After a blistering 66-minute half marathon run at IRONMAN 70.3 Nice in 2021, 39-year-old long-distance triathlete Adam Bowden, who turns forty during this summer’s commonwealth games, has pivoted his career to take on the running world in a personal challenge to be ‘faster at 40’.

Having taken the triathlon world by storm, and still retaining the British record for the fastest Ironman 70.3 triathlon ever, Adam’s move from multisport events to running has already turned heads – despite his ‘veteran’ athletic age.

The athlete from Llantrisant, Rhondda Canon Taf, has already posted personal best marathon time with a 2:20 at the Newport Wales Marathon, his fist marathon, which he won in October last year 10 minutes clear of his next competitor, proving he has the marathon pace to turn heads on the road.

Yet Adam isn’t stopping there, setting his sights on running faster still, with a 2:10 finish his next target.

He said: “The big difference for me on this journey is that it’s all about me challenging myself.

“I’m really not chasing a place or putting pressure on myself about being on the podium. This is all about me going faster, beating my own times and running quicker than I have ever ran before.”

Based on 2021 results, if Adam hits his 2:10 goal, the running world could see Adam’s name on the leader board of some prestigious events that could include a top 10 at the London Marathon; top five at the New York Marathon; even a win the Manchester Marathon – his next big event.

“I have been asked a few times whether I’m chasing Commonwealth Games qualification, but that’s not what I’m focused on for now,” he said.

“I’m loving running just for me and not chasing a place. It’s liberating. I think it could be one of the reasons why I’m running faster than ever.

“Don’t get me wrong, if I got offered a place in the Commonwealth Games marathon squad, I’d be crazy to turn it down. There is no better honour than representing your country. It’s just qualification is not what’s driving me at the moment.

“Whether it’s because I’ve already managed to achieve so much in triathlon, or simply just an older wiser head on my shoulders, this new inward-focused approach feels right.”

In making the transition to marathon running, Adam has enlisted the help of sports nutrition specialists Precision Fuel & Hydration (PF&H) to help get the most from his body.

Former elite ultra-runner and founder of PF&H, Andy Blow, said; “Adam is an incredible athlete whose proven himself on the track, in triathlon and now road running.

“Whilst Adam is transitioning to a shorter event format, he understands that fuelling and hydration are still critical to his performance in a marathon given the high intensity athletes at the sharp end of the race are running at.

“The amount of carbohydrate Adam needs per hour to perform at his best hasn’t actually changed, but ne needed to adapt his strategy for hitting his numbers to suit the higher intensity.

“Additionally, there’s perhaps a greater emphasis on the need to start the race optimally hydrated.”

“With one win already under his belt already, I can only see him going faster.”

Having previously represented Great Britain in the 3000m steeplechase at both the Commonwealth Games and European Championships, Bowden made the switch into triathlon back in 2010.

Adam went on to win a string of elite national championship titles in triathlon and duathlon before moving to longer-distance events, which saw him win Challenge Roma and IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai.

Now pushing himself faster than ever on the marathon circuit, expect to see more from Adam over the next 12 months.

Adam is supported by Precision Hydration and Fuel, Portfolio Sport and Rudy Project

For more information on Adam and his ‘faster at 40’ challenge, follow him on Instagram on @adamspeedytri.