Up close with Jimmy Johnsen

December 18, 2012

Danish Pro Jimmy Johnsen has spent quite a bit of time Down Under the last few years, and now with a win at Ironman Western Australia and a bride-to-be from that part of the world – this is not going to change anytime soon.

Slowtwitch: Are you finally ready for some rest?

Jimmy: Definitely looking forward to some down time, there's been a lot of travel in last couple of months! One of the reasons why I chose to do Busselton was so I could have a break over Christmas. For the last few years, I've raced in January so I normally don't get to enjoy Christmas and New Year celebrations with everyone. I'm going to try to make the most of the quiet time.

ST: What is on your agenda the next few weeks?

Jimmy: First we are on the move again. We've been based on the North Coast of NSW but will head down south to Melbourne where my fiancée’s family is. Just a small 1600km drive! There's also a bit of work still to do to close some of the last sponsor deals for next year. After that I will just have some R&R with our friends and family in Melbourne and enjoy Christmas and New Year. I've learnt from past that my body doesn't like stopping altogether so I will continue to do light training and mentally start preparing for the next race and year ahead.

ST: So no white Christmas in Denmark?

Jimmy: No not this year, we were in Denmark last year for Christmas with no snow. My mum had a big birthday to celebrate and the last time I was there for Christmas before that was in 2007. So it was a long time between white Christmas for me and it looks like it will be even longer before it is going to happen again.

ST: How often do you go back there in general?

Jimmy: The last few years I have split my time between Australia and Europe to race both seasons, but next year we have decided to go to the USA instead. I will get to see my family though as they will come to visit Australia in November

ST: Going back to racing, was it your plan all along to race both Cozumel and Busselton?

Jimmy: Originally the plan was to do 70.3 Canberra in December and 70.3 Auckland in January but when I saw the start list for Busselton I started to think it could be an option. I could earn the same points and my history would say I could back up well. I went into Ironman Cozumel completely focused on a great race and wasn't going to make any decisions about Busso until I had come home to Australia and saw how I had recovered. I worked hard in the days after Cozumel to recover right and give myself the best chance. My legs pulled up great and after talking things over with my coach Grant Giles we booked the flights and just keep the body moving.

ST: How long have you been working with Grant Giles and how did you connect?

Jimmy: I started working with Grant Giles last November. I had a change with my setup when I decided to leave the Danish National Team. I also decided it was a good chance to change my whole setup. I spend much more time in Australia than in Europe and so it made sense to get an Aussie coach. I had met Grant back in 2008 and have met him a few times over the last few years while I have been racing in Australia. But it was not before last year I decided we could try to work together.

When I was looking at a new setup I emailed a couple of coaches but as soon as I spoke with Grant I knew he was the right person for me. I believed that he and his team (Aeromax Team) could get my love back to the sport. They have a great base set up in Lennox Head NSW Australia where a lot of us pro athletes live and train. To have so many quality athletes to train with everyday is amazing.

ST: Based on your post race Busso comments it appears that some folks were giving you a hard time for doing both events.

Jimmy: Going into race week I felt really good, probably fresher than at Cozumel. And not many people were giving me any chance of having a good race. I went in completely under the radar – which was actually good because I had very little pressure and could just focus on my own preparation. When I won my first Iron distance race at Challenge Barcelona I did that off the back of a half Ironman (Ican Mallorca), a double Olympic (ITU LD Weihai China) and then the Ironman all in three consecutive weeks, so history told me I had form to have a good race and possibly come away with the win. With everyone doubting me, it gave me a big drive to prove them wrong.

ST: How much did you feel that Cozumel race in your legs?

Jimmy: As I said earlier, as soon as Ironman Cozumel was over, I immediately turned my focus to recovery. And mentally being prepared for another ironman was the key. When I got back to Australia I got a lot of treatment and felt really fresh going in.
During the race I felt pretty good, but did try to conserve as much energy as possible on the bike as I knew if it was going to hurt it would be on the run. On the first lap of the run I was ok and still felt good but at the 14km mark I started to struggle and doubted my decision to back up! The next 10km was tough but at the 26km mark I could see I had actually made up time and suddenly got a second wind. I knew it was game on.

ST: Once you passed Matty White, did you feel the title was within reach?

Jimmy: Over the last 18 months, I have found myself in a couple of sprint finishes and I didn't want to be there again. So when I came up to Matty I was running 4:18per km and dropped my pace down to 4:02 to try to make sure he couldn't follow. Even though he didn't follow me I was so paranoid I might get caught, I continued to run that speed. At 6.5km was the first time I really thought I could win. I saw my fiancée Aimee out on the course and we both smiled at each other knowing. I told her to get back to the finish line. Not wanting to do anything stupid, I kept 4min per km pace and with 3km to go was when I really knew I was going to be champion and started to celebrate.

ST: You won Challenge Barcelona in 2010 and grabbed 70.3 Shepparton in 2009, but was this your first Ironman title?

