I long for a horrible swim that is 52 min in an IM! I wonder what pace he was running in that final 10k to take out nearly 4 minutes from the AG race leader. Impressive engine.

I long for a horrible swim that is 52 min in an IM! I wonder what pace he was running in that final 10k to take out nearly 4 minutes from the AG race leader. Impressive engine.

i agree. there's nothing about his work. he came 3 weeks early and now is hanging out for another 2 weeks. there's nothing wrong with being independently wealthy (if that's what he is) but he obviously trains full-time (there's nothing wrong with that either but at least be upfront about it).

And just like that, for the second time in a row, the AG world champion is an LCHF athlete. Meanwhile, I would assume that maybe 5% of the field follow this diet. Need some popcorns.

I thought the same thing. Based on the article, he has a really fun life.

Caveat emptor and all that...but yeah I'm jealous, too!

Training 25-30 hours per week of training out of reach for folks working full time. It seems like an ideal setup.

Indeed, and it was a Half, but he crushed that Half in sub 4:30. He now trains monster hours and has his eyes and heart set on Kona. Meet Matt Kerr

https://www.slowtwitch.com/...onster_Win_8322.html

Unless you have a pro card you are an age grouper. And if you have a pro card but don’t earn a living you simply have a pro card but aren’t a pro.

I was referring to living in New Zealand, winter in Australia,

This story is only interesting if this is a working stiff like the rest of us who somehow has been able to make it to the tippy top of the Age Group field. If he is a pro in every aspect except having his pro-card then this is the story of a wannabe pro that has a long way to go to be competitive with the big boys. What's the big deal, is his job a secret? Is he independently wealthy? Is his wife (partner) a working professional and sustains him? This is really not all that compelling if this guy doesn't really work for a living.

It don't necessarily mean his job is a secret, the story is just about him doing Triathlon. It seems like everyone is trying to say it's not that impressive because he seems to be wealthy and have unlimited time to train. How many people can become age group world champion only 4 years after their first Triathlon, that's very impressive. Even if he was working full time, I'm sure he would of still been in the mix. Being able to train full time doesn't suddenly take you from middle of the pack to front of pack.

It don't necessarily mean his job is a secret, the story is just about him doing Triathlon. It seems like everyone is trying to say it's not that impressive because he seems to be wealthy and have unlimited time to train. How many people can become age group world champion only 4 years after their first Triathlon, that's very impressive. Even if he was working full time, I'm sure he would of still been in the mix. Being able to train full time doesn't suddenly take you from middle of the pack to front of pack.

He works, has capacity to work remotely. Outside the greatest country in the world many employers permit flexible working, have entitlements to at least 4 weeks of paid leave and more. He is not married and does not have children however that does not diminish his achievement. People here need to stop making excuses for themselves and just acknowledge the great achievement that this is.

Unless you have a pro card you are an age grouper. And if you have a pro card but don’t earn a living you simply have a pro card but aren’t a pro.

Unless you have a pro card you are an age grouper. And if you have a pro card but don’t earn a living you simply have a pro card but aren’t a pro.

He works, has capacity to work remotely. Outside the greatest country in the world many employers permit flexible working, have entitlements to at least 4 weeks of paid leave and more. He is not married and does not have children however that does not diminish his achievement. People here need to stop making excuses for themselves and just acknowledge the great achievement that this is.

He works, has capacity to work remotely. Outside the greatest country in the world many employers permit flexible working, have entitlements to at least 4 weeks of paid leave and more. He is not married and does not have children however that does not diminish his achievement. People here need to stop making excuses for themselves and just acknowledge the great achievement that this is.

This is great context to have. These details are what truly make his story inspirational, IMO. One of the biggest challenges of this sport for most of us is plain old finding the time. Hearing that someone with a real job (remote or otherwise) can organize their life so that in 4 years time they are winning age group at a WC is pretty incredible. The article really made it sound like he somehow had all the time in the world at his disposal. Even so this would still be an incredible feat but not very relatable. Thanks for the info.

.......hilarious how the article of ones achievement turns into a jealousy and witch hunt.

