosa in a half respectable time! (See what I’m doing there... relinquishing responsibility for my result onto someone else... sorry Mark :) )

8 week triathlon training program

So we’ve had two sessions so far. Both very easy for me. The first was a physical assessment. I passed! No, he measure me up to see if I had any imbalances or pre-existing issues. The measurements he took went towards session number 2 which was a bike fit. Its amazing how many adjustments can be made in your set-up! The result however, is that I’m feeling much more comfortable on the bike and that I’m getting more power through the pedals rather than over-compensation for weaknesses and putting my balance out.

So far so good! Next step is my program... Something tells me my sessions with Mark are about to become less easy!