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8/4/2019 Australian Tri Athlete Catching Up With Crowie
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AustrAliAn triAthlete| 77
SCORE TO SETTLE: The disappointment Crowie felt
post race at Kona 2010 is a motivating factor he will
take with him this season
I love racing, I love competition, pure and simple.The passion for sport is as lively inside me as the dayI started probably even more so as Ive achieved somuch and yet I believe my best performances are
yet to come. Craig Alexander
76 | AustrAliAn triAthlete
Holly Bennett:2010 was another big
year or you, but Im guessing you were a little
empty ater Kona. Now that youve had time to
reect, what are your thoughts on last years WorldChampionship?
Craig alexander:You know, youre
right in that Kona was both a huge success and a
bit o a disappointment. Im not going to pretend I
didnt want to win, and there was a unique aspect
to last year in terms o going or an historic third
consecutive victory. So I elt a bit disheartened not
being able to deliver that win, especially or
everyone who provided such amazing support and
encouragement along the way. It means so much
to me that people my amily, my ans and my
sponsors believe in me and my ability, so I elt
disappointed that I didnt win or them. But or
mysel, I elt incredibly proud o my race. Im not
saying it went perectly I mean when does it
ever? But I raced to my plan, I executed my own
race and I had a strong day out there. Im not one
to boast about my accomplishments, but I eel an
intense pride in having our very successul Kona
races under my belt a second, two wins and a
ourth. And Im fred up or more. Last year I
actually elt I would be able to run a ew minutesaster than I ended up going, but even so I had my
astest Kona marathon to date. So to be able to
post that time, knowing I have something even
better in me, honestly ueled my competitive fre
perhaps more so than i I had won.
HB:There have been major changes in the
Ironman qualifcation process, and the new policy
has been the basis o much controversy. What are
your thoughts on the new requirements, and how
does the policy change aect your planning?
Ca: Ill admit that when I frst heard o the
changes I wasnt exactly thrilled. I think its
somewhat human nature to reject change!
But ultimately it is what it is, and I had to decide i
I could wrap my head around the new requirements
and what they meant or me. In the past I have
chosen to race only one Ironman each year, racing
as requently as possible throughout the bulk o
the season, with all o my mid to late season
training and racing geared toward peaking or
Kona. Having to race another Ironman will changethat approach a bit but not too dramatically.
And honestly, now that Ive sat down and planned
out my season, I see huge potential benefts to
racing another ull Ironman. Ironman Australia was
the obvious choice or a number o reasons. Its the
only other Ironman Ive raced outside o Kona
CatCHing UpWitH
Tw-tim Ima W Campi Cai Aa as pt t k fwa t
the joys o atherhood with two young and spirited children, a amily home in Cronulla, an Ironman
on Australian soil and a fth trip to the lava felds o Kona. Hes still tearing up race courses around
the globe with no sign o slowing down, and now that the deending World Champion bulls eye is
o his back, we have to wonder is the best yet to come rom Australias humble hero?
t e x t b y h o l l y b e n n e T T | p h o t o g r a p h y c o u r t e s y C r A I g A l e x A n d e r
CroWie
CroWie
CroWie
OPPOSITE PAGE: Craig Crowie Alexander regularly brings wife Nerida and children Lucy and Austin (Aussie)
with him on his travels during the triathlon season
Photo:DellyCarr
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8/4/2019 Australian Tri Athlete Catching Up With Crowie
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AustrAliAn triAthlete| 7978 | AustrAliAn triAthlete
major injuries or niggles at bay. I think that speaks
to being smart in my training and recovery with
my background education as a physio, I have a
decent understanding o how the body works and
how the body breaks down and Im very cognisant
o taking care o mysel. Plus we have so many
recovery tools these days youll notice a number
o my sponsors are ocused on recovery products,
everything rom Body Science nutrition and
compression gear to Normatec boots to the T3
Mattress we sleep on that were able to pushlimits and rebound like never beore. But all that
being said, my amily always has been and always
will be my frst priority.
Neri and the kids are my biggest ans and the
most critical members o my support team.
They love being a part o Team Alexander and all
that training, racing and travelling the world
entails. Weve been ortunate to be able to home
school Lucy while in the states, and we believe
frmly that the education she receives visiting
dierent countries and cultures is invaluable.
Aussie will enjoy those same experiences and
real-lie education as he grows. So thus ar my
career has been a beneft, not a drain, to my amily.
I that were no longer the case, Id let it go without
a second thought I can honestly say that.
Dont get me wrong Im passionate about triathlon
and I eel incredibly blessed by all the ways the sport
has enhanced my lie but I eel that way ten times
more powerully about my amily.
For now and or the oreseeable uture, all the
positives are in place in terms o continuing to
compete the beneft to our amily, my physical
condition, my ability to compete at the top level
and my drive to do so. I and when those things
change, then Ill reassess.
HB:As one generation o Australian triathlon
stars begins to reach the latter years o their
success, who do you see as Australias next
big thing?
