We took some time to catch up with Anna Crooks (1st female) and Rory Sexton (2nd male) in the Vodafone National Series and asked them to look back on their 2013 racing season. Here’s what they had to say-
Anna Crooks:
Q: What piece of advice would you give to other triathletes?
Whatever level you are at always remember we do this because we enjoy it!
Q: What was your most enjoyable race and why?]
Hell Of The West. This was our big team race and the atmosphere and support for everyone was brilliant.
Q: What was your least enjoyable race and why?
There were a few races I felt I could have done better in but I tried to take something positive out of them even if I was disappointed.
Q: What is your biggest lesson learnt in 2013?
Not to let the occasion or the people you are racing against put you off.
Q: Toughest moment of 2013?
Nothing specific, but not doing as well as I wanted too in some of my key races.
Q: Best moment of 2013?
Winning Hell of The West and The National Series.
Q: One thing you did in 2013 that you’ll do differently in the year ahead ?
Listen to STL when he tries to correct my swim stroke 🙂
Rory Sexton
Q: What piece of advice would you give to other triathletes?
Make sure and enjoy every training session and every race you do as much as possible. If you’re not enjoying it there’s no point in doing it. Triathlon is our hobby after all.
Q: What was your most enjoyable race and why?
So many worth mentioning here since I enjoyed nearly all my races. Joey Hannon since it was my first Olympic Distance race, Kilrush Up the Creek for the great weather and support, Loughrea for getting to support the super juniors beforehand and then seeing them supporting us in return. I enjoyed them all so it’s impossible to pick the best.
Q: What was your least enjoyable race and why?
Doonbeg duathlon way back in march. It was cold, wet, windy and miserable and I had a head cold that weekend. My race didn’t go very well and I was very disappointed with how I handled it. To add to my misery club chairman Mark Jeffers had passed me by the finish line. What I do like to remember is the fact that I did cross the finish line.
Q: What is your biggest lesson learnt in 2013?
It’s a long season so never get too worried if it hasn’t started the best there’s time to make up for that towards the end of the year.
Q: Toughest moment of 2013?
Standing around for an hour waiting for the results of the waves in Athlone to see where I had finished in the national championships.
Q: Best moment of 2013?
Finding out in Athlone that I had finished second to Gavin Noble and achieving what I had worked so hard for all year. Best feeling in a while.
Q: One thing you did in 2013 that you’ll do differently in the year ahead ?
Set more than one alarm clock before a race in case the batteries go like before Nenagh Triathlon this year where all I got to eat before the race was a spicy chicken roll, not ideal!!
