Paul Skipper

Athletic Background: Only a bit of gym & 5 a side for fun. Started running at uni as a way to minimise the beer belly (with limited success). Gavin Rogers at the then Holmes Place gym approached me on the treadmill & asked if I’d ever done or wanted to do a triathlon. He was starting a club. Tried it & did my first one in 2002, hooked ever since.

Biggest sporting achievement to date?: Representing GB in the Age-group Worlds, winning NW series a close second

Favourite workout?: Superbrick. Hate doing them, love the justified gorging afterwards. Good hard turbo e.g 3 x 20mins at 90% FTP is another fav.

Least Favourite Workout?: Anything swimming. My love of swimming comes and goes. Takes a lot of graft to shave a few seconds off & the effect on my nose just doesn’t seem worth it at times.

Worst Habit ?: Worst Habit ? Being completely oblivious to those friends & family supporting. Partly because I’m not wearing my glasses, mostly because I’m in “the Zone”

Favourite song to train to / motivate?: For pre-race motivation Between angels and insects by Papa Roach. Good psych yourself up tune for Sprint & Oly’s. Its a little too a full on for longer races. Then its Sigur Ros or something equally as chilled.

Something about you that many people do not know?: Swapped chess geek for Tri geek

If you could tell other athletes one thing you have learned so far in your training what would it be?: Consistency is the key to steady progression. That often means listening to your body & making sure there is the right attention to maintenance (massage, stretching, core, yoga etc). 

Who am I kidding - #5

What is your ultimate goal as an athlete?: Enjoy the sport

Favourite Race / Course?: If it’s for performance anything flat & fast. Liverpool, Southport, Boundary Breeze, Nottingham. Hard to beat some of the races in the Lakes for scenery. Fav IM is Lanza, whole island has a good vibe on race week.

What's your most memorable racing moment?: After crashing on the bike at Almere telling the guy in the crowd I'd be ok in a minute then being told I'd been out unconsious & my front wheel & fork were about 50yards from the rest of my bike.

The local guy - Richard Beldrock who lent my his commuter to finish the bike leg. Rob Wilby who was protesting with the race official over my DQ (outside assistance)

The support on the marathon as word got around.

Finished sub 11 in a bit of a state.

Any unusual race day routines or superstitions?: Nope

What race / event / ride is on your bucket list?: Kona, though not sure I'll ever qualify. Just not sure long dist is my thing.

Swim: Sailfish G Range - Super flexible, Aquashere

Bike: Cervelo P3

Run: Inov8 Road-x 233 at the moment. Anything low profile

Nutrition of choice: Sugar is sugar. they all do the trick. isotonic gels on the run. Rather partial to the Cliff Shot blocks on the bike

What piece of equipment couldn't you live without?: Nespresso machine

Twitter: @paulskipper