Brett Halliwell Athlete Ambassador

Brett found a natural progression to triathlon from a running background and has since competed at a world level and gained his professional license. He talks to Sundried about life as a triathlete.

Have you always been into sport?

Yes, sport has been part of my life since I can remember. I've tried many sports including tennis, football, swimming and now triathlon.

What made you decide to enter the world of triathlon?

I come from a running background and competed to a decent standard from the age of 10 until I was 21. I switched to triathlon as I wanted a new challenge and started out by entering duathlon races. I had some success with duathlon races, most notably winning a silver medal in my Age Group at the European Duathlon Championships in 2015.

Having experienced the thrill of racing in muti-sport, it felt like a natural move to start doing triathlon and I began adding swim sessions into my training plan and before I knew it I was hooked on the training and began racing over the sprint distance in the summer of 2015.

What’s been your favourite race to date and why?

The Challenge Championships in Samorin as this was my first taste of a championship over middle distance. I didn't know how I would compare within my age group at world level but went in with the mindset of going hard until I blew. The bike course was super flat and not being sure whether it would suit me, I needed to make sure I kept pushing until the end.

Coming off the bike, my legs have never felt so heavy and I questioned whether I would be able to run. I took my time in transition and built into the run and luckily after a couple of kilometres my legs came round and I managed to win the overall age group.

And your proudest achievement?

Winning the overall age group at The Challenge Championships and gaining my professional triathlon license.

Have you ever had any racing disasters/your toughest race yet?

My biggest disaster was racing in the European Age Group Championships in Lisbon in 2017. I came out of the water with some great athletes but as I was trying to get my shoes on, I ended up crashing into a barrier and damaging my bike. However, I managed to continue with a select number of gears and finished 4th in my age group.

How do you overcome setbacks?

I don't dwell on setbacks as I like to see the positives but I do note what didn't go so well and use this to amend my training/racing plans in the future.

What advice do you wish you'd been given before you started competing?

Build slowly. Due to the amount of stress triathlon puts on the body, you don't want to rush increasing your training. Look long-term rather than short-term and have a goal you want to achieve, this will allow you to work out a plan.

What are your goals for 2020?

To gain as much experience racing in the professional ranks as possible and hopefully pick up some prize money.

Who do you take your inspiration from?

Anthony Joshua. He has worked so hard to become World Champion yet he is down to earth and relaxed.

What do you like about Sundried and what’s your favourite bit of our kit?

I like that Sundried is such an inclusive company, producing top quality products that are affordable. My favourite products are the Eco Tech t-shirts, they are great for running and gym sessions.