Ian Cooper - Athlete Ambassador

Have you always been into sport?

Absolutely, my journey started as a 6 year old being taken by my Dad to my local rugby club where I fell in love with the game & the camaraderie and I have continued to chase eggs ever since. In addition to rugby, swimming, mountain biking, and skiing were all part of my sporting life. More recently as my body couldn’t quite keep up with the knocks of regular rugby I have discovered CrossFit, Triathlons and a new found passion for road cycling (it may be the coffee & pastries!)

How did you first get into triathlon?

I did a few training sessions to support my best mate when he was preparing for his first triathlon, after which we decided to start training regularly for the same event the following year. We have done 3 Olympic distance triathlons since then, along with a half marathon, a sportive in Belgium on the famous cobbled climbs of the Tour de Flanders and the infamous 4x4x48 endurance challenge!!

If you are interested in getting into Triathlon, Sundried's kit is suitable for beginners as well as seasoned athletes. We have both men's and women's options available.

What has been your favourite race to date and why?

My favourite race so far has to be the first Olympic distance triathlon as finishing it felt like such a significant achievement, it gave me the bug and kicked off ‘Project Sub 3 hour’ which hopefully will be achieved in 2022!

What is your proudest achievement?

It has to be completing the 4x4x48 challenge in March 2021, it is brutal endurance challenge where you run 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours starting at 4am on a Saturday morning. The event is the brain child of former US Navy Seal David Goggins & is a real test of your mental resilience as well as physical endurance. I was proud not only to complete the event but also raise nearly £3,000 for the leading mental health charities in the UK & Northern Ireland.

Have you ever had any racing disasters?

Thankfully no real racing disasters, other than the usual issues caused by not getting my nutrition & hydration plan right!

How do you overcome setbacks?

Physical setbacks by ensuring that I rest and rehab properly, listen the experts and build back little by little and try not to rush my recovery. Mentally I like to review my performance data & look for the areas where small gains can be made, that ultimately push you through the barrier of what you thought was possible

What advice do you wish you'd been given when you first started out?

Consistency, consistency, consistency! I have made significant improvements in performance over the last couple of years and they have all come from being consistent with nutrition and training week after week!

What are your goals?

The little weekly goals are about improving my running pace per mile and average speed on the bike, my main goal remains completing an Olympic distance triathlon in under 3 hours.

Who inspires you?

Geriant Thomas whose mental & physical resilience is unbelievable, Filippo Ganna who has an amazing ability to suffer and manage his effort during individual time trials and will then bury himself on the front of the peloton in support of his teammates. The Brownlee brothers & Lauren Steadman who are such brilliant triathletes and of course Maro Itoje & Owen Farrell who are such unbelievable competitors.

Why work with Sundried?

First and foremost because Sundried active wear looks good, is well made & built to last. Sundried’s ethos matches my own as I want to buy kit that will last and I can wear session after session, mile after mile because consistency is key!

To hear more from our ambassadors and get free tips on workout plans and more, connect with the Sundried Personal Trainers on our app.