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6 “There were a few of us vying for a spot on his team. Dougal Allan and a few other guys including myself. “Dougal beat me in the Coast to Coast so I thought it would be him but Rich offered me a spot.” Braden’s tenacity and determination caught the eye of Ussher, and Braden’s career took off. “Rich just liked the way I raced because I put it all out there. Whenever we were racing and I came across him I would never sit on his feet, I’d try to take the lead rather than tuck in behind him and he liked that. “To be asked to race alongside him is like the golden ticket. If he chooses you, you have to be up there.” The Ussher offer was the golden ticket of racing that got him onto the world stage, but the supportive Sally had given him the more important golden ticket. After watching his brother come third in the Coast To Coast, the desire to race was back and it meant sacrifice, but it came in the unlikely manner. “We worked out a full-on plan that he could work and train but it would have been chaos and really hard on him,” Sally said. “So I just told him to not worry about work and put all his focus on giving it a go. “We live right on the line but we are happy. It’s the perfect time for us to do it now and we can always get jobs and do the regular family thing later.” So while Braden is off gallivanting around the world, Sally’s running the business, but the decision that allowed Braden the freedom to train and compete also gave him more time to be a dad. “I don’t work I just train and take care of Tarn,” he said. “We don’t make that much money but it’s enough to survive and the odd winner’s cheque helps. “I’m pretty lucky and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I get to train and not feel like I’m neglecting time with him to do it. “I drop him off at day care, go training for a few hours then pick him up. “I don’t know how some guys do it. They work a 40 hour week but find the time to train for a multisport race and be a parent. That would have been me.” Tarn is now four and is becoming more like his father every day. “He’s amazing. A pretty relaxed kid that doesn’t get too stressed out about much.” “We’re not trying to push him but he’s already into his sports and is pretty handy on a bike. He goes burning around dropping down stairs. He’s
PHOTO HANNAH JOHNSTON/GETTY IMAGES
crazier than I am.” Braden has plenty of time to spend with his son because he “maximises” his training time. “I’m a bit on the lazy side when it comes to training. “I find it’s all about finding what’s right for you and what works. “I like short high intensity training rather than training for a long time. Probably because I have a short attention span. “Any week I would do 20-30 hours of actual solid training but some do over 40 hours.” Whatever he’s doing, it works. His racing became all-encompassing but he still found time between training and racing for
family, including making it official, marrying Sally in October. “We had a nice wee wedding up at Awa Awa Rata reserve and a good party afterwards. The next day I was on the plane to China for a race, a bit worse for wear on the plane over. “Married life isn’t that much different for us. Life didn’t change at all, it just became permanent.” Braden is preparing for his next big challenge, the Coast to Coast, the couple are also preparing for their next challenge. “In 10 weeks we’ll have number two which is pretty exciting, but I think that will be the end of it for us. Job done.”
With another baby on the way, the plan is a return to Australia. “We are looking to go back to Australia for three months after the baby arrives because it’s just easier over there. “It’s warm for one but it’s easier for me to get work that pays well so we can get sorted before we head to Europe.” Europe is the next adventure for the family, with a slight change of focus. “My preferred option is adventure racing and multisport with my strong mountain running ability but it’s hard to live on a multisport wage. “You have to be at the top of the sport to make a comfortable living but there’s really only