Cam Brown is one of the best marathoners on the Ironman circuit and has won Ironman New Zealand 7 straight years in a row!  2009 will see Cam focus on more speed to prepare for this year’s world championship in Kona.  Learn how Cam stays motivated and why he’ll be relocating to the US for his build to Kona.

The REV3 race comes right in the middle of year for pros like yourself who plan early season Ironmans and then ramp back up for Hawaii .  How does this race factor into your training and racing schedule?  

I'm changing things around this year and won’t be doing a mid season Ironman, I want to concentrate on some halves to get some speed back leading into Hawaii so it should be great prep for me.

With you coming to the states for this race, what other plans do you have for training or racing stateside for next summer?

I will hopefully be doing quite a few more halves as they are quicker to recover from and a lot of fun. I will also base myself some where in the US but not sure where yet.

You’ve been a full time pro for almost 20 years and dozens of titles to your name.  Where do you draw your motivation from to keep plugging away at such a grueling sport?

I just love the training, when I have my big break after Hawaii it doesn't take me long to get bored and want to get out there again and get fit. Plus,  I'm still trying for that elusive win in Hawaii.

You’ve spent quite a large amount of time working with age groupers and running camps in New Zealand.  What are the biggest mistakes you see age groupers commit and how do you help them overcome them?

I think the biggest mistake most athletes make is racing in your training and then finding they can't step up when it comes to a race, you need your hard days but when your coach say's "Go easy" make sure you do. Ironman training is all about day in day out and being consistent!

How do you keep the endless hours of training and focus fun?

At the moment I'm on a 5 day training camp with 7 other guys at a fantastic beach town 90mins out of Auckland, we have had some very hard days of training but also some very fun days as well. I try and get out and train with someone every day so it makes it easier but more fun.

What were the largest training or performance obstacles you had to overcome in getting to where you are today?

Early in my Ironman career I didn't train hard enough but when I got on board with Scott Molina that all changed, I doubled my mileage overnight and then learned what hard training was all about!

When you look back at all the races you’ve done and all the training sessions you’ve been through, what is the singular most memorable experience you’ve had and why?

I think winning my first Ironman in 2001 was one of the best moments as it was a dream come true! I had watched the race when I was a junior and watched Scott Tinley, Scott Molina, Ray Browning and Pauli Kuiri win the race so when I finally did it, it was just incredible.

If there was one race you could go back in time and do again (either to experience the joy or to change the way you raced) what race would it be and why?

I think doing every Ironman gives you more experience every time.  I would love to change many things but that’s not how you learn, I have learned and experienced things from all those good and bad things that have happened when I don't win or win.

Time for the lighter side of being a pro triathlete.  Funniest “home stay gone bad” story you’ve ever heard—either your experience or a peer’s…

I have had some great home stays over the years, really no bad ones but I know a couple of athletes who had left telephone bills at their homestays, hence they were never invited back to the homestay or race!  Unacceptable!

Last one…You have a beautiful wife and two sons.  If they could either grow up to be professional rugby players or win Kona, which one would make you more proud?

To be an All Black (New Zealand National rugby team) would make any kiwi father happy but if they could win the Hawaii Ironman,  well that would make their dad very, very proud!!!

Cam Brown
Born: June 20, 1972 
Age: 36
First Triathlon: 1987 Britania resturants triathlon, 750m swim, 18km bike, 5km run
Turned Pro: 1991
Family:  Wife, Jenny; Sons, Braeden (7), Joshua (5)
Lives: Auckland , New Zealand

Career at a glance

• 7x Ironman New Zealand Champion
• European Ironman Champion 2006
• 2 x 2nd Place Hawaii Ironman World Championships
• 2 x 3rd Place Hawaii Ironman World Championships

Thanks, Cam and we look forward to seeing you on the podium at the REV3!

Interview by Max Wunderle

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