Family matters in life and sport

November 28, 2013

Ben Allen came to the XTERRA World Championship in Maui last month determined to redeem his haunting disappointment the year before – and to prove to the world that his numerous victories at other XTERRA races in Asia, Oceania and Europe were not aberrations that melted in the hot light of off-road triathlon’s biggest stage. Ever the gentleman, last year he was beaming with pride that his long-time girlfriend Jacqui Slack had finished 5th, but kept his deep disappointment about his 2012 result and any excuses for his 35th place finish to himself. Yet anyone digging for an answer found there was much to honor. After failing to reconnect his chain that broke at Mile 6 while he was in 2nd place chasing eventual winner Javier Gomez, Allen push-walked the uphills and freewheeled the downhills the last 12 miles of the bike leg. Then, rather than sneak away and dropping out, ran humbly to the finish at the back of the pro field and behind several age group competitors.

Happily, Allen put his 2012 disaster behind him in Maui this year and he finished 3rd after a duel on the bike with winner Ruben Ruzafa. Allen said his 2012 Maui disaster was in the back of his mind: “I used that as motivation to really dig deep and it’s paid off. I worked so hard the past two years, so to finish on the podium against a quality field is a dream come true. And it was great that my mum and dad are here.” While Jacqui Slack was disappointed with her 9th place finish, her attitude mirrored Ben’s upbeat take the year before — she was more interested in celebrating Ben’s great race than moping about her off day.

In a conversation with Ben Allen and Jacqui Slack before this year’s Maui XTERRA finale, the talk began with accounts of their up and down 2013 seasons. That discussion took a turn away from the sport and led to a reflection on the loss they deeply felt at the death of Jacqui’s beloved grandfather. And that branched out to a discussion about how big a part family love and support has played in forming their character, inspiring their sporting endeavors and giving meaning to their lives.

Slowtwitch: Jacqui you had better luck than Ben last year in Maui. How has this season been?

Jacqui Slack: I think Ben handed me his [2012] bad luck at the top of this season. I don’t think I’ve ever gone through so many races where I have ripped tires, mechanical issues and things like that. I had multiple punctures in the Philippines, followed by two amazing races in Saipan and Guam where my form really came together and I beat defending champion Renata Bucher who is really always outstanding on these races. Then we headed to Malaysia where again I had so many mechanicals — a broken derailleur and multiple punctures on the bike. Still I finished the race. At XTERRA New Zealand I did well [2nd] but ended up missing a flight on my way home because my emergency passport didn’t correspond with my visa.

ST: Which brings up the theme of this dual interview – the importance of support from significant others and especially family.

Jacqui: Yeah, I have great people around me who encourage me to keep going when things get tough. My European season didn’t really start how I wanted — I got 4th place in Spain and then I had a good race in Greece [on June 21] and finished 2nd. My mum Janet and her friend came over to support — you always get great motivation when family is there.

ST: I understand things took a serious turn away from sport?

ST: And then we found out that my granddad was feeling very, very poorly. He’s been suffering with cancer for nine months. After my race in Greece he really went downhill big time. So I thought it was time for me to go home with my family. Unfortunately I missed some of the races we’d planned on doing. But family is more important. Ben stayed in Europe to complete some of the races and I went home with my family to be with my granddad.

ST: Sounds like your granddad played a big part in your life. Tell us about him.

Jacqui: His name is Donald West. His adventure in life was his family. He’s got three children and seven grandchildren and a beautiful wife, Joyce – our Nana. Yeah it was all about family for him. As we were growing up, he and Nana used to load up his Dodge Caravan and take two of his grandchildren in turns away every weekend of the summer. They would take us after school on a Friday afternoon and bring us back on Sundays. So our best childhood memories were spent going to places like Blackpool, South Port or Conwy in Wales. Granddad used to make us walk for miles. I never used to want to but they made us go. But at the end of the walk he’d reward us with a bottle of pop and a packet of crisps at the pub. He also used to cook an amazing English breakfast which is a fry up of eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, sausage bacon and some thick white bread.

ST: You said your mother has always been a big supporter of your sporting endeavors?

Jacqui: My mum’s name is Janet Slack. She now works for the amateur swimming association as a trainer and assessor. She got me into swimming and would take me all over the country to race in swimming galas. When I got into triathlon she did the same by taking me to triathlon races all over the country. She was my Granddad's eldest daughter.

ST:Your granddad continued to stay close when you’d grown up?

Jacqui: The very day I did my first triathlon, I think 9 years ago now, he was there supporting me and he’s been there ever since. He would be reading my blog, being there at the English events with Nana.

ST: He was as close and supportive of all his grandchildren?

Jacqui: He was so proud of every single one of his grandchildren, for doing just what they do. Some of them have families. He was proud of them for that. Some got a degree and he was proud of them for that. Myself traveling the world, competing in triathlon, he was proud of that.

ST: You were the exception in a close knit family that stayed close to home?

Jacqui: Yes. My family is from a small place in England called Stoke-on-Trent. And every single person from my family, my mum, dad, granddad, and aunties and uncles live within about 5 kilometers of each other. So for me to be off traveling the world and eventually leaving a really great job in the fire service — to leave that job and that stability — it was hard for him to understand with his hard working background. I s’pose at first it was a bit of a shock that I was going off and trying to make a living from doing triathlon. But I think once they saw what we were doing, how serious we were and how professional we were…

ST: It was not the kind of work with which they were familiar. But you train extremely hard and I think they must have related to that?

