I train for about 30 hours a week. That's at least four hours every day. I swim at seven most mornings. It's got to be your life. You've got to fit everything around it. If that's all you know and it's what you love to do then it's got loads of positives as well.

Alistair Brownlee

Categorized in : Morning Swim Four

I always try to keep in mind the I do all that training for a reason, which is to compete to the best of my ability.

Alistair Brownlee

training mind trying

In triathlon you don't get to race that much so when you're on the start line you just need to make sure you focus on the job in hand and enjoy yourself.

Alistair Brownlee

race jobs hands

I've never made a conscious effort to do anything about my psychological side. I just try to think positively and enjoy it.

Alistair Brownlee

effort trying thinking

Every athlete has training they enjoy and training that they do because they have to and they don't enjoy so much. Do the training you love, remind yourself why you do it and hopefully it'll all come good for you.

Alistair Brownlee

training enjoy athlete

The main thing with triathlon is you've got to be as fit as you can. I train all year round.

Alistair Brownlee

triathlon fit years

You need to enjoy yourself and just get into the routine of keeping fit and enjoying being active. That's always easier once you've made friends in the sport.

Alistair Brownlee

routine sports needs

I train for about 25 to 30 hours a week so I need to eat a lot. You just need to have a generally healthy diet. You need to be eating foods with lots of vitamins and minerals. You need to make sure you eat properly in order to give yourself the best chance of performing and recovering from training and competing.

Alistair Brownlee

vitamins-and-minerals giving order

I did my first triathlon when I was 11-years-old and it was just another new sport to try. I got better at it and decided to take it a bit more seriously.

Alistair Brownlee

trying sports years

I tend to get very nervous before the first races of the year. It takes you a bit of time to get into the season.

Alistair Brownlee

race years firsts

Triathlon has quite a short season. It only runs from May to September so there's a lot of time when you're not racing. So I try to set myself the target of doing a certain amount of training every week and things like that.

Alistair Brownlee

training racing running

When you train seven days a week, you need good scenery to inspire you.

Alistair Brownlee

good you scenery inspire

My first event was in Nottingham, aged 11, and the prize was a bike. I thought, 'Wow.' I had no idea what to wear. I think I did it in swimming trunks, then just put on a T-shirt and shoes for the bike part. Triathlons felt exotic. There was a technical and tactical aspect to it as well as the endurance challenge. I was hooked.

Alistair Brownlee

challenge bike swimming shoes

I knew I wanted to be a professional triathlete, but I didn't know it was possible until I won the junior champs. My dad said I should give Cambridge a go to see if I could do both, but it was only ever a trial.

Alistair Brownlee

professional go know dad

I was lucky enough to go to a school which gave flexibility around education and sport. We had a 1-hour, 30-minute lunch break, and were able to train during this time.

Alistair Brownlee

lunch education time school

I did my first cross country race when I was about 10 and absolutely loved it. I wasn't particularly good, so I didn't just carry on because I was good, but it just really appealed to me.

Alistair Brownlee

loved good me country

I did a term at Cambridge University studying medicine, so I could potentially have followed in Mum and Dad's footsteps and become a doctor.

Alistair Brownlee

doctor university medicine dad

It's good to put on some lube under your wetsuit, so I tend to use a lot of baby oil on my arms and legs. It stops you chafing and helps you get your wetsuit off after the swim.

Alistair Brownlee

your good you baby

Triathletes can push themselves quite hard, and I have seen people collapse on a barrier or pass out on a bike.

Alistair Brownlee

push bike hard people

I was bribed into starting swimming with the promise of sweets and by being told that you can win medals. My mum had given me a bag of medals which she had won when she was young, so the idea of winning medals was very exciting.

Alistair Brownlee

win me you swimming

We're proud Yorkshiremen: we grew up fell running, and we still do it whenever we can. I did my first fell race when I was 11. It was a Tuesday night race called the Bunny Run, on a windswept moor above Haworth, and the prize was a chocolate egg.

Alistair Brownlee

chocolate proud race night