Jamie Pawley Athlete Ambassador

Jamie discovered triathlon after watching his girlfriend compete and became hooked almost instantly. He talks to Sundried about racing highs and lows.

Have you always been into sport?

Yes, I have always been sporty but never been particularly good at anything. I get addicted to things very easily and enjoy measuring progress so triathlon is very good for me.

What made you decide to enter the world of triathlon?

I bought a bike in 2015 and have always enjoyed running. After watching Emma, my girlfriend, complete the Outlaw Half in 2016 I entered 2017 Outlaw Triathlon and in the process got completed hooked.

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

Celtman 2019. The hardest, most brutal, and most beautiful race ever. The cold water sea swim, the rolling hills and sweeping lochs of the highlands and a mountainous run. The whole time being followed by a support crew. I never thought I would do anything like that.

And your proudest achievement?

I am a terrible swimmer and one of my main goals in triathlon is to just complete the swim. The moment I always reflect on with the most pride is finishing my first swim at Outlaw Half Holkham. Running to T1 I not only knew I’d finish the race but I knew triathlon was going to be a big part of my life from that moment on.

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

The swim at the Celtman was an ‘A to B’ cold water sea swim. I spent 1:53 in the water, swam through jelly fish, was sick twice and spent twelve minutes in T1 whilst volunteers and my support crew dressed me in my bike gear. I hallucinated on the bike for the first hour from the cold and only managed 12 miles. That was the toughest few hours I’ve experienced in triathlon and my only thought was to keep going until I time out or pass out.

How do you overcome setbacks?

I reflect and appreciate how fortunate I am to be able participate in triathlon and remember that there are more important things life and whatever setback I am experiencing will pass with time.

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

To not get too caught up in training and fitness and realise that you can have a life alongside triathlon. I struggled with this in the early days.

What are your goals?

Given the current situation we find ourselves in and an injury I have to my right hip flexor my goal for the rest of the year is to recover and slowly build fitness ready for 2021.

Who do you take your inspiration from?

My dad, who used to say, "Just try your hardest, that’s all you can do. If you do that everyday you’ll be fine."

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

My Dom 2.0 running vest. It’s taken a hammering but still does the job every time.