MAJORSTUEN (Nettavisen): – Sometimes I might not be that smart, laughs John Arne Riise (45).
The question of why he has chosen to bet against the brutal competition
3.8 km Swimming, 180 km Cycling, 42.2 km Running
“/> came when Nettavisen met him outside the Colosseum cinema in connection with Johannes Høsflot Klæbo’s new documentary earlier this month.
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The 45-year-old opened up about how he trains for the competition, his collaboration with training coach Anders Muren, the importance of sleep and diet – and at the same time made a revelation from his professional life in Liverpool.
Oslo 20251112. John Arne Riise and Olaf Tufte on the red carpet before the preview of the documentary film about Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, at the Colosseum cinema in Oslo. Photo: Jonas Been Henriksen / NTB
Photo: Jonas Been Henriksen
– Not a single day off
Riise’s original plan was to carry out one
The same distances as an Ironman, but with far more altitude, demanding terrain and cold temperatures.
“/> After thinking about it a bit, he decided that it would be wiser to test whether he likes the form of competition before signing up for what is considered one of the world’s toughest triathlons.
– It’s a huge job that needs to be done, so we agreed to bet on the Ironman first, says Riise to Nettavisen.
BRUTAL COMPETITION: Norseman kicks off at 05:00, when the participants jump into the Hardangerfjord.
Photo: Torstein Bøe (NTB)
The choice fell on the competition which starts in Barcelona in October 2026. The 45-year-old thus has almost a whole year to hit top form before then.
But he is clear that it should not be all-consuming.
– I’m not going to be a 24/7 performer. I travel a lot and live my life, but I will do a good enough job to accomplish my goal. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, but at least I’ll finish, smiles Riise.
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But even if Riise’s most important goal is to finish, he is nevertheless determined to do what he can to ensure that the result is the best possible.
He has therefore entered into a partnership with training coach Anders Muren.
And with him on the team, it will be anything but calm days ahead.
– I got the plan from Muren today, and there isn’t a single day off for the rest of November anyway. The focus now will be on building up the training base, exhausting the body and creating a “heavy base”, says Riise, and adds:
– The wall is a trick. He likes to push me!
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And as if that wasn’t enough, the former Liverpool star also has regular paddling sessions outside of the training program he has been given by his coach.
But despite the intense amounts of training, the former “16 weeks of hell” participant will have nothing to do with the fact that he is now embarking on “52 weeks of hell” until the Ironman in Barcelona.
– Hehe, no, there won’t be any hell. I will travel a lot, eat well and enjoy myself. It is important to enjoy it too, but of course I will push hard and focus on the training and. But I don’t do this to chase records or times, the most important thing for me is to push myself and finish.
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Reveals: – Sleeps a maximum of five hours
With such amounts of training, one would perhaps have assumed that Riise is extremely careful about diet and sleep. That is not the case, he can announce:
– I should probably have been better there, at least when it comes to sleep. The diet is so-so, I manage to do a lot right there, although I also enjoy myself. But what I struggle with is sleep. I sleep far too little compared to how active I am, says Riise.
TIRED? John Arne Riise says that he usually only sleeps five hours each night. He also did this throughout his professional career.
Photo: Filippo Monteforte (AFP)
The player with the most caps for Norway over time says that ideally he should have gotten more sleep, but also points out that he has managed quite well anyway.
– It’s a big minus, but at the same time I’ve been like that my whole career. Muren is struggling to understand how I can sleep so little and still have the sessions I have… There will probably be a bang soon then, smiles Riise.
– How little do you sleep then?
– I rarely sleep more than five hours a day. Maybe I would have gotten better results in training if I slept more? I don’t know that, reveals Riise.
– And you have done that throughout your career?
– Yes. Or, I tried to get some extra sleep the day before the game. Then I tried to get seven to eight hours.
