With less than a week remaining before the Cape Town stop of the ITU World Triathlon Series, several international athletes have begun descending on the Mother City and surrounds. Rounding out their final preparations at various training venues and camps, one could be forgiven in assuming that the event occupies their every thought – who is racing; what is the best position on the start pontoon; will the weather be favourable? All important factors indeed although this notion of “total consumption” does not necessarily apply to all.
“I haven't actually looked at the start list,” admits South African contender Richard Murray. “I don't like to worry about things I can't control. Stressing about who is there and who is not is a waste of energy. I prefer to not over think or over analyse things; it is just part of my personality I guess.”
The life of a top-level professional triathlete affords great opportunities. Be it world travel, competing on someone else's dime or the buzz of the international circuit, “living the dream” certainly has its pros. On the flip side, and what many don't see, is the sacrifice and effort expended in reaching that level, not to mention the pressure involved in staying there.
“It costs money to get to the Olympics,” explains Murray, in the penultimate year of his second successive Olympic campaign. “Getting to Rio is an investment that takes a lot of planning and energy. To give you some idea, anything less than a top-ten finish at ITU level means running at a loss, for most athletes. I guess it's case of what one wants in life. The balance between debt and success is quite tenuous to say the least. But then again, sometimes the less you have, the happier you are.”
Richard Murray understands sacrifice. Beneath his positive and energetic demeanour lies a seriousness and pragmatism beyond his twenty-six years. He also understands what his innate athletic talent means in the greater scheme of things, both sporting and financially. The well is only so deep, and Murray knows this.
“I've realised that I've only got a certain amount of peak performances in me per year. Because I just love to race, I've had to hold myself back in a few instances, turning down invitations to certain events. The second half of the 2014 season took its toll on me, and we resolved to do things a little different this year.”
Murray and coach Joel Filliol's application of a swimming-focussed and low intensity winter in the cooler and verdant climes of Europe are starting to pay dividends with consistent results at 2015 World Series events. Top finishes in Abu Dhabi and the Gold Coast sandwich a blow out victory over the sprint distance in New Zealand. While a South African athlete voluntarily spending November to January in the Northern Hemisphere may seem incredulous to some, such is the nous and savvy of this athlete-coach combination that this decision has already been validated by Murray's results. Not that all this hard work was without some adventure.
“We had some great long runs in Mallorca,” enthuses Murray with a wry smile. “One occasion saw a one-hour-forty turn into a two-hour-twenty - I really wanted to see the view from the top of that mountain!”
Keen to build on this early-season form, the vibrant Capetonian is happy to be spending an extended period at home. Currently based in with the JFT squad in idyllic Stellenbosch for a fortnight, Murray will spend the month of May training at home in Durbanville before heading back to Europe for the London tour stop. Then it is on to an extended training camp in the high-altitude resort of Font Romeau in the Pyrenneas. His time at home will see him reconnecting with family and friends, as well as retracing familiar training routes.
One such loop is of particular significance and long term importance to him, but in terms other than the relentless pursuit of peak fitness. And in keeping with Murray's can-do attitude and zest for life, an unsurprising one at that.
“There is a Cape Dutch style house halfway on my favourite running route,” says Murray of a property situated in the foothills of the Durbanville Hills. “I've always wanted a Cape Dutch style house for as long as I can remember. My folks let me know that there was this house on the market while I was away overseas and I sprung at the opportunity. The deal was signed and sealed in a matter of days!”
