Training with an iron will
Port Elizabeth triathlete Kyle Buckingham is hard at work honing his skills as he enters the final push before defending his Ironman African Championship title on home turf.
Buckingham, who claimed the title in magnificent fashion at Hobie Beach in 2018, will be hoping his hours of training will have paid off come April 7.
Heading into the championship with a target on his back, Buckingham said this served as extra motivation for him to work harder in his bid to retain the title.
“So far, my prep has gone smoothly.
“I haven’t changed much at all from 2018 because it worked so well for me,” Buckingham said.
“However, I have found an extra gear of motivation going in as defending champion.
“This has definitely pushed me during my training to a new level compared to 2018.”
The multiple Ironman competitor said with just more than a month to go before the gun sounds for the start of the race, he was not leaving anything to chance.
“In terms of how things are looking right now, there’s a lot of intensity involved and lots of race-specific sessions.
“This is a super-important part of the programme – optimising one’s recovery and being ready for those hard days when they creep up on you.”
Having not felt any niggles during his current training block, the former Ironman Lake Placid champion said: “There have been no niggles keeping me out of training.
“I definitely get tight and sore, but I’m very lucky to have a great team around me that helps me to be in the best possible shape.”
Asked about any specific focus areas, he said there were always things he was looking to improve on in his bid to become a better athlete.
His running off the bike is one aspect, in particular, he has looked to improve on.
“My swimming has always been something I need to work on all the time, but I don’t need to come out the water first and try to bike away from the others because it can be a very tough day on your own.
“As long as I swim strong and come out with the main competitors, I’m satisfied.
“My biking has always been really strong and it’s something I continue to improve on.
“I have been going harder and longer in some of my training sessions above my usual Ironman pace, so I can get off and run well.
“The focus now, though, is to work on my running, and incorporate some over-paced efforts for the marathon running leg should I need to tap into this and be ready for what my competition might throw at me on the day.”
Asked about whether there were any goals he had set for himself heading into the current training block, Buckingham said one surprise came in the form of how quickly his fitness had picked up despite having an extended break over the festive period.
“Sometimes the body just needs a really good break to become stronger again.
“I have definitely been hitting better numbers in my training this year than last year, but in saying that the most important thing is consistency – day in and day out.
“To go out there the same as last year and being super excited for the race without thinking about too many numbers.”
Buckingham will be the guest of honour at a Q & A session to be hosted at the PE Golf Club, in Westview Drive, Mill Park on Thursday at 6pm.
Tickets cost R200.
‘I have been going harder and longer in some of my training sessions above my usual Ironman pace, so I can get off and run well’
Kyle Buckingham
TRIATHLETE