ATHLETE OF THE MONTH – DECEMBER 2014 

Congratulations to Brendan Flanagan on being selected as Red Dog’s Athlete of the Month for December 2014.   Well done !!! 

Brendan wins the award for placing 3rd in M40-44 at Busselton Ironman and qualifying for Kona.  Awesome effort from this quiet achiever!!!

A big thank you to Endura, Fusion, GMN Vegie Prepi and No More Knots for donating this month’s prizes.

  1: Red Dog AOTM, how do you feel about that?

Surprised and also a bit embarrassed / uncomfortable – based on squad sessions I’ve become more accustomed to constructive criticism rather than positive reinforcement.  

2: What attracted you to the squad?

I had a swim video analysis done a few years ago and it was suggested that if Trent couldn’t help nobody could. 

3: If you were Red Dog coach for the week, what would you do differently?

All lunch-time squad sessions held at the valley pool.

4: How much training do you do at the moment?

Just getting back into it after a month off post Busselton. 

5: Least favourite session and why?

Anything involving technique, pool buoy or lane 4. 

6: If you had one wish, what would it be?

To one day feel truly at home in lane 4. 

7: Favourite motivational quote?

“Don’t worry, you’ll do better next time” delivered by my 6 year old daughter when I told her I got 3rd in my age group.

8: What advice would you give to other Red Dogs who would like to be AOTM?

Consistency is all that really matters in training for long distance tri. Turn up to sessions, do what you are told, listen to the advice given and repeat.

9: What are your goals?

To not embarrass myself in Kona and smile for the finisher photo, instead of face planting. 

10: Who would be your ideal training partner?

As evident by those I swim with at squad – I’m clearly not fussy. 

11: What do you do outside of triathlons?

Kids in recent years have replaced most of my old leisure activities so now it's all about ballet, tap dancing, and little rugby.

12: What's your one guilty pleasure?

I have more than one – bad food, booze and from a training perspective, doing my easy laps as hard as I can and as soon as I get my breath back claiming it was comfortable.