Matt Adams - Athlete Ambassador

Matt is an athlete who is training to compete in his first triathlon. He talks to Sundried about racing and training. 

Have you always been into sport?

Absolutely. Growing up, it was football in the wet, hockey in the cold and cricket in the sun. But the list doesn’t stop there… I’ll always have a crack at something regardless of how bad I am at it. 

How did you first get into triathlon?

During the first COVID lockdown in 2020, I was stuck at home, like most of us, and decided to do 20km on a static bike everyday. It wasn’t much but it helped keep me sane. When we came out of lockdown, I decided to buy a road bike and off I went. I was fortunate enough to do some great rides through the Surrey hills, around the Isle of Wight and even in the French Alps. I started looking for a sport to do but couldn’t find any that took my fancy. But, a uni course mate of mine had signed up to do Ironman 70.3 Marbella in October of 2020, which had been postponed to April 2021. So I decided to join him. I then started thinking that if I was to do all this training then why not fully “send it” and sign up for a full Ironman. So I did…

If you are interested in starting your journey as a Triathlete, Sundried's kit is suitable for beginners as well as seasoned athletes. We have both men's and women's options available. 

What has been your favourite race to date and why?

I am a complete newbie to the sport of triathlon so haven’t competed in a race to date. The closest thing I’ve ever done is a full tough mudder. So I really am jumping straight in the deep end! 

What is your proudest achievement?

Finishing a 52-mile walk as the 4th group in 16hrs 42mins wasn’t too bad. Especially when it was raining sideways throughout most of the night. 

Have you ever had any racing disasters?

Not yet but I look forward to making a few this year.

How do you overcome setbacks?

Try not to take everything so seriously. Yes it’s important to train and hit your goals but if you don’t for whatever reason then don’t worry! 

What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?

Don’t be afraid of the big numbers, just make a start. When I began training, I couldn’t run 10km without some serious difficulty. But since then, I’ve got my first half marathon under my belt and actually looking forward to many more. Even a one mile swim to me was incredibly daunting but once you’ve got 10 or 20 lengths in to it, all you want to do is finish and that drive once you’ve started is impossible to ignore. 

What are your goals?

At the moment, to complete the Ironman 70.3 in under 6hrs and the full Ironman in under 12hrs is the goal.

Who inspires you?

No one in particular to be honest. All my family and friends inspire me in some way or another. 

Why work with Sundried?

What’s not to like? Good products, cool branding and sustainable.

To hear more from our ambassadors and get free tips on workout plans and more, connect with the Sundried Personal Trainers on our app.