Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa where sport is woven into the fabric of everyday life, Graham Wood played everything—rugby, soccer, field hockey. Everything except running. "I used to hide away during cross country meets and only complete the minimum laps," he admits. Cricket, however, was different. Competitive and team-oriented, it shaped his early relationship with sport and performance. He played, practiced, and coached whenever he could, building not just skills but a deep love for the camaraderie that comes with team sport.
His parents shaped that foundation. Discipline came from his father's military background, while his mother—a passionate tennis player—helped refine his technical skills and competitive instincts. Just as importantly, they emphasized the social side of sport: the friendships, the shared effort, the lifelong bonds built through training and competition.
Finding Endurance, One Step at a Time
Graham's relationship with running didn't shift until 2015, when applying to join the police force required that he run 2.4 kilometres in under 12 minutes. Although he didn't end up joining the police in the end, that challenge sparked something and in May 2016—after joining a gym, and starting to combine HIIT and strength training—he signed up for the Vancouver Sun Run. Soon after, with encouragement from his friend Liz Miyashita, Graham took on the Vancouver Half Marathon.
"It was an amazing event," he recalls. "Back in 2016, it finished around English Bay and the whole route was packed full of supporters. I loved every minute of it and it was safe to say I was hooked." That same year, after more encouragement from Liz, he completed his first full marathon in Victoria. This year marks a full-circle moment as Graham celebrates a decade in endurance sports by returning to The Vancouver Half, the race that first sparked his love for it.
An Unexpected Path to Triathlon
By 2017, Graham was deep into marathon running, completing both the BMO Vancouver and Lisbon Marathons in the same year. But that momentum came at a cost. A serious hip flexor injury, later diagnosed as a labral tear, forced him to reassess everything. Surgery didn't feel like the right choice, but he wasn't finished either. He needed a new challenge, one that would allow him to stay active while healing.
That’s where triathlon entered his life.
While living with Ashley Perry, an avid triathlete, Graham watched his routine of early-morning swim sessions and late night rides and thought, “this guy is mad.” But after taking up swimming to stay fit without aggravating his injury, triathlon started to seem like the obvious next step.
He bought a bike from a friend and signed up for the Vancouver Triathlon Sprint. Race day arrived, friends and family came out to support him, and Graham found himself experiencing something entirely new. "The biggest takeaway from that day was that everyone was a winner," he says. "No matter if you did the Sprint or Olympic distance, you had overcome three sporting disciplines and pushed yourself in a way you previously would not have dreamed of."
When asked why triathlon stuck, Graham doesn't hesitate: "I think it was a combination of the circumstances, the community, the atmosphere, and the adrenaline, but mostly the dawn of a new challenge. Ironman... 70.3."
From Participation to Performance
For the first few years, Graham was driven simply by seeing continual improvement. But a road trip to a small race in Washington State changed his perspective. After unexpectedly winning his age category and qualifying for the USA Triathlon National Championships, he started to think that maybe, just maybe, he could qualify to represent Canada.
The 2023 season brought a couple of podiums in local races, giving him the confidence to chase qualification seriously. In 2024, he brought on strength coach Chris English from Enhanced Strength, and committed fully to the process.
That season, Graham raced seven short-course triathlons and stood on the podium seven times. He added his first fondo race in Victoria, another 70.3, and completed the inaugural T100 Las Vegas. More importantly, he earned qualification to represent Canada at the Age Group World Championships.
Racing on the World Stage
Racing at the Age Group World Championships was both humbling and deeply rewarding. "Standing on the start line knowing you've earned your place there changes the way the race feels—it's not just another event, it's a reflection of years of consistency, sacrifice, and belief," Graham says.
"Competing against athletes from all over the world reminded me why I love sport so much. It was a dream come true." Intense, emotional, and inspiring all at once, the experience reinforced that long-term commitment pays off and that progression doesn't have an age limit.
His friends constantly remind him how proud he should be just to reach the start line. But the competitor in him was completely humbled by the experience. "That has given me the feeling of 'I am not done yet,' which I love."
Community as a Constant
Despite triathlon's individual nature, Graham's journey has always been shaped by community. Ashley Perry pushed him at the beginning—little did Graham know that nearly two decades after Ashley represented Canada at the Age Group World Championships, he'd be doing the same. Josh Chambers got him to join Leading Edge Triathlon Club, and over the last two years, his "race buddy" Stan Lorenzo—a short-course pro always up for a road trip—has kept him accountable. "I'm just grateful he's not in my age category... yet!"
