I was staring at the television watching the 2007 Kona Ironman and wondering who Chrissie Wellington is? She was not one of the favorites to win the race; the announcers had a hard time figuring out her name, and on the bike leg, she went with a standard road helmet. When she crossed the line for the win, holding the flag of Great Britain, smiling from ear to ear, the world took notice. After hearing her victory speech at the award banquet, it became clear that Chrissie Wellington not only beat the greatest athletes in the world that day, but that she had quite a story to tell about her journey to Kona. We caught up with Chrissie to find out more about her win and what brought her to the starting line that victorious day.

RBA: Chrissie…we were inspired by watching your victory in Kona.
Chrissie: Thank you! I was so proud and pleased just to have been on the start line at Kona—to have the chance to pit myself against some of the best and most experienced triathletes in the world is one thing I have dreamed of since I took up the sport, but never thought it would happen this quickly! Yes, I went to Kona hoping for a top ten—to win was something I hadn’t really even considered, so to cross the line as Iron Man World Champion was amazing and incredibly overwhelming. 

RBA: What was the bike leg like for you?
Chrissie: During the race, I cycled at my own pace and found my rhythm after about 30km. I was slightly worried when I slipped away from the leading girls in the initial stages, but I trucked on and caught them at about 130km. I realized then that I still had beans in the bank, so I went past them and into the lead. I didn’t know whether any of them would come with me, but luckily for me they didn’t!

RBA: Did you know after the bike leg you were in position to win?
Chrissie: I guess I never really knew for sure I was going to win until the last 10km of the run. I realized then that I still had enough left to finish strongly (although I got a bit confused about where the finish actually was and I had to run about 1km more than I was expecting, whilst clutching hold of the Great Britain flag and smiling like a mad woman!). To cross the line first, and more importantly to stand there until midnight watching people achieve their dreams, is a memory that will never fade and one which I will treasure forever.

RBA: Can you tell us about your life prior to winning in Kona?
Chrissie: I guess I have taken a very unique path to triathlon and professional sport. I was always a sporty kid, swimming competitively for a local team and playing hockey and netball at school. I went to university at 18 where I was captain of the University Swim Team—but I never excelled and was always more interested in my studies and in filling up my social calendar! During my summer vacation at University I worked as a swimming teacher at a day school in Boston, Mass. It was here that I saw first hand the power that sport has to change the lives of young people.

After I graduated, I traveled the world for two years, visiting Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Asia. During this time I met some wonderful people that really inspired me and made me realize that, despite the many problems that exist in the world, we all have the power to make positive change. I knew then that I wanted to work in international development. I came back to the UK, did a Masters in Development Economics. I started to run (and played water polo, very badly!) whilst doing my MA. I found that I really enjoyed the buzz that running gave me, and the challenge of going that little bit further each time. It had always been a dream of mine to run the London Marathon, so I approached a charity and asked if I could run the marathon for them. I raised about £800, and set to work training myself. During this period I got a job working for the UK Government on international development policy. I ran the marathon in April 2002, in 3.08.17. After that I started training a lot
more seriously, and got a coach. Unfortunately, I got hit by a car whilst commuting to work in March 2003 and was unable to run the marathon that year. I decided to start swimming again and in 2004, injury-free, I decided to try triathlon—even though I had never sat on a road bike! I bought a third-hand Peugeot (which I still have!) for £300, (complete with toe clips) and set to work learning how to ride it! In 2004 I did a few sprint triathlons and a couple of Olympic distance races, all with the toe clips and with an extra-large, borrowed wet suit!

RBA: You also spent time working in Nepal?
Chrissie: In September 2004, disillusioned with bureaucracy and paper pushing, I left to work in Nepal for 16 months. I lived and worked in the capital Katmandu. Katmandu is only at 1500m above sea level, but it was here that I developed a love for mountain biking and cycled in the countryside around the city every morning before work. I also enjoyed running on the many (hilly) trails in the Katmandu Valley, although getting chased and bitten by rabid dogs wasn’t quite as enjoyable! During one of the religious festivals I had some time off work, and I spent two weeks cycling with my friends over the Himalayas from Lhasa (the capital of Tibet) back to Katmandu. The journey was 1400km and we crossed mountain passes at over 5000m and even cycled to Everest Base Camp (5400m) through sand and snowstorms. All of this gave me both mental and physical strength. You lose many of the physical benefits of being at altitude after a few weeks of returning at sea level, but I think the mental strength always stays with you. After leaving Nepal at the end of 2005 I visited friends in New Zealand (where I got roped into doing the Coast to Coast Adventure race) and cycle toured around Tasmania (Australia) and some of Argentina.

