DECEMBER 2012 ATHLETE OF THE MONTH – KEVIN HALSE
Congratulations to Kevin Halse on his selection as Reddog’s Athlete of the Month for December 2012.
Well done!!!
Kevin wins the award for consistent training and regularly competing in triathlons and ocean swims.
A big thanks to Robson at Active Stride, Ben McCormick from All Hose and Valves and Chelsie and the team at Fusion for donating this months’ prize.
1. Reddog AOTM, how do you feel about that?
I am just happy to be called an athlete, being selected as the AOTM amongst the Reddog training company I keep, is an ecstatic feeling. Especially considering last December I was at best “an arm chair athlete” who could swim a bit (Now I can swim well and run a bit!).
2. What attracted you to the squad?
Initially (back in October 2011) I joined to have some company while I was following the black line in the pool at lunch times. These days I’m there for the extra push along you get by having company around you when you train.
3. If you were Reddog coach for the week, what would you do differently?
I’m with Rosie (November AOTM), a Yoga session, just for the entertainment value alone! I would also get a helper in for some sessions to give more tips out.
4. How much training do you do at the moment?
I do “triple treat” Tuesday’s (Track run, swim and weights) and double session other week days and single sessions Saturday and Sundays. Often Sunday’s session is a water ski with a champagne breakfast, does that count! Overall 12-18 hours a week.
5. Least favourite session and why?
Honestly I do not have least favourite, I enjoy them all for different reasons. But if I had to pick one it would be swimming because of the dreaded “follow the black line torture” syndrome, I have followed the black line too much in my youth.
6. If you had one wish, what would it be?
Stay healthy as I get older. This has always been my wish and I am going to do my best to make it comes true by staying fit.
7. Favourite motivational quote?
“We are all hurting, just doing it at different speeds, so keep going”, this is so applicable for triathlons where we all have a slower leg that we struggle on! I say this to myself a lot as someone is running past me on race days.
8. What advice would you give to other Reddogs who would like to be AOTM?
As a newbee to triathlons, I not sure if I would take my advice, but here it is. Think about small incremental improvements rather than overnight success, and keep track of where you are at in terms of time and speed. Not just how fast you are going in time trails and efforts, but how fast are you going when half to three quarters into training sets. Above all don’t get disheartened when out of the blue you have a slower day. I believe that the days the speed is down and effort is up, have more long term benefit than the easy effort and faster days.
9. What are your goals?
First and foremost keep enjoying the benefits being fit brings, like good health, and enjoying social outdoor activities like water skiing, hiking and kayaking. Secondly learn how to apply my fitness to racing in triathlons so I can become competitive, currently it is all guess work!
10. Who would be your ideal training partner?
Any of my fellow Reddogs, everybody in the squad helps me improve every time I train. Just being around athletes (any pace or fitness) that turn up and put in an effort in, makes everybody I train with the ideal motivational training partner. It’s all about staying motivated. Thanks everyone!
11. What do you do outside of triathlons?
Water skiing (Love a barefoot water ski and a champagne breakfast), snow skiing (Japan is my favourite place), and Yoga (It’s been the turnaround for my running, and helped overcome injury). Love to cook, wine and dine, and wine/gin/beer some more, with my wife and company. I really enjoy running/walking with my dog, a Beagle full of energy called Elvis along the foreshore at Redland Bay.