WhittleFit Athlete Spotlight: Craig "Pat" Patterson

Here's our latest edition of the WhittleFit Athlete Spotlight series, where we let you inside the mind of WhittleFit coached athletes and see what makes them tick.

This month we focus the spotlight on Craig “Pat” Patterson:

  • What got you started in endurance/ multisport?
    • Initially it was via a friend who thought they were fitter than me so she chose a triathlon as the means to see who was the fittest. It was meant to be a one off but I enjoyed the race and the feeling at the end. Also an unexpected freebie from Mark got me much more involved. When we worked together when Mark was in the RAF he gave me a RAF triathlon water bottle and when I took up a new job in the July prior to my first race the Regimental Sergeant Major who was an Army Triathlete saw me walking around with the bottle and asked in no uncertain terms what I was doing with it & if I did triathlon. He took me to my first Army triathlon training weekend and encouraged me to keep going after that first race.
  • How long have you been with WhittleFit?
    • It’s been about two and a half years.
  • Tell us about your home and work life?
    • I have served 19 years in the Army and have recently been selected for promotion to Warrant Officer Class 2. Currently working at Abbeywood in Bristol but live out in Beachley under the M48 bridge with my wife Lyndsay.
  • What was your first race?
    • The Reading Sprint Triathlon in 2012.
  • How many races have you done?
    • The Army put on lots of cheap races during the season so for the last few seasons I have done 10+ races per year form Super Sprint through to Half IM.
  • What advice would you give someone starting out in triathlon?
    • I think it helped me to train with friends at the same unit as me when I first started out, there were a group of us that would do Turbo sessions in the hanger together on a Wednesday afternoon and do swim sets together. It helped with motivation when the weather was bad or I just didn’t feel up for the session. So if you are just starting out join a club whether that is a swim, bike or run club as it’s great to train with like-minded people as you can always pick up a tip or two when you are training.
  • What is the most rewarding part of your journey racing in endurance or multisport?
    • I used to play prop for the Army when I was in my early twenties and peaked at 105Kg. I have dropped over 30Kg since I stopped playing rugby but since I took up triathlon my body shape has changed considerably. Seeing the faces on friends & family who have not seen me for years is priceless and it has happened that people do not initially recognise me.
  • What is your biggest accomplishment so far?
    • I was part of the Army Senior Triathlon team that won the Inter-Services title in 2015 completing one of my goals I set 2 years ago to go from Army Prop to Army Triathlete.

Pat is coached by WhittleFit coach Chris Tasker. Pat’s progression from rugby player to Army triathlete has been immense, congratulations Pat and good luck for the 2016 season!