Warriner on the comeback trail
Oh baby, retirement not an option for talented multisport competitor
Sam Warriner said the thought of retiring never entered her mind.
The 41- year- old Whangarei teacher, who at her best won the 2008 ITU World Series overall and was ranked the No 1 triathlete in the world that year, has been out of competitive multisport action for a year after giving birth to Lola Rose.
‘‘ I was always intending to come back,’’ said the English- born Kiwi veteran. ‘‘ Just because you have a baby it doesn’t mean that life ends. It was always just maternity leave for me and I think I have a good two years in me until number two comes along.’’
Life is different these days for the salt- of- the- earth competitor. She admits to having some nerves ahead of her comeback and also a refreshed perspective with her young daughter.
‘‘ I really missed competing over the past 12 months. Don’t get me wrong, looking after my daughter Lola Rose is the best thing in the world but training and life as a triathlete is also who I am.
‘‘ I am fortunate to have very supportive grandparents and husband who make it all possible.
‘‘ There i s nothing better than coming home from a training session to see that big smile on my daughter’s face. That is amazing and I am really content in my life.’’
Warriner i s not sure what her comeback is going to entail or what her goals are just yet. In the meantime, she loves being back competing at the Stroke & Stride series at Mission Bay in Auckland, which she travels to from Whangarei.
The Stroke & Stride series has been the building block to her international success and it is only natural that she has returned to the popular Auckland series to begin her comeback.
‘‘ It was a huge thrill to finish second at the last one only 17 weeks after giving birth. I love the camaraderie at this event.’’
And for good reason. Warriner has won 24 Stroke & Stride events from 2002- 09, and she is a two- time series champion in 2003 and 2005.
She has also won the New Zealand Swim- Run Championship title in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2008. She also won the ITU Aquathon World Championships on two occasions, which is what the Stroke & Stride i s in ITU terms, an aquathon.
‘‘ I am very proud of that record, actually, and I intend to add a few more wins to my tally. I think back to all the world- class athletes I have chased down on Tamaki Drive — the likes of Nicky Samuels, Debbie Tanner and Andrea Hewitt — and I take huge pride in that.’’
Warriner said the best thing about the event for the elites was that it was a competitive training exercise.
‘‘ I will go out for a three- or fourhour bike ride in the morning and then do the Stroke & Stride in the afternoon, and that is a good day.
‘‘ Every time you compete you want to win but if you have a bad day it doesn’t matter because it i s just a training day.’’
She is looking to getting back her ability with her swim- start and running speed over the 3- 5km course, because you ‘‘ can’t replicate that in training’’. She also believes the event has universal appeal because it is all about personal achievement.
‘‘ It is for anyone and everyone,’’ she said. ‘‘ You get people of all shapes and sizes, ages and abilities taking it on and that is what makes it so special.
‘‘ For me, it is great to be able to talk to the up- and- comers and see how their training is going.
‘‘ I love to mentor people and it is awesome to talk to the young talent we have coming through now and help them in any way I can.’’
Warriner practises what she preaches. She is bringing eight young athletes down from Whangarei this week to compete in the event.
The series can be a bit intimidating until you have given it a go.
‘‘ I tell the people back home you wouldn’t believe the number of people who come out to compete in this event and the standard of the elites is very high.’’
And she is sure she can get back to her world- beating best.
‘‘ There is plenty of fire in my belly and I am just waiting for the body to catch up. When it does I will be good to go. I would love to win more of the Stroke and Stride events. That would be a good start.’’