This lawyer loves cycling but there’s another reason he’s a triathlete

Jonathan Mitchell is general counsel and company secretary at Flow Power, an electricity retailer focused on the transition to renewable energy. He lives in Melbourne.

How long have you been a triathlete?
No offence to triathletes but I’m not “a triathlete”. I’m just a guy doing a few triathlons. The distinction relates to shaving legs, wearing skinsuits and measuring watts.

When did you start and why?
I’ve been a cyclist since I was a teenager, starting in mountain biking then transitioning into road and gravel. There is a joy I get from the bike that I’ve never quite found in other sports. During the lockdowns, I got bored with riding in circles and was talked into training for a half-marathon by some convincing colleagues (who kindly also trained me). Having achieved an OK time, I thought it was probably my one window to try a long-distance triathlon. I added a bit of swimming to my training routine, and did my first triathlon last year.

Preferred race distance?
Long ones. My first triathlon ever was the Ironman 70.3 Melbourne, a half Ironman, and my second – and perhaps last – will be a full-distance Ironman (3.8-kilometre swim, 180-kilometre bike and 42-kilometre run) in Busselton on December 3.

What motivates you?
I enjoy keeping fit just to stay healthy but also as part of decompressing from work and family life. At the moment, it’s a bit more than “keeping fit” because of the looming Ironman; it’s more about testing the absolute limits of what I can do physically. On a deeper level, my motivation comes from honouring the donor from whom I received a liver transplant just over a decade ago. If it wasn’t for the decision made by that donor and their family all those years ago, I wouldn’t be here, and neither would my two children. Taking opportunities like the Ironman to experience life to the fullest is one way I can respect that gift.

Do you train all year?
Yes, I’ve had to, to get strong enough for these long events. Keeping up the swimming during Melbourne winters has been tough, particularly at outdoor pools.

How much do you train?
“Too much”, my wife, Eleanor, would say, which is definitely true at the moment. It’s probably about eight to 14 hours a week, with a minimum of two swims, two rides and two runs. I struggle to follow a formal training plan because life gets in the way, so there is a lot of variation from week to week as I squeeze it in between work and family. Also, I want to enjoy the training, so I probably forgo some training effectiveness by riding gravel roads in the Dandenong Ranges for a few hours rather than doing interval sessions on a stationary trainer in my shed.

What bike do you own?
I have a titanium Mason gravel bike, an aluminium road bike from Low Bicycles and a slightly ridiculous commuter bike with 2.5-inch tyres and a basket.