{"id":13047,"date":"2022-04-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-13T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=13047"},"modified":"2022-04-19T15:08:10","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T13:08:10","slug":"pro-qa-joe-skipper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/2022\/04\/14\/pro-qa-joe-skipper\/","title":{"rendered":"PRO Q&A: Joe Skipper"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
BOLTON, ENGLAND – JULY 15: Joe Skipper of Britain celebrates winning Ironman UK on July 15, 2018 in Bolton, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis\/Getty Images for IRONMAN)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

NATIONAL HERO<\/h1>\n\n

Living up to his moniker \u2018No Average Joe\u2019, Norfolk\u2019s Joe Skipper continues to prove he\u2019s anything but the norm when it comes to triathlon. With a resum\u00e9 to match his notoriously epic training days, the 34-year-old caught up with 220 <\/em>to explain why Norwich is a training mecca, what he really thinks about Ironman UK and his non-tri related plans for the year ahead\u2026<\/p>\n\n

Interview <\/strong>Tim Heming Images<\/strong> Getty Images<\/p>\n\n

\n\n

Joe Skipper says he still can\u2019t find a coach that\u2019ll \u201cput up with me\u201d, but he\u2019s flying the union flag when it comes to British men in long-course triathlon. The only male Brit ranked inside the Professional Triathletes Organisation top 40 \u2013 mixing with the big hitters at No. 7 at time of print \u2013a unique approach to training includes \u201cjust for fun\u201d escapades to make quads shudder. There\u2019s a serious athlete here, too. Skipper has secured irondistance victories in each of the past five years \u2013 no mean feat through a pandemic \u2013 and alongside his racing schedule for 2022, he has a special project planned for the month after Kona, and something even more special planned for the start of July \u2013 marriage to his long-term fianc\u00e9e Laura.<\/p>\n\n

220: There aren\u2019t too many pros making Norwich their training base, but you seem to revel there?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

JOE SKIPPER: <\/strong><\/em><\/strong>The facilities are really underrated. We\u2019ve got two running tracks and loads of pools. Everywhere I\u2019ve been for training camps it\u2019s been harder to get the swimming in than back home. When my endless pool\u2019s set up, I\u2019ll be even better placed. <\/em><\/p>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> But you did spend three weeks in Girona in February, where [3 x Ironman world champion] Jan Frodeno lives and trains. Could you see why it\u2019s become a tri mecca?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em> Yeah, because the roads are quiet. It\u2019s like England in terms of scenery, but warmer. The quality of the food at Jan Frodeno\u2019s caf\u00e9 is awesome, too. If you only head for Lanzarote, you\u2019re not going to get a decent coffee. The best place I\u2019ve trained is Font Romeu, then Girona.<\/p>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> What\u2019s the best piece of advice you give yourself \u2013 and would give to other triathletes?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em> Consistency. It\u2019s what you hear everyone say, but it\u2019s true. Do what you can handle and recover from each week. Then do it over and over again. I train with amateur athletes who\u2019ll join me for 2-3 weeks and improve quite a bit, but then stuff gets in the way, such as work or going out at the weekend. That\u2019s all well and good, but you can\u2019t get a head-start in a race because you haven\u2019t trained as much.<\/p>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> What\u2019s the rest of your season looking like after the first Ironman World Championship in St George?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em> I\u2019m going to do Ironman France, then I\u2019m getting married, and I\u2019d like to do the PTO Tour race in Dallas ahead of Kona. If I qualify for the Collins Cup it\u2019ll be fantastic, too. I think if a lot of people race St George, the PTO events and <\/em>the Collins Cup, they\u2019ll be getting to Kona knackered. After Kona I want to do something a bit different.<\/p>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> Such as\u2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em>I want to break the 50-mile ultrarunning world record. I\u2019m talking to [shoe sponsor] Hoka about trying to set something up instead of racing another Ironman. I\u2019m thinking 3-4 weeks after Kona because the fitness is still there. If I don\u2019t do it when I\u2019m a pro, I won\u2019t have a chance when I stop.<\/p>\n\n

