Will Wood Athlete Ambassador
Will is a young athlete who got into triathlon after trying one in his local town. He talks to Sundried about life as a junior triathlete.
Have you always been into sport?
I played football for my local team since I was 5, and entered some junior athletics competitions, alongside being naturally interested in tennis, basketball, cycling and cricket. I would say I have always been a sporty person.
What made you enter triathlon?
My dad suggested after I stopped playing football that I should put my fitness into something else. I saw an advert for a local triathlon and the concept of a swim, bike, and run all in one race captivated me.
What’s been your favourite race?
The Harewood House 10k trail race springs to mind. I entered the race in 2017 and managed to achieve 8th place and a 40:00 time. This year I went back and ran 37:54, highlighting the success of all my hard work throughout 2017. The race course itself is fantastic. Rolling green hills through a country estate of historic interest!
Proudest achievement?
My proudest achievement is finishing my first ever trail half marathon when I had just turned 16. I managed to run a time of 1:30 which was a massive achievement at my age, especially on a hilly course.
Have you ever had any racing disasters/your toughest race yet?
The toughest race yet would have to have been the Keighley 10k which I ran in 2017. The course was insanely hilly and it was a warm day. To make matters worse I was on track for a 36 minute PB but I took the wrong route in one of the parks the course ran through and lost 2 minutes ending up with a time of 38:36.
How do you overcome setbacks?
Racing setbacks: I normally try and re-evaluate what went wrong and make sure to identity the problem or what caused me to fail. From there I start thinking about how I won’t let it happen again or what to focus on next time in training.
General life setbacks: I’ll take a walk to clear my head or go for a run. Once I have a level head I will start thinking about what I will plan to do next or resolve the issue in the best way possible. If it’s something that is unable to be resolved, I will think about the best way I can cope with it.
Best bit of advice I wished Someone would have told me before I started competing?
Don't get too nervous before the start. I often wasted crucial energy before the gun went off. Now I make sure to stay calm and composed, visualising the race ahead of me.
What are your goals for 2018?
My main goals is a sub 36 minute 10k. In the long distance aspect of racing, towards the end of the year I would like to start training for a full marathon.
Who do you take your inspiration from?
My main inspiration is Sage Canaday. His running ethic and mentality are astounding to me and truly motivate me to keep training and eating healthy.
What do you like about Sundried/ best bit of kit?
Sundried’s ethics to me are what made me start buying the products. The ideology behind the company is very important to me, and I believe it should be a main focus for other clothing companies out there. The best piece of kit from Sundried for me would have to be the touch screen gloves, because it gets cold here in the UK in winter and they not only keep my hands warm, but the fact I can use my phone without my hands freezing off really helps me out.
