Getting hooked after accepting a bet to make the Irish team

CELEBRITY FANS:Suddenly you get a bit older, into your 30s and you realise this is a sport that you're kind of okay at, writes CRAIG DOYLE

How did you get interested in triathlons?When I was with BBC Sport, triathlons were one of their sports they wanted me to cover. I was always reluctant to present on sports I didn't know much about so knowing I would be doing it in three months time I said I'll join a triathlon club and train with the guys and learn about the sport.

I joined Wicklow Triathlon Club, as I knew a few guys there already. A few of them were on the Irish team to go to Lausanne for the World Championships in the age group race and I met them over there because I was working for the BBC. We went out on the tear and they laid a bet that I couldn’t make the Irish team in my age category – 35 to 39 – for the next year. I said: “Right lads, I’ll take ye up on that.” I trained my backside off for the year, competing in a good few races, here and over in England, and I made the Irish team. I was kinda hooked then.

I went to Hamburg to race in the World Championships. The weird thing about it was that I was also presenting a show. I came in about 2hr 49mins, which would have been slow. I’d always be trying to break 2hr 30mins – not that I’d always make it! I didn’t come last but I was banjaxed. I crossed the finish line and had to do a piece to camera straight away. I was talking away: “Well, there you go. It’s a tough old course. I wonder how the elite athletes will get on. Their race is coming up very soon . . . ” And then I threw up. That was nice – in my lycra suit.

The swim is quite aggressive, isn't it?It is. You fight for your place in the water. I remember in particular the last time I raced in London. What you want to do is "draft" – swim as close as you can to someone's feet. I was almost under someone's armpit. It saves up to about 20 per cent of your energy because you're basically towed along.

I was drafting on this guy and he was flying along. I thought, ‘Cool, I’m getting a free ride.’ After about 200 metres, he obviously wasn’t much of a swimmer and broke into a breast stroke, kicking me in the face, half knocks me out, goggles all over the place. I was a mess. I chased up and swam over him because I was so angry.

It’s a funny one – there is respect for one another as well, but it can be aggressive, especially those beach starts where you all run in together. That can get pretty tasty.

Why is the transition from cycling to running so difficult?You get a thing called "jellylegs". The swim-to-bike is fine because with a wetsuit you don't tend to use your legs too much. When I'm swimming I'd only really kick heavily at the start and the end, and at the end you're only really kicking them heavily to get a bit of blood back into them before the bike, but when you come off the bike, you're knackered – and I'm very weak on the bike; I've got, basically, girls' legs – and you're in transition so you have to run with the bike and there's lots of things to remember.

You rack your bike, then your helmet comes off – do it the other way around and you get penalised. You start running and you feel like you’re bandy-legs, like you’re Charlie Chaplin trying to run. The first 2K is gruesome.

What's frustrating about the sport?I get frustrated by people taking it too seriously. I realise that there's a certain type of person that does triathlons. I think it attracts people who are sporty but more so a lot of people who may not have succeeded in sport, like myself. I was an avid sportsperson but I wasn't any good. Suddenly you get a bit older, into your 30s and you realise this is a sport that you're kind of okay at.

You become quite driven by it. You get people banging on: “Oh, I can’t do this because I gotta train.” And you think, in fairness, what’s your best time? 2hr 25mins? It’s a good time but, you know, the pros are coming in with 1hr 49mins, 1hr 50mins. You’re never going to be a professional triathlete. Will you just chill out and start enjoying it a bit more.

What's been the highlight of your career?My first race in Athy was amazing. I smiled from start to finish. I couldn't believe I'd missed out on all this.

What's the most unusual thing you've seen out on a race?People peeing on the bike.