Leon Griffin chats after 70.3 Kansas

Monday, 16 June 2008

Leon Grifin is living the dream. He has once again packed his bags and after one very successful Australian Summer is now racing hard all over the States. Two weeks ago saw Griff in Boise and this weekend he took on some of the world's best at the 70.3 Kansas. Griff has thrown the cold that laid him a little low in Boise (4th) for a great result that sees hims beginning the ascent into the world elite. Leon tell us about the U.S racing scene as we caught him driving back from Kansas to his home base in Boulder.

Congratulations on a great race in Kansas.
Yeah mate, anytime you get a podium in a 70.3 you're mixing it with the pointy end of the sport so it was really a race of attrition this one, it was so hot. It was really really hot and steamy and so to not fall down like some of the other guys I was pretty happy.

And Kansas saw a pretty deep pro field.
Yeah somebody said that to me today and I thought that was a pretty good field. Obviously you've got Craig Alexander and Torenzo (Bozzone) who were out in front of me but there were guys like Simon Lessing and other consistent performers such as Ritchie Cunningham and TJ Tollakson, you know there was a whole host of pretty handy athletes there. So to come third I'm super happy.

So talk us through your day, your swim was a bit slower than the top two.
I've been working really hard on the swim but I think I should stick to wetsuit swims. The lake was really hot. They have had some hot weather there so they made it a non wetsuit swim and as I was training I discovered my race suit was broken so that was a little mental hurdle for me. I only had the old drag shorts to swim in, but no excuses I think I was two minutes down maybe.

Your bike was very quick.
Somebody told me I might have snuck in for the fastest bike time (Leon was quickest on the day). But it was a strange race. I was riding as hard as I could for the first half and I wasn't making any leeway and then all of a sudden people started to pop off. I caught Simon Lessing, he popped, I caught TJ, who was out in front for the first half and he popped. It was just one of those day where you had to be patient because it was so hot. And the second half of the bike I picked up Crowie and few others so I think I was third off the bike in the end and really set up for a good finish.

How much fun is to be storming around on the bike course during these 70.3 races?
It's fun for sure. The bike is one of my strengths. I'm not the best biker. I usually have to claw my way back to the front and just hopefully keep ticking them off (his competitors) as I go and hopefully get to the podium and today it turned out that way. I just never give up I suppose and thats the good thing about triathlon it rewards you if you never give up.

And you run was also strong. It must be pleasing to run that hard after a fast bike.
I haven't seen the run times, I actually thought I ran pretty slow (Leon ran a 1.19). It was definitely a slower course. I've never done Hawaii and I'm sure it doesn't quite compare to that but it probably compares to Noosa (Queensland Australia), it was like doing a half ironman in Noosa in December, that's how hot and muggy it was. So the times are a bit slow. I don't think Craig was 100%. I think he's been sick for a little while. So I will give a little credit to Craig he toughed out a hard race and I did see in the hands of the medical guys for more than an hour after the race so he was really struggling. But I didn't want to blow up (on the run) and I guess I just nutted out a tough run and I was happy to finish third.

We haven't spoken to you since Xterra Australia. How has the U.S been for you?
It's been great .There are so many races here it's crazy. If there is not one race every weekend then there's two races every weekend. Then you've got Xterra to do as well so there's probably two or three races you can choose to do each weekend. I'm having a ball, I'm obviously in Boulder which is the triathlon mecca where about half the sport spend their time and set their base up. You can make a bit of cash and travel around and see some of the sights of the U.S. We have a real ball over here I've got Joe Gambles training over here with me as well. He's being going fantastic, he got his first podium in 70.3 in Boise a couple of weeks ago and we are just training hard and having fun.

Is this for you right the perfect set up?
Oh for sure, I guess it's not just the racing you've got most sponsors have their headquarters here as well so you can probably get a little more out of those guys as well. So if you can combine a little bit of sponsorship and a little bit of earnings from the races you can really make yourself not a huge living but a decent living doing what you love. The races are great, they really look after you here and I suggest to any Aussies who are looking to come overseas to give the States a try for sure.

What's the plan going forward for you?
My next couple of months I've got another half Ironman at Buffalo Springs, that's usually an Aussiefest as well. Chris Legh has won it the last couple of years and Belly (Luke Bell) has also won it so hopefully we can keep the trophy in Aussie hands. Then I switch my plans and do a couple of Olympic distance races, I'm doing the Lifetime Fitness race again. And then the New York City triathlon. I'm not too sure if I can knock Greg Bennett off but we'll give it a shot. I find that that Olympic distance format, even though it doesn't suit me, it keeps you sharp and fast for the 70.3's which is probably my main goal over here.

You won Geelong 70.3, do you feel you are close to a win in the States?
I think so. I think I'm getting better. Obviously at Boise a couple of weeks ago I was fourth, today I was third. It's taken me a little bit of time to get on my feet, I came down with a bit of a cold in Boulder but I feel I'm getting more and more consistent and I put my self into the picture when I get on the start line. I think it's just around the corner. I just have to keep on persisting. But to tell you the truth I'm always happy just to land somewhere on the podium, of course first is the preferred spot but if you are always in the mix you are least coming away with a bit of money. If I can just get that breakthrough race I think it will open the floodgates hopefully and I can help set myself up even better.

Have you been thinking about racing an Ironman?
I have for the last couple of years. I think I was signed up to do IM Australia but just never got there. I don't think I got through my training too well I feel like the body is getting used to the rigors of what the Ironman training and racing requires so I don' t know. I was thinking next year but I may even Busselton (IM Western Australia) this year we'll see. I'll make a decision in September or around that time. But every half (ironman) that I do, I do say damn I don't know how guys can do double that distance because I've got nothing left in the tank (laughs). It's a pacing thing I know but I really think jumping up to the Ironman will also make the halves, if they can be easier, just a little bit easier. It seems that a lot of guys come back and they are super super strong for those half Ironmans because they've got a couple of Ironmans under their belt. So who knows maybe the end of the year.

Thanks so much for your time and well done again on your podium in Kansas.
Thanks guys.

for more about this likeable Aussie get onto ...www.leongriffin.com