THE PHIL GRAVES INTERVIEW Winner of both Ironman UK 2009 and Ironman UK 70.3  I was fortunate enough to get a quick interview with Phil as he prepares for a new season. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ME: You have had a magnificent season, winning Ironman UK and 70.3 and doing so well out there in Kona at the World Championships…but if there was one stand out moment for you what would it be ? PHIL: "There are so many highlights its difficult to put them all down ! Obviously, 70.3 UK was a big thing for me, I was the new kid on the block, no one had heard of me and even though I knew I could race at that level very few people believed I could. Winning my first ironman branded race there at wimbleball was a very emotional experience, I had sacrificed so much and it just made it all worthwhile, it was a very special day !" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ME: Were you impressed with the set up of the course at Ironman UK 2009 ?  PHIL: "It certinly is one hard course ! Obviously the transition was a bit muddy but at the end of the day I was there to get a result and it was the same for everyone so I just had to get on with it, there's nothing else you can do but put your head down and just race !"   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ME: You passed me on the bike course going through the little village of Adlington with the TV crew hot on your tail – how strange is it to have a motorbike and camera follow your every move ?  PHIL:  "It's always nice to have some support out there and someone to chat to (the guys on the motorbike). you just kind of forget about it and get on with the race, though its really good that races like 70.3 and Ironman UK are getting the tv coverage they deserve. At the UK races there is just 1 bike following you but at Hawaii, its crazy, there is a whole convoy and a truck loads of photographers and bikes, its something out of this world !!! " --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ME: Will you be back in Bolton this year to defend your title ? PHIL:  "I dont think so, if I do an ironman it will be earlier in the year as I feel the UK race is a little too close to Hawaii for my young body to handle"   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ME:  Both my elder sons (aged 10 and 8) are massive Phil Graves fans – what tip would you give them on how to become successful ?  PHIL:  "I would say when things seem to be going bad and your about to give up just stop, re-asses things and then go back to it - never give up ! Find something that you enjoy doing and don't let it go, never get into the groove of working to live, you have to live to work and enjoy yourself !" --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ME:  Massive success at such a young age means that the UK triathlon fans have huge expectations of you now for the future…are you aware of this and does it bring extra pressure on you ? PHIL:  "No I'm not really aware of any pressure. I'm still only 20, even when i race in Abu Dhabi I will still be 20! Hopefully I will be able to have another 20 years at this sport so have a long time to achieve my dreams! Greg Welch (former IM Hawaii champ) told me at Clearwater to just enjoy myself, do loads of different racing and experiment with different things and that is what i am going to do. He said that I have proved what I can do, now I can race what I want to race and go out there and have some fun."   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ME: Who are you most impressed with out of the professional ranks and why ? PHIL:  "Crowie and Andreas Raelert - when I look back at Hawaii at the run they are the only two people I can see who are actually running fluidly and to do that after all that way in that heat is something I take my hat off to ! Also, Javier Gomez in the olympic distance ranks. He is truly a quality athlete, I believe the contador of the triathlon world. He is such a solid all round athlete and after being with him in the break at the european champs last year I was very impressed with what he can do, he has such a classy racing style it makes me envious !"    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ME: You are a very accessible sportsman with your Facebook and Twitter accounts, but do you visit the main triathlon forums as well – Tritalk.co.uk, Runnersworld and Slowtwitch ??? PHIL: "erm I sometimes have a browse and think I have some accounts with some forums but I cant remember the passwords to be honest ! I think it is important to try and be as accessible as possible. At the end of the day, I am just a normal guy doing something I love, triathlon is something that is in my veins so I enjoy sharing my passion with other triathletes. If i can be a good role model and inspire at least 1 person to go out on their bike then I will go to bed happy and content."    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ME: If suddenly you had all your weekly training sessions taken away from you apart from one that you were allowed to keep – what session would you keep and why ? PHIL:  "The saturday morning ride with 'the lads', we meet at 9am and hammer each other out to a cafe about 50km away, stop for a cake and then hammer it back, its so much fun, good banter and awsome training!"   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ME: Are there any races that you haven’t done but really want to before you finish ? PHIL:  "there are so many I want to do its crazy.  I want to race Roth, Lanza IM, represent my country TTing at a world or euro champs, Alcatraz, 3 peaks cyclo cross, you name it I want to race it !"