Posted: November 26, 2007

Multisport: Twenty Questions with Cynthia Wilson

Nationals

Runner's Web 20 Questions - Athlete's Profile This month we profile: Cynthia Wilson, a multisport athlete from Gatineau Quebec who recently placed 11th pro in the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 in a time of 4:20:01. Cynthia Wilson Full Name: Cynthia Nicole Wilson Sport: Multisport Born (City): Windsor, ON Current Hometown: Gatineau, QC Age: 33 Coach: Bruno Lafontaine Club(s): Ride with Rendall, KinO2, Club Aquatique de l’Outaouais Occupation/University: PhD Student (Physics), University of Ottawa Sponsor(s): Ride with Rendall, Greg Christie’s Cycle Works, KinO2, Cervelo, Aquaman, Somersault Promotions Personal Web Site: CynthiaWilson.ca Favourite Web Sites: RideWithRendall.com, Kino2.com, TriRudy.com, FoodNetwork.com. Personal Best Times(if applicable) i) 5K: 17:47 ii) 10K: 36:20 iii) Half-Marathon: 1:26:43 iv) Marathon: N/A v) Sprint Triathlon: 1:05:17 vi) Olympic distance triathlon: 2:12:50 vii) Half-Ironman Triathlon: 4:20:01 viii) Ironman: N/A The Runner's Web met Cynthia at the year-end Somersault Awards and Appreciation Reception evening at the Chimo Inn in Ottawa. 1. Runner's Web (RW): When and where did you start competing and in what sports? Cynthia Wilson (CW:): I started figure skating when I was 4 years old, and running cross country when I was about 8 years old. My school had a cross country team that my sister was a part of and since we did everything together I wanted to run, too. I kept up competitive figure skating and running track and cross country until I started my undergrad when I was 18. 2. RW: At what age do you consider you became a "serious" athlete and in what sport? CW:: I considered myself to be a serious athlete when I decided to race professionally in 2005. 3. RW: Where do you work? Do you believe it is possible for someone who is not a full-time triathlete to compete at a high level internationally? CW:: Right now I’m completing my PHD in Physics at the University of Ottawa. I hope to be finished by December 2008. I also teach a Physics lab there. My supervisor is very understanding of my training schedule and I make my own hours. I feel that I am very lucky to be in school doing what I enjoy and training and competing at a high level at the same time. It wasn’t always easy, however, when I was completing my courses and studying for my comprehensive exam. Now that my courses are over I have more time to train and go to races. I always bring work with me to do when I’m away at a race or a training camp. I do believe that it is possible for someone who isn’t a full time athlete to compete internationally, provided that their job provides the flexibility for them to train and compete. It is also up to the athlete to be committed to following a strict schedule and getting enough rest. 4. RW: Who has had the greatest influence on your athletic career to date? CW:: There are many people who have influenced me over the years, so it’s difficult to name just one. When I started triathlon in 2002, I trained with the Peak Centre for Human Performance, first under Elise LeBrun and later under Ken Brunet. They were both great coaches. I have been training for the past year with Bruno Lafontaine, who has had a tremendous impact on my training and performances this past season. He had a lot to do with my decision to race long distance this year. Bruno has a fabulous attitude towards training and racing, and has really helped me believe in my capabilities. Glen Rendall has always been a big influence as well, helping me understand what it really means to race as a professional athlete. Then of course, there’s my parents. Without their undying support I would have never been involved in athletics in the first place. 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? CW:: An average week would consist of 5 hours of swimming, 7 hours of biking, 5 hours of running, and 2 hours of core strength and/or weights. Of these workouts, approximately 1 hour of swimming, 2 hours of biking, and 1.5 hours of running are done at an elevated intensity. At the macro level, my year starts off with mostly short distance speed work, including 5 and 10k races, indoor time trial bike races, and fairly intense swim sessions. Weights are also part of the early season training. As the racing season approaches, the weight training is reduced to core strength training, the length of intensity sessions are increased, and the volume builds. During the race season, I race at short distances locally to get my speed workouts in, and also do many longer training sessions than at the beginning of the year. 6. RW: What are your short-term (early 2008) and longer-term racing goals? CW:: For 2008, I would like to compete again at and win the Long Course National Championships (I was 3rd this year). I would also like to do as many 70.3 events as I can afford to go to, and return to Clearwater for the 70.3 worlds and make it into the top 5. 7. RW: What do you consider your best race to-date and why? CW:: I had many great performances this year, but by far my best race to date would have to be my most recent race, the 70.3 world championships. I had no expectations for myself, other than to show up and race to the best of my ability. I really surprised myself by coming out of the water with the pack, passing 9 people on the bike, and having a personal best run. Everything went right that day and I’ll never forget it. (I’ll also never forget passing Lisa Bentley an Kate Major on the bike!) 8. RW: What do you consider your strongest attribute of the three triathlon disciplines? CW:: Previously my strongest attribute was the bike, but my running has been going so well recently that I consider the my run to be my strength. Swimming has always been a weakness of mine (I learned how to swim in 2001), but I am continuing to improve every year. 9. RW: How long do you intend to compete at the top level of the sport? Do you have any interest in coaching or other involvement in sport after you stop competing? CW:: I figure I have another 2 or 3 years left in me to compete at this level. Once I finish competing, I hope to become more involved in the Kids of Steel program, and also more involved with programs for women in sport. I don’t have any coaching in my plans, I’ll leave that to the experts. 