Fast climb up the ladder for Webley
Late starter Joe reflects on memorable year
The World Championships was special for Joe it would be as overwhelming as it was.
“I knew it would be good but to be part of it all was special, especially to meet the professional athletes who you follow.
“You look at them in magazines and then all of a sudden they are there. I was even on the same flight as Javier Gomez Noya.
“To see Jan Frodeno, the king of the sport, kicking about was just amazing. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see their full race.
“I was also racing but one of the first things I did when I finished was go back to the hotel to watch it. I was so interested to see how it went.
“They race a lot earlier than the age-groupers so you got to stand and watch them start, before I had to get ready myself.”
When action did get underway, Joe completed the 1.9km swim, 90.1km cycle and 21.1km run in a lifetime best of 04:50.34.
Joe said: “It was my best performance - a 12 minute personal best. The run was a big part of that, with it being a lot flatter than
Joe showed his delight when crossing the finish line in South Africa runs in Britain.
“The support also drags you along with people shouting and cheering. Mentally I was really prepared for the race.
“When I got off the bike I knew that, if I could just hold it together, then my time would still be better than normal.
“I lost a little bit of time towards the end but it was great to get the personal best. I don’t really focus on other people’s times, maybe places.
“But I just bother about myself. With my swim I’m always looking to clock a minute faster. If I do that, then I know it’s going to be a good day.”
Nothing is set in stone competition-wise for next year but Joe knows, wherever he ends up, that he’s in good hands with coach Neil Scholes.
Joe said: “The idea of qualification for the World Championships in Nice, France would be nice. The reality is that it might not happen.
“If it doesn’t I’ll go to France anyway, where there are another two races. I’ll then do another two throughout the year to keep my points.
“The reason I managed to get to the World Championships was down to coaching and having someone like Neil Scholes to structure a plan.
“He was in South Africa and having him around to give you pointers was beneficial. It was good to have that level of experience to keep you calm.
“His coaching style is brilliant. He will either leave you alone to get on with it, or, if you want, drag you through the mud to make you do it.
“We’re taking a bit of a break at the minute but we’ll be good to go again around February.”
The competitive battle with wife Ella also keeps Joe on his toes.
“Ella supports me so much and I am able to train 10 hours a week between work and family time,” he said.
“And the support she gives me on the course is like no other - I can always hear Ella shouting and cheering me on at the top of her voice.
“Being the savage athlete that she is, if I was to slow down she would overtake me!”