{"id":17578,"date":"2022-10-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=17578"},"modified":"2022-10-06T13:26:02","modified_gmt":"2022-10-06T11:26:02","slug":"pro-qa-the-big-unit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/2022\/10\/04\/pro-qa-the-big-unit\/","title":{"rendered":"Pro Q&A: The big unit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Alpe d\u2019Huez is 13.8km long and has an average gradient of 8%. As Sam discovered, it\u2019s really no place for a single chainring! WILL LINN <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

THE BIG UNIT<\/h2>\n\n

SAM LONG <\/h4>\n\n

If it weren’t for an MCL injury as a teenager, Sam Long may never have become a triathlete. Lickily for us, he did. We caught up with him after a though day at the office at the Alpe d’Huez triathlon to find out all about his like in tri.<\/p>\n\n

Interview<\/strong> Rob Slade<\/p>\n\n

\n\n

Affectionately known as the \u2018Big Unit\u2019 due to his 6ft 4in stature, Sam Long\u2019s route into triathlon has been far from conventional. Growing up, the American enjoyed a huge range of sports, but at the age of 18 he tore his MCL (medial collateral ligament) in a skiing accident. <\/p>\n\n

On the road to recovery, he began cycling on a stationary bike, swimming with a pull buoy and then running. With the first Ironman Boulder set to take place in his hometown that year (2014), he thought it sounded like a perfect rite of passage for graduating high school. He defied debutant expectations, finishing first in his age-group. <\/p>\n\n

Since then, he\u2019s forged a reputation for leaving it all out on the course, which he did and then some at the Alpe d\u2019Huez Triathlon at the end of July. Here he talks to 220 <\/em>over a beer post-race, and opens up on the ups and downs of being a pro triathlete. <\/p>\n\n

220: We\u2019re sat here in Alpe d\u2019Huez, France, where you\u2019ve just raced, but things didn\u2019t quite go to plan…<\/strong><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

Sam Long:<\/strong> <\/span>I had what was a very good swim for me. I came out in a great position, and then on the bike my tactics were out of fear of riding Alpe d\u2019Huez on a single chainring [Sam couldn\u2019t sort a double set-up in time for the race], so I was trying to conserve as much energy as possible for Alpe d\u2019Huez. I was biking as conservatively as I could. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

We hit Alpe d\u2019Huez. I thought, \u2018Okay, this might be fine.\u2019 It wasn\u2019t. At 25 minutes [into the climb] things got pretty rough. But I was still able to keep decent momentum until about 40 minutes, at which point my legs were just destroyed. <\/p>\n\n

Finally, I made it to the top and was really proud of making it there. But then I came into transition and found out I had a penalty [for not putting his wetsuit into a bag in T1 after it went missing]. <\/p>\n\n

Riding up Alpe d\u2019Huez on a single was a big mistake. I mean, my legs were absolutely battered. I knew the run would be a struggle but with that five-minute penalty, both my legs and mind were destroyed. I lost my willpower and DNF\u2019d. <\/p>\n\n

220: The Ironman World Championship in St George didn\u2019t go according to plan, either. What happened there?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

SL: <\/strong><\/strong> It was nine days before [St George] and I was feeling amazing; I was flying. Anyway, I was riding back from Mount Lemon and Tucson when a lady who was in a big rush to get home cut me off on the intersection, thinking she could drive in front of me. But I was on a slight downhill with a tailwind, so I <\/span><\/p>\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to do another Ironman, maybe two. Of course, I\u2019m still considering Kona. I have a Kona spot. I\u2019m tempted to go do it, but I haven\u2019t made any decisions yet\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

was going, you know, over 50km\/hr. She more or less T-boned right into me. Thankfully, I was able to skid on my brakes, lean my bike and roll over her car. But yeah, it was definitely the worst bike incident I\u2019ve ever had. <\/p>\n\n

220: You decided to race anyway. That couldn\u2019t have been easy\u2026<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

