firstoffthebike.com - Interviews

Pete Jacobs

You turned pro in 2004, how did you know you were ready?
It was basically the end of my landscaping apprenticeship. And it was time for a change and time for a bit of travel. That was as good a reason as any.

What's the hardest thing about being Pete Jacobs?
Just finding something to motivate me each week. A goal each week. Just to be happy each week.

Is long course your best distance (3/80/20)
I think it is. The half ironman, long course definitely suit me the best. it would be great to get a bit of consistency in my racing. It's tough though. There's not enough racing here in Australia for that and traveling overseas isn't something that really interests me that much at the moment. So I'm just going overseas for a couple of big Ironman races really.

You have just come off a big win in Huskinsson (Australian Long Course Title) but there was a story doing the rounds that you were labouring the week before. Is this true?
That's true. The week before I did about 10 hours. I needed something to keep me going each week. Just to keep me distracted from training when I wasn't training well and to keep some money coming in. Just to make me feel a bit of worth each week and be happy generally so I can train and race better. So I feel more accomplishment.

Do you look at the big global sports like tennis and golf and feel like you work harder physically than those guys but don't get the monetary rewards?
I try not to compare the sport to any others because that can make you bitter (laughs). It's tough and certainly in Australia it's tough. Some races get 1000 people there roughly and you're struggling to get $1000 prize money for the win. So there's not a lot of money in it and even the larger Ironman races are all capped and only certain races have a bit more prize money so it's a tough situation at the moment.

So do you have to go live in the U.S or Europe to make enough money?
Yeah that's the option. But it doesn't seem very attractive to me at the moment because you have got to go live overseas for a few months away from familiar things and loved ones and friends and all that sort of stuff. Plus I train better with routine at home and having my own space as well. It's also obviously costly, the travel and going over seas. And then you have to find a place to live, find places to train and all those other things.

You have to do well overseas to get the overseas sponsorships so the next time you go back it will be more lucrative. But hopefully by just targeting a few of the bigger races and not living overseas for the month I can hopefully get those sponsorships before having to go over do the months overseas. I've done that before when I was younger and it's not interesting me anymore.

Previously you have said that you will run quick times in races and when that comes undone do you worry about your race plan going South or do you plan ahead? How much of your race is made up on the day?
Well certainly the race at Huskinsson tactically I learnt a lot from that. I went into that race with absolutely nothing to lose. I hadn't done that training for it. I was going there just to go as hard as I could until I blew up. And then I had no idea I had a 4 minute lead or more over Crowie (Craig Alexander) and the other main contenders off the bike. So I just jogged the first few K's and expected that they were going to catch me because my legs were buggered. And they didn't. And I also came good after a few K's and certainly negative split that run by big margin I would say.

Once I realised he (Craig Alexander) wasn't going to catch me I picked it up. So tactically I realised that I could push a lot harder on the bike, get off and really have to work on taking it easy and then negative splitting those runs. So yes there is a new plan for me for all my future races and for training as well.

In order to be a successful pro can you allow yourself to be intimidated by other names?
No you can't really. But it's hard not to be. Certainly by the race the other weekend at Huski I realised that it's a race and that everyone has their day and it can't always be the World Champ's day everytime. But definitely you try not to be intimidated by anyone and you have to go into those races confident that you are an International class competitor and that you have got every chance to win it. And you have to go hard. But certainly on the run when you're hurting and doubting yourself you are questioning who's chasing you.

When you race, knowing you're one of the best swimmers in the sport do you have to bide your time? Or do you go big?
Every race is a bit different. And it mostly depends on the form I am in at the time. I wasn't in very good form a couple of weeks ago and sat with the pack and luckily there was a few other good swimmers there and we got a lead. And then other races everyone is swimming quick. I try to get away and can't. And there are other times when I'm swimming really well and I can get away and go with it and then try to extend my lead on the bike. Then hopefully there are only a couple of the best cyclists will bridge the gap. So generally I just go as hard as I can and just see how the race plays out.

When you are off the front what goes through your mind as the race chases you?
Depends on the race. In Ironman racing you tend to pace yourself and wait for maybe another person to come through and then you can pace yourself off them. In the shorter races like Half Ironman you just try to stay out in front as long as you can and go hard the whole time. But certainly when you get up to World Class races like Hawaii you're motivated to go hard in the swim by exposure and the chance to get some sponsorship so that can effect your race plan but like you say that's what I need to do to get noticed through my strengths. So that can change your race plan and then I have just got to take it from there.

Who is the toughest competitor that you have come across in your career so far?
I would say Chris McCormack. He's a bit of an idol. Just the way that he approaches the sport and his races and his planning and training. His sponsorships and everything he does is very professional and business like. He's also very good and tough mentally and strongest in that respect as anyone in the game.

Are you a trash talker? Have you seen it on course?
No I can't say that I have. There are obviously people who get a bit testy if they think that someone's not doing the work on the bike and sitting in behind. Even the other day I had Michael Murphy come up after the race (Huskinsson) and say sorry mate I just couldn't get up I was struggling just to hang on. Other people may say that he was bludging and just hanging on the back and sitting on but I've been in that situation before where you just haven't got the legs to go around and your doing everything you can just to stay with them and you're able to stay with them so it looks like your bludging but really you're hurting to stay with them. I just said to him (Murphy) don't worry mate and I didn't even look behind me. I was just concerned trying to break away from you guys the while time. it didn't effect my race so things like that happen but I'm not too fussed by what other people do.

Is drafting the biggest thing that the sport faces?
One of them. Certainly it's very tough and tough on the age groupers as well. In the race where everyone races the same course you'll get one TO (technical Official) up the front with the pros who might be quite relaxed and let us know when we are good or when we are bad, just to give us an idea. And then you have other TO's who maybe watches the first time races. They do one little thing or get a bit close going up a hill which just happens, in their first race, and they get penalised. It's absolutely not fair at all. People need warnings and people need to learn. It only makes them disappointed and angry with the sport when someone gives them a penalty when it's unjustified or very very quick with no warnings for beginners.

If we were speaking to you in 5 years, what would you like on the old resume?
Coming up close is Roth in July. I'd really like to win Roth. I've come third and second, the last two years. That's my main goal for this year. Then over the next five years definitely a few podiums at Hawaii but also getting down under the 8 hours at Roth. I just really want to prove to myself how quick I can go. If I have a really good race and good training I think Roth is the place to do that. Hawaii and Roth are the main goals. Also to be more consistent over that half ironman distance. So maybe the 70.3 worlds and other races as well.

Pete thanks for your time.