Cameron Tallis Athlete Ambassador
Cameron achieved his goal of becoming the youngest ever finisher at Ironman Wales and now has his sights set on going pro. He talks to Sundried about training and racing.
Have you always been into sport?
Yes, I have been into sport from a very young age. I started off playing rugby at the age of 10 and played until the age of 16. I then switched to triathlon.
What made you decide to enter the world of triathlon?
I wanted to enter the world of triathlon because I wanted to break the record for the youngest person ever to finish Ironman Wales. Since doing so, I’ve become hooked on the sport and want to make it into a professional career.
What's been your favourite race to date?
My favourite race to date is Ironman Wales 2019 because I was the youngest ever to do it. The atmosphere from the crowd was unbelievable all the way round the course all day and the feeling of achievement when I crossed the line and heard the words “Cameron you are an Ironman” was second to none.
And your proudest achievement?
My proudest achievement is definitely holding the record for the youngest person to complete Ironman Wales.
Have you ever had any racing disasters/your toughest race yet?
I haven’t yet suffered any race disasters but during Ironman Wales I suffered with some major back pain in the second half of the bike leg and it was then that I had to just think of the finish line and not let myself stop because the pain was so bad that I knew that if it didn’t stop when I got off the bike I wouldn’t be able to run. Luckily, as soon as I got off the bike, it cleared up completely which gave me a big mental boost.
How do you overcome setbacks?
I am a big believer in thinking positively and whenever I have a setback such as injury, yes it's frustrating but I always manage to think positively, not let myself get bogged down, and just continue to focus on my end goal.
What advice do you wish you'd been given before you started competing?
In terms of advice, I would say to just go for it because finishing any length of race is such an amazing feeling of achievement. You’ll meet so many people along the way during your training and make some really good friends. So just go for it, but don’t underestimate the physical side, regardless of distance.
What are your goals for 2020?
My goals for 2020 are to complete a wide range of events from sprint triathlons to half Ironman and a long course weekend. All to gain more experience in the sport and try to get my name out there. My long-term goals are to qualify for the 70.3 and full Ironman World Championships and to become a pro Ironman in the coming years.
Who do you take inspiration from?
I take my inspiration from people like Lucy Charles, because she didn’t start triathlon until the age of about 17 and since then she has become one of the best in the world. She has proved that you can change from one sport to another and if you're dedicated and committed enough to that sport then you can achieve anything.
What do you like about Sundried and what's your favourite bit of our kit?
The reason I like Sundried kit is the look of it. I think it's really good looking kit that doesn’t go over the top in terms of design. Also, I really like the value for money. A lot of the time you see pretty standard quality kit for ridiculous prices and I think this is where Sundried stands out. The kit is all good quality, it looks good, and it's fairly priced. It's a win win.
