Rising star – Paul Ambrose
Paul Ambrose is a rising star in triathlon and despite his swimming background has become a very strong cyclist. He recently proved at 70.3 California that he can put it all together when only Andy Potts and Craig Alexander were able to beat him.
ST: Paul, congrats on a monster bike ride at Ironman 70.3 Kansas.
Paul: Thanks, I wish I had a monster run to finish it off, but I stuffed up my nutrition and melted on the run, it wasn't my day.
ST: At age 23 you already had some pretty impressive results. When did you get started with triathlon?
Paul: I started in late 2000 after the Sydney Olympics
ST: You recently finished 3rd at Ironman 70.3 California right behind Andy Potts and Craig Alexander. Do you consider this race your best result so far?
Paul: Definitely, my best results so far, with two world champions in front of you, it’s not too bad to be beat by, though I would like to beat them in each race that I do. That’s my goal, a hard one to meet at times, but I believe achievable.
ST: What is on your schedule for the remainder of the year in terms of big events?
Paul: Next big events will be Vineman 70.3, then Rhode Island 70.3 and maybe another Half Ironman or 2 leading up to my goal race of the year, the 70.3 World Champs in Clearwater.
ST: What is your favorite race and why?
Paul: Definitely Pucon 70.3 in Chile, it’s the most beautiful place in the world that I have visited. The course is great, it is a very "fun race" with great nightlife and the people are so friendly and very supportive, also the women there are not too bad for the eyes either.
ST: Can you tell us more about your athletic background and who or what inspired you to race triathlons?
Paul: I started off as a “swimmer” if you want to call me that. But I didn’t swim like the professional swimmers in Australia do, I just done the masters and idolized Kieran Perkins (one of the greatest 1500m swimmers of all time). Though my heart wasn’t really into doing the training to get to the next level in swimming, so I looked for a way out. That’s when triathlon came into play. I used to watch the old Formula 1 series on T.V in Australia and looked up to the “champ” at the time Brad Bevan aka “the crock”. I found out where I could try one of these sprint triathlons out, and with a school friend we both completed it. I loved it and went from there, my friend on the other handed in the towel after 2 races.
ST: Please describe a typical hard training week for us.
Paul: Monday: Morning swim fairly long, then off on the bike for about 4hrs give or take, easy run in the afternoon
Tuesday: Tempo ride 3hrs in the morning, lunch – swim group, temp run in the afternoon
Wednesday: Long ride 6-7 hrs, swim afternoon
Thursday: Ride temp 3hrs, swim lunch, long 2hr tempo run afternoon
Friday: Swim morning, ride easy 2hrs, run easy 40min
Saturday: Long ride 7hrs (give or take), swim (ocean), run (if not too tired) 1hr
Sunday: Long run 2hrs easy
ST: How you typically spend the off-season?
Paul: Well to be honest, it consists of a lot of bar hopping and late nights out with friends. Then chilling on the beach during the day (grabbing a coffee) , then back too the bars with mates.
ST: Do you have any gripes about triathlon?
Paul: Yeah I have a little issue with people being too anal about triathlon. Seriously its just triathlon, some people need to chill out!!! And think of something else.
I love the sport but there are other things in life than just triathlon.
ST: Have you had help with your bike fit?
Paul: Yes, funny you are mentioning it. I went to the bike store after Saint Croix 70.3 and got a new bike measured up, they said I was all messed up in the position that I was riding so they fixed me up. Fingers crossed that I can ride even faster now…
ST: How are things going for you in terms of sponsorship?
Paul: Well, last year after Cancun 70.3 I met my now manager / sponsor at the triathlon after party. I told him that I wasn't going to Clearwater World Championships as I couldn’t afford it. So he paid for my trip from Australia and I stayed and met his family in Florida. After the world champs he was very supportive of my performance and he wanted to help a young broke up and coming pro reach his full potential. So I kept in contact and went back to Australia. Marc-Andrea is his name and he said that he would help me get to the top, and he will cover all my travel expenses for triathlon and help me out. Like a manager would with the sponsors as he is well informed in business as he owns several successful businesses and knows how to make a small idea a successful one.
ST: Do you follow any other sports?
Paul: Yeah but not consistently. I like to watch swimming and I love watching guys like Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps bust it out. Also like watching some of the English soccer and that’s really it.
ST: Can you share with us some of your food likes and dislikes?
Paul: To be honest, I like most junk food, and each it on a regular basis. I’m a big chocoholic and have a chronic sweet tooth but dislike most vegetables. I guess I’m a nutritionist’s worst nightmare.
ST: What about music? Anything you listen to more often?
Paul: I listen too all most anything as long as it had a good beat. I like most of the old school music like the Beatles, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder etc
ST: What was the last book you read?
Paul: Seriously I have read like one book cover to cover, I don’t like reading at all. I read the Lance Armstrong bio and that was only because some training partners insisted that I should read it.
ST: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Paul: Hopefully with a World Champion Half Ironman and Ironman title under my belt, going on to defend them again, maybe even have a crack at training for the London Olympics. Like you said “I’m only 23”, I hope to have a long carrier in the sport.
ST: Is there anything else we should know about you?
Paul: Not that I can talk about in public anyway ☺
