For the unaware, the SOS will welcome its most accomplished pro triathlete in the race’s storied history. His name is Jonas Colting, and he’s coming all the way from Sweden to try to survive the Shawangunks. Jonas is a two time winner of the Ultraman World Championships and has raced farther and faster than most of us drive. He was kind enough to do a Q & A a couple of weeks ago about racing the SOS. Enjoy, Keith.
Keith: You’ve said you heard about the SOS many years ago, and it was something you always wanted to do. Can you tell us how you found out about it and why race is so appealing to you?
Jonas Colting: I read about the race in one of the very first issues I bought of Triathlete Magazine and it shaped my view of this new sport that I was just entering, a sport seemingly without boundaries and limitations. The SOS as I understood at the time was a grassroot event with a unique course and concept and I was instantly enticed to do it some day. Now, with 19 years in the sport of triathlon, I can fully appreciate how right I was in my initial assessment and that the SOS really is an event that has stayed loyal to its roots and still embraces the adventure and the core of original triathlons that may be hard to find in other places these days.
Keith: So why are you choosing now (2009) to give the race a shot?
JC: I have wanted to do it for many years but it has either collided with other races or obligations or it´s been already closed down for entry by the time I´d get around to sign up. This year I was fortunate to meet John McGovern who participated in my two week “Tour of Sweden” which is a training camp extravaganza where we ride +1500 miles across Sweden and swim and run as much as we can! John is a veteran of the SOS and he was kind enough to put me in touch with the right people and helped me to sign up in time. It´s a lot of fun since my dad lives in Toronto so both he and my brother will crew for me and share this experience.
Keith: I’m guessing you’ve looked a little over what the course is like (number of legs, all the different transitions). What parts of the race do you think might be the most challenging? What parts are you looking forward to the most? Is there anything that makes you a bit nervous?
JC: I suspect that the bike may be the hardest part as everyone are fresh and wants to hammer from the get-go and the bike course is also pretty hilly as I understand. I´m looking forward to the trail running sections! I really heart beautiful forests and trails that wind through the trees. That will be a treat!
Keith Any strategies for race day? Take it out hard, easy, somewhere in between? Any plan to go hard on certain legs (bike, last run, etc.)? How about nutrition?
JC: I´m going to run hard when possible, i e where the surface and terrain permits it. I´m a good downhill runner but as far I understand there aren´t too many of those around in the SOS:) But I´m pretty good going uphill as well so if my legs feel good I think I will try to run a hard and even pace. But I´m going into this race with very humble predictions of my performance as the course may be much harder than I understand. I´ve also raced the Almere Ironman (Netherlands) two weeks prior and the Swedish Island to Island the week prior so I better plan for a good recovery from those efforts.
Keith: While there have been some really strong amateur athletes at the SOS over the years, there’s never been a pro with your race resume at the race. Have you looked at some of the records, and is that something you see as a challenge?
JC: No, I haven´t studies any previous records or finishing times. It won´t matter to me on race day as I don´t have anything to compare with. I´ll just try to go as fast as I can on the day and we´ll see how I add up.
Keith: Certainly, some of the top local amateurs, like last year’s winner and local star Alex Sherwood, have a natural advantage of training and racing on the course all the time. Do you worry about the challenges of top local amateurs?
JC: Absolutely, I´m sure those guys will be sticking it to me all day and I´ll probably have to race my guts out in order to hang with them.
Keith: How’s your training going? Are you doing any specific training for the SOS?
JC: It´s been going reasonably well all year despite some inbalances in my lower back and adductors that has kept me from race intensity training from time to time but my consistency has been flawless for a long time. I spent a better of the winter cross country skiing and weight training, doing yoga in the spring and then a number of distance blocks with the Swedish Tour as the biggest. As far as being specific for the SOS I´ll maybe do a few aquathlons in training but nothing more. Oh, and the 10 hours in Island to Island!
Keith: You’re doing another interesting and grueling race (the Island to Island) the week before the SOS. What’s it going to be like doing these races on back to back weekends?
JC: Really really hard! But fun. I wouldn´t miss it for the world. Both races are unique and point to point and set in awesome nature and terrain and those are combinations that makes a race very attractive to me! Island to Island is a two-man race and I won it last year and although it´s not as hilly as the SOS it´s much longer and the water is probably way colder.
Keith: What’s next after SOS?
JC: I might be doing Quelle Challenge Barcelona in October and IM Florida in November or some other IM`s. Or maybe I´ll be too tired and have to take a vacation!
Keith: Thanks a bunch for doing this. We’re looking forward to seeing you here in New York, and we’ll try to keep the lakes at optimal temperature for you.
