Catriona Morrison has been a consistent performer on the world duathlon stage for several years. Her 2008 performances were outstanding, including a win at Long Course Worlds and a silver at Short Course worlds. Jason Digman recently interviewed her.

Duathlon.com: Tell us a bit about your sporting background. How did you get involved in duathlon?

Catriona Morrison: I was always into sport as a kid. I was inspired to join a swimming club as my big cousin Pauline was a great swimmer and she was in a club. I was lucky to end up in a local team that included a girl called Alison Sheppard who was only a little older than me but preparing for her first Olympics (she retired recently after 5 Olympic appearances). Having someone of that calibre in the club was really motivational. I swam until I was about 14 but got to the stage where I had peaked and all my friends were getting faster and moving to different squads. I started to lose interest and stopped enjoying the racing so much. I turned my attention to running. My mum was a pretty decent runner and suggested that I go out with her. NO WAY! 1) she was faster 2) total loss of teenage kudos to be seen running the streets with you mother. I ran a couple of mass participation kids races and was spotted by a local athletic club who suggested that I come along to train. I ran through high school and into university competing in XC races and track. I was pretty good but not great. I loved the training and got to run for Scotland in some international events. After finishing my BSC at the University of Glasgow I left Scotland to do a Master's degree at the University of Alberta. I competed for the track and XC teams and loved the varsity atmosphere. Unfortunately I hurt both knees on a training run one day and ended up having to have surgery on my right knee. This led to recovery in the pool and I started swimming again. A friend of a friend was selling a road bike and I thought that it would also be great to bike to aid my recovery. The rest, as they say, is history. I entered my first triathlon 10 weeks after surgery and I've not stopped. All this happened in 2001. I then moved to New Zealand where Wellington Triathlon Club introduced me more formally to triathlon and to duathlon. Being a strong runner I liked duathlon from the start and found it (and still do) totally complementary to triathlon. It is a great sport when you live in Scotland and even in the middle of summer, open water swimming runs the risk of contracting hypothermia!

Duathlon.com: What do you like most about duathlon?

Catriona Morrison: I love the training! I love being out in the open biking and running. The sense of self reliance and pushing myself to the limit. I especially love bike training as I live in a very beautiful part of the world and I have a job where I can get out an explore every day (when the weather plays ball!).

Duathlon.com: Any ideas you'd like to share about making duathlon more popular or
improving the sport?

Catriona Morrison: Make it more popular by turning it into a spring and autumn event. This way no big races would clash with the triathlon season and we would hopefully see more people entering events.

In international events, have prize money, or increase the prize money available. Help international athletes to compete in races to raise the profile of the sport. This way more elite athletes would enter races, competition would grow and spectators, excitement, sponsors etc would hopefully grow.

Consider other forms for some races: run-bike-run-bike-run?

Duathlon.com: What is the highlight to your 2008 season?

Catriona Morrison: I think that I would have to say that the 2008 season is a highlight in itself. In later April I had knee surgery and I am totally blown away by the fact that I have managed to get through the injury and come out at the other end as Long Course World Champion and silver medallist in the short course. I also qualified for World 70.3 Championships in Clearwater and I am looking forward to that.

Duathlon.com: Tell us a bit about your sponsorships

Catriona Morrison: I have a load of great product sponsors. I get bikes from Planet X, enough nutrition from Powerbar to feed an army, swimming kit from Aquasphere and Blueseventy; running gear from Saucony and sunglasses from Adidas Eyewear. I get gym membership from my local gym (west Lothian leisure) - which was invaluable given my recovery from surgery this year. Financially I am extremely lucky to be supported by a charity called the Winning Scotland Foundation. This charity backs me to win medals on the international stage with the aim of promoting sport and inspiring people in Scotland to excel in their chosen field. The foundation are particularly focussed on using successful athletes to motivate and inspire children in Scotland to meet their potential in all areas of life.

Duathlon.com: What is the most important thing about training you've learned in
your career as an athlete?

Catriona Morrison: Perseverance pays! Stick at it and good things will come your way.

Duathlon.com: Do have a coach, other than yourself? Why?

Catriona Morrison: Yes. Although I think that in this stage of my life I have advisors! I pretty much know what works and what does not work but there are times when you need re-assurance that you are doing things correctly, times when you need to be told how to change or adapt some areas of your training and times when you are told to hold back! I get excellent help and physiological advice from Dr Phil Skiba and closer to home, Gordon Crawford helps me to put together a balanced programme.

Duathlon.com: What do you like to do when you're not running and riding?

Catriona Morrison: What do you mean when I'm not running or riding?! Well I swim, go to the gym and rack up amazing physio bills. I bake a load of the foodstuffs that I have an incredible capacity to consume - especially bread and cakes. At present I am also working with the Winning Scotland Foundation to develop a programme to take successful Scottish athletes into schools to promote physical activity, motivate, inspire and encourage young people to achieve and exceed their potentials.

Duathlon.com: Anything else you'd like to share with duathlon.com readers?

Catriona Morrison: Despite popular belief, the weather in Scotland can be quite palatable. Haggis is not a small, hairy animal that roams the countryside. It is a delicious protein-filled food ideal for recovery. I do however prefer the vegetarian version.

Jason Digman is the coach of Dig It Triathlon and Multisport. He works with athletes of all levels, from professionals to first timers. He specializes in the training of duathletes and the application of power to multisport. He can be reached at Jason@digittri.com.