20 Questions: Pete Jacobs
- By Paul Moore
- Published August 5, 2011
Australia’s Pete Jacobs took a much deserved first Ironman victory in Port Macquarie, Australia on 1 May 2011 despite running with an injured foot. Jacobs, now 29, has been knocking on the door for a few years with some great results including second place finishes at Ironman Australia and Challenge Roth in 2009, along with a string of 70.3 victories. The Sydney local was eighth at the Ironman World Championships in Kona in 2009 and in 2010 finished ninth after a four minute penalty on the bike. After the penalty Jacobs went on to post the fastest marathon split of the day (2:41:05). The 2009 Australian Long Course champion is one of the fastest swimmers and runners in the sport, and Jacobs who was recently married has the tools to win in Kona.
1.Describe your first ever bike?
The first bike I rode was my mum’s bike which had had an old steel frame with shifters on the downtube. The first bike I bought was a basic $1,500 aluminium road bike. A few months later I bought carbon race wheels worth $2000 – worth more than my car at the time!
2. How did you do in your first race?
I swam well and then rode and ran okay. I was a fair way back from the winners.
3. What’s your essential brekkie?
Low sugar cereal, apple, nuts and yoghurt or poached eggs and avocado.
4.Legs shaved, waxed or hairy?
They grow a bit hairy between races sometimes but come race day they always shaved.
5. Train with a group or alone?
Mostly alone.
6. Energy drink, tea or coffee?
Tea or caffeinated Shotz gels.
7. Where does your bike live?
In the garage.
8. Snickers or energy bar?
Definitely Shotz energy bars. They
are better than any other bars.
9.Biggest waste of your time?
iPhone games.
10. Craziest place you have slept since becoming triathlete?
I have done the usual cars and airports. I spent a summer touring and racing Europe in 2006. I would camp wherever I could find a suitable place to park my car and set up my tent. This had a certain craziness to it some nights (laughs).
11. Pee on the bike, stop or hold it until the run?
On the bike.
12. Three people to have dinner with?
Chris McCormack, John Maclean and Robert De Castella.
13. What do you carry with you when you train?
Shotz caffeinated gels, iPod and my wedding ring – we only got married in December so it’s still a novelty.
14. Worst chaffing/sunburn?
A few years ago during the Hawaiian Ironman I got some bad sunburn but nothing blistering.
15. Favourite place to ride?
Anywhere new with minimal traffic, and when I’m feeling strong (smiles).
16. What theme music would play to a film of your life and why?
Such Great Heights by The Postal Service. I like their music because I can relate to some of the lyrics I relate to and some are motivating and what I aspire to (i.e. Great Heights means the top of my sport).
17. Pre-race rituals and meals
The day before brown rice, beans, olive oil, tuna and sweet chilli sauce. Race morning it’s Shotz energy bar.
18. Funniest person you know?
My Grandpa was the funniest. The kind of quick wit you don’t hear these days.
19. Reading?
The last book I read was Gold, an historical book about the gold rush era in Australia. It has some very interesting stories about people risking everything for the chance to strike it rich, how Australia became populated and how towns were created. It appealed to my risk taking side – it’s Australian to gamble.
20. What you’ll be doing this month?
Resting my sore foot, easing back into swimming and riding on the turbo trainer. I will also fit in catching up with friends and few trips away/nights out with my beautiful wife Jaimie. And of course a lot of mundane stuff too like tax, emails, organising races etc
FILED UNDER: All / Features TAGS: Australia / Chat / Hawaii / interview / Ironman / Pete-Jacobs / Port-MacQuarie / Race / Win
Paul Moore
Paul Moore is the Online Editor for Triathlete Europe. When not glued to a computer he can be found writing books - most recently The World's Toughest Endurance Challenges which you can buy on Amazon. Paul has also written Ultimate Triathlon: A complete training guide for long-distance triathletes which is also available on Amazon.
