Posted: September 7, 2004

Triathlon: 20 Questions for Canada's Samantha McGlone, Athens Triathlon, Olympian

Runner's Web 20 Questions - Athlete's profile

This month we profile: Triathlete. Samantha McGlone, Athens Olympian

Full Name: Samantha Elizabeth Melanie McGlone

Sport: Triathlon

Born (City): St Catharines, Ont

Current Hometown: Montreal Quebec

Age: 25

Coach: Cliff English

Club(s): Competitive Edge Training (head coach : Cliff English), McGill Triathlon Club

Occupation/University: Graduated from McGill (Kinesiology) in 2002, now Full-time triathlete

Sponsors: Triathlon Quebec, Asics, Argon 18, Rudy Project, Speedo

Personal Web Site: www.sammcglone.com

Favourite Web Site: Runners Web, of course!

Track PB Times: 5K - 16:45

Introduction: Before we get into the twenty questions, could you discuss your breakthrough race at Edmonton at which you made Canada's Olympic Team.

It was a pretty rough day weather-wise: cold and hailing (yes, in July!). I came out of the water in the third pack as usual for me and attacked immediately on the bike to try and make up ground on the leaders. I had a solo breakaway on the 2nd lap but got reeled in by the pack - unfortunately the pack was not working all that well together and we were losing time to the lead group which contained Sharon Donnelly, one of my main competitors for the Olympic spot. I knew I had no choice but to attack again so on the fourth lap (of 6) an Aussie girl and I really commited to a break away and gained a minute back on the front pack by the end of the bike. I still came off the bike 90 seconds down to Sharon so I knew it would be very close, but possible. I caught her at the last 1500m of the final run loop. Coming into the finish line I knew I had it and someone handed me a Canadian flag so I got to come across the line with the flag - it was an awesome moment and the best feeling in the world!

1. Runner's Web (RW): When and where did you start competing and in what sports?

Samantha McGlone (SM): I started running with my dad when I was 6 years old - I don't know why I wanted to run so much, but I begged him to take me along! Soon after that I began competing in cross-country and road races.

2. RW: At what age do you consider you became a "serious" athlete and in what sport?

SM: I always took sport pretty seriously, but I guess it was when I made my first national team which was for the Junior World Rowing Championships in Belgium in 1997.

3. RW: Are you currently a full-time athlete? If so how do you support your full-time participation?

SM: Yes I am a full-time athlete and I am lucky enough to receive funding from various organizations such as Sport Quebec, Triathlon Quebec, Sport Canada (carding) and the "See-you-in-Athens" Fund. Triathlon is also a great sport in that there is decent prize money which is shared equally between men and women. I have some great sponsors that help me out with sports equipment, but I am still looking for that elusive cash sponsor!

4. RW: Who has had the greatest influence on your athletic career to date?

SM: Maggie Swan was my track coach in high school and she encouraged me to try a triathlon and gave me a training program to get ready for it. I don't know if I would have tried triathlon if not for her. But of course my coach Cliff, takes the credit for getting me where I am today…he has brought me from the junior ranks to the Olympic team over the last 5 years.

5. RW: Could you discuss your training in terms of an average week's workouts prior to racing season? Also could you review, at a high level, your macro program for a year? Do you do most of your training alone or as part of a group or does it vary by discipline?

SM: I train with Cliff English's group Competitive Edge Training. We swim 4-5 km every morning (M-F) and Open water twice a week. We do a lot of technique and race pace work in the pool - Cliff doesn't believe in long junk mileage. We ride about 3-4 times per week - one hill session, one longer group ride (3 hours) a 30-40km time trial and one brick (bike-run) session with intervals. I run some times with a group, sometimes alone - we do 2-3 quality runs per week and a long run (80-90mins). The quality sessions are tempo runs on the treadmill and they are brutal! We also do group interval sessions on local trails but rarely hit the track. The long runs are also quality based -no long slow distance training here! Overall I train about 25 hours per week depending on the season (more mileage in the winter and less hours/more quality in the racing season).

6. RW: What are your short-term (rest of the year) and long-term goals?

SM: I am competing at Nationals in both Triathlon and Duathlon in Quebec in the fall so I would like to be on the podium at both of those. I would also like to get my first podium at a World Cup, by the end of the year. I will end my season in November and take a little rest and then think about some goals for next year - definitely do some non-drafting and longer races (half-Ironmans) that I haven't been able to do while training for the World Cup style racing at the Olympics.

7. RW: What do you consider your best race to-date and why?

SM: The Mazatlan world Cup this year - I came off the bike with the leaders and ran 9km with the top 3 girls - I ended up 4th which is my best finish in a Wolrd Cup. Also, the Edmonton World Cup this year when I qualified for the Olympics will always hold a special place in my heart.

8. RW: What do you consider your strongest leg of the triathlon?

SM: I am a very stong biker-runner, unfortunately it is my swim that lets me down in the draft-legal races. Non-drafting, however, I am pretty well rounded triathlete.

9. RW: Do you have any interest in coaching or other involvement in sport after you stop competing?

SM: I will always be involved in sport - I could see myself with a position on the IOC or something.

10. RW: Drafting in ITU races is seen by non-pro duathletes/triathletes as changing the sport. What are your feelings regarding drafting?

SM: I hate it! Drafting makes for a challenging race when you come from where I come from (the back of the swim). It allows better swimmers to sit in the pack and gain advantage from better riders. But the sport is what it is and so we just adapt and go with it - it definitely makes the races more spectator friendly and exciting which is great for the sport. We just need to keep those hard bike courses like in Athens so that everyone has to work had on the bike and there are no free rides!

11. RW: What do you consider your favourite race and why?

SM: I love the Cornerbrook triathlon festival. There are a ton of events like run races and swim relays during the week and the people there are great! Plus it has the best post race party.

12. RW: What do you consider your greatest achievement in the sport?

SM: Making the Olympic team and being the top Canadian women in Athens.

13. RW: The Ironman Triathlon gets more profile than the ITU circuit. What do you think of the Ironman event as compared to the Olympic distance?

SM: Ironman is for people who are too slow to race Olympic distance! I kid, I kid…

14. RW: Have you done an Ironman (if so, how many) or would you consider doing one?

SM: I've done a Half which I loved (Wildflower) and I definitely want to do an Ironman, but maybe in a few years. Right now I am having too much fun on the ITU circuit to think about doing 8 hour training days alone!

15. RW: If you could design your own Olympic distance triathlon course what features would it have - terrain, weather, etc.?

SM: A mysteriously short, wetsuit swim, a huge, hilly bike course and a cross-country run that was poorly measured and so is about 12km. Some rain wouldn't hurt either.

16. RW: Do you feel that Canada provides sufficient support for athletes and for potential Olympic team members in general?

SM: The senior carding is pretty reasonable, but I know in sports where there is not the potential to make prize money a lot of athletes struggle. I think the money really needs to go towards development and recruitment of young athletes to sport.

17. RW: What activities do you do away from sport to relax?

SM: Yoga, golf, reading and cooking.

18. RW: What is your racing schedule for the next year?

SM: Early season: Wildflower and Escape from Alcatraz. Then some World Cups (Edmonton, Cornerbrook) and the Lifetime Fitness triathlon.

19. RW: Who would you consider the top Olympic distance triathletes in the world right now?

SM: There are so many right now and on any given day, anyone could win. But Loretta Harrop is so strong and so consistent I think she is the best in the world.

20. RW: How long do you intend to compete at the top level?

SM: Until I am thirty, or whenever I slow down!

RW: Any additional comments:

SM: The race ain't over 'till it's over!