Jacqui: Exactly. Over the last few years, especially since I've met Ben, they’ve seen how hard we work. They’ve watched us train. They know what happens at the races, they know how much commitment it takes to travel to these races. They were so proud and he was so so happy for us. And he helped in any way he could. So he was the perfect granddad. It was a real shock to lose him so early [Donald West died July 14]. It wasn't his time to go. He wasn’t ready. He was 75.

ST: You felt he had a good number of years ahead?

Jacqui: He was young! He used to play golf three or four times a week. I remember one time when I was doing my physical training instructor course. He was my candidate. I'd take him and put him on the treadmill and say, ‘Hey granddad, walk for 10 minutes.’ He'd be off and running, increasing the incline and beating the treadmill. He was one of those kinds of granddads – he’d go out and ride his bike. He’d walk every day. So he was young.

Ben Allen: I think he was very proud of his family and it was evident in the dedication he showed all of them. Jacqui is the same. She is very family-oriented and she is a very kind person at heart and so was Don. I am very proud and honored to say that was able to share some part in his life. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to meet such a great man. He just showcased there are some really fantastic people out there.

ST: What has Jacqui inherited from him?

Ben: I think Don and Jacqui are very much alike with a warm heart and the family spirit and that never-say-die attitude to live each day as if it were the last. That’s some pretty powerful traits to have. And Don was always there supporting Jacqui through thick and thin, through every little local 5k park run down at the local park. It just shows that Jacqui has that as well.

Jacqui: I think something I get from my granddad is that he's ridden the waves in life so well. He knew that things go wrong and he's never let bad times get him down. He’s always carried on and has always shrugged them off as if that was part of life. You deal with it and you move on. I think I've got that from my granddad y’know? He has always been there in the family situations — my boyfriends, car accidents, whatever has happened, he has always been there. He has always been so strong as to say, ‘Well, it's happened. Let's get through it.’ It was true with Don and with my parents – they weren't going to give all this money. It was ‘You sort it out yourself.’ But Don’s love and my parents’ love and support that’s always been there.

ST: Ben tell us about your family.

Ben: My mum and dad – Dennis and Janelle Allen — and my whole family have been my number one supporters. My mum and dad flew here all the way from Australia. They arrived yesterday. They are here it support me because they heard of the bad luck that I had last year. They are determined that when they come here, I’m going to have a good race. Normally I do. So it's given me that extra boost of confidence knowing that I've got my mum, and dad here. Though my sister and her partner and my granddad and grandmother back home in Australia would love to be here, I know they are here in spirit cheering me on.

ST: What is it about the Australian spirit that embraces her sons and daughters going off around the world to conquer sport? And are things different in parts of England?

Ben: It is absolutely priceless to have your family and your friends there to support you through all these adventures that Jacqui and I go on. It gives you the strength to go beyond your ability. Because you know that you’ve got someone behind you cheering you, supporting you. It really inspires me to reach my full potential.

ST: Jacqui, do you think there is a difference between Australia and that corner of England where you grew up?

Jacqui: I think they are really different. I think the way that Ben is brought up he's always had lots of idols and so many people he aspires to be like. English people are almost a little embarrassed to say, ‘I aspire to be like that person,’ or ‘This person is my idol.’ I think a lot of English people, where I’m from, come from a very hard working background and don't dream big. They are happy where they are. They are happy with their friends that they’ve got. They sometimes haven't seen much more of the world and they don’t want to step out of their comfort zone.

ST: How are Ben’s parents different?

Jacqui: Ben's mom and dad have always encouraged him to step out of his comfort zone. They’ve given him what they can in love and support, but it hasn’t been easy. His parents are not rich. They are not well off. They haven't been able to say “Here, take $10,000 and go and do what you do.’ But they have given him so much support. And if he wants to do something, they as a family will help him find a way to do it. Their attitude is always positive.

ST: Tell us about one adventure you’ve had together on the road this year.

Ben: When we were in the UK this spring, Jacqui took me to the Lake District and we went there really determined to ride in some fells — what they call mountains. We set off and unfortunately the day turned for the worse. The weather was cloudy, it was raining, torrential wind, and we were determined to sort of push through as XTERRA athletes who don’t let any obstacle get in the way. Midway through we had gone down this big mountain and had another grueling climb to go up. The weather had turned really bad and it almost started snowing. We were both frozen to the bone and we both weren’t wearing suitable British weather clothing. For one, I don't really have anything like that – I’m Australian. Along the way, there was a very challenging moment between Jacqui and I. I think we learned a fair bit.

Jacqui: I cried!

Ben: Jacqui cried and…

Jacqui: We got lost. Didn’t know where we were.

Ben: If we had a phone that worked we could have called someone. But unfortunately we just had to soldier on and…

Jacqui: We went back the way we came. Which wasn't what we wanted to do.

ST: You probably were two thirds to your destination and then had to go two thirds back?

Jacqui: Exactly.

Ben: But through our passion, Jacqui and I stuck it out. We fought through and willed our bodies to go beyond and made our way back to our starting point.

ST: Did it turn out to be the best workout?

Ben: Yeah, the best workout. One of the most challenging experiences I've ever had.

Jacqui: Yeah, we made it back. And we laugh about it now. You know, sometimes when you get into these really cold, horrible situations and then you get back to the café at the end? You just got in a minute before closing time and say, 'Give me everything you’ve got!' And you have a hot drink. Those are the kind of good moments you look back on and go ‘Wow! We got through it and we are enjoying all this tasty food in the café and shaking our heads at each other and saying, ‘Let's never do that again!’’’

ST: But of course you will!