Interview: Michelle Dillon

A double-Olympian, former European Champion and World Duathlon Champion, Michelle Dillon still boasts one of the UK’s most impressive triathlon CVs. Since retiring from competition, Michelle has set up Team Dillon, coaching Elite and Age Group athletes. We caught up with her on the eve of the ITU World Cup event in Mooloolaba to get her thoughts on the race, and the prospects for her athletes: Stuart Hayes and Jodie Stimpson.

Photo: Delly Carr

Team Dillon had a great season in 2009, what are the goals for 2010?
For Team Dillon my goals as a coach are to improve as many of my athletes as possible and to for athletes like Jodie and Stuart to get them ready for the BIG races.

Two of your athletes are racing in Mooloolaba – what are your predictions? Can they kick the season off with a win?
The start of the season is always a tough one as we have had a good tough stint of training without racing our competition. I know my athletes are in good shape its just a matter of having it all come together on the day (and a bit of luck, too). I’m confident they will both be right up there.

With all of the ITU athletes out in Australia now have you had the chance to check out the competition? Is anyone looking in particularly good form?
To be honest I haven’t seen many of them where we train. The first race is always a real eye opener for everyone to see what the level and standard is going to be this year. It will be a good race though and a strong field.

Can you give us a rough breakdown of an average training week?
Mon: Long ride, Long swim 5k
Tue: Hard bike session, Run and a shorter swim 4km
Wed: Long bike, Long swim, Short run.
Thur: Track session, Short swim 3km, Easy short ride 90mins
Fri: Rest day
Sat: Crit racing and a run off, Easy swim
Sun: Long run, Easy swim.

Are there specific elements you have been working on with Stu and Jodie over the Winter?
It’s important that each athletes have their swimming right up there so I have been working on that with them.

What’s it like coaching your partner (Michelle is engaged to Stuart Hayes)? Is it ever difficult?
Its used to be more difficult than it is now as Stuart is so keen and sometimes tries to convince me to let him do more (especially before races). I used to fall for it in the past, but now he has learnt the hard way by occasionally going into races feeling overtrained and so performed below par. Now he is starting to listen more. We get on so well too so it works well.

How have you found the transition from athlete to coach?
Very smooth actually. It was easy when I had my back operation and had to take the focus off racing and training. So I started to build up my coaching business and it helped me to forget about myself and back issues and concentrate on others. I have loved every minute of it really and love working with my athletes and still being very much part of it.

Do you ever get the urge to race again at the start of a new season?
I used to more, but now it’s less and I know I cant run because I might damage my back. So I have been riding every day and now starting to do some racing on the bike which helps take that edge off wanting to race a triathlon again.

You train Age Groupers as well. What advice would you give at this stage of the season to an experienced Age Grouper building up for the 2010 season?
If you dont already have a coach its never too late to get one see www.teamdilloncoaching.com. Good luck to everyone have a great season.

For more information on Team Dillon click here.

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