Ben Dooley Athlete Ambassador

Ben is a triathlete who aspires to complete a full Ironman. He talks to Sundried about training and motivation.

Have you always been into sport?

I grew up playing organised sports. Mostly soccer and basketball. I have maintained a love for basketball and still play it regularly with a group I belong to.

How did you first get into triathlon?

My wife was the first person to get me into endurance sports. She convinced me to run a half marathon a year ago and I fell in love. That love for endurance running combined with my ADHD turned into triathlon. It's nice to have 3 different disciplines to always be working on.

What has been your favourite race to date and why?

My favourite race was the Sprint Triathlon I did earlier this year. It was my favourite because every part of the race was harder than it was supposed to be. The swim was too long, the bike had too much elevation, the run was a confusing course. I loved it. Adversity always presents an opportunity to adapt and overcome. I ended up taking 3rd in my age group.

What is your proudest achievement?

In regard to my sports achievements, I would have to say running 4 miles every 4 hours for 24 hours this summer is my proudest. It was oppressively hot, you don't get enough sleep, and you want to quit the whole time. It was awesome to be able to push through and finish that race. My wife and brother did it with me too which made it extra special.

Have you ever had any racing disasters?

I've been lucky but I haven't had any racing disasters yet.

How do you overcome setbacks?

I try to stay positive in the face of adversity by exercising gratitude. Being grateful to lead an active lifestyle and compete in general is really important to me and I can be grateful for that even when I don't get the result I want.

What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?

Don't ramp up your training so fast! Take time and build slowly. I could have prevented several injuries if I had known this when I first started endurance sports.

What are your goals?

I am currently in law school, but I would like to complete a full Ironman before I graduate.

Who inspires you?

My wife. She's unbelievably motivated and motivating. I love her attitude and her perspective on life. She has a million things going on (including being pregnant) and in the same 24 hours you and I have, she gets everything done. Amazing!

Why work with Sundried?

I love working with amazing companies that encourage the progress of the sport. Sundried is a great example of a company that makes a consistent effort to spread the love of triathlon and cycling.