The current record is 4:50hrs. In December, I ran 50km and managed 2:57hrs and it didn\u2019t feel too bad \u2013 perhaps how I\u2019d feel at 30-35km in an Ironman. It was 6 out of 10 effort and I could\u2019ve carried on at the pace easily for another 10 miles. And I wasn\u2019t in the shape I\u2019d be in for Kona.<\/p>\n\n

The record works out at 5:47 per mile for 50 miles, so I\u2019d have to run 5-6secs per mile slower for another 18 miles [to break the 50-mile world record]. My course was my house in Norwich to mum and dad\u2019s in Lowestoft and undulating. So, if I had a fast course with some pacemakers\u2026<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n

JOE ON RECOVERY <\/strong>AND <\/strong>REFUELLING <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Competing in multiple Ironmans every year, Joe tends to bounce back quickly from races and training. He shares his thoughts on recovery and refuelling\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Accept <\/strong>reality. <\/strong>I recover quicker from an Ironman because of the amount of training I\u2019m doing. If I train 25hrs a week and the race takes 8hrs it\u2019s only 30% of the volume. An age-grouper could well be over 100% of their weekly volume during the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Get <\/strong>a <\/strong>good <\/strong>night\u2019s <\/strong>sleep. <\/strong>I don\u2019t go to bed too early as Laura works as a doctor and sometimes won\u2019t finish work until after 9pm, so we\u2019re generally not going to bed until 11:30pm. But I still need to get 9hrs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Eat <\/strong>well <\/strong>after <\/strong>training. <\/strong>I\u2019m not anal about it. I eat a well-balanced diet, just fruit and veg and normal food. If you have 4-5 beers and a load of fast food, you\u2019ll feel like crap!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Eat <\/strong>enough <\/strong>for <\/strong>your <\/strong>training <\/strong>volume. <\/strong>I eat absolutely loads \u2013 and don\u2019t weigh it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Eat <\/strong>food <\/strong>for <\/strong>your <\/strong>gut. <\/strong>It\u2019s really important: Kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Be <\/strong>sensible. <\/strong>As an age-grouper, it\u2019s better to sacrifice early-morning sessions if you\u2019re feeling tired because there\u2019s no point putting yourself in a hole.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> The Pho3nix Sub 7\/Sub 8 project is coming up at the start of June. Alistair Brownlee and Kristian Blummenfelt will both attempt to break 7hrs for the iron distance. Could you do the same? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em> Yes, I think so. But it\u2019ll be harder than people think. I did a bit of pacing with Alistair and it\u2019s not easy to sit in [on the bike] on the course we tried. It all comes down to the bike. If the bike is around 3:40\u2013 3:45hrs [for 112miles] and they save enough energy, I think it\u2019s do-able, but it\u2019ll be fascinating to see.<\/p>\n\n

But it\u2019s not just about going Sub-7 but beating the other team. Many are favouring the Norwegian [Kristian Blummenfelt], but I think Alistair has got this. He\u2019s gunning for it, he\u2019s in good form, and I think Blummenfelt will have his work cut out. Alistair\u2019s going to surprise people.<\/p>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> You recently completed a 136-mile bike ride, with over 14,000ft of ascent and then a 10km run at an average 6min\/mile pace. Why?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em> It was the classic route around Girona \u2013 the four biggest climbs in one ride. It was one of the worst weather days, but an epic day out. We started early and my dad was driving a support car.<\/p>\n\n

It was mainly just fun, but the runoff-the-bike definitely gives a lot of confidence. When we got to the last climb it was full pelt, whatever\u2019s left in the tank \u2013 and then run off the bike just to see if it\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n\n

