Brendan Cole - Olympics under a month away

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Category: Brendan Cole

Matt: How are you feeling, do you wake up every day excited knowing that London is just around the corner and the goal of making the Olympics will be reached?

Brendan: Feeling good! I think the excitement has worn off a little from back in March when I qualified, but the excitement now is different. It is still a month away and a lot can happen in that time. Yes, I have reached the goal of making the team, but its time now to look at how to run PB’s and make finals.

Matt: Is it hard then to block that out of your mind and focus on the racing at hand?

Brendan: I don’t want to block it out!! Most of the hard work has been done, to be honest. Now is the time to cross the t’s and dot the lower case j’s, so I love turning up to training every day and know that everything I do from here in will show up in a month. The responsibility is an important thing for me, it makes it real.

Matt: Over in Europe doing some lead in races, how do you feel you have been running?

Brendan: I have just had a weekend with 2 races in 2 days, both around the same 50.3 mark. I was hoping to run a little faster, but looking back on my progressions in past years it takes a few races to get going usually over here so I am not fussed. I have been training really well and my head space is great. There is no time for any great changes from here so I guess I am kind of just enjoying the ride!

Matt: Raced on Saturday, what was your aim for this race?

Brendan: Fast, but relaxed. My first 200 has been about where I want it to be, I just need to finish off stronger. The idea is to run about the same pace as I have been (maybe slightly faster), but with less energy spent. I should feel at half way like I am hardly even trying, so I can really maintain momentum over the last few hurdles. This is what works best for me as I am a rhythm athlete. When things go well I don’t feel like I am working that hard!

Matt: Does it take you long to adjust to the time zone as well as the differing conditions from back in Australia?

Brendan: Conditions, no. Anything is better than a cold and wet Canberra winter! Sometimes the time zones can mess with you, although this year was great. I slept well on the plane and slipped into the timezone here quite quickly and well. The first week is usually tough and you should not train yourself into the ground as your body is working hard to adjust. I feel we have done that pretty well.

Matt: What do you believe is the one key factor about yourself that has allowed you to reach your goal of going to the Olympics?

Brendan: Without sounding like I am in a relationship here... unconditional love. Those who do this sport for the love and without expecting anything back I think are the ones that stick around. The reason I made the team is because I stuck around. There are super talented athletes out there who are more about what they can get from from the sport, and they can and will makes teams. But they may not stay in the sport when the going gets tough and they get injured or lack form and lose funding/sponsorships etc. I am really lucky to be running fast enough to be well supported at the moment (AIS/2XU/Mizuno/Oakley). But I know I’d still be out there training if I had empty pockets and rags on my back, because I have before.

Matt: You are travelling with Mel Breen and Lauren Boden any funny situations you can share?

Brendan: I’m actually staying with Steve Hooker and Mitch Watt, so I would be more likely to tell you some stories about them! Mel tends to keep to herself and Loz has her head down at the moment. Mel accidentally missed the heats of the 100m yesterday in Bottrop, Germany, and she got a run in the final but only if she gave her number to one of the organisers! haha.

Matt: What is your favourite breakfast?

Brendan:  Piccolo coffee. Poaches eggs on soughdough with mashed avacado/fetta/chilli. And a side of sliced pineapple and mango, with fresh orange juice poured over. Nom nom nom.

Matt: Why do you love being Australian?

Brendan: What’s not to love? We somehow manage to be a perfect combination of tenacious, kind, loveable, hilarious, beautiful, and down-to-earth bogans! Almost everywhere you go, people are just stoked when you tell them from Australia. Despite the novelty of travelling across the world to be there, we have developed an appropriately awesome name for ourselves.

Matt: Which famous person do you think you look the most like?

Brendan: Merrick, from Merrick and Rosso (where is he these days??).

Matt: Anything you would like to share with the fans/supporters?

Brendan: I love ice cream.

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