Monday, 17 January 2011
Chris McCormack. On top. Just like he said.
Chris McCormack is a tour de force in triathlon. Getting him pegged down for an interview is tough. His schedule both on and off the course is busy leaving scant time for writers to get access to Camp Macca. When you do though, the reward is the man himself. Tough and uncompromising Macca is savvy and damn good media talent.
When you are talking to him though you can feel him getting annoyed and at any moment there may just be a 'Colonel Jessup' moment (see the film A Few Good Men). Macca is clever enough order the "Code Red" but smart enough not to admit to it. The interview went for over 45mins with the topics varied and vibe ebbing and flowing as Macca felt compelled to talk through some of the bigger issues surrounding his planet.
Make no mistake about it, this is Macca at his best. Tough, defiant and on top. There is a real honesty in the gritty answers he gives to questions that, let's be honest, we all wanted answers to. (Phil Wrochna)
When you are talking to him though you can feel him getting annoyed and at any moment there may just be a 'Colonel Jessup' moment (see the film A Few Good Men). Macca is clever enough order the "Code Red" but smart enough not to admit to it. The interview went for over 45mins with the topics varied and vibe ebbing and flowing as Macca felt compelled to talk through some of the bigger issues surrounding his planet.
Make no mistake about it, this is Macca at his best. Tough, defiant and on top. There is a real honesty in the gritty answers he gives to questions that, let's be honest, we all wanted answers to. (Phil Wrochna)
How do you enjoy the off-season as a world champion? Is it a different off-season to others?
I've had the same off-season probably since I started Ironman back in the day. I used to come home from Europe or the States straight into this Formula One series so I used to have a week or month off. But ever since I started doing Ironman I think it started ’02 I'd get these October blues. I'd have a sh*t Hawaii and I'd come home and I'd just feel so unmotivated. I’d say stuff this and I'd have to remotivate myself for Ironman Australia.
I've had the same off-season probably since I started Ironman back in the day. I used to come home from Europe or the States straight into this Formula One series so I used to have a week or month off. But ever since I started doing Ironman I think it started ’02 I'd get these October blues. I'd have a sh*t Hawaii and I'd come home and I'd just feel so unmotivated. I’d say stuff this and I'd have to remotivate myself for Ironman Australia.
But I found that in the break I was having between October and December I'd do nothing like I'd get fat. I'd go for a paddle on my ski with some mates, go and have a coffee or I might ride but there's no structure nothing. I'd go five days without doing a thing and then I might do two bike rides and a swim and I do that pretty much from October to December 10. Then we start ticking over in December trying to get motivated again.
And I found that when I had that big break I was getting stronger and stronger and stronger. I found that whether I was winning races or losing races the off-season never changed. I really enjoy coming home. It's always better if you've won. You're definitely in a different mind set, a different head space. But I think it's a reward, the off-season, for the time away. For the heavy lifting all season and it's just time to get home.
We’re older now and your mates have got families and its good to get the kids together and catch up and have a beer and not talk anything to do with triathlon. Just say “mate what's been going on? How's work?” Get down the pub and pretend we’re 21 again and talk about the old days when we were picking up skirt without the wives around.
Is it any different this year when I won? No not at all but no it's still the same. It's exactly the same to be honest with you spend a bit of time talking about the race (Kona) you get a few more ‘great race mate’ and you go ‘oh thanks’. The crew of guys that I come home and have the off-season with I've know them for 25 years so win lose or draw it's the same stuff usually a lot more about the kids now.
And I found that when I had that big break I was getting stronger and stronger and stronger. I found that whether I was winning races or losing races the off-season never changed. I really enjoy coming home. It's always better if you've won. You're definitely in a different mind set, a different head space. But I think it's a reward, the off-season, for the time away. For the heavy lifting all season and it's just time to get home.
We’re older now and your mates have got families and its good to get the kids together and catch up and have a beer and not talk anything to do with triathlon. Just say “mate what's been going on? How's work?” Get down the pub and pretend we’re 21 again and talk about the old days when we were picking up skirt without the wives around.
Is it any different this year when I won? No not at all but no it's still the same. It's exactly the same to be honest with you spend a bit of time talking about the race (Kona) you get a few more ‘great race mate’ and you go ‘oh thanks’. The crew of guys that I come home and have the off-season with I've know them for 25 years so win lose or draw it's the same stuff usually a lot more about the kids now.
for the rest of the interview go to LINK
Thank you for the link, really good interview.
ReplyDelete