#1: Some like to weave willow baskets, others have fun running the Iron-distance
ALEKSANDAR SØRENSEN-MARKOVIC: 31 years old, fast speaking, idea generating, mini-monster of a Danish life-style professional triathlete. Once educated as a teacher - now living the life as full time triathlete and coach. He started doing triathlon in 2002 because he wanted to loose weight. A couple of years living in the US had made him to good at drinking, eating and partying. After a hard night out he took the decision to change his life style.
Today he is a pro triathlete, because of his love for the sport and his ability to keep a healthy lifestyle. He raced his first ironman in 2004, has done several since then and is among the top Danish triathletes of today.
In a series of two articles we will go behind the man, the athlete and the person of Aleksandar Sørensen-Markovic. Aleksandar will of course be standing on the start line for Challenge Copenhagen next year.
What motivates you to do iron-distance racing and training?
Financially, I should throw my tri bike in the gutter and use my money on other things. That is of course if it was money that made my life valuable - but that is not the case for me. I love my lifestyle and staying in exciting places all a round the world. This year I have lived in South Africa and France. It is important for me to wake up every morning, look at the mirror and think: My life is awesome!
I am very proud of my achievements. I actually think it is quite an achievement looking back to where I started. It makes me very happy to think about how I live my life and the amazing people I have met, because I have chosen to live as I do.
Describe the feelings running trough your body after doing an iron-distance triathlon, whether you ran a Personal Best or completed a race.
My first thought is almost always the same: It was about time and give me some food! I will eat whatever gets in my way. My body is typically so drained, when I finish, that it takes a couple of days for me to enjoy my achievement.
An Ironman can be compared to Darwin's theory. It is not necessarily the strongest that triumph, but most often it is the most liable. It is important to check your ego in the transition zone, before you jump into the water on race day. If the legs are in pain the last few km´s of the bike, you´ll have to tell your family and friends watching that it is going to take a while before you finish. Been there. Done that, and received a hideous t-shirt to remind me!
If I had a penny for every testosterone pumped triathlete, with death glowing in his eyes, I've seen, that rides incredibly fast, the first hour on the bike and then drops to snail's pace... Then I might consider upgrading my apartment!
Before you made triathlon a way of life your passion was late night hotdogs and drinking - What motivated you to change your lifestyle and what keeps you away from the local bar?
It is quite simple! I love my life. The goals, dreams and ambitions I have, demands that I don't spend my nights dancing on tables at bars and discos every weekend.
The triathlon lifestyle, does not mean that I don't appreciate a good wine, delicious food and other things. It is all about finding the balance and one does not necessarily exclude the other. I think about the amount of the different things I eat. I make sure that my lifestyle and daily activities match with where I want to go professionally.
If I just sat with cucumber and carrot sticks looking at my training diary, I would be a nerd, even though I could race even faster than I do!
Read more about Aleksandar
