This guy is a machine. Three weekends and he’s got 3rd at lifetime fitness, 1st at Vineman70.3, then flies across the continent and 4time zones to win the NL70.3 today. In 2006 he wins the WC70.3 then flies to Oz to place 2nd at the ITU long course worlds. Just giving him some (more) recognition.
Absolutely ! Craig gets far too little coverage here.
I really hope he does decide to go long after such a rewarding career in OD and HIM.
I chatted ( albeit very briefly ) with him in Phuket in 2003 after he DNF’d due to a rear wheel problem.
A very nice , unassuming guy and a gentleman to top it off.
I hope he’s made up his mind to go long, he’s qualified and racing Kona this year.
He is a machine, I can’t wait to see how he does in Kona. I’ll tell you one thing, seeing him up close he is one lean guy. If you want to see my short interview with him at lifetime go to: www.youtube.com/iwilltri
Craig is a really nice guy. He used to swim with our team when I was growing up as a “swimmer only” in San Diego in the late 90s. It seems his swim has improved quite a bit since then. One of the things which I like the best about guys who race consistently and often is that their performances are more believable. He is the best in the world at the HIM distance, and it seems he has to be clean with how much he races and how consistent he is.
All of the information on this board regarding doping has certainly opened my eyes to how easy it is to do and how impossible it is to detect for those who race very infrequently and/or have one big race they prep for. Unfortunately Hawaii tends to lend itself to lots of guys who define themselves by one race. The pressure to do well at that one race combined with the ease of eluding a doping control test for a single day makes performances at IMH somewhat questionable. Craig Alexander seems to break that mold, and I would really like to seem him do well against the one-day specialists.
Craig is a really nice guy. He used to swim with our team when I was growing up as a “swimmer only” in San Diego in the late 90s. It seems his swim has improved quite a bit since then. One of the things which I like the best about guys who race consistently and often is that their performances are more believable. He is the best in the world at the HIM distance, and it seems he has to be clean with how much he races and how consistent he is.
All of the information on this board regarding doping has certainly opened my eyes to how easy it is to do and how impossible it is to detect for those who race very infrequently and/or have one big race they prep for. Unfortunately Hawaii tends to lend itself to lots of guys who define themselves by one race. The pressure to do well at that one race combined with the ease of eluding a doping control test for a single day makes performances at IMH somewhat questionable. Craig Alexander seems to break that mold, and I would really like to seem him do well against the one-day specialists.
I don’t know how you come to your conclusions about frequency of racing indicating lack of doping. There are few doping controls in triathlon.
Actually, I hope he keeps cleaning up at 70.3 and draft free Olympic. Why does everyone have to “step up to Ironman” and do well there. I kinda like athletes like Alexandar, McGlone, Beckie Lavelle, Miranda Carfrae, etc etc who can put down some seriuos speed at 70.3.
From an earning potential perspective, unless you can win at Kona, being able to win every second weekend at a 70.3 is way more lucrative.
Also, I just find that when pros “specialize” and move up to Ironman, they simply cannot compete at shorter distances. Macca would be one of the few exceptions.
Anyway, Ironman is overrated. Hopefully 70.3 will develop enough prestige that no one will feel a need for the 70.3 champions to move up to Ironman.
That being said, I do agree that it will be interesting to see what Alexandar and McGlone can do at Kona, but my money is on the Ironman specialists.
Dev
Also for those here that find the whole family/training balance a bit tough, take a leaf out of Craig’s book.
When he is out on his long runs his wife tags along on the bike, with the bubs in the baby seat on the back, very cool.
Just looks like Joe Average happy family, wouldnt know he was a world champ.
Very Cool!
And yes he is a bit leaner that he looks, photo doesnt show it but his calves are ripped!
Yes it’s true he is one of the nicest guys in triathlon. I’ll start it…he will win Hawaii.
Whether IM is over-rated or not I will not comment on , as I’ve only raced three so far 
I was not inferring that all fast “shorter” distance pro’s need to move up to IM distance. Sorry if it came across that way.
I know Craig raced IM Oz earlier in the year and is an obvious force to reckon with.
Because he has decided to race IM now and is familiarizing himself with the finer points…it will be great to see him mix it up in Kona
Come on Roxii…keep searching for a calf pick
.
And he’s an australian of course.
Sorry dont have one, but heres one from IMOZ for all the “Crowie” fans.
Hope he smashes it up in Kona!
Good effort mate and a great shot too top it off.
We had Courtney Atkinson here with some other pro’s for the Singapore leg of the ITU ( Asian Cup Series ) , Osim triathlon.
I was just commenting to somebody y’day about the depth of the field “downunder” and his comment was it’s even deeper pub !
My point is that sure, while there is no “need” for him to move up - think about the natural progression that a lot of us go thru? Many of us start with sprints, move into olys, then a half here and there and then we get the IM bug. It happens at the pointy end (llanos, macca, m. jones) and at the age group level. Some people just get the bug and the go for it. Mcglone has it, crowie has it, I’d say after Beijing we are going to see another wave of short coursers moving on up…I mean it just happens and that is great for the sport to see athletes that can move on into other distances (101, or IM) after doing the short ITU stuff. Even super fast, make your heart skip 10 beats as she wizzes by - E Snowsill talks about moving up to IM…
there is just a certain allure of going long - now what would be interesting would be someone having success at IM and then going shorter - yeah, yeah I know that that would be next to impossible…but still it’d be cool to see that.
Here is emma mentioning IM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKmkFRUFbqk
I hear ya Dev. Would really love to see the 70.3 gain more prominence and see more of the ITU & draft free Oly guys stepping up to the distance. I think one guy who could give Alexander a run there is the guy who won Lifetime & NY…Greg Bennett. Guy gets no love here on the board, but is having a KILLER season after suffering through some injuries the past few years. He had Florida 70.3 on his schedule earlier in the year, but took it off. Maybe we’ll see him at Clearwater this year somehow, or perhaps he’ll jump up next year. With his solid swim/bike and a killer run he’d be very dangerous. Big battles are what helped grow the popularity of Hawaii. Perhaps a more exotic location and some neck and neck battles at the top of the field will help the 70.3 series as well.