Australian Triathlete – July-August 2017

AustrAliAn triAthlete | 33

INSPo

You have said that triathlon (Ironman in
particular) has changed your life – that
it lifts you to places both physically and
mentally. Tell us about that.
Well if it weren’t for triathlon I wouldn’t
have met my soon-to-be husband, so that
is the best part! Triathlon is hard, I know
that and it is time-consuming and let’s
not forget expensive, but it becomes a
lifestyle and a coping mechanism for the
stressful job and life issues that none of
us can avoid.

The Army

The Army – wow! That is not your
typical employment. While most age
groupers have to juggle work/career
with Ironman training, I’d say you probably
have it harder then most of us and are in
a very unique situation with the work
that you do as a Major in the Army.
How do you manage to juggle the work
that you do (which I imagine is pretty
full on – especially given that you’re
deployed to places like Afghanistan)
with training for a sport like Ironman,
that can sometimes be quite all
consuming? How do you make it work?
It is hard, I usually play it down, but I will
be honest, it is really hard. It would be
great to have a job that allowed me to
live in one place and join a tri club and
actually have time off to attend [training]
but that’s not my life. I make it work
because I put no pressure on myself
and I find a support network and coaches
that understand.

What does a typical day look like for you
in terms of training while being
deployed? How do you fit it all in?
We were up at 0450 in order to hit the
gym in the morning before work at 0730,
and then we try to go to the gym at night
too. My job overseas made it particularly
hard as I was in a very busy role so when I
needed sleep over training, I took it.

After deployment, how do you come
back to “normal” life in Australia?
What impact does deployment have on
you – as a daughter, friend, fiancé,
triathlete? What does “normal life”
look like for you? Talk us through that.
Deployment for me was a chance to
experience life fully immersed as a military
member. I didn’t have to shop or clean or
drive to work and equally, I didn’t get to go
to any family event, which was hard but
because I was removed I was just focused
on the ‘Army Holly’. When I came back, I
went straight back to work as we have the

wedding coming up in May, which will be

my time to a have a break, so I guess I only

had the weekend to switch into ‘back at

home Holly’. And to be honest, I haven’t

stopped with Ironman NZ, wedding

planning and moving to Canberra for a

new job. Everyone deals with reintegration

differently but that first day I got off the

plane and was met by family and my

beautiful Godson, then Dave and I went to

Eat Street in Wollongong, and sitting there

on the street with food van grub I

remember saying to Dave, “You know, in

Kabul this could never happen.” I was so

thankful for the freedom we have, and I

continue to be thankful.

On your social media, someone wrote

‘qualifying for Kona is hard – the road to

deployment must be a whole other

story’. Talk us through that.

Haha, yeah he’s another ex-military guy,

so he understands. Deployment brings

out the best and worst, so it’s just like

Ironman. It’s long, emotional, hard

and rewarding.

family/Support – soon to

be Mrs Mainwaring

Who makes up ‘Team Holly’?

How important is having the right

support and network around you while

you’re deployed overseas and/or

training for an event like an Ironman?

Oh, Team Holly is the best! I have all my

family, my parents, my brother Tom who

does Ironman, and his wife Shelley who

was a massive support while I was

overseas, sending me reminders of home;

as well as David’s side who did the same.

I have my Wollongong family who is made

up of Project M mates, ITC mates and my

old PT clients who continue to inspire me.

I have my ADF buddies who continue to

challenge me and even my old school

friends through FB and Instagram that

follow my adventures.

On top of all that you do and have

achieved, you’re also engaged (to David

Mainwaring, pro triathlete) and by the

time we go to print you will be married

• huge congrats! For most couples,
  Ironman training on its own can be quite
  testy. How do you juggle a relationship
  with the Army/deployment and IM
  training? Talk us through how you make
  it work. Does it help having a partner
  who is a pro triathlete?
  David is my rock. Being a professional
  means that his work can be flexible and he
  puts me and my career ahead of him and

his, which is a big ask. At the moment I

work in Canberra, and we live in Bulli,

so we make it work through good

communication and compassion. We are

very lucky that we listen to each other and

we have the same values.

‘Anything is Possible.’

A lot of people (athletes/non-athletes)

make 101 excuses as to why they can’t

do something or why they can’t achieve

their goals because of life/work/family

etc. Given all that you’ve been through,

seen and experienced through the

Army, what is your advice to others

about not letting life stop you from

achieving your goals?

What is life if you are not achieving your

goals? You don’t get another go. Going

through the motions isn’t an option for me.

My mum being terminally ill and with Dave’s

dad losing his battle to cancer last year, we

are constantly reminded that life is short.

If someone wants to do something they

will. I get that fear can be a big factor, as

someone who once signed up for a 10km

fun run, went there and then went home

as I didn’t think I could do it, I get it! But

never let fear be the reason you don’t

reach your goals. We can’t all be Prime

Minister or win an Ironman, but if you set

reasonably achievable goals and your

support network say: “YOU CAN DO IT”,

then listen, seek help, motivation, guidance

and support from those people and there

will be nothing that can stop you.