Matt Simmons - Athlete Ambassador
Have you always been into sport?
Absolutely. I've always been a runner, winning 100m sprints every year through school and running a relay from Birmingham to London when I was 11. I've been into athletics and track for county, swam with a team training to swim the channel, I've played rugby, danced ballet, done gymnastics, CrossFit and trained Muay Thai kickboxing for 4 years!
How did you first get into triathlon?
I felt I was pretty good at putting one leg in front of the other so the natural progression to me seemed getting on the bike and into the pool!!
If you are interested in getting into Triathlon, 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?
Maybe not my favourite but my most important was the marathon in Köln, Germany. My first marathon, I totally underestimated how much training was involved and overestimated my own pacing! I popped my knee at 22km and limped the rest of the way. Never underestimate your enemy and know your own capacity!!
What is your proudest achievement?
This question always stumps me. I've hiked across the Brecon Beacon with friends in the army, raised hundreds of £££s for charity, started my own fitness business keeping people active during lockdown. I feel there's so much more I want to do, maybe the thing I'm most proud of is yet to come...
Have you ever had any racing disasters?
Besides popping my knee mid race, I've got 3/4 of a way into a marathon before and needed a number 2. Trying to fight through crowds and have an emergency poo in a foreign country then finish a race is not an experience I want to repeat!
How do you overcome setbacks?
2 weeks before an event, I sprained my ankle and tendons and got a hairline fracture in my foot. I tried to continue training, made it worse and was eventually not able to run or walk on it properly for 6 months. In my rehab I started rowing and continued to work out to keep my core strong. Sometimes overcoming a set back requires taking a real step back and allowing your body to heal so you can come back fighting when the time is right.
What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?
So much. Like soooo much. Train smart. Listen to others who've been there before, invest in a coach, invest time and enjoy it! (Also there's literally learning material on anything on YouTube, let it be your friend!!)
What are your goals?
I've achieved a few in the past year surprisingly despite COVID. I think to improve my swimming, I haven’t been able to get to a pool or open water site in a very long time and I want to make up for the lack of training!! I've also got a marathon coming up in Norway with my brother which I'd love to get a good time on!
Who inspires you?
My family. All of them keep on going through everything, they're so understanding, supportive and determined with their own ambitions, it gives me the drive to train and the support network I need when I encounter obstacles.
Why work with Sundried?
I am a self confessed eco nerd so naturally I wanted to make my wardrobe as clean as my diet! They were the first brand I researched when looking into more ethical and sustainable clothing and I've never looked back! Most of my fitness wardrobe is Sundried and I was shouting about Sundried even before I became an official ambassador! The quality is great, they're affordable and they're doing good for the planet, give me a reason why not!!
To hear more from our ambassadors and get free tips on workout plans and more, connect with the Sundried Personal Trainers on our app.