Bret Bassett Athlete Ambassador
Bret has always been sporty and has worked hard to get to a world level in triathlon. He talks to Sundried about training and racing.
Have you always been into sport?
Yes, I was very hyperactive as a kid so my parents used to take me swimming regularly to try to burn some energy.
What made you decide to enter the world of triathlon?
I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to Kelly College, a private school in Tavistock, Devon for swimming but after a while I got a bit bored of just swimming. Luckily for me, the school were in the process of forming a triathlon team and I was keen to give it a go.
What’s been your favourite race to date and why?
My favourite race to date was the 2012 Age Group Triathlon World Championships which were held in Auckland, New Zealand. The course was very scenic and it was the cleanest water that I've ever swam in.
What is your proudest achievement?
My first pro race at Outlaw Half in Nottingham last year. Having the opportunity to be stood at the start line next to Philip Graves was pretty surreal!
Have you ever had any racing disasters/your toughest race yet?
My toughest race was the Titan Man in Wales due to the tough bike course in the Brecon Beacons. I hadn't trained properly for this race as it was a bet with my dad that I couldn't finish it – I won the bet, even if I did throw up when I finished!
How do you overcome setbacks?
I evaluate what happened and think about the positive aspects, what went well and why, as well as the negatives, and how I could improve or do things differently in future. I have a good support network of friends and family who always support me through everything which helps massively.
What advice do you wish you'd been given before you started competing?
Don't go out too hard on the bike, it's always longer than you think.
What are your goals for 2019?
To make as many top 10 age group finishes as possible. I also want to take 5 minutes off both my bike and run times at middle distance.
Who do you take your inspiration from?
I take inspiration from previous and current Ironman world champions such as Chrissie Wellington, David Scott and Patrick Lange. They all have shown a lot of commitment and passion for triathlon to become world champions and in the case of David and Chrissie to defend their titles for as long as they did. I pay a lot of attention to Patrick Lange's social media especially videos of him training and compare it to myself. I find it beneficial to see if I can make any improvements to my own performance.
What do you like about Sundried and what’s your favourite bit of our kit?
I like the fact the Sundried products are ethically made. I really like the quilted hoodie as it looks heavy duty but comfortable, I like how the zip comes high up the neck and I'm a fan of the zip pockets - it's at the top of my wish list at the minute.