Ca: Its certainly true that Australia doesnt lack
talent! There are heaps o guys and girls with the
potential to rise to the top. But i I had to pick just
one Id say Joe Gambles. Hes already had some
major wins on tough courses (Ironman Wisconsin,
Vineman 70.3 and Lake Stevens 70.3), yet hes still
quite young. And not only is he young, hes resh
in that he has an open-minded attitude, hes
eager to learn and improve which is critical i you
want to continue to grow in your career. Joe has
also dealt with a ew injuries and been successul
in taking the ti me o needed to recover. Patience is
not always a priority in guys who are as young and
eager and who have tasted success.
HB:You were recently named one o Inside
Triathlons 15 Greatest Male Triathletes O All Time.
What does that mean to you?
Ca: Well, frst o all Im glad to see there areseveral other guys on the list who are still young
and actively racing! The ear with being named
one o the greatest o all time or a legend is
that sometimes those titles come at the close o
your career. But truly, I am hugely humbled to be
on this list alongside some o the guys who are
my heroes and role models in the sport:
Dave Scott, Mark Allen and o course Welchie.
I will always remember, ollowing my frst win
in Kona, the praise I received rom these guys.
It was and still is completely surreal to be
considered o similar calibre. I I can touch the lives
o even a raction o the people these true
legends have inspired, that will be one o my
greatest accomplishments.
(back in 2007), so o course it has a sentimental
pull on me, and there is nothing in the world like
racing on your home tur in ront o amily andriends. Plus the course in Port Macquarie has been
changed up a bit this year, so Im pretty excited to
be one o the frst to test it out. The race date is
ideal, in that I can ulfll my qualifcation
requirement early in the season and then get back
to smashing up some 70.3 courses I love to do! And
ultimately, Im an advocate o the practice makes
perect mantra. Each time Ive raced a n Ironman
so ar the day has unolded in a unique way, so the
more opportunity I have to push mysel at that
distance the more Ill learn and improve. I guess
you can say Ive come ull circle and really
embraced the change in policy I cant wait to
race in Port Mac!
HB:Speaking about being on your home tu r, you
and your amily recently moved into a more
substantial home in Cronulla. Does this mean youre
planning to spend more time in Australia now?
Ca: The timing has been good in terms o both
wanting to move and remaining in Australia longer
to race Ironman. Normally by May we would be in
the States, racing St. Anthonys or St. Croix 70.3, so
this year were changing things a bit. Im not so
sure the moving process itsel has been the best or
my training, but thats another story! We had been
planning to move or some time, though without
having set a specifc date. But with the addition o
Austin to our amily we were eeling much too
cramped in our town home. That and knowing wed
be here just a bit longer than usual made the
timing ideal. But well defnitely still spend the
majority o the race season overseas.
We love our home away rom home in Boulder,
we have an incredible support network there
(especially considering were not natives) and thetraining at altitude simply cant be duplicated
elsewhere. The North American racing circuit oers
some o the most challenging courses and stacked
competition imaginable. However ultimately
Cronulla will be our landing place, so the new
house is geared toward the long-range plan. Its
only about 1km rom where weve been living, so
its not a major relocation, but at the same time it
will be more comortable and a bit o a change o
scenery. Im looking orward to a ew new
out-the-door run routes, as I usually do the same
routine all the time. And the kids will fnally each
have their own rooms Lucys pretty excited to
decorate hers!
HB:Youre also slated to race the Abu Dhabi
International Triathlon. What made you decide to
toe the start line there?
Ca: Have you had a look at that prize purse?
Seriously, that is an appealing actor. And not just
because o the potential or winning, but becauseit shows how committed the race organisers are in
terms o their investment in the sport. As much as
triathlon continues to grow like mad, its still a bit
o a red-headed stepchild in comparison to more
mainstream sports, at least on the fnancial side o
things. I think its important as a proessional
triathlete to help support the organisations that
are really willing to step it up. And in turn, with all
the publicity surrounding this race ater a very
successul frst year, its a great opportunity to gain
exposure or my sponsors on an international stage.
So those are actors, coupled with the unique
longer distance ormat being an ideal warm up or
Ironman Australia. And let me tell you, theres not
a man alive who wouldnt jump at the chance to
race around a Formula One track. How cool is that?
HB:At almost 38 years o age you continue to
add to your athletic success. How much longer doyou intend to race proessionally?
Ca: However long Neri will let me! But honestly,
I do think about retirement at times, yet I still see
it on the distant horizon. I love racing, and I love
competition, pure and simple. The passion or sport
is as lively inside me as the day I started probably
even more so, as Ive achieved so much and yet I
believe my best perormances are yet to come.
So Im certainly not ready to stop. Ive also been
pretty ortunate in that Ive managed to keep any
CroWie
BACK IN THE DAY: At Ironman Australia in 2007 Crowie crossed the line in third place. This year hes set to toe
the start line again, having accrued a wealth of experience since his last appearance
IRON KIDS: Lucy and Austin have been surrounded
by Ironman culture since birth and have developed a
keen sense of adventure along the way
CroWie
Photo:AndyCumming
Tel (02) 9365 0409 Fax (02) 9365 7291 Mob 0408 249 106 [email protected] www.fastgear.com.au
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