Hugo Barclay Athlete Ambassador
Hugo is a triathlete who enjoys unusual challenges. He talks to Sundried about training and racing.
Have you always been into sport?
While growing up between Scotland and France, I was fortunate to live in an environment where as a kid I could spend more time outside than inside and sport was the excuse to be out the house all hours of the day. I was only exposed to triathlons during my working life, being naturally good at the individual disciplines and uninspired by marathons
What made you decide to enter the world of triathlon?
Triathlons for me are the pinnacle symbol of well-being - they highlight a commitment to a lifestyle and mindset of the good-old cliché; to constantly strive to be a better version of oneself.
I find it useful to have races in the diary, they're anchors that help me maintain the fitness goals. as a business owner not a not a professional athlete, they're a good preoccupation and release
What’s been your favourite race to date and why?
I like unusual challenges - where it can be hard to differentiate one half marathon or duathlon from another. Cycling from Brussels to Amsterdam over a weekend is high up there in being type (1) fun while requiring a decent level of grit to reach our destination on time.
Have you ever had any racing disasters/your toughest race yet?
I once turned up to a race without my trainers. I didn't leave the house barefoot, but the sense of anxiety I had when I went to change, and my trainers weren't in my bag. Fortunately it was only a 1500 m race - I ran in shoes I was wearing at the time, the timeless Converse.
How do you overcome setbacks?
I like to focus on the process, whether that be coming back from injury, not reaching a desired time in a race and other aspects of life. For me, focusing on what is immediately in the present, the task at hand, helps me appreciate setbacks as part of the journey
What advice do you wish you'd been given before you started competing?
Get accountability partners. Everyone can do something for a bit, but not everyone can do something consistently. Having grit and the right support network, whether it's a friend or partner is essential to helping you reach your goals. Practically, and something I never took seriously at the beginning was post-workout stretching. This shouldn't be underestimated, especially when you're starting to put back-to-back sessions or 20k plus runs.
What are your goals for 2021?
My sporting goals are the Marbella Ironman 70.3 and Aberfeldy triathlon.
Who do you take your inspiration from?
Tim Don, because he's gone through so much with his pre-Kona crash in 2017, getting himself back to fitness. Being a top athlete while staying a humble bloke
What do you like about Sundried and what’s your favourite bit of our kit?
I've been lucky to spend a lot of time in Spain during the pandemic, the black men shorts are one of my favourites for both running and playing tennis, they've been great. The grey fleece is also a work-from-home favourite, perfect for comfort when you're in back-to-back zoom calls.