Jimmy: Challenge Barcelona was my first Iron distance win, but yes this is my first WTC Ironman title. Winning this race Ironman Western Australia is especially nice. It was there I did my first ever Ironman, I got third on that day. I then got fourth in 2008 and then third again in 2009. It's been three years since I've been back so to finally get a win is great. It's a great way to end the year and gives me a big boost going into 2013.

ST: The top of the podium is surely nice.

Jimmy: For sure! Knowing you are the best on the day is a great feeling. In this sport some athletes never get to experience one Ironman win, so to get to do this twice is very special. The last couple of years I've had quite a few podium finishes and felt it was time for another win!

ST: Looking back the last few years, is there any result that is especially memorable?

Jimmy: Outside my two Ironman wins, the most memorable race is Challenge Copenhagen in 201. It is probably the fittest and most prepared I'd been going into a race and was keen to win my 'home' race. After a solid day it came down to the run between Tim Berkel and I. We ran shoulder to shoulder for the last 8 km both trying to break each other. In the end, Tim got me with 2km to go and took the win. That day I didn't feel like I lost, just that I didn't win.

ST: So that did not sting as much?

Jimmy: No, because I gave it everything in me & when Tim went the last time the muscles in my quad just said no! I couldn't have done anything differently so you can't be so upset. Plus I don't remember much from the last two km's! It wasn't until the next day I did found out that 3rd place only was 20 second behind me so it was all happening at the finish line at the time.

ST: With almost 4000 KPR points to your name you may be set for Kona 2013. Can you now just hang out until then?

Jimmy: In August, Aimee and I sat down and looked at all the races and decided on the schedule for 2012/13. The plan was always to get as many points as possible in 2012 so I could go into 2013 with as little pressure as possible. If you're not racing Kona I think you need to be really organized to collect points early while a lot of others are focusing on Vegas and Kona. Winning Busselton and getting 2000 points puts me a bit ahead of where I thought I would be so that is a massive bonus. To be safe you probably need a bit more than 4000 points but I definitely can go into next year with a lot less pressure.

ST: What is actually on tap in 2013?

Jimmy: The plan is Ironman Melbourne will be my last Ironman before Kona. That gives me a lot of time to rest up and be fresh for October. We will stay in Australia until June maybe do a couple of local 70.3's before we relocate to the USA and focus on the 70.3 circuit and collecting points for Vegas. Then all set for a big October on the Big Island.

ST: When is the wedding day?

Jimmy: Aimee and I are getting married at the end November 2013 in Melbourne Australia. This is where she is from and where I was based when we met. Melbourne has been home for the last couple of year. We've been engaged since Feb this year but planning when to fit in a wedding with my triathlon schedule has been tough!! It's going to be quite manic with my racing Vegas and Kona and then getting married a month after Kona in Australia. We have to be very organized! Aimee manages myself and a few other triathletes so it's going to be a big year!

ST: Will it be a big affair?

Jimmy: That day it is all going to be about Aimee. There is only room for 80 people at the reception so there is a limit on how big it can get. We're getting married in a historical building in center of Melbourne with beautiful high ceilings and the party will be in Albert Park where the Grand Prix course is. It has amazing views of the lake and Melbourne so it should be great. Aimee is taking care of most of the details – safer that way!

ST: All well with your sponsors?

Jimmy: I have some great sponsors that I've been with for a few years, but it's always tough with so many high level men all competing for the same sponsorship deals and not enough really to go around. I have some exciting announcements coming soon about 2013 but I have found out recently that I will go into 2013 without a clothing sponsor which is really disappointing, but hopefully this win at Ironman Western Australia will help open some other doors! So now the plug to my fantastic sponsors who make this all possible. Tri11, Newton, Compressport, Shimano, Ceramicspeed, Prologo, Continental, High5 sports nutrition, SaltStick, Spiuk, Xosize, Hypoxico & Challenge family.

ST: But who is your bike sponsor?

Jimmy: Good timing you ask, I'm really excited to announce that I have recently signed with CEEPO for 2013. I have been a big fan of their bikes and after meeting Joe Tanaka at Eurobike last year I knew I'd love to get on board. He is so passionate about Ironman and I can't wait to get my hands on my new frames the CEEPO Viper (TT) and CEEPO Mamba (Road). It's great to partner with such a strong brand working to further the sport of Ironman.

ST: Anything else we should know?

Jimmy: I am very grateful for my fiancée Aimee who travels with me full time. She looks after everything on the domestic front and also manages my career. With her support I can just focus on training and racing and I know she's looking after everything else. It's a huge advantage having that support all the time and someone to keep the routine, keep you grounded or help pick you up after a hard day. I know us triathletes aren't always the easiest people of live with so I'm thankful for all she does.

ST: It is good to be aware of that Jimmy.

Jimmy: Thanks! Triathlon is only one part of my life but Aimee is happy right now to set her life aside for a bit while we concentrate on my career. Not everyone has that in their partner so I know how lucky I am!

The website of Jimmy is jimmyjohnsen.com, his Facebook fan page is jimmyjohnsentri and he is on Twitter @jimmy_johnsen