South Africa's Richard Murray just finished second at the non drafting Nautica South Beach Triathlon, but the real target is the ITU WTS race in San Diego. We had a few words with this Joel Filliol coached athlete.

Slowtwitch: Richard we appreciate this chat.

Richard Murray: It’s a pleasure always have time for a chat

ST: All well for 2013?

Richard: Yes sure, can you believe its April already and 4 races gone with a good start to the year with 4 podiums. My main objective however is to get my swim on form and have a steady year sprinkled with some fun events like the XTERRA and a few non draft races. I’d like to try and stay in the top 5 in the world rankings, maybe win a few World Championship events and become a stronger tougher athlete.

ST: Why Miami versus Auckland?

Richard: It’s early in the year still and my coach has me in a training block which means San Diego was the first race planned. We are also limiting travel this year and Auckland followed by San Diego is miles apart. Having said this, I still have a round the world ticket to complete this years race schedule. I also fancied a non-drafting race to set me up for San Diego, a place I love to go as I have made good friends there. The Miami race was a revelation as well as no rest on the bike makes it a hard event.

ST: What was the revelation?

Richard: Miami was a step in the direction of trying out some non-drafting races. I hadn't trained specifically for non-draft style racing, and it was fun to go in not knowing exactly what to expect.

ST: Were you watching Auckland from a distance or will you just check out the results and replay later?

Richard: I did watch the event and pleased to see my training mate Mario Mola have a really great event with a 2nd, but Javier Gomez was unbeatable. The bike is one of the tough ones with lots of short sharp hills and the NZ guys put on a great weekend. Would have liked to be there, but the next event has all the top guys, so it will be a 'World Championship' event of note.

ST: You had a very fine 2012 season with the WTS win in Hamburg and the podium finishes in San Diego and Sydney. Did those performances match up with your expectations?

Richard: At the beginning of the season I was only ranked 63rd and was lucky to be able to get into the event as I was trying to qualify for Olympics. So I was way out in the desert, and to podium in Sydney was mind blowing and then to follow it up in San Diego chasing Jonathan Brownlee helped me realize I had arrived sort of. Although I was still a way off on the swim and was always fighting back on the bike and going like hell on the run. It will take some time to get the swim that 40 sec faster , then it will be easier. In Hamburg the sprint format was in my favor and the bike packs got together so I just blasted the run and being on the best form of my life, managed to find the sprint to pull away from Javier. It was mind blowing.

ST: What goals had your coach set for you last year and was he pleased?

Richard: In 2012 I had coaching assistance from Lindsay Parry but was largely self coached and managed to get help from the Aussie Coach Jamie Turner and the plan was really to qualify for Olympics. Even though it was a fantastic year, I had a lot to learn about the management side of the sport, managing the immune system , the travel and training in the right environments. I was only really on good form for a few of the races and had too much travel and was too often battling with issues. We have got this equation much better this year with a great sponsorship support, with Specialized, Redbull, Oakley, Puma, Kwiami , Huub and Joel Filliol as coach in a fantastic training squad. Every weekend our squad has a few podiums on the world circuit so I am in the right company. My folks also have taken on the role of admin support, which takes a big load off my shoulders and keeps the media and the supporters informed. To answer the question though, Lindsay and all including myself where very happy with 2012 and it could not have gone much better.

ST: Does that mean the bar is set higher for 2013?

Richard: 2013 is a development year for me, I need to get my swim 30 seconds faster and become a more efficient balanced athlete with good resilience, with the help of Joel Filliol. We are making progress, so I don’t really set the bar higher, but when we get it right which we will do it may result in better results. The competition on the circuit is also moving upwards with quite few younger athletes like Mario Mola, Joa Silva and many others showing good form. The regular top boys like the Brownlees, Javier Gomez and a lot of Russians, French, Germans and some up and coming Aussies and Kiwi guys also there. So the podium will see lots of new faces this year. I also am going to have some fun and have a fantastic Specialized 29er, which I used in the South African XTERRA champs and hope to go to Maui at the end of the year for the world XTERRA champs. I also plan to do a few non draft races like the one in Miami and Hi-Vee, which is after the main WTS season.

ST: But San Diego is next?

Richard: Yes, my first WTS of the year and the start list is the who’s who in triathlon. My preparation for the race is good so I will give it my all. Henri Schoeman a teammate from South Africa is also racing, and he will give Varga a go in the water. So with the Brownless, Javier and Henri in amongst the Russians, the swim will be a monster. I had a good race there last year and have made good friends there so and well looked after. Only 10 days now, exciting!

ST: What then?

Richard: Off to Europe with Joel and the training group to 3 planned training camps and the rest of the World circuit starting with Yokohama then 4 races in Europe culminating with the final in London in September. It is gonna be a blast.

ST: How did that Joel Filliol connection come up?

Richard: Last season I spent some time training with Australian coach Jamie Turner's squad. I was searching for a new training environment and Jamie put me in touch with Joel. We spoke at the Grand Final in Auckland in October and made plans for the new year.

ST: When will you be back in South Africa?

Richard: Probably at the end of September, when Europe gets cold. I haven't had a winter in 3 years, I just run off to a warmer climate. Thereafter will be World XTERRA Champs in Hawaii where I just might take a holiday and Hi-Vee in USA.
Then I stay home in “the Ville” for a few weeks and ride the MTB trails in the Cape and do a few local races. Might just do a little off road Motorbike ride in the Karroo with my dad, but don’t’ tell coach.

ST: So your parents handle your stuff there while you are in other parts of the world?

Richard: Yes I have an athlete admin Manager team who handle important things like cash flows, taxes, contracts, health issues, media and stuff that are so important to an athlete. It is great and makes focusing on training that much easier. The team is my dad and mom and a local lass Eunice who handles media for me. I also handle a few things myself as it helps with those skills.

ST: All well with sponsors?

Richard: Really, really good this year with the support and understanding from Specialized with the world's best bikes, almost wherever I go and very good technical support. Redbull with their 'we want to be associated with you' approach, Puma with shoes and clothing that really work for me, Oakley with eyewear to Kill for help me look cool, Huub with their ever so snug fitting fast wetsuits to help me glide through the water and Kiwami trisuits, which I have now worn for 5 years - so they work. Then there is the family and friends and followers who always make me smile and feel good. There is also the Triathlon Association who has been behind me all the way and Sassoc the Olympic Committee, whose support should be announced soon for the program for that medal we all want for Rio in 2016.

ST: Is there anything else we should know?

Richard: Nope told you all, but thanks for the chat.


You can follow Richard on Twitter at @RD_murray