Bryan Rhodes is Back | finishline-multisport.com

Written by Kevin Koresky Sunday, 28 February 2010 00:00

Bryan Rhodes is Back

Bryan Rhodes Swim In 2009 Bryan Rhodes season was cut short do to an injury he sustained while racing the Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead Triathlon. After having surgery to repair his ruptured achilles tendon, Rhodes is ready for another year of racing in 2010.

KK: Where did you grow up?

BR: I grew up in New Zealand.

KK: What was your sports background before triathlon?

BR: I grew up swimming and doing surf life saving.

KK: When did you break onto the triathlon circuit?

BR: In 1989. In 1990 I competed on the New Zealand Commonwealth games triathlon team. I was picked to race on the junior time. Back then I came up racing with Cameron Brown and Paul Amey, who are still racing professionally.

KK: Do you prefer to race or train?

BR: I love to race, I can admit at this age I am not always a fan on the training. Each year I enjoy racing in multiple events but no matter what you have to do the training to get to the starting line.

KK: What is about racing that you enjoy so much?

BR: There is a certain type of adrenalin rush that I get from it. I get to race some of the best guys in the world. I have a lot of passion for the sport and there is nothing else I would rather be doing, than racing.

KK: When did you compete in your first Ironman distance race?

BR: I started doing the Ironman racing in 1997. Back in 1995-96 I had done some 70.3 races.

KK: Why did you stop racing short course races?

BR: When they introduced the draft style of racing, it pretty much made my strengths null and voided.

KK: Do you recall your first Ironman experience?

BR: Yes, in 1997 I competed in Ironman New Zealand. I came out of the water in first place, leading Ken Glah and the guys by 4 or 5 minutes. They didn’t catch me until halfway through the bike. I came off the bike in third place and felt this was the type of race f or me. By 12k into the run I vomited pretty violently because of nutrition problems. At halfway through the run I was lying underneath a tree about to quit and then a friend of mine to me to get up and start running. The girls are coming and they are gonna pass you. I am happy to say I had enough energy to manage not getting chicked.

KK: How many Ironman races have you done?

BR: I think I am up to around 42/43.

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KK: What is your favorite race?

BR: Definitely Ironman Canada. In 1997 it was my first ever international Ironman, it was a pretty stacked field and I came out of the water first and I finished fourth overall. Outside of Kona, Ironman Canada is the only race that has one loop of everything. It is a one-loop swim, a one-loop bike and a one-loop run. In 2008 I won the race when the times were pretty fast. Back in 1997 while in Penticton I took a summer position as a swimming coach.

KK: How do the locals react to the race taking over their town?

BR: The locals embrace it; they look forward to the athletes and their families coming every year. The support from the crowds is amazing; it is like no other place I have raced.

KK: Who are some of the guys you like to race with?

BR: I always liked racing with Jason Shortis because he keeps me looking over my shoulder, you never know when he is going to run you down. Chris McCormack who is very talented. Cameron Brown who is another super tough athlete, when you race Cam you need to be 100% on top of your game.

KK: What has caused you to DNF in the past?

BR: Most of them have been do to injury. Unfortunately I have crashed in an Ironman. In Ironman New Zealand I was going through an aid station and a bottle went under my tire, which caused me to wipe out. The hardest part about a DNF is the criticism the pros may take for not finishing a race. The thing is this; it is our career and our livelihood. When an injury strikes or illness sets in its difficult because no pro wants to give up or stop racing.

KK: What is the scariest thing about racing?

BR: We are racing so hard and at such fast speeds that when something goes wrong it can go horribly wrong, especially on the bike.

KK: Is racing you fulltime job?

BR: Yes racing is my fulltime career right now. I have been asked to coach a number of times but I am not at a place where I can coach. If I can’t give it a 100% of my attention I don’t feel right. I don’t believe in giving someone a generic program. Triathlon is such a unique sport with having all three sports; that I believe anyone coming into the sports deserves the right attention.

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KK: Where so you spend most of your time training?

BR: I spend most of my time training in Boulder, Colorado. There is large group of triathletes to train with plus I believe there are benefits to training in altitude.

KK: What do you parents think about you career choice?

BR: They think I should go out and get a real job (ha! ha!). Seriously, they have been very supportive over the years. I dedicated my first win to my mom and my father, they are really proud of what I have accomplished. My father is always there to give me good advice, like telling me to be smart and realize when it right to retire.

KK: What do you want people to know most about you?

BR: That I am one of the characters of the sport. I am one of the guys, you can come and say hello or if you like we can even sit-down and talk about triathlon over a beer.

Website: http://www.rhodsey.com