WhittleFit Athlete Spotlight: Jon Turtle

For the month of February we have the Jon Turtle as our WhittleFit Athlete Spotlight athlete. Jon is coached by coach Lawrence, raced Ironman Wales in 2016 and is currently doing his own running challenge where he's running 30 half marathons in 30 days; lets here what Jon has to say: 

• What got you started in endurance/ multisport?
  • I watched my brother-in-law race in the Ironman Wales in 2014 and I couldn't get over the extent of the journey he had been on. The race was insane and the support was fantastic in Tenby. The camaraderie of the whole town was electric. A year or so later I was catching up with a friend and we both wanted a challenge. Something to push us beyond where we had ever been before and we joked about a triathlon. Bearing in mind I couldn’t swim…. at all, I didn’t even have a road bike and I could just about run a 10k race! Things just escalated from there!!
• How long have you been with WhittleFit?
  • I joined Whittlefit about 15 months ago with the goal in mind to complete Ironman Wales in 2016. I had trained myself for a Ironman 70.3 in Austria in 2015 and I knew I would need guidance and  a lot of help to complete the full Ironman distance. It was the best decision I made and I know deep down I would never have finished the race otherwise.
• Tell us about your home and work life?
  • I am a professional wedding photographer and my partner Rachel owns the Bridal Boutique in Penarth. Being self employed was a real bonus because it meant I could juggle work commitments and training, however the busy season for me is spring and summer, the same time when training ramped up so it was tough!!! 
• What was your first race?
  • My first running race was a Bupa 10k run around Cardiff Bay, it took months of training and gym sessions! My first ever Tri was the Cardiff Triathlon in 2015. I was just so shocked I survived the swim, the rest of the race was just a blur!!
• How many races have you done?
  • I have only ever completed 4 Triathlons and quite a few running races. Running is my strongest element of the three.
• What advice would you give someone starting out in triathlon?
  • 4 Key points spring to mind:
    • Get a coach, this is one decision you will never ever regret. A coach will get the best from you in the most efficient way possible. The cost of a coach will easily out weigh any gains you will get with upgrading kit.  Near the end of the training you will feel totally  exhausted but with the taper you will peak at the right time. I couldn’t believe how my body was coping during Ironman Wales, it made the process enjoyable and dare I say it - fun??!!
    • Nutrition, Nutrition, Nutrition!! I didn’t understand how important nutrition was, in terms of during the activity but also recovery. “ You can’t out train a bad diet “  - Mark Whittle. This kept going through my mind when I was tempted to eat cake!! - The whole cake!
    • Make sure you have the complete support from your loved ones and family. The journey is tough and when those hard times hit that could be the make or break to whether you quit or keep going. Rachel was my absolute rock through the 9 months of training, she believed in me when sometimes I didn’t.
    • Push your boundaries. I never thought I could go from dog paddling to swimming 2.4 miles in the sea, let alone becoming an Ironman!  Never let anyone tell you cant do something. I am a firm believer in - "Live begins on the edge of your comfort zone"
• What is the most rewarding part of your journey racing in endurance or multisport?
  • The best feeling in the world was running down the red finishers carpet to the finish line of Ironman Wales. When I crossed that finish line a wave of emotion hit me, I actually did it! 9 months of hard training was completely worth it! 
• What is your biggest accomplishment so far?
  • Completing Ironman Wales and being told “ You are an Ironman”, and also proving to myself that I am stronger than I ever thought I could be.