Kazan Ironman: ‘On the third day after the start I came to my senses and decided that I want to participate again’
An entrepreneur Sergey Kruglov, one of the six athletes-nonprofessionals from Kazan, has become an Ironman, becoming one of the best triathletes in the world
At the beginning of October, Barcelona hosted IRONMAN World Triathlon Championship. In total, it took 12 hours to complete disciplines on land and water. There were 200 Russian citizens out of the total amount of 3,000 participants, 6 athletes are from Kazan. One of them is Sergey Kruglov, who covered the distance for 9 hours and 51 minutes. Sergey told in an interview to Realnoe Vremya why the emotions at the finish can be compared to a child birth and why in Europe, unlike Kazan, the Championship is treated as a special event and gather crowds of fans.
'After the birth of my children, this is one of the most vivid impressions in my life'
Sergey, on 2 October you participated in the IRONMAN Championship in Barcelona and, as far as I know, has shown a very good result?
In fact, the 'iron distance' has certain standards and it is considered to be a very good result to cover it in less than 10 hours. I did it for 9 hours 51 minutes. But I must say: the track was quite fast.
What was the winner's result and what is the average result of other participants?
The winner among the professionals showed the result 7.55, a Russian Ivan Tutukin became the second — 8.05. Among nonprofessionals a representative of Russia Egor Vinogradov gained an unexpected victory — 8.42. The average time among all participants is 12 hours and 45 minutes.
The desire to show good results is a great motivator, but it should not become an obsession, otherwise it is very easy to set a pace that will not allow you to finish the race. I don't know with what to compare these feelings. For me personally, after the birth of my children, this is one of the most vivid impressions in my life
What was your first thought when you reached the finish line?
Relief. Because you prepare for this start not for one day, not a month, but much longer. In the first start there is a possibility not to reach the finish line, because such distance requires both physical and emotional readiness, you need a clear nutrition plan, the technical operability of all equipment and, what is also important, — the support of family and friends. The desire to show good results is a great motivator, but it should not become an obsession, otherwise it is very easy to set a pace that will not allow you to finish the race. I don't know with what to compare these feelings. For me personally, after the birth of my children, this is one of the most vivid impressions in my life. Perhaps, every athlete remembers their first finish at iron distance.
It is considered to be a very good result to go through it in less than 10 hours. I did it in 9 hours 51 minutes. But I must say: the track was quite fast
'At this time, the city turns into a big sports mess'
How does IronStar in Kazan differ from the IRONMAN in Barcelona?
As for an atmosphere, there is no big difference — in both places there are many active people, sports-lovers. Another thing is the brand IRONMAN and the race with the corresponding name. First, they are considered to be very mass: in Barcelona, if I'm not mistaken, 2 900 people participated in long distances. In Kazan, 900 people started, including 650 people in 'half' and 250 in sprint. Besides, in Europe, triathlon is very popular. The streets are filled with people, throughout the race you feel the support of the fans, while in Kazan, the fans were literally in a few places. Support was insignificant.
In Europe it is a special event. The cities become alive these days. They prepare for such competitions for years, because for these 2-3 days the city is flooded with tens of thousands of people, as the athletes, of course, bring their family and friends and some support. At this time, the city turns into a big sports mess. An incredible atmosphere.
'Sport tourism is even cheaper than an ordinary trip'
How did you prepare for the upcoming and the biggest competition in your life?
I have been preparing for 2.5–3 years, but last year was very intense — from November until now I have been training a lot, from 12 to 22 hours per week.
That is, you have had a year of intensive trainings in order to participate?
There is one point — despite a high cost for participation, for some competitions slots are sold in 10-15 minutes, for the start of Barcelona format, perhaps, within a week. For example, yesterday they started selling starts in 2017 and I am sure that by the end of the week those who do not register a slot now they will not be able to participate in the competition. There are competitions that are held not for the first tens times, after which many people share their experiences. Such competition slots are booked very quickly and, of course, people plan their performance a year, year and a half in advance in order to calculate all the costs, both time and work. After all, it is not very easy to get to the start with a bike and the rest of the luggage.
Probably 5-6 years, I did not do sports at all, but at some point, looking at my photos, I decided that I should return, because I didn't like what I was becoming. I began to swim with the masters of swimming, participated in European and World Championships. Then I became interested in triathlon and formed a triathlon club
How much does such trip cost in average?
Sport tourism is even cheaper than an ordinary trip. Your main goal is restore before the start, healthy food and a cool atmosphere, we exclude 'binge eating', drinking and night life: everything that the Russian tourists vacationing abroad are so fond of. You come to a place to train, swim, run, ride a bike, preparing for a start. After holding it, you can devote a few days to a rest.
'I did not do sports for 5-6 years at all, but at some point, looking at my photos, I decided that I wanted to return'
Could you tell us about yourself: why have you started to do triathlon?
All my childhood I did swimming, reached the level of a Candidate Master of Sports. Then entered the KSU, the Institute of Computer Mathematics and Information Technologies, after graduating I began to work. For about 5-6 years, I did not do sports at all, but at some point, looking at my photos, I decided that I wanted to return, because I didn't like what I was becoming. I began to swim with the masters of swimming, participated in European and World Championships. Then I became interested in triathlon and formed a triathlon club. Originally there were four of us. In the first year our first Ironman — Ilnar Ismagilov — appeared in our company. The others caught up. Now we have our own club — Terminatorlar, which includes 16 participants. All they've done half of the 'iron distance' and six of them completed it.
As I understand it, you have a main job and you do sports in your spare time?
Yes, triathlon is a hobby. Of course, the main work is family, because I have three children. Also, I have a favorite thing, which I am quite actively developing. The triathlon I'm doing in my spare time, which I take a little away from family and work.
Have you already decided in what competitions you want to participate?
On the third day after the start I came to my senses and decided that I want to take part in IRONMAN again. Also, we want to make the club start, where the maximum number of participants from Tatarstan can go. It is very important to understand that if you have the opportunity to perform in different countries, on different continents – you should, of course, take advantage of it. Therefore, we would like to combine tourism with sports and to participate where we have not been yet. It could be some European country, the U.S. or Russia — the contests are held everywhere.