SL: <\/strong><\/strong> I found out I didn\u2019t have a stress fracture or anything broken. So I was like, okay, I won\u2019t do any damage racing. But then on race day it was just incredibly rough. But I was incredibly happy with my performance. I feel I got a hundred percent out of myself. Sure, it was 15th and nobody cares about 15th, but for me it was a way to put that car crash behind me. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

220: Aside from the pride you felt getting through that incident, is there a race that sticks out as one you\u2019re most proud of? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

SL: <\/strong><\/strong> Yeah, it would have to be the [2021 Ironman] 70.3 Worlds, finishing second there. I think it speaks for itself. Second in the world is amazing. Unfortunately, second in the world comes with a bit of a mindset shift because then you say, \u2018Okay, I should be first.\u2019 And now I think I\u2019ve been putting a little more pressure on myself in trying harder to be better and maybe training harder. In some ways that hasn\u2019t always worked out this year. But anyway, that\u2019s the result I\u2019m most proud of. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

220: So what would you say actually drives you? Is it to be the best? Or the love of the sport? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

SL: <\/strong><\/strong> It\u2019s both. If I had to say which one is more, I would say it\u2019s mostly that I just love the sport. And that passion\u2019s driven by wanting to be outside, to see new areas and explore new places. Also, the monotony of one sport can get kind of boring, but with triathlon you can explore the trails or you can go on your bike. Of course, with swimming I guess you could say you\u2019re only staring at a black line, but I have a passion for finding cool pools in all parts of the world. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

220: What have you got planned for the rest of the season?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

SL: <\/strong><\/strong> The 70.3 Worlds [28-29 October], that\u2019s definitely the big focus. I\u2019d like to do another Ironman, maybe two. Of course, I\u2019m still considering Kona [Ironman Worlds]. I have a Kona spot. I\u2019m tempted to do it but I haven\u2019t made any decisions. It doesn\u2019t make a lot of sense for me to do that when the 70.3 Worlds are three weeks after but I want to do both. I\u2019m gonna race all the way till December. I\u2019m hungry to keep racing. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

220: Who are the competition to beat heading into the big races? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

SL: <\/strong>That\u2019s an easy question. It\u2019s the Norwegians. I think Kristian [Blummenfelt] is gonna go all-in for Kona and I think Gustav [Iden] is probably gonna go for the 70.3 Worlds. So I think that\u2019s really it. <\/p>\n\n

220: Do you think they\u2019re beatable?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

SL: <\/strong><\/strong> Yes, and I actually think we\u2019ve seen some chinks in their armour and some weaknesses \u2013 Kristian less so than Gustav. But Kristian did have a 10th place in Dubai [70.3, in March]. Of course, nobody cares because he won the World Triathlon title and the Olympic gold medal. I mean, there\u2019s nothing else to say. Kristian has had a year I don\u2019t think anyone\u2019s ever had in triathlon history. It\u2019s actually mind boggling and intimidating I think for all of us male pros. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

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

SAM LONG\u2019S TOP TRI HIGHLIGHTS <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

19 MAY 2019 <\/strong>
Takes the tape at Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga in a time of 3:48:52, securing his first pro win and beating the likes of Jackson Laundry (CAN) and Matt Hanson (USA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

29 SEPTEMBER 2019 <\/strong><\/span>
Returning to a course that served him well four months prior, Long takes his first pro full-distance win at Ironman Chattanooga with a time of 8:22:21. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

18 SEPTEMBER 2021 <\/strong><\/span>
Follows up wins at Ironman 70.3 Boulder and Ironman Coeur d\u2019Alene earlier in the season with silver at the Ironman 70.3 World Champs, finishing behind Norwegian Gustav Iden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

11 MARCH 2022 <\/strong><\/span>
Long starts the season with a bang when he beats fellow Americans Jason West and Ben Kanute to the top step of the podium at Clash Miami. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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