Legends of British Triathlon * Simon Ward and Mike Harris

This week I have another legend of the British Triathlon scene from the 1980’s.  My guest today is Mike Harris, who was at the top of his game around 1986-1990.  In fact, it was around this time that I started to take part in triathlon events and Mike’s name invariably occupied the top of the results list, especially if the race was based in the north of England.  He was British Triathlon Champion 3 times, and 1987 was his best ever year.

In an era when there were not really any full time triathletes, you could argue that Mike was the real life incarnation of the cartoon character, Alf Tupper - Tough of the Track.

Mike worked full time and yet still managed to complete well over 20 hours of training each week, all the while remaining happily married and bringing up 2 small children.  Even today, at the age of 66, Mike is still competing at local cycle and run events and is able to show many of the youngsters a clean pair of heels.  To this day he maintains his high work ethic, with a training load that would embarrass most endurance athletes half his age (including me, although I’m not half his age).

This is an amazing conversation with an athlete who has been at the top of his game for over 40 years and is still going strong.  I’m sure you will enjoy it just as much as I did.  Listen in as we discuss:

*Mike's first triathlon way back in 1983

*Open water swimming in the North East before wetsuits were introduced to triathlon

*Setting a British Ironman record in 1986

*Mike's daily 4 hour training routine, while working full time

*40 years’ worth of training diaries and why we should all keep one

*Why Mike felt ‘left out’ of the British Triathlon scene

*What the Brownlee’s said about Mike's training when they read his book

*Posting a sub 20 minute time for a Park Run and coming 2nd in the process … at the age of 66

*Why he had to write a book about his athletic career

If you want to find out more about the amazing Mike Harris he has published 2 books, “Sixty Years an Athlete - part 1” and “Sixty Years an Athlete-part 2:  Just filling in the cracks”.  Both are available form Amazon, Waterstones, etc.

You can contact Mike by email  mikeharris51@hotmail.co.uk.

For more information please go to www.SimonWardTriathlonCoach.com, or www.TheTriathlonCoach.com, or email Beth@thetriathloncoach.com.