This reminds me of people doing mental gymnastics to make up all kinds of things about how Talbot was doing it, and they were COMPLETELY wrong undercrediting his sacrifices, sleeplessness and hard work and dedication that it took
At my tri club I noticed a lot of fire fighters, nurses, police, army, self employed, teachers....which sure can give some flexibility for training blocks but definately wont guarantee to put you anywhere near the podium. I also saw that some of the fastest guys that seemed to have it easy but actually worked full time, had families and just made the lifestyle choices and got up early and slept less to get training in, you never know

Its the age group world champs and people want to add cry like a baby for special categories
"they train more"
"they have better genetics"
"their bike is more expensive"
"they live in a country with less lock down"
"they are more disciplined"
....
Do these people want pro categories for pros that can or cannot afford to live for months a year at alitude training facilities?

Sport is ALWAYS uneven playing field and the finishing time has always been a sum of all the factors and doesnt care about any excuses.

Matt Kerr has splits and a physique that many top pros would be jealous of - kudos to him!

His bike set up looks really great - makes me wonder if lionel could benefit from one of these helmets to guide air around his shoulders

i

what i wonder is if all this jealous people make the same arguments at job interviews, they bring up here . or do they share their salaries with people that have lesser paid jobs because they have more family commitments or not as good genes.

i

what i wonder is if all this jealous people make the same arguments at job interviews, they bring up here . or do they share their salaries with people that have lesser paid jobs because they have more family commitments or not as good genes.

He works, has capacity to work remotely. Outside the greatest country in the world many employers permit flexible working, have entitlements to at least 4 weeks of paid leave and more. He is not married and does not have children however that does not diminish his achievement. People here need to stop making excuses for themselves and just acknowledge the great achievement that this is.

Dude stop clutching your pearls. The posts about jealousy were good natured.

People are allowed to be curious about how someone manages their life to become an elite athlete. And we are allowed to be envious of those who can manage it.

If you are spending your time judging how people conduct their lives based off a few sentences on a triathlon forum you might be the one with a problem.

what i wonder is if all this jealous people make the same arguments at job interviews, they bring up here . or do they share their salaries with people that have lesser paid jobs because they have more family commitments or not as good genes.

Teaching isn't really a full time job. Work 9-3:30 and get about 6 months off a year..

I wanna come teach where you live! Sounds great!

What teachers do you know who get 4 weeks leave?! Sign me up for that! And unless you are a PE teacher who cares about their job I think you should stick with what you know and not make generalizations.

It might come as a shock but outside the US in most civilised countries like NZ its the norm to get 4 weeks..minimum. Plus free public health etc...

It might come as a shock but outside the US in most civilised countries like NZ its the norm to get 4 weeks..minimum. Plus free public health etc...

the only difference between him and an actual pro is the fact that he doesn't have a pro card. there is no article and thread about adam feigh (who beat him by 5 minutes) because feigh has a pro card. if feigh raced as an age grouper, there would be an article and thread on him -- instead, nobody knows who he is.

I don't think anyone here is suggesting that he doesn't "deserve" his status as a super fast guy. They are questioning whether we should think of him as an age grouper or a pro.

He is an interesting story if he is an age grouper. He is not interesting if he is a pro. Is that an arbitrary distinction? Maybe. But it is one that we make, so it causes discussion.

Teaching isn't really a full time job. Work 9-3:30 and get about 6 months off a year..

Full stop.

Full stop.

Pretty impressive. I think he may be downplaying the "swimming and running were familiar to me" aspect. Good base from the Surf Life Saving background!

This is a shameful and embarrassing opinion to have. It demonstrates a complete and overwhelming amount of ignorance.

For real. Some of the descriptions of teaching on this thread are laughable.

Majority of this thread is embarrassing for ST and sounds more like the juvenile, caustic letsrun forums.

Dude isn’t a pro and has a job, of whatever capacity. Then he’s an amateur and puts in the work.

If he’s living the semi-pro / future pro lifestyle, well, so are many top IM WC caliber athletes.

