Iron will, less stress
Poole‘s preparation honed through new skills and a relaxed attitude
IT’S one of the enduring images of last year’s Nutri-Grain ironman series: Matt Poole sitting slumped on Coolum Beach with his title hopes in tatters after the opening weekend of the season.
On the back of a perfect preparation when the Kurrawa ironman believed he was a genuine chance to win all six races, Poole was a shattered athlete.
The records show Poole fought back from disastrous 13th and 14th placings in the opening rounds to finish fourth in the series.
But the experience forced him to take stock and the 28-year-old heads into this year’s reduced series with a preparation and attitude different to that he’s taken into any other throughout his career and one he believes could help deliver a maiden series title.
“This season for me has been so much different to any other year which is leaving me slightly confident but definitely unknown and untested,’’ said Poole, who won a world paddleboard title, completed the famous Molokai to Oahu race and snared the gruelling Ironmana Bora Bora title in an off-season different to any he has ever completed.
“All those little skills (I’ve practised) and time away I’ve had while I was travelling has allowed me to be a bit more relaxed about the ironman series and it took a lot of focus away for me.”
Poole conceded last year’s initial failure hit him for six.
“Last year was so mentally hard for me to deal with to be perfectly honest,’’ he said.
“But it did allow me to really take a step back this season and say, ‘I need to try something different, I need to go in there with a different outlook, a relaxed approach and see how that turns out’.
“I really don’t know what to expect. I know that on my day I can certainly win races and I can win the series if it goes right for me.”
Poole knows he will fly under the radar in the three-day event from Friday, in which Shannon Eckstein bids for a record 10th title.
“Shannon’s the king and it’s his to lose really,’’ he said.
“(He won the) ironman series last year, he then also went on to win Aussies and worlds in the offseason, so all the pressure really sits on his shoulders.
“He wants to go out and win that 10th title – it’d be a huge feat.”