10. RW: Have you been tested in a lab for max VO2, body fat, etc? If so what were the results? If not, do you plan on getting tested? CW:: I was tested at the end of my racing season in 2006, my VO2 max for cycling was 60.3 and for running was 58.5. I have done regular blood lactate testing for cycling and running as part of my training up until last year. I’ve never had a % body fat test. I will likely start up lactate testing again when I start up my training again mid December. 11. RW: What is your favourite triathlon and why? CW:: My favourite triathlon would have to be Smiths Falls. I see almost everyone I know from the region competing at this race and I’m always doing it for fun. Somersault always puts on a great race, and the winners get a big bag of chocolate from the Hershey factory. A close runner up would have to be Timberman 70.3, which I competed in for the first time this year. The crowds were amazing and there was so much going on during the run course that I almost forgot I was racing! Smiths Falls Timberman 12. RW: What do you consider your greatest achievement in the sport? CW:: I feel that my greatest achievement in sport is motivating other people to achieve their goals. I’ve always brought about the attitude that everyone is important no matter what their goals are for sport, whether it is running their first 5k or going to a world championships. I always try to give it my all with a positive attitude in both my training and racing and hope that through this I will motivate others to do the same. 13. RW: Can you discuss your training environment in terms of facilities, coaching. training partners, etc.? CW:: I swim with a great group of swimmers and triathletes at a local CEGEP. Robert Toupin, the coach there is very demanding and I have improved greatly because of him and also trying to keep up with the likes of Gen Pellerin and Marie Danais. I run and cycle with various people both from Ride With Rendall and KinO2. My overall coach is Bruno Lafontaine who I also train with frequently during the KinO2 group training sessions. Most of my easy riding and running I do solo, but I prefer to do the intensity sessions with other people who are faster than I am. 14. RW: Apart from swimming, cycling and running, do you do any other training, such as weight-training, yoga, etc.? CW:: As I mentioned before, I do weight training in the early season. I do yoga once a week, and in the winter I cross country ski. Milton 15. RW: Apart from the triathlon what is your favourite "other" sport? CW:: My favourite other sport would have to be snowboarding. Before I started triathlon I was an avid snowboarder constantly on the search for powder. Once I finish with triathlon I will definitely get back to it. 16. RW: What activities do you do away from sport to relax? CW:: I enjoy cooking, baking, reading, and spending as much time as I can with my friends, family, and my new cat Harley. 17. RW: How are you able to finance your training and competitions? CW:: I am able to finance my training and competition from the income that I receive as a research and teaching assistant as part of my PhD. I also depend a lot on my parents when I can’t make ends meet. Sponsorship is also very important to me to help me out with bikes, equipment, and getting to races. Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 - Clearwater 18. RW: Could you take us through the Ford Ironman 70.3 race, discussing your strategy, how you felt during each of the disciplines, etc. CW:: I wasn’t nervous at all in the days leading up to the race and even on race day. This is very unusual for me, perhaps it was because I was just happy to be there and didn’t really have any expectations for myself. My strategy was to hang on to the group during the swim, push hard at a consistent pace on the bike, and keep my pace fast yet even on the run. I had exceptional focus during all three disciplines. During the swim I fought very hard to stay on the group as I was determined not to get left behind which is what usually happens. I was frustrated on the bike seeing some drafting going on and I held back early on to avoid a penalty. When I did pick up the pace I began moving right up and passed many of the other female pros, including Lisa Bentley and then later on Kate Major. I came out of the bike in 10th place, something that I had never imagined at all. I was having the race of my life. I kept my focus during the run, and hoped for a top ten finish. At one point I was in 8th and could hardly contain myself. Unfortunately for me there were a few really fast runners behind me and I ended up in 11th place. Overall I’m extremely happy with my result. 19. RW: What is your favourite race distance and why? CW:: Of the three distances that I race (sprint, Olympic and half-iron), my favourite distance is the half-iron. I like this distance because it suits my strengths with the longest bike and run sections and by ratio the shortest swim. I also really enjoy racing sprint distance because I can go all out and blow myself to pieces. 20. Personal Profile: i) Favourite movie: The Princess Bride ii) Favourite book: The Art of Happiness by the Dali Lama iii) Favourite meal: anything containing chocolate or cheese (or even better both chocolate and cheese) iv) Favourite drink: A good shiraz v) I hate it when…. people are grumpy vi) I love it when... I’m with my friends laughing so much that I start to cry vii) The person in the world I admire most is: my mother viii) If I could spend a week free in any place in the world it would be: Santorini, Greece ix) I drive a: Subaru x) My favourite animal is: a cat xi) Nickname: RW: Thanks for doing this. Continued success in your competitive endeavours. The last word to you. CW:: My favourite quote: “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” Steve Prefontaine (1951-1975) Kingston Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest