Australian Triathlete – July-August 2017

AustrAliAn triAthlete | 27

BABIeS oN BoArD

trains. It was nice to be out there on one of
his long runs before Ironman Boulder. He
even said that was one of the better long
runs he’s had because most of the time
he’s just by himself, and if you’re not
feeling well, the end of the run starts to
decline. It’s nice to help and help him get
more out of his workouts and be a sherpa
for a while.

ATM: Do you plan on coming back to
race triathlon after the baby is born?
Carfrae: The plan is to go back to Kona
next year. The last time I won Kona was
2014, so I just need to finish an Ironman.
Luckily, Kona is 14 months after the baby
is born, so that should give me plenty of
time to prepare. I will probably race my
first Ironman in June and start racing in
March or April of 2018. Obviously, you
can’t know what it’s like when you have a
little person to look after, and how difficult
it might be, but I feel like I have a little bit
of flexibility and time to get ready to
race again.

ATM: How are you staying involved in
the triathlon scene?
Carfrae: This year I have already done a
speaking engagement in the Chicagoland
area, which was fun. I am also getting
involved with the Ironman Foundation and
will be helping them out and working with
the charities they partner with at certain
races. I will be able to help out my
sponsors with appearances and talks too.

ATM: Have you had any cravings or food
aversions during your pregnancy?
Carfrae: At the beginning of my
pregnancy when I felt sick, I had a lot of
aversions because nothing sounded good.
I actually didn’t eat much, but that went
away after the first trimester.
However, steak or any meat is
something that has not sounded good at
all. Now, I am drawn to fresh fruit, orange
juice and salad, which is great because I
never want any of that when I am training.

ATM: What are you most excited
about when you think about becoming
a mum?
Carfrae: The whole process and idea of
creating this little person and getting to
show them the world, and share the world
with them. I think that’s the coolest thing.
I can’t wait to see if it looks like a
combination of Tim and me, and we’re not
finding out the gender of the baby, so that
will be exciting as well. We’re just excited
for the whole journey. We’re under no
illusions and know parenthood is going to
be very hard, and we’re excited about
the challenge.

ATM: Do you think giving birth or

waiting at the Kona start line will be

more nerve-wracking?

Carfrae: I think I will be more nervous to

give birth, especially in those last few

weeks. If you win Kona, your whole world

changes. When you get to the starting line,

winning is a possibility or the A goal, so

there’s always a lot of nerves around any

big race. This is completely different. I feel

like I will be really nervous, but I bet Tim

will be more nervous than me because

when you’re inside your own body, you feel

like you’re in control more and he just has

to stand there and watch. He’ll be pretty

nervous in those last moments.

JoDIe cUNNAMA

Australian Triathlete Magazine:

When did you realise you were pregnant?

Jodie Cunnama: Having a baby was

something James (Cunnama), and I

have both wanted for a long time, but

I suspected, given the way I train, the

length of career, my age, and my past

eating disorders, that it may take some

time to conceive. I was right in the depths

of Ironman South Africa training when

I actually realised I was pregnant. I had

some trouble breathing while swimming

earlier that week and had to similarly

drop a second bike session because I

was so exhausted, which wasn’t like me. I

didn’t think I was pregnant, but I was just

suspect about those weird things. James

didn’t know I was taking the test, but I ran

out of the bathroom shouting and straight

into his arms.

ATM: How did your partner react to

the news?

Cunnama: James is ecstatic! He has

wanted kids for a long time, and it has

always been me that needed another year

or another race. He would do anything to

help me, which is basically just letting me

sleep and making dinner occasionally,

which I may not be able to eat.

ATM: Was it hard to fit planning a

pregnancy around your career?

Cunnama: Yes, it is difficult to fit

pregnancy into my career. I am at the top

of my earning potential and still on top of

the races, so it is a big financial sacrifice

and a forced break from competition,

which is all I have ever known. I’m 35 now,

so the statistics say it’s time to get going. I

would regret waiting too long to be a

mother more than simply missing a year

of racing.

ATM: Knowing you are a top contender

in Kona, was it hard to pass up that

racing opportunity?

Cunnama: I think that if I had a shot at

the Kona win in 2017, then I will still have it

in 2018 and, probably, more so because of

the enhanced perspective and need that a

break creates. This pregnancy has no

doubt prolonged my career in the long run

rather than stunted it. Sometimes a

change is a good as a break, and I have

been at this long distance game for seven

good years now.

hAPPY fAMILY: having a baby is something both Jodie and husband, James have wanted

for a long time.

Source: Instagram