Even throughout a ‘relaxation interval’ 9 months earlier than the London Olympics, Alistair and Jonny have been working relentlessly on their health
Again in October 2011, I went on a media journey courtesy of Garmin to the Barcelona Triathlon. Travelling with the small group of journalists and PR individuals have been the Brownlee brothers – Alistair and Jonny – lower than a yr earlier than the London Olympics have been set to happen.
I bear in mind rising wearily for the early-morning flight and as quickly as we arrived and checked into our resort I headed to Las Ramblas for lunch and a drink with the opposite journos. This was a ‘travelling day’, in spite of everything, so I used to be feeling a bit delicate and absolutely wanted to take it simple?
Because it turned out, this was additionally a day the place I realized the distinction between a leisure membership stage athlete like myself and a world-class triathlete destined for Olympic gold.
Alistair Brownlee (Getty)
The earlier evening the Brownlees had been out at an occasion till round midnight however nonetheless rose at round 4-5am to do an early morning swim session earlier than dashing to Leeds-Bradford Airport for his or her flight to Barcelona. They took their bicycles in bike packing containers, too, however I don’t bear in mind them having a lot assist from anybody with regards packing and organising all of it. As a substitute, they only rocked up collectively carrying all their tools themselves.
Touching down on the resort, they went straight out on to the roads of Catalonia for a spin of round two to 3 hours.
Then, as if that wasn’t sufficient, I noticed Alistair and Jonny arriving again at our resort at about 6pm dripping with sweat as they’d squeezed in a 40-minute run earlier than going for a fast bathe and costume change forward of the Garmin occasion within the night the place they have been joyful to mingle and chat with journalists like myself.
But right here’s the factor. They have been apparently in an end-of-season “relaxation interval” earlier than resuming their winter preparation correctly a couple of days later!
So if that’s what they did throughout a simple week after they had been travelling all day, then I may solely think about what they managed at one in every of their precise coaching camps.
Within the Barcelona Triathlon itself, they have been each content material to easily spectate however in addition they skilled that day earlier than flying dwelling to proceed their work. The next summer season they have been rewarded in addition to Alistair received the primary of two Olympic gold medals as Jonny earned bronze regardless of a time penalty.
Now, the 36-year-old Alistair has hung up his racing sneakers, goggles and bike, though I can’t think about him stopping swim-run-biking fully.
Triathlon isn’t historically a part of AW’s protection, however the Brownlees have spent such an enormous a part of their profession at working occasions that we can’t ignore them.
Amongst different issues they’ve usually popped up in our outcomes part after racing on cross nation (Alistair represented Britain on the Euro Cross) or fell races, particularly over the festive interval.
AW’s 2006 English Faculties protection
Alistair first appeared prominently in our pages again in March 2006 when he received the English Faculties cross-country title (pictured above) a couple of seconds forward of Ricky Stevenson.
Whereas Alistair’s profession went from energy to energy, by the way, the proficient Stevenson beat Mo Farah in a televised cross-country race in Edinburgh in 2010 however later ended up in jail!
What’s extra, such was Alistair’s working potential at his peak, he was ranked No.3 within the UK for 10,000m behind Farah and Chris Thompson in 2013. Such outcomes led to speak of him tackling an audacious triathlon-athletics double on the 2014 Commonwealth Video games in Glasgow though in the end he caught to his speciality.
You’ll be able to learn extra in regards to the sensible Alistair Brownlee and his retirement determination right here.
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