After nearly 30 years in triathlon and hundreds of events under his belt, Glen Yule has no plans to retire any time soon.
The new season promises to be as busy as ever for Glen, who celebrates his 48th birthday on November 30. He’s set to race in four legs of the Contact Tri Series at Rotorua, Kinloch, Takapuna and Wellington.
Glen, a member of Hawke’s Bay Multisport Club, still remembers his first ever triathlon way back in 1983 and told us he’s been hooked ever since.
Coming from a background in team sports, he loves the individual challenge of triathlon and the fact that "if I have a bad day it’s my fault and if I have a good day I can take pride in that.”
The stage was set for Glen’s proudest achievement in the sport in 2009, when he was selected to compete in the age group world championships on the Gold Coast. He put in a terrific performance and recorded a personal best time.
Never one to sit back and relax, Glen has dabbled in many multisport events including the Coast to Coast in 1990 and Ironman New Zealand in 1994, 2003, 2005 and 2008.
He would love to line up for another Ironman, but still relives memories of the 2008 race in which a painfully torn calf muscle stopped him finishing the race.
"I took three steps out of the swim and thought someone had hit me in the back of the leg,” he says.
"I thought maybe it was cramp so I hobbled away. I had done a PB in the swim and managed a PB on the bike but every time I went over a bump it was like a knife going into my leg.
"I hopped off the bike and just about fell over. I made it to the medical tent and said to the doctor ‘if I keep going can I do any more damage?’ and he said ‘pain will stop you first’. I put my shoes back on and couldn’t even walk. I felt defeated at that moment and couldn’t go on.”
But Glen picked himself up and was soon after back into his routine, which currently demands training six days a week focussing on swimming – his strongest discipline.
"I love the training more than I love the racing I think. Every time I go and hop on my bike I’m so appreciative that I can still actually ride, run and swim. It might not be very fast but I just love being able to get out there and exercise.”
As part of his usual triathlon schedule this summer, Glen aims to keep his times consistent while keeping his body in good shape for a bid at the ITU World Championships Grand Final in 2012.
When the world class event hits Auckland’s waterfront he will have just moved up into the 50-54 age group for his first year. While that might sound like an advantage, he points out there are many other fast competitors who have stalked him throughout the years.
"It’s going to be tough doing it in Auckland but it would be such an amazing experience. There are the same people in my age group that have gone through since I first started, so that really keeps you on your toes.
"If my body is willing I’ll do everything I can to be part of that team in 2012.”
