Cam Brown has won Ironman NZ 6 times, won Ironman Europe in Germany and finished 4 times on the podium at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. He checked in with us before the 2008 Ironman NZ.
ST: Cam, Ironman New Zealand is just about upon us. Are you ready?
Cam: Hopefully. I've been training hard for this race for the last 3 months so I should be ready to go.
ST: What else is on schedule for you for 2008?
Cam: Back to the European Ironman Championships in Frankfurt, Germany. The German races are fantastic, such great fields and awesome spectators. It's pretty cool riding and running through crowds of 100,000 people! Then it will be back to Hawaii in October for hopefully some better luck than the last couple of years there.
ST: Can you describe a typical mid season training week for you?
Cam: Mid season comprises of around 30hrs a week of training, 20km of swimming, 500km of biking and around 100-120km of running.
ST: How were you fit to your bike? Did anyone help you, or did you find the position?
Cam: Over the years I have found a position that just feels natural and I feel at ease on the bike, I have tried a few radical positions but it’s very hard to ride like that for 180km!! You have to feel comfortable first.
ST: Would you describe for us how you recover from an Ironman race?
Cam: After Hawaii I have 4 weeks of absolutely nothing! And I mean it. I like to totally get away from the training and get fat! I usually put on 5-7kg. After New Zealand we are going on a family holiday to the Gold Coast, Australia. It's a great place, good weather, beautiful beaches, and some nice theme parks for the kids.
ST: Do you approach training and racing differently now versus a few years ago?
Cam: I don't race as much as I would like, doing 3 Ironman events a year is hard so I cannot race many other events. I occasionally do an Olympic distance or sprint distance race and I really enjoy it and there is still a lot of speed in my legs. I love to train, which is a good thing as Ironman races are so hard mentally and if you don’t want to get out there and train then you are in trouble.
ST: Do you have an off-season at all, and if so, what do you do during that time?
Cam: My off-season is straight after Hawaii, I have 4 weeks off and then slowly get into my training again. It's hard not to train as we are back into our kiwi summer, that’s the great thing about this sport, we follow the summers!!
ST: What sports did you take part when you grew up?
Cam: I tried everything, Rugby is the biggest sport in NZ and I did that for 6 years. Then I played tennis, soccer and badminton. I only started triathlons when I was 15.
ST: What is going on for you in terms of sponsorships?
Cam: I have a great team behind me, and some companies I have been with for 18 years (Oakley). I just signed a great deal with Pinarello bikes, as they really want to get into the triathlon market. My other major sponsors are Ignite architects, Health2000 and Orca. I also have Zipp wheels, Air New Zealand, Suzuki, Fuelbelt, Nike, Schwalbe tires, Fizik saddles and Giro helmets.
ST: What or who inspired you to race triathlons?
Cam: I watched the Tour de France on TV (1987) and had an interest in cycling. Then I moved schools and the new college I went to had a great triathon team and we really just had fun for the first few years before it started getting serious.
ST: What is your favorite race and why?
Cam: The Whangamata Triathlon in New Zealand, it’s at a famous New Zealand surf beach, great crowds, hard tough course and it is where I had one of my first big wins when I was 18 beating former world champion Rick Wells who was the man back then.
ST: Do you follow any other sports?
Cam: Rugby, it's on 24 hours a day here so you can't get away from it. I like to watch all sports nowadays but don't have too much time to sit down and watch too much.
ST: What is your favorite and least favorite food?
Cam: My favorite food is probably sushi and chocolate and least favorite would be tomatoes.
ST: Do you have a favorite band or artist?
Cam: I listen to my i-pod on every ride and have just about everything on there, from rock to dance.
ST: What is the last book you read?
Cam: That was a while ago!! I’m half way through Hamish Carters book Get Carter.
ST: Where do you think you’ll be in 5 years?
Cam: Probably still doing the sport, I think I will be like Scott Molina. I love to train and love being fit.
ST: Is there anything else we should know about you?
Cam: I drink to much Coca Cola!!! There’s nothing like finishing a hard days training and crack open a ice cold can of Coke ... might have to go and get one from the fridge now.
The website of Cameron Brown: http://www.cameronbrown.co.nz
