Where it all began...

I have just spent the past two weeks back home in Tassie. On my to-do list while at home was to sort through the mass of ‘stuff’ I have accumulated over the years. I discovered that I have enough towels, backpacks, drink bottles and running shoes to supply a small army. However, I did also come across a few special things from years ago such as photos, race numbers, trophies and uniforms that reminded me of how I got into this triathlon caper. I often forget to acknowledge how far I have come since my first cross country race way back when, to where I am now, so it was good to come across these reminders.

I find it amazing to hear other people’s stories of how they got into doing their chosen sport. I often get asked how and why I got into doing triathlons, and always reply with the stock standard answer of ‘was a runner, got injured, started to swim and ride’ and leave it at that. However, when I think about it, it has been a bigger, more exciting journey than just that.



I found a love for running when I was about 12. Once I hit high school and everyone else started to grow while I remained the same size, I discovered that I was the perfect build to run long distances. So for the next 6 years that’s what I did. I ran for Tassie at National Cross Country and Track & Field Comps throughout my whole time at high school. I always had the dream of ‘making’ it as a runner; all I wanted to do was run for Australia. While I was good, I was never the best. Then when I was about 18 I was plagued by the dreaded stress-fractures that often hit young female runners. I had to stop running, and it sucked, however in hindsight it was probably one of the best things to happen.

I moved to Melbourne for University when I was 18 and tried to start running again, but it just wasn’t happening. I ended up spending the year partying, getting fat and almost flunking first year Uni. At the end of the year I decided I had to take control and get fit again. For me, if I’m not active and training for something then life sucks. So I knew I needed to do something. I decided to get a bike and start riding and swimming for cross-training. My first bike was a hybrid/commuter. I used to take it on 15km rides and be wiped out for the whole rest of the day!

I had read somewhere about a triathlon in Mordialloc at the end of the year, and decided to enter. So Dad and I rocked up to the tri, we both had no idea what was going on. All I had to wear was my two-piece from running; I didn’t have shoes with elastic laces or any of that jazz. I was the only person without a wetsuit and not on a road bike. I ended up finishing near the back of the pack, however I had a ball. I was hooked. I went back home to Tassie for the summer, bought a road bike, learnt how to ride and then entered my second tri – a beginner tri held in January 2007 at Elwood Beach. I managed to win my age group and thought that was pretty cool, so decided to keep it going. People often say that triathlon is addictive, and it really is. Once you start, all you want to do is get fitter, go further, race more.

After a winter of training under my belt in a squad environment I went up to Noosa and raced my first ‘real’ triathlon –2007 Noosa Tri. I came 2nd in my age group. I then went back to Melbourne and raced the local Gatorade Series Triathlons and took out the Elite Female Series award. It was then that I read that the ITU World Champs were coming to Gold Coast, Australia in 2009. I was going! I trained hard, qualified for the race and came 3rd in my 20-24 age group. A few months later I came 2nd in Mooloolaba tri where I qualified for my pro licence. I then travelled to Singapore in April 2010 for my first taste of international triathlon at the pro level. And boy was it a shock! I had never raced in conditions like it…I was the last finisher, but once again I had caught the bug. All I wanted to do was travel and race. So it was then that Sam and I decided to up sticks and head to Boulder, Colorado for 3 months in 2010. We had both heard so much about Boulder, so we decided to see what all the fuss was about (and the fuss is for a very good reason- the best training environment, the best facilities, and the best athletes in the world are all there). It was a pretty big risk – I had only raced in one pro race. But I wanted to give it a crack.

I ended up racing 4 races in the 2010 US season and trained alongside some of the best names in the sport. Those 3 months gave me a taste of what it was like to race and train as a pro athlete. That US season set me up for a successful 2010/11 season back in Australia where I started to post some solid results at the half ironman distance. It was then that I decided to try and qualify for the World 70.3 Champs (held in Las Vegas one month ago). This meant going back to the US in 2011 and step it up to racing against the best girls in the world at the half ironman distance. I managed to score some good results, got my butt kicked in a few others and made it to the Worlds, where I finished 17th Pro Female.

When I think back to this time 5 years ago when I was contemplating my first triathlon to where I am now I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to pursue what I love. If the past 5 years are anything to go by, the next 5 are going to be even better :)

Back on the Bike

After a two week hiatus from all things triathlon I thought it about time to get back on my bicycle...and what better way to get back into the swing of things than a ride on some of the best roads that Tassie has on offer.

Home Sweet Home

This week’s blog is coming from downtown Launceston…a little different to where I was this time last week in downtown New York! After racing Syracuse 70.3 Mum and I headed to NYC for a few days of seeing the sights. One word to describe…amazing! It was the highlight of my trip and I definitely want to get back there again one day. So much to do, so much to see.