Frankly the people that seem to be jealous of his performance and lifestyle that work 40 hour weeks - I’m a physician and that’s how I feel about your 40 hr/wk job. It’s all relative.

Maybe we should have AG lifestyle categories instead of Clydesdale/Athena /pink.

the guy won his age group. congratulations
hopefully he can go to kona and do the same
yeah, I would love to train the hours he does
I tried to make it as a pro in the 90's, but realized, I'm not good enough - never have been, never will be
not long ago, i sat watching Kevin moats recover in the lagoon at the Queen K post ironman, and realized...ironman doesn't give a shit about clean or not clean athletes and realized, the ironman adventure is about the individual, not the publicly acknowledged individual.

the question is... why does not the interviewer ask the questions we all want to know:
1. how do you afford this sport?
2. are you in debt due to this sport?
3. do you plan on doing anything to monetize your results?
4. what is your future plan?
5. did you see David Mcnamee's instagram post: heard carlsbad swim pool: "my godson is a semi pro triathlete in that his parents pay him not to have to work"

I remember when Hubert interviewed Noel Mulkely (interesting story) who recently finished 4th after a run implosion at ironman Tulsa, Hubert had no idea what Tik Tok was, but never asked, "do you make a living off of posting til Tok videos? or is that house you live in Tulsa, your parents house? who pays your health insurance premiums, your car insurance, your entry fees, how do you afford your new car, your travel expenses, than new zip disc? Nothing against Mr. Mulkey, but I would like to know how, rather than the surface scratched by Hubert. The interviewer failed to find the truth, but just grazed the surface....Slowtwitch style. unfortunately, every athlete interviewed on slow twitch should be asked if he/she read Cody Beals or Ruth Astle's description of the profit and loss of being a triathlete. As well, every age group champion should be drug tested, and asked, is that ADD necessary, or is it just legal meth amphetamine? Let us be realistic.

Sad reality.... is that those at the front of their age group are generally full time athletes competing as age group athletes.
Slowtwitch abides....

Agree, I have just finished Outlaw 70.3 in the UK after having done it last year, same course, very similar conditions except 2021 had a pro field with the winner coming home in 3:55:14 (Josh Lewis), this year with nothing but age groupers the winner was 3:52:27 😂 even the guy in second beat the pro time

Just as an aside, both Jack Hutchens (1st place) and Finn Arentz (2nd place) earned their pro license from this race.

How is it misleading? He did his first triathlon in 2018. That's what the title says.

How is it misleading? He did his first triathlon in 2018. That's what the title says.

As for doping and cheating - it exists throughout the field in any sport. But without proof why go there?

I agree the guy is an athletic specimen but what makes stories like Skye Moench's and Kat Matthews' (both who followed a similar pattern as this guy to the pro ranks) so compelling is that they truly had to make that shift from regular AG'er to pro. Herbert totally leaves that aspect of this guy's development out of the story. Glaring miss.

I am out with age group interviews for at least a month

I am out with age group interviews for at least a month.

Training for a big race myself and thus limited time

Hey thanks for the interview. Mainly if you can just share on this thread what the guy does outside triathlon (if you know from the interview). I think it will either jack up the credibility of what he achieved, or a bunch of us will look at it and go, "OK another fast full time athlete who is slower than the pros". It is OK either way. If he is balancing being a bricklayer, or banker or farmer and being a fast triathlete, then its just going to be even more impressive.

Hey thanks for the interview. Mainly if you can just share on this thread what the guy does outside triathlon (if you know from the interview). I think it will either jack up the credibility of what he achieved, or a bunch of us will look at it and go, "OK another fast full time athlete who is slower than the pros". It is OK either way. If he is balancing being a bricklayer, or banker or farmer and being a fast triathlete, then its just going to be even more impressive.

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Yeah,like this one with some old has-been.. Hahaha.. (sorry for the off ST highjack Slowman and Herbert)

S2E12 -- Conversation with 2-time UMC Champion : Nick Mallett, Vagabond (buzzsprout.com)

Need some popcorns.