Fearless Philip Graves
Normann Stadler knows who this kid is. "He is completely unafraid!" said the 2004 and 2006 Ironman World Champion about the 20-year-old Yorkshireman, a tri-phenomenon who won Ironman UK going away this summer with a killer bike and a 2:52 run.
"He is completely unafraid" in Ironman terms translates into a young man of considerable talent who isn’t burdened by tales of disasters that come to rookies who don't pay obeisance to the difficulties to be encountered on the cauldron of wind and heat found on the Queen K. In Ironman terms, unafraid might result in a humbling toasting of the naïve ego. Or it might mean Graves could be the next Luc Van Lierde, a man who comes to Kona as a rookie and sets a still-standing course record the first time out.
Unafraid also means a talented man who doesn't believe that a respectful triathlete should race short course through his or her 20s and only take on Ironman at the usual peak of endurance – in his 30s.
Philip Graves wants it now.
Slowtwitch: Does this course suit you?
Philip Graves: The first 30 miles are pretty drag strip. The middle 40 miles – up the hill from from Kawaihae to Hawi and back down again are really really tough. I was training at Hawi and it was a headwind all the way back down the hill. That wind coming off the sea is nerve wracking. It's crazy. Hopefully, I should be in position to get a gap by that point.
ST: Is your swim good enough to be in position to make an aggressive move that early?
Philip: We will see how the swim goes. I'm playing my cards close to the vest. But at Ironman UK I swam with (two-time Ironman winner) Steve Bayliss. So we will see. I don't know how many good swimmers there are. Andy Potts is here, but I don't know if he's fully recovered after his crash at Chicago.
ST: Did you get enough rest after Ironman UK to be at your best here in Kona?
Philip: I raced an Olympic distance event two weeks later. Then I did a 100-mile time trial and did a 4-minute personal best. I went 3:33 with an average speed of 45.5 km/h which translates to under 4 hours for the Ironman distance bike. Since then I've spent a month and a half preparing just for this – and I've spent 9-10 days here., I think that's plenty.
ST: Can you perform at your best in Kona heat?
Philip: I think so.
ST: Some folks think someone your age belongs racing short course throughout their 20s. That going long this early will stunt your speed.
Philip: I won't turn 21 until April of next year. I think I have the game to contend right now. Hopefully I will get stronger every year. Eventually, hopefully, I'll win this race not just one time, but 2-3-4, maybe 5-6-7 times. But the main thing I'm counting on this year is getting experience. Then I will go home and work on it and come back better for it."
ST: Did your big win at UK Ironman surprise you?
Philip: I knew I had that performance in me for a long time. It's just finding the right time to put it out there. Obviously, being so young I have to be a bit careful. Last year I was just doing junior things in sprint distance races.
ST: How much training diod you put in this last month?
Philip: I did a couple big weeks. Nothing out of the ordinary.
ST: Can you be in the top group late in the run? Will you have a chance with a 2:52 marathon best?
Philip: I can't see why not. I might even be leading it.
ST: What was your favorite sport in school?
Philip: Of course I did a bit of swim bike and run. But I played cricket at the country level and I'd really liked to have been a cricketer.
