Richie Cunningham Interview: Ironman

We managed a quick catch-up with one of the world’s hottest pro Ironmen, Richie Cunningham. Read on to learn about his hardest session ever, his training plans leading into Clearwater in November and much much more….

Profile

DOB: 08/25/1973

Nickname: Richie

Career highlight to date: Winning Phuket in 2008 and getting to run down the finish line with the elephant.

Favourite race: Phuket, because you get to run with an elephant

Best leg: Run

Sponsors:  Trakkers, Saucony, Shimano, TYR, Kestrel, Jack and Adams, Rudy Project, SKS

Favourite TV show: Band of Brothers

 

TT: Richie, thanks for your time. Congrats on your 4^th place at the ROHTO 70.3 the other week. Were you happy with the result?

 

RC: Normally I would say no. I'm never happy if I don't get on the podium. With the problems I've had this year with teeth infections, I'm happy to be healthy and racing again without any complications. It should only get better from here.

 

TT: Were you stoked to just out-sprint Paul Ambrose ? (By one hundredth of a second)

 

RC: Yeah it's always exciting to win a sprint. It would have been better if it was a sprint for first.

 

TT:  This year you seem to be racing a bit less than the other top pros. One week after ROHTO 70.3 Paul Ambrose lined up and finished 2^nd at the Port Stevens 70.3 in Washington, whilst your next race is not until the Avia Austin Triathlon on September 6.  Is this just what works for you?

 

RC: Actually, I'm known for racing more than most pros. I've spent most of this year trying to get healthy, which is why I've raced less than usual. Earlier in the year, I did a 4 race block with 3 half’s. When I used to race in Germany, my record was 18 races in 16 weeks. The reason I've taken so much time before my next race is that I want to hit the last part of the season hard and stop going into races unprepared and not fully fit.

 

TT: What sort of training have you been doing, and do you have planned between now and the World Champs on November 13 in Clearwater?

 

RC: I'm taking this next 6 weeks away from racing to train in order to set me up for Clearwater. I've been trying to focus more on my run as it's been very weak this year. To podium at Clearwater I think you have to at least run a 1:11 so that's what I'm aiming for.

TT:  Come World Champs time who is your most fierce rival? Whose scalp do you want the most?

 

RC: Luckily, Crowie and Terenzo are both doing the Ironman. Clearwater is one of those races where any one of 15 guys could win.

 

TT: What is the hardest session that you have ever done?

 

RC: The first year I became a pro, Lothar Leder invited me to come to Germany and train with him. He took me on a 250K ride (I had never rode over 150K). Just the distance was hard but he also rode hard - about 37 averages through the hills. In the old days, Lothar never stopped for food and if we did, it was in and out of the shop with no rest.

 

TT: To leave us. If you had to quit Tri’s tomorrow and start a new career, what would it be?

 

RC: Coaching. I feel there are a lot of coaches out there but very few who actually know what they are doing. If that fails, then a day trader.