Profile
- Name: Russell Cox
- Date of birth: 29 June 1976
- Height: 1.77m
- Weight: 70kg (approx!)
- Hometown: Reading, UK
- Occupation: Athlete/Coach
- Current Location: Reading, UK
Bio
After nine years working as a web developer I quit my job and adopted the life of a full time endurance athlete. I’ve spent the last two years of my life totally focussed on my endurance and fitness goals. To help achieve those aims I’ve travelled to amazing training destinations around the world. I spent six months living on the Gold Coast in Australia, a month in Lanzarote, the odd week in the Pyrenees and time in Hawaii.
My objective is to find out how good I can be when I can commit all my time and energy to developing my abilities as an athlete. My initial goal was to improve my times in Ironman triathlons and qualify for Hawaii. I’m pleased to say that I achieved that ambition and raced the Ironman World Championships for the first time in 2009. Not only that I had an amazing day finishing in 9:47 – the 7th Brit over the line.
My dream doesn’t end there. There’s still plenty to achieve and now I’m even more focussed on improving my racing. I want to reach for and break the elusive nine hour Ironman mark. I definitely want to return to Kona and race well again with far more ambitious goals. Perhaps a top ten in my age group?! After one year I know there’s so much more I can achieve so I’m working to sustaining this athletic life in whatever way I can.
It can be hard work with a lot of tough training sessions, but I love the lifestyle. There isn’t much in the way of traditional rewards. However the opportunities to regular visit new places and meet new people more than compensates. Not that it’s all exciting locations! Between the trips and races there’s lots of hours of hard training. Progress is slow at times, but when you see yourself improve little on little it’s incredibly satisfying.
In the longer term I want a career in triathlon and endurance sports. I’m developing my abilities as a coach in the hope of helping others to achieve their own goals. I know and appreciate how rewarding sport can be, but also how hard getting started it. It’s worth taking the step though as it can genuinely change your life.
Aside from triathlon I’m interested in any activity that involves physical and mental endurance. I hope to gain some experience of adventure racing, ultramarathons, climbing and mountaineering during my travels. The biggest challenge I face is keeping enough focus on my main objectives to achieve the best I can. So much to do and so little time!
Contact Russell
If you’re interested in coaching, have a question or perhaps would like to meet up to train then contact me at the following address.
- Email: russell.m.cox@gmail.com
