PROFILE:

What’s your biggest sporting achievement?

2011: 1st Xterra Saipan, 1st Xterra Philippines
2010: 1st Xterra Saipan
2009: 1st Xterra Japan, 1st Xterra Saipan
2008: 1st Xterra Japan

What are your goals?

Top 5 at Xterra World Championships and top 3 at Challenge Henley 2011 (Iron distance event).

Who is your coach?

I am self coached with help from Care for Health!

Tell us a bit about yourself

Married to Susan (my travelling partner, wife and best friend). No kids yet - a pond full of Koi carp though. Other hobbies include eating out, live music and red wine…sometimes all three together.

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Tell us about your career history to date

My athletic career started with cycling in 1987 at the age of 12, with my first international selection in 1993 to the world championships in Metabief, France (the first of 6 world champs I’ve done). In 1994 I became the overall winner of the Expert Mountain bike national points series before taking the National Under 23 hill climb title and Bronze medal in the cross country in 1996.

Since then I have raced internationally both on and off road all round the world, including a full mountain bike world cup series in 2002, where I was 3rd Brit overall. I have had wins or podium finishes at all the countries major off road races including Mountain Mayhem, the National points series and the National Champs. In 2007 I became the Masters Mountain bike National Champion, a title I successfully defended last year.

I took up the sport of triathlon in 2005 after a successful cycling career, and in my first triathlon season I managed to win 13 races, including the prestigious Vitruvian Half Ironman. In 2006 I turned away from the road triathlons, deciding to use my mountain bike experience and concentrated on the European Xterra series. Since then I have won 6 International Xterra Global tour races and got 3rd overall in the European series.

How did you hear about Care for Health?

Recommendation from Tortoise and Hare running shop.

How has CFH treatment/advice helped you?

They keep me injury free and help me make very important tiny gains in performance through technique and optimised efficiency.

What does your training routine involve?

3 sessions a day, generally starting with a swim at 7:30am, either a hard bike (about 3+hrs in current Ironman training) or run (1-2hrs), then either a gym session or a third easy recovery/technique session.

What do you like best about triathlon?

It is a real evener and demands a real all round athlete, plus varying the training over 3 sports helps promote better all round fitness.

What’s your proudest moment?

Winning Tagaman road triathlon in Saipan eventually after 3 years of trying in 2010. Retaining my title in 2011 after a major crash was pretty sweet too.

Who is your inspiration?

Paula Radcliffe has been inspirational and also the Brownlea brothers who have moved the sport of triathlon on.

Do you have any race day rituals?

I like to arrive late to races and chill with my iPod on and get in the water last.

How do you know when you’re due a visit to CFH?

I get a reminder from Microsoft Outlook! On a serious note, generally my body tells me - I ache, lose flexibility and then think ...’ oops I haven’t been for a week or two..’

What’s your top tip for someone trying to improve in your sport?

Work on your weaknesses, and listen to your body.

What’s the best way for people to follow your progress?

www.samgardner.com or Twitter @xterrasam