Occupation: Chief Operating Officer at Abela & Co, and Co-founder of TriDubai Nationality: Lebanese Age: 49 TriDubai club was created to help triathletes reach their full potentials. Now, more volunteers are lending their support and there are over 100 members taking part in the free training sessions. Co-founder Roy doesn’t only aim to help triathletes reach the finish line, but also make the journey a valuable experience. How did you get involved with TriDubai? As a keen triathlete for almost twenty years, you come to realise that this sport is as much about the community and camaraderie as it is about achieving your goals. Ian LePelley (co-founder of TriDubai) and I set about creating a club that would give people a platform in which to share information on events, training, techniques, nutrition and equipment and to organise group sessions – basically a social and training forum for those with a shared interest. What does TriDubai aim to achieve? First is to create a supportive and interactive community, encouraging and linking people interested in triathlon. Second is to promote safe and structured training sessions for everyone. TriDubai has an open door policy so that no matter what your level – whether you are a complete novice or a world champion – all are encouraged to join. Third is to provide insight and share our experiences, as we believe a lot of value can be gained from race reports or user reviews on certain products or recommendations on services providers. Fourth is to develop awareness of the sport in the UAE. What happens during training? The swim is generally in the sea or a lake. Simply working on your technique in the pool will not prepare you for the experience of an open water swim comes race day. Bike sessions are held at the Camel Track cycle path at Nad Al Sheba on Mondays, the Autodrome on Wednesdays and at the Al Qudra cycle track on Fridays. Periodically we also arrange bike rides at Jebel Hafeet or Hatta, as it offers additional diversity. Run sessions are geared towards improving endurance, rather than technique and they are held on a Saturday at The Springs, and a Sunday on the Palm Jumeirah. What’s the atmosphere like? Surprisingly enough, despite our training sessions starting anywhere between 5:00 to 7:00 a.m., the mood amongst the members is always one of enthusiasm, energy and encouragement. It is competitive but with great sportsmanship. It’s not always the easiest thing in the world to get up at five and cycle 100km round a track in the desert, or plunge yourself into the cool ocean waters for an hour and a half, but they have a great attitude, good sense of humour and the support amongst the members is tremendous. What’s the best part of training and joining triathlons? You can’t overlook the sense of achievement as you run across the finish line – it makes all the hard work worthwhile. Moreover, I would say the camaraderie during the training sessions or midway through a race; there is great respect and support between triathletes. We are lucky to have such a strong group, whose members are not only extremely talented, but lend their support to all levels. What’s your personal goal? I have been fortunate to have won many national and international races over my career, having raced and represented my country and the UAE around the world, including three world championships, ranging from sprint to half Ironman. But my ultimate objective is to take part in the full Ironman World Championship which takes place in Kona, Hawaii in October each year. In order to do that, I need to qualify by finishing top three in another international Ironman. So I am preparing to race in Ironman South Africa in April 2014 hoping to qualify for Kona. What is your training advice for beginners and experts? Lindt dark chocolate Intense Orange before, during and after your race – I’m kidding, although it is my weak point. I would say the key thing is consistency in training. Pull together a training schedule that is easily manageable and fits into your life. If you can repeat it for several weeks in a row consistently (and it may not be much training to start with), then you can possibly start adding to it, or tweaking the volume and/or intensity. If not, then reduce the sessions on your schedule and try to do the plan consistently! What’s your training advice for triathletes and outdoor sports enthusiasts this summer? Be sensible. Although the conditions here in the UAE are challenging during the summer months, people continue to maintain their training program, albeit at somewhat unsociable hours to beat the heat. Obviously, staying hydrated and protected from the sun’s rays is critical and preferably don’t train alone. To join the group, just fill out our waiver form and visit our Facebook page. No membership fees! All the details here are at tridubai.org/membership and training location and timings are available at tridubai.org/training-with-tridubai.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 13:29:47 +0000
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