VALA ambassador: Jamie Price

This week we're catching up with VALA ambassador and triathlete Jamie Price. We'll find out what inspired Jamie to start training for triathlons, what he loves about them and what his top tips are for aspiring triathletes. Jamie is part of the Welsh Triathlon team and is most definitely one to watch! 

Hey Jamie, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm 21 years old and got into triathlons when I was 16 and living on an island called Bahrain in the Middle East. From there, I travelled around the Middle East racing for the island and trying to better myself. This opened a lot of doors and gave me an amazing escape from school. I'm severely dyslexic and suffered from low self-esteem when I was younger but when I discovered running and swimming, they gave me an out. I truly believe that any sort of competitive sport is an incredible escape from reality as there's normally one very simple goal - to be the fastest!

What inspired you to get into triathlons?

Seeing the Brownlee brothers at the 2012 Olympics, then reading their book. After both of these events I was dead set on getting to where they were. Then I did my first triathlon... and lost. After this I gave up triathlon because it was too hard! After moving to the Middle East, I decided to give it another go and I found a really close-knit community of triathletes that were really supportive. 

How long have you been doing triathlons for?

I've being swimming since before I could walk, running properly from the age of 12 and I started cycling when I was 16. The cycling was a necessity to get into triathlon. 

What’s your favourite thing about them?

Having the escape from everyday life. Life can get very complicated but when you're training or racing the objective is always incredibly simple... be fast!

Where’s your favourite place to train?

For the location it has to be Bahrain - I could run to the sea to swim and cycle around the deserts down south. In the UK, it's 100% Cardiff because of the people. It's amazing being with the Welsh team and getting to train with some of the best athletes in the UK. It's even better getting to be their mate! 

What keeps you motivated on days when it seems harder than usual?

The people around me keep me motivated - if they can do it, so can I. That's partly why COVID has been so hard, as everyone has been tested about how internally motivated they are.

Is there a specific athlete in your field that inspires you and what do you admire about them?

Adam Bowden - he's the 70.3 UK record holder and he also trains on the Welsh Tri team. You would think that an athlete of his stature would carry an ego but that couldn't be further from the truth! He's a legend of the sport and only ever wants to see his fellow teammates succeed. He's just an incredibly selfless dude. 

Why do you enjoy using VALA?

It's natural! Sometimes using gels can feel unnatural as you can tell that they're just buckets of sugar. Over prolonged periods of time this can leave you feeling drained. I managed to do my first ever solo five-hour ride using VALA gels and didn't feel over-saturated with sugar. Instead I felt powered by a constant, natural and slow release of energy. 

What does ‘natural sports nutrition’ mean to you?

It means a lot! You're only as good as the food inside you. This is definitely something that I'm working on, but nutrition is the basis of all good consistent training. 

What are your top three tips for someone else thinking of getting into your sport?

1. CONSISTENCY IS KEY - Success isn't gifted, it's rented. You've got to pay that rent every day with training.

2. VARIETY - It's crazy important to mix up your training, as monotony can occur when you over-stress about a set plan.

3. KEEP IT FUN - At the end of the day, sport of any kind and any level is an escape from everyday life. Enjoy it and love the pain!