Random AG Stuart Anderson
British age grouper Stuart Anderson is part of Team Freespeed Virgin Active and we bumped into him in Kona after the race. He is now back at his day job at the Telegraph Media Group and we had a little chat with him.
Slowtwitch: Welcome to slowtwitch Stuart.
Stuart: Thank you – It’s great to chat
ST: Your peers must be really fast, because they were quick pointing at you as the slowest man in their group and you actually went 10:09.
Stuart: Yes I’m lucky to be part of a tri team from the UK called Team Freespeed Virgin Active. There are 8 of us in the team and they’re all pretty quick.
ST: But this was actually your slowest effort in Kona.
Stuart: Yes I’ve raced in Kona 4 times; it’s a special place for me because I was married in St Peters Church on Alii Drive in 2010. Prior to 2012, I’d made significant time improvements in each race. In 2010 after my wedding I went 9.17 and was 10th in my age group (35-39). I had hoped to make further improvements this year.
ST: I must admit I was hoping for a slower guy when I approached your group at the Kona Inn Restaurant, as we randomly indeed seem to find too many fast folks. But hey, as I said, we are glad to have you.
Stuart: Thank you… it was totally random that we met. I think we were both checking out the huge sport fish in the foyer there!
ST: With a 9:14 time going into Kona, you must have felt quite confident.
Stuart: Yes, I had qualified in IM Cozumel in November 2011, which allowed me to take time out over the Christmas period. The plan was to attack the 2012 season with renewed rigueur and enthusiasm. It also meant Kona could be the only Ironman that I would need to compete in that season. It would be like just having the exam at the end of year, without having to do the coursework.
ST: In hindsight, is that maybe too much time away from the big day?
Stuart: Yes if you’d decided to have a big break, but I’d planned to race in the spring. Unfortunately this was hampered by work. My boss was signed off long term sick and I picked up his workload as well as mine. I had planned to race UK 70.3, but had to pull out after I tore the collateral ligament in my right knee. (I was first Age grouper there in 2011, 9th overall) This meant I was out of action mid season. After seeing the surgeon and time out, my training schedule recovered and in early September I spent 10 days in Lanzarote training. For the first time this year I felt strong and prepared.
ST: Was there a specific time you were shooting for?
Stuart: No not really, I wanted a Umeke… Although time is a really important indicator in qualifying for Kona, I’ve always felt that once you’ve qualified its all about position. I wanted top five in my age group.
ST: Where do you think your race plan went downhill in Kona?
Stuart: I was a little slower on the swim that I’d expected and biked too hard in the first 90 minutes. I had passed literally hundreds of athletes making up 369 places. I had burnt too many matches during this effort and my stomach shut down. I was unable to process any of my nutrition and was continuously sick even after water. This resulted in me becoming dehydrated and very hot, and when I entered T2, I passed out. The medics covered me in cold wet towels and slowly my color came back, and I was able to drink. It seemed like forever but I was there for just over 20 minutes. The medics eventually said I could leave if I wanted. I thought that even if I walked I would have 9.5 hours to still finish. My teammate, Matt Malloy, also gave me some emotional encouragement that left me welling up inside. I left T2 with a jog and walk plan reticent that I would finish. No longer was I challenging for a top spot, but chasing completion.
ST: So will you attempt to redeem in 2013?
Stuart: Yes, I feel like I have unfinished business. I go up and age group next year so I’ll be the young gun of the 40-44 age group, racing whilst I’m still 39. I have entered IM Lanzarote in May as a qualifier.
ST: Why Lanzarote?
Stuart: Lanzarote is like a second home to me, I’ve been training there for over 12 years, some years I’ve been there on 3 separate training camps. The island has fantastic riding and amazing trail runs. I stay in Club La Santa, which also has a 50m pool and 400m track. I’ve raced the Ironman there twice and successfully qualified each time, so it feels like I’m racing my home course
ST: Talk about your day job.
Stuart: I work in London for the Telegraph Media Group, as Business Development Manager. We publish The Daily Telegraph and the Sunday Telegraph Newspapers and digital content on www.telegraph.co.uk. I’ve worked there for 13 years.
ST: Are the folks at your work pretty understanding about your passion for swimming, biking and running, or have you kept that under the radar?
Stuart: Yes and no, they kind of get it – but I still get asked if I’ll be in the Olympics! Which is a bit odd, but I guess triathlon is a new sport to most people and they don’t understand the difference in distances. All of my holiday is used for training camps and attending races. This has allowed me to visit some fantastic places that would ordinarily be off my radar. I don’t tell work how much time I spend training – they already think I’m nuts!
ST: What about your family? How do they feel about your sport and all the training time it takes?
Stuart: My parents are super supportive. I’ve always been into one sport or another and as a kid they’ve always ferried me around to various races. For my birthdays and Christmas I’ve always had bikes and sporty stuff. I met my wife whilst on a triathlon training camp in Club La Santa Lanzarote, so I consider myself fortunate that Mette already knew that I had a real passion for triathlon and Ironman. She’s since raced a half Ironman so I think a little of my passion has brushed off on her.
ST: Any big plans for the rest of the year and the holidays?
Stuart: I have pretty much taken a month off after Kona. I start back again this week. Over the winter I love riding my MTB. I’m not very good compared to the pure mountain bikers but I’ll enter a load of races with a view to improving my technique and speed. I really enjoy it, and never need an excuse to hit the trails…
ST: Anything else we should know?
Stuart: I’m also privileged to be racing the Norseman 2013.
ST: Is that an event you wanted to do for a while or is that a recent passion?
Stuart: Yes it’s been on my bucket list ever since my teammate from Team Freespeed won it. Jenny Gowans wrote an account of the race for slowtwitch and I thought to myself. I’d love a crack at that. Next year I’m ranked at number 10 and have been given an Elite registration
ST: What other events are on your bucket list?
Stuart: Embrunman, Cape Epic, BC Bike race, Crocodile Trophy MTB race, Yukon 1000 Kayak race and Challenge Roth (entered in 2010, but was sick!) are a few but I could go on forever…
