Tom Spencer Athlete Ambassador
Tom is a Team GB Age Group triathlete who works hard to achieve results. He talks to Sundried about training and racing.
Have you always been into sport?
During my childhood my main sport was football which I played for 12 years, I also played cricket during my teenage years before finding a love for weight training and bodybuilding. I competed in my first triathlon 9 years ago but only decided to dedicate all my efforts to the sport 2 years ago and have seen massive improvements so far.
What made you decide to enter the world of triathlon?
I love pushing myself to the limit and seeing how far I can go in every sport I play and found the challenge of being able to compete in 3 sports back to back the ultimate physical test. I also love the training as it’s so varied I never get bored!
What’s been your favourite race to date and why?
My favourite race is probably the national relays at Holme Pierrepoint, more for the atmosphere and team aspect than my individual performance or course, it’s a great day out and you meet lots of like-minded people!
And your proudest achievement?
Definitely qualifying and competing at the ETU Standard Distance Duathlon Championships in Punta Umbria. I worked so hard all year to qualify and the whole experience was amazing! It’s definitely something I want to do again.
Have you ever had any racing disasters/your toughest race yet?
By far the toughest race was the ETU qualifier at the Bedford Autodrome last October. It was freezing cold, wet and windy, I was definitely underdressed for the weather and suffered mild hypothermia as a result. Although I qualified for the European Championships so it was worth it in the end!
How do you overcome setbacks?
Re-evaluate your goals and aspirations first and concentrate on the things you have control over. You may have to miss your target race due to injury or illness but there are plenty more races to enter. Work on addressing the issues, weather it be doing more rehab and pre-hab work or addressing your diet and lifestyle to help prevent any illnesses you might pick up.
What advice do you wish you'd been given before you started competing?
Join your local club, whether it’s swim, cycling, running or triathlon club, join them all! They help keep you motivated and disciplined in your training. The people there are always so friendly and you can pick up some great tips and advice from everyone there, from how to setup transition to local cycling and running routes.
What are your goals for 2020?
My main goal this year is to complete my first 70.3 distance race and qualifying for the European and World Duathlon Championships in 2021. This is looking to be very difficult as all qualifiers this year have been cancelled. I feel very lucky to have managed to race once this season, as racing in 2020 looks unlikely. 2021 is going to be a busy year!
Who do you take your inspiration from?
As a British triathlete, the obvious role models are Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, those 2 have achieved so much and have helped the sport become more mainstream. I also look up to Lionel Sanders, his background and what he has achieved is so amazing and you can’t forget Jan Frodeno who has won everything from Olympic Gold to 3 times Ironman World Champion. They are all absolute machines!
What do you like about Sundried and what’s your favourite bit of our kit?
The fact the company is eco-friendly and has a 100% recycled range is a massive positive for me, I think we all need to look at how we can do our part to preserve the environment. The high visibility cycling jacket is a must for winter cycling. You can also unzip the sleeves and turn it into a gilet so you can be seen whilst running in the dark which I love.