When I got back to the UK in May 2006 I entered the Shropshire Triathlon and qualified for the World Age Group Championships in Lausanne. I got a coach, trained really hard for ten weeks and managed to win the world age group title.

RBA: At this point did you know you would become a professional triathlete?
Chrissie: I had to decide whether or not to take the risk, give up my job and have a go at professional triathlon. I never want to look back and think ‘what if.’ You only get one chance at life and the most important thing is for me to know that I have given it everything and been the best that I can be. I didn’t know where that would take me in terms of triathlon, but unless I gave it a shot at going pro I would never really know. So, I was put in touch with the well-known coach, Brett Sutton. I traveled to Switzerland to spend a week with him in January 2006, and by February I had left my job and was making plans to join TeamTBB at their training camp in Thailand.
 
RBA: You seem to have a refreshing attitude towards competition and triathlon. Can you explain that?
Chrissie: I think that comes from having many different interests, triathlon being just one. I want to try to be the best that I can be at whatever I am doing at the time, living life to the full and never passing on an opportunity to take up a challenge. For now, triathlon is the path I have chosen to follow and I am giving it everything. But it is not the be all and end all, and there are so many things that are important. Yes, it is my job, but you have to love your job, and I hope my love for triathlon, and for life in general, shines through.
 
RBA: We were touched by your performance and also by your dedication to helping others. What are your hopes and goals for the upcoming year in both areas?
Chrissie: In terms of triathlon my aim is to improve and be the best I can possibly be, it is as simple as that. As I said at Kona, and have rambled on about since, sport has a tremendous power—and can be a force for considerable change. I hope that through my victory in Hawaii, I can inspire and encourage people to take up triathlon and other sports and to generate more interest and support amongst the media, government and business, both in my home country, the UK, but also all around the world, and particularly developing countries.

First and foremost, I am supporting the work that my team is currently doing, especially with the Filipino triathlon and duathlon team. I am acting as a mentor to some of the athletes, and helped to establish the development program that we have started with them.

In terms of my own personal support for individual charities, there are two smaller charities that I am closely involved with. One is called Girls Education Nepal (www.girlseducationnepal.org), and another is a UK-based organization called Envision (www.envision.org.uk).

RBA: Can you tell us about TeamTBB and your current work in the Philippines?
Chrissie: TeamTBB is a pro team, which has been established since December 2006. Together with the bike franchise (The Bike Boutique) it aims to promote cycling and bike-related sports, help underprivileged kids and identify and support talented youngsters in Asia. The website www.teamTBB.com includes all the info.
There are about 16 pros on the team, from all over the world—household names from Iron Man and Olympic distance triathlon, including Bella Comerford, Stephen Bayliss, Andrew Johns, Belinda Granger, Nicola Spirig and Reinaldo Colucci. We’re all coached by Brett Sutton.

Social development is a key part of the Team’s vision and mission. The Team, together with Damha, is supporting the development of a kids’ sports program in Brazil. This began in 2006, and now has over 350 children taking part—the majority of which are from underprivileged backgrounds. Reinaldo Colucci is acting as a mentor and role model to the kids. The aim is to replicate this program with Asian countries, and the Team is now working closely with young athletes from the Philippines, along with some of their coaches to make this happen.

RBA: What’s the best thing about being the World Champion?
Chrissie: The opportunity to inspire and encourage people, and if I am honest, also the knowledge that I have become the best in the world (for one year at least!).
 
RBA: For RBA readers who are just getting into longer distance triathlons, do you have any tips or advice to offer?
Chrissie: Don’t do too much too soon: a good coach (if you can afford it) will be able to set you up a long distance program to suit your lifestyle, needs, strengths and weaknesses. Most importantly, this program needs to be tailored to you, as every athlete is different—some people (like me) don’t necessarily need to do a huge volume of training to achieve results at the longer distances. More is not necessarily better!

I would suggest that people join a local triathlon club, and meet like-minded, fun people that can challenge and drive you forward, whatever distance you want to do. The key is for the athlete, together with a coach, to set realistic goals, however small, and strive to meet those. Entering races is a great means of focusing your efforts and thoughts, and giving the athlete something to aim for. Remember, though, that you will have good days and bad days, good races and bad races, but they are all building blocks on which we can improve.

Lastly, a good glass of wine and pizza after a race or a really hard session makes everything worthwhile!