Tom Pullinger Athlete and Coach Ambassador
Tom is a Team GB Age Group triathlete and has rubbed shoulders with the greats like Javier Gomez. He tells Sundried about life as a triathlete.
Have you always been into sport?
I hit 30 years old, stopped being lazy, stopped smoking, and and took up running.
What made you decide to enter the world of triathlon?
I've always loved bikes, went along to a local triathlon and was inspired to have a go.
What's been your favourite race to date and why?
The World Triathlon Age Group Championships in Chicago. America knows how to put on an event! From the team parade down a closed 6-lane highway to racing through the tunnels from the Batman films, and not forgetting chasing Javier Gomez down on a warm-up ride before the race!
And your proudest achievement?
Finishing my first full distance Ironman in Vichy, France, in sweltering heat, well inside my 12 hour target and loving every minute of it!
Have you ever had any racing disasters / your toughest race yet?
I broke my back 12 weeks before the European Middle distance Triathlon Championships in Italy, recovered well enough to finish the race, just!
How do you overcome setbacks?
Setbacks make the good times even better, a setback is just another bump in the road, recovering from them makes us who we are!
What is the best bit of advice you wish someone had told you before you started competing?
Stick to running, triathlon is an expensive hobby! Too much shiny stuff!
What are your goals for 2018?
I have qualified to race middle distance duathlon at the European age group duathlon championships but I'm also hoping to qualify at Olympic distance triathlon and maybe middle distance too, and then finally to knock an hour off my Ironman time and go sub 11 to finish the year off!
Who do you take your inspiration from?
I take inspiration from all the beginner runners and triathletes that I coach, I love watching them improve, progress and most of all gain confidence in themselves!
What do you like about Sundried and what's your favourite bit of our kit?
I love the muscle tank - I'm a runner with runners arms, but I still love this for speed run efforts!
