Kieran Doe Interview: Winner of the Calgary 70 3

Fresh off his win at last weekend’s Calgary 70.3, we caught up with New Zealand Ironman star, Kieran Doe.

Profile

DOB: 13-05-1981

Nickname: Doeboy

Career highlight to date: Winning IM Canada 07

Favourite race: Mount half NZ

Best leg: Swim/Bike

Sponsors: Konica Minolta,Bonita,Orbea,Nike,Profile,Orca,Fuelbelt,Fizik,Leppin, Em’s

Favourite TV show: Two and a half men

TT: Kieran, thanks for your time. Congrats on your victory at the Calgary 70.3. You must be stoked. Did you sense before the race that it was time for you first 70.3 title?

KD: Thanks my pleasure, it was good to get a win after lots of second places.

I knew I was coming into some great form after the 2^nd at Vineman two weeks before but I decided not to rest too much with IM Canada being the big goal, so I thought I might be a little flat, but it was a strength race and those courses suit my style of racing and I guess I managed to use this to my advantage.

TT:  So with IM Canada in about 3 week’s time. Can you give us some examples of the sort of training that you are doing during this three week period leading into the race?

KD:  The first few days after Calgary I needed to recover and absorb the race, then I will have a 12 day big block with lots of tempo and race pace work before a 10 day taper.

TT: Who do you consider as your main rivals for IM Canada?

KD: There are some strong athletes in the race who could be dark horses with lots of new talent arising in this sport everyday, but then there are a couple of consistent performers such as Victor Zemestive who runs in the 2hr40s every time and has 8 IM titles, as well as Tom Evens who does all three legs strong and has 4 IM titles.

I think IM is about getting your own performance right first and if I can do that then I know I will be in for the fight to win the title at the end of the day.

TT: You have been in some seriously good form, what do you put this down to?

KD: Yes it is good to be back in form.

I have some good balance back in my life having being married in March, and just pulling my program apart and going back to basics as well as listing to my body more and adding in more recovery.

I also have a good team and great support network from my wife, friends, family and sponsors who have kept me going through the tough times.

The hardest thing when you are struggling is to keep your confidence and when this drops everything changes but right now I feel like a re-born athlete.

TT: How is your training base in Penticton? Is it an ideal training location?

KD: I love it here it’s great running, riding and with a lake to swim in its perfect for training. We couldn’t get a better host family either. I stayed with them in 2007 and they have allowed my wife and me to stay until IM Canada, we are so lucky and grateful to them.

TT: How is life on the road for you?  Do you ever get homesick?

KD: This has being a down fall of mine which I plan on changing, I love home and hate being away but in this sport it is to hard to train at home in the winter and it is too far to travel to the USA to race all the time.

I like being around my family and friends and having my dog welcome me home every day no mater what.

TT: A lot of athletes struggle with how best to taper before major races. How much do you taper for your races? For example, what sort of training did you do during the 10 days leading into Calgary 70.3?

KD: As I said before I didn’t taper for Calgary as IM is the major goal in this block of races. Taper is all about rest and keeping the body ticking, but if you have done the work it is during the taper where you absorb all the fitness gains.  I try to spread my training out during the day so I don’t sit around for too long feeling like I am doing nothing.

TT: Do you find you find it harder to sleep during the tapers?

KD: Yes for sure you are training much less and freshening up so by the last few days you are jumping out of your skin with energy.

TT: Training wise, during your base training period how many weekly k’s do you average for running, swimming and on the bike?

KD: Macca once said when asked this question

“I go to bed tired and I wake up tired” that pretty much sum’s it up

TT: Who do you consider your fiercest rival and why?

KD: There are many Fierce rivals out there, but someone I have grown up with in the sport of triathlon and train a lot with is Terenzo Bozzone so we have a great rivalry, but friendship also, we haven’t raced a lot lately and he has become one of the most consistent racers in the world this year, when we race I have huge respect for him but always want to beat him.

TT: Kieran, thanks again for your time and all the best for the rest of 2010.

KD: Pleasure.