Andy Kean

My first triathlon was:
I did the swim portion of a team event (out in Drumoyne I think) organised by LAPD tri club, with some gals I met at a local swim squad…probably mid 1999…..I was one of the few without a wetsuit (did not have one) and the water was bloody cold.  I think we managed a silver in the mixed team event.
My first triathlon was a Kurnell event in about 2002 I think…had a young daughter so it took me a while to get to the bike and run!

My favourite triathlon is: 
Definitely the Huskisson long course – magnificent swim, ride and run and the local community are fantastic.

My favourite training session is:
Really depends on which discipline….a really good endurance swim session, is a 10 x 200m set which takes about an hour:
After a 300-400m warm up + a few of your favourite drills, do 10 x 200m repeats

• the first is really easy, no harder than a warm up pace, take a 30 sec break and note that interval (e.g. 3:30 for the swim and 30s rest = 4:00);
• each successive rep is supposed to be very slightly quicker, but keep the 4:00 interval throughout…..the idea is that the 10th one is at least 30 secs quicker than the first, but of course, you get more rest the quicker you go;
• don’t forgot an easy cool down of at least 200m

Really easy to remember and it sounds easy….try it and let me know!

My best race tip is: 
Race how you feel and only use your watch/garmin/data as a guide….. some days, you will feel much better than the data suggests and some days worse.  That will, of course, require you to be attuned to how you feel at certain effort levels during training sessions too…can only be a good thing right 😊

The highlight of my triathlon journey is: 
You learn to push your physical boundaries the stronger you become mentally and there are also a few races that I look back on with fondness (if that’s the right word).  However, absolutely no doubt, the best thing is the friends I have made along the way…when you train/suffer together and then race together, the sense of camaraderie cannot be topped.

I love being a member of Warringah Triathlon Club because:
It’s a community of like minded people (aka idiots) who love to push their limits and laugh about it…at their friends and themselves.

My best advice to anyone new to the sport is:
You don’t need to spend a fortune on the latest equipment…remember the engine matters Sooo much more.  Much better to have $10,000 legs and a $200 bike than the other way round!