"I've grown the most not just by chasing numbers, but by being surrounded by people who push, support, and normalize the hard days," Graham says.
His family has been a grounding force too. "Even if they're not always physically present at races, knowing they believe in what I'm doing and genuinely care about my goals gives me a huge sense of calm and confidence." That unconditional backing allows him to chase big goals without feeling like he needs to justify why sport still matters so much.
Setbacks, Injuries & Perspective
Injuries have been Graham's biggest teachers. The hip flexor injury and labral tear during his marathon years forced him to stop thinking short-term. "It forced me to stop thinking short-term and start viewing my athletic development and well-being as something long-term and sustainable," he reflects.
One moment in particular stands out. Lying on a physio table with yet another torn calf, Graham looked up and noticed a sign on the wall: True Grit.
He went home and looked up the meaning. It became his mantra.
To Graham, true grit isn't about dramatic breakthroughs or one big heroic effort. "It's the quiet determination to keep showing up when progress is slow, conditions aren't ideal, and no one's watching," he explains. "It's about patience, resilience, and commitment over time. It's choosing consistency over comfort, learning over ego, and long-term growth over quick validation. At its core, true grit is the ability to stay engaged, focused, and driven through discomfort, setbacks, and uncertainty. Not because it's easy, but because it matters to you."
Fueling Consistency
As Graham's training volume increased and race goals got bigger, nutrition shifted from something he thought he could "wing" to a non-negotiable part of performance. He began noticing that fueling habits showed up everywhere—in session quality, recovery speed, health, and day-to-day energy.
"Once I began treating nutrition as a key pillar of performance, on par with training and recovery, everything became more stable and predictable," he says. "It wasn't about being perfect—it was about being consistent."
Graham first discovered Blonyx through the endurance community at a trade show. Three things stood out: taste, simplicity, and a science-backed approach. "It wasn't about gimmicks or trends—it was about addressing real performance needs," he explains. Hydra+ quickly became a staple. "It was the first sports electrolyte drink that didn't make me want to gag during high-intensity training."
Over time, Blonyx products became part of his daily routine, not just a race-day tool. Hydra+ supported long sessions and heavy travel schedules, while Egg White Protein Isolate became a consistent recovery anchor. "I realized I wasn't getting enough protein—or getting it soon enough after workouts," he explains. Adjusting both timing and total intake helped reduce recurring injuries and improve recovery between sessions. Now it's part of his everyday routine—in smoothies, oats, espresso, or simple shakes.
He also credits the Beet It trio of performance and recovery products, including Regen Cherry+, Nitrate 400, and Top Up 100 Energy Gels, for supporting harder efforts and multi-day race blocks. "As a teenager, you couldn't have paid me to eat beets, so I was definitely skeptical at first," he laughs. "But the results were almost immediate. Better blood flow, better tolerance for hard efforts, and less soreness between sessions."
Leading up to the 2025 Triathlon World Championships, Graham had several back-to-back race days. "These products played a huge role in my recovery, helped me prepare and feel fresher from one day to the next, and gave me that extra boost when it mattered most. Try them, you won't regret it!"
Looking Ahead
Graham has once again qualified for the Age Group World Championships, this time in Spain, and enters the next chapter with clarity and focus. Long-distance ambitions are on hold as he sharpens his efforts on shorter formats, refining strength, dialing in nutrition, and staying healthy. "I feel I have some unfinished business," he says.
At the core of it all remains a simple belief: you're never too old to tri.
Triathlon didn't come early for Graham, but it came when he was ready. Ready to commit, to learn, and to keep showing up. "I'd want them to know that everyone starts somewhere, and no one starts ready," he says to anyone on the fence about starting triathlon. "Triathlon doesn't belong to a certain age, body type, or background. It belongs to people willing to show up and give it a go. Progress comes quickly when you're consistent, and the community will support you more than you expect. You don't have to be fast, you just have to start."
What excites him most now isn't just the races ahead, but the process itself—the steady pursuit of growth, supported by community, grounded in patience, and driven by true grit.
You can follow Graham on Instagram or on Strava.
That’s all for this week! If you enjoyed reading Samantha' story, head over to the Blonyx Blog for more stories of athletic ambition.
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