ELITE PROFILE
Jordan Bryden
SOME SAY THE best way to become an elite triathlete is just a matter of having the right parents, a reference, of course, to the role genetics can play in athletic performance. But what would happen if good genetics, a strong work ethic and an intrinsic passion for the sport were combined? Jordan Bryden from Calgary is what would happen.
The Airdrie Years
My earliest memories of Bryden were in the early 2000s when I would see him late at night as a teen, running the dark streets of Aidrie, Alta., with his dad and sister. As it turned out, these nocturnal training runs weren’t some sort of Sutton-esque approach that his dad imposed on his children; his dad was a paramedic, and it was the only time they could all run as a family. And, although those midnight training sessions did not garner him any favour with his teachers, they did instill a dedication to training.
Bryden was always tall for his age and could have excelled at typical high-school sports like basketball and volleyball, but he says he lacked co-ordination and passion. What he did have a passion for, however, was to see how long and how fast he could go.
In high school, Bryden found his “tribe” in local running and swimming clubs. He also found opportunity and success. Being coached by Olympic medalist Tom Ponting also gave him a role model for success as an elite athlete.
A New Peer Group
Bryden’s earliest successes were in the pool, but his breakthrough in triathlon was the result of a happy accident. When he signed up for the national championships, he forgot to check off the junior age group (16- to 19-yearolds) and found himself competing in the elite category. His performance at the race caught the attention of Triathlon Canada. He was invited to join the national junior team. His tribe changed from high-school swim kids to an Olympic gold medalist (Simon Whitfield) and other Olympic-bound athletes.
In addition to his success in the junior
ranks, Bryden’s coach at the time, Cal Zaryski, encouraged him to try an off-road event. Success came quickly, and Bryden won the 2005 Xterra Junior World Championship. Bryden also credits “Coach Cal” with helping him gain the confidence required to compete and win at the elite level.
Bryden had aspirations of being on the Olympic team, so he started to work with Lance Watson and train with Olympian Brent McMahon. Things were progressing fairly well, but at a qualifying race in Australia, he had a serious bike crash that made him reconsider that path. He decided there was more to life in triathlon than the Olympics and decided to try longer distances.
To improve his chances at success at longcourse triathlon, Bryden decided to change coaches. He signed on with Team Sutto, headed by coaching legend Brett Sutton. Part of his training with the Sutto squad included being the training domestique for 2012 Olympic gold-medalist Nicola Spirig and fourtime Ironman world champion Daniela Ryf. In addition to training with these world-class athletes, he also learned about other ingredients that go into being a professional triathlete.
His decision to join the Sutto squad paid off; as he did an 8:27 at the 2016 Challenge
Roth and placed 12th overall. Bryden admits he enjoyed the different kind of suffering needed for full-distance racing and found the time commitment wasn’t much more than for short-course.
Ultra Distance Racing
As part of his evolution as an athlete, in August 2017 Bryden decided to try his first ultra-distance race, the Ultra 520K Triathlon in Penticton. He says, “It wasn’t that I was done with Ironman racing; I just wanted to see how my body could handle the distance and, because the race was in Penticton, I really wanted to race there again.”
His curiosity opened a new chapter in his athletic life – he won the race. He thought about trying more of these ultra-distance races, but, his path to becoming a world champion was anything but smooth. In December 2018, while racing an XTRI event in Patagonia, he had a serious bike crash and suffered a facial fracture and severe concussion. The injuries forced him to train at low intensities for most of 2019. To test his fitness, he entered the Ultraman Canada race. He won it handily and was inspired to enter the world championships.
In his training, Bryden followed a full-distance protocol prescribed by his coach Julie Dibens with one difference – lots of walking. Bryden believes an important aspect of ultra training is time on one’s feet. Adding that component to his training made a significant difference in his ability to withstand the ultra distance.
When it came to the world championships, despite being a seasoned ITU distance racer who was well trained in the art of race tactics, Bryden employed a very simple race strategy: stay ahead of his main competitors. He had a race-best swim to begin the event and a solid bike on the second day to go into day three with the lead. He knew his main competition would be defending champion Rob Gray. At one point in the run, Bryden had a substantial lead, but since the race is held on a course open to traffic, Gray caught up to him while he was waiting for a traffic light to change. His lead instantly evaporated, but, Bryden was able to build up another lead that he maintained to the finish line.
Not Just an Athlete
Bryden took another step in his evolution as an athlete after winning the Ultraman World Championship. In addition to his athletic achievements Bryden is one of those rare Canadians making a living from triathlon. He owns three running races, coaches other triathletes, is a freelance photographer and is also the lead graphic designer for Tribe Solutions, a Vancouver-based company. This responsibility means he is the merchandise designer for not just the International Triathlon Union, but also Ironman events and hundreds of teams, clients and pros around the world.
What’s Next?
The immediate future for Bryden is as bright as it is busy. He is recovering well from his cycling accident. He intends to race a full schedule this year, with his main race being Ironman Canada. Depending on his result there, he may race in Hawaii at both the Ironman and Ultraman World Championships. Farther down the road, one wonders whether, if Bryden decides to have a family, we will see him running down the street late at night with his children.