Phil Nolan - Athlete Ambassador

Have you always been into sport?

Yes, since I can remember. I used to be much more of a team sportsman in my younger years, playing hockey, rugby and water polo at school, university and in the Army. In more recent years I have moved to mountaineering, trail running and ultra-marathons.

How did you first get into triathlon?

My focus is much more in the trail ultra running scene. I first got into longer distance running when I ran my very first marathon indoors during Lockdown in April 2020.

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?

The Mt Sana 60 (which actually turned into 65km due to a navigational error). It was my first ever ultra-marathon over some incredibly challenging terrain. It was a tough race but I really felt that my training and race strategy paid off.

What is your proudest achievement?

So far, my proudest moment was summiting Mt Aconcagua (6962m) in Argentina in Jan 2020. This was the 3rd mountain in my bid to complete the Brimstone 7 Summits Challenge. I climbed Aconcagua with the famous mountaineer Nimsdai Purja and his team of elite Nepalese mountain guides.

Have you ever had any racing disasters?

Thankfully not yet though I have come very close to being pinned-down by cramp whilst running in 40+ degrees in the UAE desert. I'm sure the further and more frequently I run, the closer I will come to some kind of racing disaster :)

How do you overcome setbacks?

I try to quickly focus on how to get things back on track and to find a solution to the setback. I look at everything as a winning or learning opportunity and change the frame of reference for 'failure'. By keeping the reason why started in mind, I'm usually able to keep events in some kind of perspective and not be held back too much.

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

Anyone who is considered a master of their trade started out as a complete beginner. Consistency and patience will always win in the long run.

What are your goals?

My next goal is to complete a 100km ultra marathon that I am self-organising in Feb 2021. After that I will be aiming to take on more ultra training with an aim to attempt a big multi-stage event like the Marathon de Sables. I will also continue the Brimstone 7 Summits Challenge with an aim to complete that by 2024 when I will be attempting to summit Mt Everest.

Who inspires you?

I draw inspiration from all sorts of different people. The professionalism and dedication of sportsmen like Michael Jordan and Jonny Wilkinson were my early influences and more recently mountaineers like Nimsdai Purja, Conrad Anker and the climber Alex Honnold have been hugely inspirational. I also have some incredible friends, ordinary people who have done some extraordinary things, which I find equally inspirational.

Why work with Sundried?

Working with Sundried represents a fantastic opportunity to join a community of like-minded sports people with a focus on support and achievement. I love that the Sundried business is so passionate about the environment and that their clothing has such a large focus on sustainably sourced materials. I believe we should all play our part in protecting our planet and prolonging its life.

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