Lanzarote Information

Gordon was recently over in Lanzarote for the XXV Volcano Triathlon and this week he’s back for the big event – Lanzarote Ironman 2009, he’s been thinking about taking part in this event for the past 15 years…..

How did you get into triathlons?

I started triathlon in 2004 after a string of bad marathon's and coming to the conclusion that I needed to find something that I would find for fun to train for, I just thought triathletes looked really cool in all of their gear and fancy helmets. I used to race BMX as a kid and also swim in local races so it just kind of fit for me.

Ironman is another story though. I honestly thought and still do, that Ironmen are like super athletes, something I could never achieve so never really aspired to be one really. Then I met one of my best friends (Heath Jones) at Club La Santa. He is a great guy and he won't mind me calling him normal like the rest of us, we just hit it off and over a beer I discovered he was an Ironman, in fact a double Ironman. I was stunned and at that point Ironman started to become a real prospect for me. He later challenged me in front of a room full of over 100 people that I would be an Ironman within a year. I did it and he still owes me a beer for that one.

How many have you done?

I have done a lot of racing all over the UK , people that know me well say I cannot train, I just used to race every other weekend or so for almost a year. My Ironman races have been in the UK twice, in Switzerland and in Germany...now Lanzarote.

Which has been your favourite triathlon to date?

This is such a cheesy answer but I just love racing, they are all special to me but racing this year in Lanzarote during the Volcano triathlon I had a very special day. My new fiancé was doing her first triathlon, and she worked so hard all week during our training camp with Richard Hobson. She was terrified of the swim but did an amazing time, anyway I was racing very tired, so not very fast, all I could think about on the bike was about how she got on and if she made it out of the water OK? I saw her on the bike and just welled up, she had a huge smile on her face and I knew she had a good swim, that was a very special race.

Which element is your strength?

The bike is my weapon, I love saying that! Ex world champion Norman Stadler, said that a few years ago and it kinda stuck with me. I have to go very steady on the bike though because I fear the marathon at the end of an Ironman race. It is very hard to keep your head when people pass you, knowing you could go faster but if you can't run at the end of the race you are done. I have worked hard on my running and hope to have a solid result.

What was your typical weekly training routine to prepare for the event?

Typically my week involves:

Monday - Recovery day, maybe a 1 hour run, swim or cycle indoors on a static trainer.

Tuesday - Up at 6am and in the pool by 6:30 for at least an hour of race specific swimming. Go to work then perhaps do a 2 hour cycle, or an hour and a half run.

Wednesday - Hard cycle on the indoor trainer or perhaps a double spin class and a 1 hour run afterwards.

Thursday - up at 6am for a 1.5 hour swim, go to work then a speed specific run session, maybe 1.5 hours.

Friday - Completely off, this is my rest day.

Saturday - up to 6 hour'ish bike ride and a 1 hour run off of the bike

Sunday - 2 - 3 hour run on tired legs....this is what I gear my whole week towards as it is the thing I fear the most

Does the training interfere with your job and personal life?!

Ironman is an incredibly selfish pursuit, nobody would argue that. I am not a world authority on advice or anything, but I would say the first thing you do after thinking about training for Ironman is to speak with your family, you need them to keep you up when you are down, understand when you just want to do nothing and ultimately push you out of the door when they know you need to go out but don't want to. I have been very lucky, my friends are amazing and my family just can't wait for all of this to be over as I think they have had enough now. It is very hard for all around you as well, we tend to forget that.

Do you know any other competitors taking part in this years event?

I am in a club called Serpentine in London which has a bunch of athletes taking part this year.  I know a lot of them and know everyone has done an amazing job. This was supposed to be the race that Heath (The guy I blame for my involvement) and I raced together and trained together, sadly he had to pull out of this race. I will miss him on race day.

How did you find the Volcano Triathlon?

The Volcano Triathlon was amazingly difficult for me. It's an amazing race and I would recommend it to anyone. In the days leading up to the race I had done over 450 miles on the bike and something like 8 hours of running and must have swam around 8 miles, I don't really know, but I was pretty tired. I had been with Richard Hobson for 10 days prior to the race and he trained us hard. I did the Ironman ride on my own two days before and swam around 2.5k of swimming the day before also as Gemma (My Fiancé) was nervous and wanted to swim the course.

When did you first come to Lanzarote?

My friend's parents had a villa in Playa Blanca and they used to take me on holiday for two weeks every year when I was growing up. I have such fond memories of chasing girls, drinking lots and even singing for the other residents of the complex we used to stay at. I used to get invited to sing during the real singers intervals. I have such fond memories of Lanza growing up. People were really nice and the island always had such a great feel about it, and still does.  My training back then was essentially playing football on the beach and doing some swimming in the sea after jumping off of high ricks......about 4 feet high in reality but felt really high to me.

Which is your favourite part of Lanzarote?

I love Club La Santa, I could live there but honestly my favorite part of the island is the top of Mirador del Río. The view from there is just incredible. I have no doubt that I will be in floods of tears all the way up that climb, something about it just stirs your emotions. I think everyone who visits the island should spend some time taking in that view alone, it's quite stunning and feels very spiritual to me. The view down to the neighboring islands is incredible.

Do you have a favourite restaurant in Lanzarote?

Oh now I feel really bad because I have forgotten the name. It's in La Santa Village and just behind Pro Bike, it's very traditional and not at all tourist spoiled. The food and atmosphere is very Spanish. 

Have you been on a special diet?

My diet has been clinically controlled in every way. By that I mean I have given up crisps. I love crisps and have not had a bag in 2009. I think people can go too crazy with diet to be honest. It is incredibly important, but just eat a balanced diet and train with the food you will be eating on race day in the way you will eat it on race day, that has been my advice. During the race I will drink a special mix of carbohydrate and protein during the bike, probably 5 liters in total, 6 special energy bars which are high in carbohydrate and caffeine, two bags of carbohydrate sweets and 2 Pepperami sausages....my favourite bit. I will eat them at 4 and 5 hours into the bike ride. You need something savory after all that sweet stuff or your stomach will just reject anything that comes it's way, even water.

Would you like to tell us anything else?

Really just to say a thank you to everyone for the support that we get during the race. Even when we don't smile or wave, we really need you. I always feel bad because the young kids always like us to high five them as we go by, sometimes we don't have the energy and I always feel bad about that.

Buena Suerte Gordon!