KEITH Murray is from Darlington, but his sights are set on the world. Read about his Ironman ambitions

The Northern Echo:

Keith in action in the Cleveland Steelman in July. Picture: Andrew Mayo Photography

What’s your history with cycling and how did it go from a hobby to being involved competitively?

Like many of my generation I watched the 1989 Tour De France (Lemond v Fignon) when I was at school, it was just as mountain bikes were kicking off so I kind of fell into that and started racing with my mates. I joined the Army straight from school and when I finished my basic training I got posted to Germany and bought a road bike to keep me out of trouble!

There was a well-organised bike racing scene in the forces and I got involved in that. My first race was a road race at RAF Bruggen and I clipped off the front for a solo win, then someone suggested I try a time trial.

You are very well known on the TT circuit. What drew you to this discipline and what have been the highlights?

Time trialling was really popular in the Forces so initially it was because there were TTs every week! I mixed my racing for a few years, but basically I’m a big diesel engine and suited to TT efforts. I also like winning and I think you should stick to what you’re good at so I became a bit of a specialist.

Until this winter I’ve always mixed it with cyclocross as the physical effort is similar. I’ve won the North East League, ridden for GB and won national team medals, so I’m not just a one-trick pony.

What are the requirements to be a good time trial rider?

Being able to focus and hurt yourself I think, not going too hard that you overcook it and enjoying being at one with your bike. I’ve always liked the synergy of man, machine, helmets, clothing and strategy! There is no one to blame if you lose and it was you who put the effort in to win.

You have recently turned your focus to triathlon, why was that?

It’s a long story and I don’t mean to be rude to the cycling scene or sound big-headed but basically I got bored with time trialling and cyclocross. Winning and times in TTs stopped being enough to make me train hard enough to stay at the top.

I’ve always had a passing interest in triathlons, mainly due to the bike tech and the sheer feat that completing an IronMan must be. I used to think 'how the hell can anyone run a marathon after 112miles on a bike?' After 100 miles on a bike as a solo cyclist I’d be battered!

However I went on a training camp to Lanzarote in 2017 and watched a training race. I commented to some of the ladies who finished towards the end that they were going well, to which replies came like ‘better than you’ ie they’d done it and I hadn’t! That struck a chord and I came back thinking could I do a half IronMan. That was last year and I learned to swim, run a bit and have not really looked back.

I qualified for the world 70.3 Championships in South Africa this September where I finished in the top third with one of the fastest bike splits. But like one of my Tri mates said when I first started “it’s all about the run” so my emphasis is on that this winter.

I understand you travelled to South America to take part in the IronMan Mexico in Cozumel. How was the experience?

Mind blowing! It was such a rollercoaster of emotion from feeling great in parts to questioning why and wanting to stop and I’m not ashamed to say I walked at parts in the marathon!

To run down the Magic Carpet and hear the words “Keith Murray, you are an IronMan” is probably as good as it gets and I want to hear it again.

Your goal is to qualify for the prestigious Kona Ironman World Championships?

I’ve really become infatuated with IronMan branded events. You feel like a rockstar just competing in them. Kona is simply awesome – it’s the pinnacle of endurance triathlon racing. It’s going to be a tough ask and I will need to knock an hour off my time from Mexico (10hrs 16) – typically my age group qualification time is around 9-9:30. I’m only aware of one other person from Darlington who’s made it to Kona and I want to go quicker than he did and take his crown – locally he’s known as the Kona King!

My swim is coming on and with my coach we are working on my running technique and about to start gym work which is something I never did as a cyclist!

I just have to not go to hard on the bike, it’s a nice problem to have in a way as most Triathletes have to make their gains on the bike as are usually accomplished runners who can swim a bit!

Finally, you are a member of Darlington Triathlon Club. Would you recommend the club to others and how can people get in touch?

Darlington TC has been a breath of fresh air. While I’ve continued to ride TTs for the elite Drag2Zero cycling team, my Tri’s have been in the colours of ‘Darlo’ which has been pretty cool for someone who has mostly spent time in race teams. We have weekly swim and run sessions and organise the TeesDale Triathlon so it’s very much a local club. There are some good rivalries and lots of banter which is great to get you out the door for that early morning swim or track session.

So what is next?

A winter of working on my weakness, some swim and runs with the club along with gym work to build strength and possibly work with a specific run coach. Spring will see some local time trials and 70.3 (Half Iron Distance) before a crack at the iconic Challenge Roth in July with top local athletes Neil McGloughlin and Andrew Ackerley. After that a full on attempt to qualify for Kona – like Ironman says “Anything is possible...”