Burning up the Tarmac with Amelia Watkinson

New Zealand professional triathlete “up-and-comer” Amelia Watkinson, 25, who has just won the IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand, talks with the sports brand about patience, consistency, and using injury to her advantage.

Ever since she turned pro in 2015, Watkinson has been burning up the tarmac, most recently in October at a half-distance race not far from Bangkok, Thailand.

Watkinson, an architect by training, did her usual demolition act of the 90km bike leg, a scenic and undulating course through the local Thai farming community that starts and finishes with a 6km-long climb.

For her debut in the northern hemisphere she plans to tackle a race in Slovakia in early June, plus other events that offer heart-pumping courses. “I’m looking for hilly, technical bike courses,” she explains. “The bike leg is my strength.”

Watkinson wasn’t a swimmer when she embraced triathlons and adopted the patient approach. “Swimming is definitely the most difficult of the three disciplines to master.” Running came easier for her.

Even though she’s been somewhat surprised at her success, Watkinson isn’t in a hurry. Even though she qualified for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship that took place in September, she decided to sit it out. “I feel you should present yourself in your best form for a world championship event and I didn’t feel I was mentally or physically ready to rise to the occasion. As my first international season, my goal was to focus on building a consistent season, racing regularly and building experience as an athlete.”

Original article by Selwyn Parker, Ironman, November 21, 2016.