After New York I headed back to Boulder for a few final days. I’m on a break from training at the moment so it was a little strange being there and just relaxing…but certainly very nice. After packing up and saying our final adios Sam and I made the trek back to the land of Oz. We spent the afternoon in Santa Monica on Sunday before getting on the plane to Melbourne on Sunday night. After what seemed forever we finally made it Melb where I said another adios, this time to Sam, and then jumped on a plane to Launceston.

It’s so good to be home and just chill out for a while. My first meal back home was a meat pie and coke…not the most athlete friendly meal, but as I said it’s break time and that means one thing - doing not much and eating whatever takes my fancy! If I end up as an oompa loompa in the next few weeks you’ll know why!

I’m going to spend the next few weeks at home studying for my exams at Uni and evaluating the season I have just had. It is one thing to do all these races and training, but it is so important to learn from each and every experience. It would all be a waste of time if I didn’t take anything away from it, so I will go through what I have learnt and what I need to do to keep on improving. I will also come up with a racing plan for the upcoming Aussie tri season and also just a plan for life in general…

It has been a massive season. I have had some great results as well as some that I would rather forget. The biggest lesson I have learnt is this journey is not an easy one. People don’t lie when they say if it were easy then everyone would be doing it. It is tough, but making it as a professional athlete is my goal and has been for as long as I can remember. If I can continue to show improvement each year, continue to learn and continue to receive the support that I do, then I know that I will one day make it and it will all pay off.

Until next time, thank you to everyone who has continued to support me over the past few months while overseas. It is great to know there is support coming from home.

For now it’s time to adapt to driving on the left, cafes with no free Wi-Fi , and endless amounts of vegemite and good coffee!

Syracuse 70.3 Race Report

Today was the final race of my 2011 US season – Syracuse 70.3. I knew backing up from World Champs 70.3 just 7 days ago was going to be tough…but I underestimated just how tough it would actually be!

Mum and I flew from Vegas to Syracuse on Wednesday. It was nice to have a few extra days to chill out in Syracuse before race day on Sunday. We had a great homestay with fellow pro athlete Kristen White and her two children Maggie and Phoebe. I did very little training during the week, just the odd swim, bike and run to keep the muscles moving.

Raced day eventually rolled around. I was feeling pretty good and not too sore from last week. Syracuse was a lot cooler than Vegas…with a 20 degree temp difference on race morning. The field was once again stacked with the likes of Nikki Butterfield, Caroline Steffen and Sam Wariner all racing (who ended up 1, 2, and 3).

I had a great swim exiting the water with the lead girl, and then headed out on to the bike in 1st place. However, that was the highlight of my day. From about 30km into the bike I started to really feel the effects of last week and struggled my way to the finish. I ended up crossing the line in 9th place and was the most exhausted I have been...not my finest hours!



In the past year I’ve done 10 half ironman’s so it is well and truly time for a break. For the next few weeks I’m going to sleep lots, eat lots and do anything that doesn’t involve a pair of bathers, a bike or running shoes!

A huge congrats to my coach Josh Rix for placing a stellar 3rd at Syracuse! Thank you so much to Kristin, Maggie and Phoebe for providing a great homestay. Huge thankyou to my Mum for travelling with me and for her cheering with Jemma Rix. Once again, big thanks to my sponsors Malvern Star, Peak Bike Hub, Giro, Selle SMP and Brooks.

For now it’s off to New York for an end of season trip (with Mum!) and then back to Boulder for a few days, before heading back to Aus to watch Hawthorn in the GF!

World 70.3 Champs Race Report

The goal for the 2011 season was to get on that start line for the World 70.3 Championships. After six months of jammed packed racing across Australia and the US, I achieved that goal and have just completed my first World Champs race as a pro triathlete. I had no expectations going into this race. Considering I was the youngest in the pro field and hadn't raced a single 70.3 this time last year, I was just stoked to have the opportunity to race against some of the best athletes in the world, and I was looking at gaining as much experience as possible.

We arrived in Vegas on the Friday before the race. Saturday was spent registering, bike racking and general race prep. After a feast of Dads cooking on Saturday night it was time to hit the sack and dream sweet dreams of what Sunday would bring.

Race day kicked off with a 4am wake-up. As we drove down to race site, a few drops of rain began to fall. However, that would be all the rain that we'd see for the day, which saw the temps creep up into the high 30's. After setting up transition and checking my bike about 50 times over, it was time to head down to the start of the 1.9km swim. At 6.30am the cannon sounded for the pro men, and 2 minutes later 28 of us girls were sent on our way.



