AustrAliAn triAthlete | 59young, not for the old, not for the masses.
Don’t get me wrong. I love what I do. I
am completely willing to do it, and I have
found no higher source of satisfaction in
my life than striving to be the best that I
can be at sport. The elite racing world is
exclusive, and it is magnetic, for those
capable it is a life that not much can match.
It is absolutely not for everyone.
I realise now that my audience is different.
My readership includes athletes trying to
complete an Ironman in sixteen hours
- maybe do their first half marathon,
knock a few minutes off their swim time,
lose a few pounds, socialise.
I can coach somebody to reach all or
one of these goals. The basics principles
of training can achieve that. My advice
won’t be unique - in fact, it may be far too
complicated for the purpose.
Gordon Ramsey knows how bake the
perfect loaf of bread but would he be the
best guy to teach another how to do it?
Would he be tolerant to novice mistakes?
Constructive to learning?
Lewis Hamilton could probably teach
someone to drive. There might be better
choices for instructor out there.
I am selling myself out of a lucrative
career as an online age group coach here- I know I am.
It is just an attempt to illustrate just
how tricky it can be to try and produce
universal, informative coaching advice
suitable for the pages of a magazine. It
remains fairly distant from my area of
expertise - coaching the top two percent
how to get one percent quicker.
Why now, after two years have I
reached this epiphany?
I can’t be positive, but maybe it is
observing a recent Ironman race from the
sidelines this year. Finally, understanding
the difference in motivation, the precise,
minute detail needed in elite racing and
the difference in race stresses between
professional racing and age group
participation. Both heroic, both aspirational.
Entirely different in preparation, execution
and consideration. Dare I say it- to me,
they are different sports.
Despite being so different, I find myself
reading countless triathlon articles from
various publications and ‘experts’ across
the sport, grouping ‘a triathlete - elite or
novice - together. It seems to me more
akin to click bait than good advice.
‘Top Tips To Nail The Swim’ by a back
of the field, aged professional, who
spends his whole race chasing down the
deficit caused by his bad swimming.
‘Gold Nutritional Advice’ by a past pro
who verged on the edge of an eating
disorder her whole career.
‘*&%^$’s Top Run Workout - For You
To Tri.’ Completed by a 2.50 Ironman
runner - after three months of one
hundred mile weeks.
‘First Trimester Training Tips’ by a first
time pregnant champion, physiology -
beyond normal, yet to be confirmed
successful or remotely medically accurate.
You know, yes - you could replace ‘a
whole swim workout with stretch cords’.
Maybe that would be a good idea.
Probably if you already swim six times a
week. Otherwise... no. There is so much
information out there nowadays. Some -
absolutely true and totally accurate. Much- absolute bull. Think about it.
Anyway I don’t want to be a hypocrite. I
want to be good at what I do, and I know
what that it is. I know elite performance.
Over the coming months, my new
column will profile the ‘who’s who’ of long
standing professional triathletes. I want to
introduce the stars of our sport to a wider
audience. Reveal their personalities. Tell
their unique stories. I’ll delve into real
personalities and the unseen detail of
their extraordinary careers - the ‘nitty,
gritty’ of their lives in sport.
In sport, we only get to view the medal
product from a lifetime of sacrifice,
lessons and defeat. We see the finish line,
the celebration, the victory - we forget the
rest. Over the years, as I have come to
know my competitors better, I have
witnessed champions miserable in victory
and equally sad in defeat. I have watched
bad coaches win, and good coaches lose.
There are real stories behind public
profiles - real stories are what we are
about. Inspirational, motivational,
aspirational people - better than any
training tip out there.
Jodie swallow
Jodie Swallow is a world champion, Ironman champion and Olym-
pian. Not one to shy away from an uncomfortable but necessary
conversation, Jodie Swallow is guaranteed to keep you thinking.
Follow her at http://www.ifollowtheswallow.co.ukJodie Swallow
@jodieswallow
@jodie.swallow
@jodiestar
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