A lot of people are worried about pushing the bike too hard in Ironman because they\u2019ll blow up. But if I could run off this, I could run off anything.<\/p>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> You\u2019re notorious for training hard. Do you believe the slow miles are junk and a waste of time?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em> It depends how slow. Riding at 50% of FTP is total garbage but a steady pace is definitely important, I don\u2019t want to go hard all the time.<\/p>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> Do you get the credit you deserve for your performances?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em> I\u2019m not too fussed about getting credit. Certain people get mentioned all the time and don\u2019t perform; others don\u2019t get mentioned at all. I quite like it when I\u2019m touted not to do anything \u2013 it makes me feel like I\u2019ve something to prove. You don\u2019t have any more chance of winning because people pick you.<\/p>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> You\u2019re currently the only British male in the top 40 of the PTO rankings. Why do you think that is?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em> Alistair Brownlee will definitely be in the top 40 if he doesn\u2019t get injured. People like George Goodwin should be, but he doesn\u2019t race enough. Tom Davis could be, but he races too much. George needs to put himself on more start-lines \u2013 especially as he\u2019s young so can recover quickly. You can\u2019t just target 2-3 races a year as a new pro. You can if you\u2019re Frodeno, but he\u2019s earnt his stripes.<\/p>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> Are you happy with the way the rankings work \u2013a best-of-threeraces format, based on times?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em> I like the way it\u2019s done. I hear people say it should just be on results, but saving yourself for another race is a luxury, and you should be sacrificing some kind of points. But I do think something is wrong with certain races. Sam Appleton posted recently that to get 100pts in the race he won, he\u2019d have needed to get a world record \u2013 so how is that fair?<\/p>\n\n

220:<\/strong><\/em> You\u2019ve won Ironman UK twice, including last summer. You must look forward to going back there?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

JS:<\/strong><\/em> I hate that race! I can\u2019t stand it! I hate the course and the weather is terrible. I\u2019ve won it a couple of times, but when I won it the first time I said I\u2019m glad I\u2019ve won because I\u2019ll never have to do it again. In 2021, I didn\u2019t have much choice. The prize money was decent, so I thought I\u2019d give it a crack.<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

JOE\u2019S TOP CAREER HIGHLIGHTS<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

2014 Challenge Weymouth <\/strong>1st place<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2015 Ironman Texas <\/strong>2nd place<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2016 Challenge Roth <\/strong>2nd place<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2018 Ironman UK <\/strong>1st place<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2019 Ironman World Championship <\/strong>6th place<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2020 Ironman New Zealand <\/strong>1st place<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2021 Ironman Chattanooga <\/strong>1st place<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Q&A<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":13045,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"18","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"18","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_18-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_18-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"May-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"May-2022","purple_external_id":"May-2022-18-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"May-2022-18-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000083689||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000083689||","purple_android_product":"com.im.220mag.403","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.220mag.403","purple_ios_product":"com.im.220mag.403","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.220mag.403","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"69718c89-6ce1-4a00-8e50-78dba8209b85","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-04-14T12:32:37Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"d0028785-f7bd-4fbb-b508-876c73eba925","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-04-19T13:08:17Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQ==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A0AKHhfe9T7u1CIdsc-upJQ","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[24],"tags":[63],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/04\/01f69d58-2146-45a4-b359-a8107403b74e.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"8","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/04\/01f69d58-2146-45a4-b359-a8107403b74e.jpg",513,558,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/04\/01f69d58-2146-45a4-b359-a8107403b74e-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/04\/01f69d58-2146-45a4-b359-a8107403b74e-276x300.jpg",276,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/04\/01f69d58-2146-45a4-b359-a8107403b74e.jpg",513,558,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/04\/01f69d58-2146-45a4-b359-a8107403b74e.jpg",513,558,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/04\/01f69d58-2146-45a4-b359-a8107403b74e.jpg",513,558,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/04\/01f69d58-2146-45a4-b359-a8107403b74e.jpg",513,558,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Q&A","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13047"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13047"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13709,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13047\/revisions\/13709"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}