Having emerged over the past three years as one of the best long course athletes in the game, former British Army Physio Kat Matthews is still chasing her first PTO podium.
Speaking with TRI247 ahead of the start of the season in Miami, the 32-year-old shared that she’s confident a top finish is well within her reach.
After finishing ninth and seventh at the PTO Tour US Open in previous seasons, could it be third time lucky for the Brit over the 100km distance on US soil next month?
“My best shorter-distance race is yet to come”
Despite notching two creditable top 10 finishes during her previous endeavours over the 100km distance, Matthews explained that at the time, these were both lower priority events to prepare for bigger things.
“Both my previous PTO races have been what I would call ‘training races’, scheduled for me in a way that they have become a lower priority to a bigger race nearby (Dallas/Kona 22 and Milwaukee/Lahti 23).”
In her own opinion, Matthews has not produced the type of performance that she is truly capable of yet at a PTO Tour event, but is confident she can be up there with the best when she does.
“I have not performed in the swim, bike or run in either of these PTO races, so I know my best shorter-distance (100km) race is yet to come. A swim I am capable of and a solid bike-run will see me on the podium.”
“No shift in focus for me”
When asked if she would be doing anything different to target better performances over the 100km distance, Matthews said her training focus remained the same.
“[There is] no shift in focus for me, my coach Bjorn Geesmann has an excellent understanding of my race aims for the season and there is so much trust in his direction.”
In terms of specific training sessions for the different demands of racing the T100, the Brit said that things would stay the same as in previous seasons.
“From my perspective, no, I have not done much ‘race-specific’ training in the past to prepare for shorter or longer races and there is not much change to previously planned for this year.”
