The Man Behind the Iron

As Craig Alexander takes his training up a gear, we catch up with him in his Toyota RAV4 on the road to Kona and find out what drives him.

As a teenager, Craig "Crowie" Alexander was inspired when the extraordinary Ironman Hawaii event hit the world’s TV screens. The unbelievable exploits of then dominating rivals Dave Scott and Mark Allen captivated the teen and he embarked on a slow but steady path towards Hawaii ...

"When I first started, I was very raw. I had no coach and no idea. I was reading books and triathlon magazines to get training tips," he says.
Traditionally triathletes enter the sport as swimmers, cyclists or runners but Alexander began as a soccer player. "I had to build base and a lot of strength," he says. "Strength is the corner stone of any endurance sport – you need to be strong in your core and you need to have the actual strength to run well after a hard bike ride."



He forged a solid career in triathlons in the mid-90s and won numerous half-Ironman events, before first attempting the "big one" - the Ironman world championships at Kona, Hawaii.

"I always wanted to be the best athlete that I could," he says. "And that's the same to this day."
Being a late starter to the world of endurance triathlons was initially a disadvantage to Alexander’s career, but he now believes it has turned into an advantage because he has made it into his peak physical years with no wear and tear or injuries.
Having only completed three Ironman world championships, while most of his competitors are into double figures at Kona, Alexander is something of a rookie at Ironman racing. Yet his past successes – which include winning Kona for the past two years – are evidence of his commitment and talent.
"I made a commitment not to be one of these people who have regrets at the end of a career, and that’s reflected in the way I prepare for each season," he says. "I leave no stone unturned," he says. "I do everything I can possibly to prepare mentally and physically."
Being only the fourth man to win the Ironman World Championship two years in a row (the others were Dave Scott, Mark Allen and Tim DeBoom) is an extraordinary accomplishment.

Admitting that triathlon is a challenging career in practical terms, Alexander believes the major reason he has pursued and stuck at the sport is that he loves the great outdoors, and triathlon makes the most of it. "I love the headspace you get when you’re out there training on your own," he says. "It's therapeutic. I love to get out there as much as I used to 15 years ago when I started."
Between now and Hawaii, Alexander will train for six hours almost every day. He is currently in Colorado with his family, at their second home, where they are based while he competes in various events in the Americas. But where does such extraordinary motivation come from?
"The motivation is personal. It’s obviously great to be sponsored and great to be a world champion but I don’t race for those reasons. I race for myself and for my family. My motivation has come from within. It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about maximising potential."

"My motivation has come from within. It’s not about winning or losing, it’s about maximising potential."

NEXT MONTH
Dive in and churn up the water with Craig Alexander, the swimming machine.

THE ROAD TO KONA
the IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2010
- Kona, Hawaii • October 9 -

The Ironman World Championship is a gruelling multi-sport competition, which has been held annually in Hawaii since 1978. Consisting of a 3.8km swim in the crystal blue waters of Kailua-Kona, an epic 180km bike ride across the Hawaiian lava desert to Hawi and back, and a punishing 42.2km marathon run along the coast (from Keauhou to Keahole Point and back to Kailua-Kona); finishing on Ali'i Drive. It is the annual culmination of a series of Ironman triathlon qualification races held throughout the world. This year there are 24 Ironman Triathlon qualifying races.
Ironman competitions are widely considered to be the most difficult sporting events in the world. Most competitions have a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete the race.
Although thousands of athletes from around the world compete at an Ironman event each year, most aim simply to finish the course or set a personal record, as they push particpants to the limits of their endurance.
Only extremely talented athletes realistically compete for a spot at Kona, and just finishing an Ironman race is often the highlight of many triathletes’ career. The winner of the Ironman World Championship is often described as the world’s greatest athlete.
Craig Alexander won the 2009 World Championship in 8 hours 20 minutes and 21 seconds.

WATCH THE VIDEO