Professional Triathlete Josh Rix on the Comeback Trail

Josh Rix had his best year ever of racing in 2010. He had a second at the Steelhead 70.3 in Michigan and a very close second at the Shepparton half ironman. He also placed in the top ten in four other major 70.3 races in the USA against some very strong competition.

Trizone spoke to Josh as he was winding up preparation for Challenge Wanaka. He has unfinished business after making a couple of minor mistakes at Ironman Western Australia in Busselton. He bonked on the run and puts it down to missing some nutrition at the start of the run. “Busso was the first time I ran properly off the bike and I was so fixated on this that I completely forgot to take in some energy gels. I also believe I arrived in Busso to close to the race and did not give my body the chance to loosen up before the race. That is why I am flying to New Zealand 6 days out from Challenge Wanaka”.

Josh needed to find another ironman to utilise the fitness he had built for Busselton and Wanaka couldn’t have been more perfect. “I am looking forward to racing for the Challenge Family. I have heard so many good things about them from the others and am excited about this new opportunity. This race should be tough. I haven’t done any trail running since Boulder mid last year but my fitness is good so I should be okay”.

Josh will be up against Jimmy Johnsen – DEN, Luke Dragstra (1st 2007) – CAN, Courtney Ogden – AUST, Axel Reiser – GER, Jamie Whyte – NZL, Petr Vabrousek “CZE and Keegan Williams “NZL. He is a good chance to take this race if everything goes as planned.

Josh is looking forward to racing at a new venue and it would be hard to find one as spectacular as Wanaka. “I enjoy going to new places and racing. It is a lot more exciting. Plus with my unfinished business from Busselton I have a real hunger to do well at Challenge Wanaka”.

During the mid 2000s Josh was doing very well racing in Europe and the USA. I asked Josh what is behind his 2010 comeback. “My success in 2010 was a combination of a couple of major changes. My wife Jemma is one of the leads in the musical Wicked and we travel around Australia as the show moves from city to city. We agreed that I could have another shot at being a professional triathlete. Also a chance meeting with Kristian Manietta and Charlotte Paul at Ironman Australia led to Kristian becoming my coach. His belief in my ability and potential gave me the confidence and desire to go for the top again. Kristian is one of the most amazing people I have met. Both Kristian and Charlotte are two of the nicest people. Their hospitality is second to none and Kristian is an amazing cook”.

Many things have changed for Josh under Kristian’s coaching. “Kristian has changed my running style, racing and training shoes and has really sorted my entire racing strategy out. This has resulted in a lot of podiums last year and many other top finishers”.

Josh has to be high on the list for sponsors in Australia. He is one person that has the potential to win major races and be an influential sportsperson in 2011.

In 2010 Josh had the following results:

• Ironman 70.3 Steelhead in Michiagan “2nd
• Ironman 70.3 Timberman “7th
• Ironman 70.3 Rhoto in Boulder “8th
• Ironman 70.3 Texas “top 10
• Ironman 70.3 Racine “9th
• Gold Coast Half Ironman “4th
• Shepparton Half Ironman “2nd ( a tight 2nd to Matty White)

I was looking through some race results dating back to 2001 when researching this interview with Josh. Josh focused on Olympic distance and enjoyed some good results in Europe and the USA. In 2002 he raced the The Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon and it was an Aussie who’s who. The race was won by Chris McCormack. Craig Walton was second, Craig Alexander was fifth and Josh was sixth.