Athlete:

Craig Alexander

CRAIG ALEXANDER

Professional Triathlete

What does your standard training week involve?
I do all three disciplines of swimming/cycling/running most days. Then the gym three times a week from 20 to 40hrs, depending on the time of year.

Where is your favourite place to train?
Boulder, Colorado, USA.

What is your favourite 2XU garment? When do you use it and why?
Compression Performance Run Sock for interval training (track) or higher intensity sessions. I love the feel and they enhance my recovery post workout.

What is your favourite training accessory?
Swim paddles.

What has been the toughest experience in your career and what did you learn from it?
Missing selection trials for 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth games through illness (Chicken Pox and CMV virus). It taught me the value of perseverance.

What’s the most common training mistake you see on the circuit? Any suggestions on how to avoid it?
Overtraining and not taking enough appropriate recovery time are common mistakes. Having a well thought out plan and the discipline to stick to it are good ways to combat this.

What motivates you to train and race harder?
Being the very best I can be and my family.

Describe your diet/meal plan leading up to a big race:
Not a lot changes. My body is used to eating a certain way so I don’t want to confuse it in race week. Proper hydration is also important.

How do you balance your training and racing life with life outside the sport?
By making a conscious effort to spend a lot of time with my family and doing the things they love to do.

What type of nutritional supplement do you find most helpful (either for training or competition)?
All Body Science supplements are great. I particularly like their BCAA’s to aid recovery.

Best and worst thing about being a professional athlete:
Best thing: I get paid to do what I love and what I would do for nothing.
Worst thing: Can’t think of one right now.

In five years time, I'll be:
Surfing with my kids.