The swim was a fairly simple out and back in Lake Las Vegas. It was great for spectators since we got to swim under the main pedestrian bridge. I had on of my best swims to date. I managed to find some feet to sit on and felt in control for the most part of it, exiting the water in about 11th place. After an epic 500m run into transition, I found my bike and was on my way, ready to tackle one of the toughest bike courses going around.

80km of the 90km bike course is either up or down...no flat. I felt great for the first 50-60km. I was attacking the downhills and hitting the uphills hard. I was holding my position and feeling strong. However at about 60km I started to really feel it. The light-headiness started to kick in and I felt like I was going backward. I had just learnt one of the biggest lessons of the day...pacing and nutrition. I had probably gone out a little to hard for such a tough course and hadn't got enough gels in early on. As such, I paid for it for the next 2 hours for the race. However the final 10km of the ride is pretty awesome with speccy views of the Vegas Strip, so that took the mind off the hurt for a bit! I ended up getting off the bike in about 19th place.



The 21.2km run continued on with the theme of the day of hills. 2 mile up hill, 2 mile down hill. It was great to see Mum, Dad and Sam on the side lines cheering me on, and it gave me that little bit of extra energy to get to that finish line. It was tough, but still fun! It was also awesome to see fellow Aussie Mel Rollison smashing the course and running herself into 1st place. Thoroughly deserved!!

After a long, tough, fun day I crossed the line in 17th place pro female. I was so happy to finish and get a top 20 placing in my first year as a 70.3 athlete. I have learnt so many valuable lessons this season...the biggest being that I have to be patient. I'm the youngest out there by far. As long as I stay focused and injury free and keep improving, my time will come. One day I will win that race!

The hugest thank you to Mum, Dad and Sam for providing the greatest support. Not just on race day, but all the time. To my coach Josh...we've come a long way in a few years. To everyone back home (including Laura!), the messages of support means the world. And to my sponsors Malvern Star, Peak Bike Hub, Brooks, Giro and Selle SMP for believing in me. It has been a great ride so far, with plenty more to come!

Gotta love a good roast!

Phew...another week has come and gone just like that!!

Last week I put in the final few big training sessions before backing it off this week for a full week of taper in prep for Vegas. For my past races I only tapered about 4 days out from race day, so it has been nice to start it a little earlier this time around to make sure my body is feeling ready and raring to go come race day on Sunday. I am feeling good and looking forward to racing!

Big news of the week was the arrival of Mum to Boulder. It has been fun showing her around what has been my 'home town' for the past 3 months. I've taken her to the iconic Pearl Street Mall where there are all the Mum kind of shops, as well as the market, all you can eat brunch, and a drive up in the hills. She has also come through with the goods and cooked a rippa roast the other night followed by a curry the next night! It has been good to have some Mum love the week before a big race...prefect timing Penny.

The next few days will be pretty cruisy before heading to Vegas on Friday. The temps seem to have dropped a little which sounds nice. After the race we'll spend a few extra days in Vegas before heading to Syracuse, NY for one final hoorah at the Syracuse 70.3. Then it's onto NYC for a few days of sight seeing, shopping and the like.

The nights are starting to get darker earlier and there is a definite crisp in the air. Summer is on its way out over this side of the world...it's almost time to make the long trek back home to Aus for summer #2!!

Time Flys...

Firstly apologies for the delay of the weekly blog... I actually don't have an excuse, other than the fact that the weeks roll by so quickly and before I know it Sunday is upon me and it's time to blog! However this week Sunday rolled on by and I got a little confused with the days, so anyway here is Tuesday and it is time for the weekly blog.

I signed off last weeks blog post-race from San Fransisco. Monday was one epic day of travel...what should take about 3-4 hours ended up taking 10+ hours due to a few delays and wotnot. This wasn't too much fun when I felt hungover for the entire day (but I actually wasn't, hadn't even had one drop of wine...go figure!). Anyway I think lack of sleep + a little dehydration may be the culprit.

I pulled up pretty sore from Alcatraz Tri...even more sore than what I get from a Half Ironman. Once again not too sure of the reasoning, maybe it was that torturous sand ladder!! So it was Wednesday before I got back into the swing of training. I put in a few great rides as well as some training in the heat of the day to prep for scorching temps at Vegas, and I finished off the week with a very nice solid 20km run on Sunday arvo.

Vegas 70.3 is only about 12 days from now so I will start to wind down the training and get my body fresh and ready to race. I'm looking forward to putting all my hard work to good use come race day...and then hit the pokies afterwards!

Exciting news of the week - Mum arrives in Boulder in 2 more sleeps!! Looking forward to showing her the sights and getting a good feed or two. Might even offer her the novelty of doing my washing if she is feeling super generous!

It is crazy how quickly time has flown over here. Only a handful of weeks and a few races to go and then I'll be on my way back home ready to tackle the Aussie tri season. Happy days :)