American superstar Sam Long is relishing racing in front of his many British fans next Saturday after a late decision to take part in T100 London.
Long is currently on a long training camp in Italy ahead of the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice in mid-September.
He hadn’t been planning to race in the English capital on August 9th but his latest YouTube video, which is embedded below, explains the change of heart and why it will be T100 London rather than T100 Valencia a week after that IMWC in Nice.
Vegas KO forced reshuffle
Long, ranked #14 in the world, is one of the T100’s contracted athletes for 2025 and needs to line up in a minimum of four races before the Grand Final in Qatar at the end of the year. He has done two so far (Singapore and Vancouver) and is also a two-time 70.3 winner this season at Chattanooga and Eagleman.
London wasn’t on his original race schedule but he explained: “The reality is that sometimes as a pro, things go a different way and in a different direction because real world things kick in.
“We live in the most complicated era of being a professional triathlete. It’s not just five races. I mean, you can set your year up like that and next year I might do that because running around so much can be a little frustrating at times.
“And so, as we know, the big news, [T100] Las Vegas got cancelled. I had my whole year lined up [and that was one of my races].
Real world considerations
“So I had to pivot and I had to make decisions between two races, either Valencia or London. And at first I thought, okay, I’ll do Valencia, I’d like to travel.
“I thought, well, I’ll be really fit for the IRONMAN World Champs and it’s six days after. Still a risk [but] let’s roll the dice.
“But now I’ve thought that through and I feel having to go that deep two times in a row could potentially take something out of me for a long period to come.
“And to be honest, the main reason is my wife, Lara, is going to be 35 weeks pregnant and looking into it you could have some complications with travelling so I just feel it’s much, much better to get home.”
Honorary Brit
Valencia’s loss is very much London’s gain and it further boosts what look two superb races.
All the T100 winners this season on both the men’s and women’s side are scheduled to race, including Singapore hero Hayden Wilde who makes his comeback from injury.
There are a whole hosts of big-name Brits in the women’s event especially, including 2023 IRONMAN World Champion Lucy Charles-Barclay and the most decorated female triathlete in Georgia Taylor-Brown, who makes her T100 debut.
But few athletes will have more support than the popular Long, with ‘Yo Yo Yo’ connecting closely with the fans, something he fully appreciates.
He said: “Training’s gone really good since I lost my bike. Last week was the week right before London and I did 32 hours – 27,000 yards swimming, 16 hours on the bike and 71 miles running.
“It happens to be a recovery week now – I’m fit and we’ll find out if I’m ready. But just because the taper isn’t optimal or things aren’t optimal, I’m going to show up and I’m going to give it my absolute best because that’s what you do and you give it your best always.
“I love a good challenge and I get to test a different taper. I’ve had three of my biggest training weeks of the year. Then I’m gonna rest Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I’m gonna do a little activation Thursday, rest a bit Friday – and Saturday we see what happens.
“I’m still quite excited for London. Overall it’s actually quite a good course. I think it’s the best swim course on the circuit.
“I think it’s maybe the best run course on the circuit as well with a huge, huge amount of fans coming out. The Brits, they’re so encouraging of me. So I’m really looking forward to that. I know the Brits are going to be cheering for me like no one else. London is calling.”
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