Latest / Happy Pace - a triathlon podcast / Episode 4: We Need To Talk About Triathlon Gear
Transcript
- Jaclyn: How on earth are we at ⁓ episode 4? Mardi: I know I was still saying this at like episode 10 or episode 20. Like this would be really cool. Jaclyn: We will be we will be still saying it at like episode 30 Mardi: Yeah, no, I think we've committed to something now. We are going to go the distance for sure. Just like any triathlon goals. Jaclyn: ⁓ my god, absolutely. As soon as you lock it in, you know that it's happening, ⁓ Mardi: Yeah, 100%. How was your week? Jaclyn: Yeah, I've had a really ⁓ good training week. We a little bit of a week ⁓ this last week, which has been a little bit nice. It was definitely a bit of reduced load during the week. ⁓ And then, ⁓ yeah. just building back up again this week will be pretty solid the next two weeks will be pretty solid leading into Cairns. Mardi: And you had travel for work this week? Jaclyn: ⁓ No, not this. Wednesday for work. So I was only there for the day. So it was like, finish my session, get in the car, drive to Ballarat, do my work, come back home. ⁓ But I did get to stop in and see ⁓ my friend, Les, ⁓ for lunch on Wednesday, ⁓ And I think both felt like it was a bit of a treat getting to up during the week. ⁓ It is, yeah, yeah. Mardi: Is this from the track club? ⁓ Jaclyn: ⁓ But yeah, so how's your week been? Mardi: Week has been good. I had 70.3 Western Sydney So it was race week this week Which we love Yeah, so I Flew down on a Friday morning worked in our Sydney office and drove over Penrith Friday night Jaclyn: Yessss Amazing. Mardi: and ⁓ yeah, then I've just been out in Penrith for weekend and just back in Sydney now and I will ⁓ work in our office the rest of this week. Jaclyn: Amazing. Should we jump into session of the week first and then you can give us a recap on your weekend? Mardi: Yeah, let's do that. What was your session? Tell me yours, tell me yours. Jaclyn: What was your session of the week? Well, I'll go first. ⁓ Mine this week was, ⁓ and this wouldn't happen very often where Swim Squad ⁓ my session of the week or Swim In is my session of the week. I always enjoy the Swim Squad environment. ⁓ my ⁓ of the week was Tuesday. did, the set was 4100s. ⁓ at basically CSS pace, so that critical swim speed pace, which we can speak about ⁓ in a couple of weeks, perhaps. But it was, one those sessions where it's just like we were on the clock and it was just like 100 after after 100. ⁓ It's typically probably more of an Ironman set that we would do just building that endurance with a little bit of fatigue. ⁓ But as someone who really only does like 70.3 distance or less, it's a good session to kind of challenge yourself a little bit. I don't mind hundreds in the pool. I really like that monotonous, like repetitive nature of it. ⁓ Mardi: like we were like we were talking about last week just the squad environment where you push yourself more than you would by yourself like I think if I saw that on training peaks I'd be like ⁓ this is gonna be some head noise today yeah ⁓ yeah Jaclyn: for sure. ⁓ Especially if you had to do it alone. So I actually really enjoyed it. Like it was pretty fun. There was a bit of banter between reps. You've got to keep the vibes up somehow. ⁓ So yeah, that was my session of the week. What about yours? Were you tapering a little bit? Mardi: I that. I was, ⁓ I feel like normally I would do like a two week taper into a 70.3, but then I'm just looking at my training peaks now and I feel like maybe it was kind of one week cause my coach had flagged like the last big session was two weeks before, but then I'm looking at Saturday last week, And that was actually pretty big in the end. So it was like a two and a half hour. ride with four 15 minute efforts. So they were sort of like mixed efforts. Each one was a bit different, which was good, kept it exciting. And then a run off the bike, ⁓ I liked the run off the bike. It was ⁓ 2K race pace, three minutes easy. Two by one K at race pace ⁓ with minutes easy between each. Three by 500 at race pace with one minute easy in between each. 10 minute cool down. Really good, but actually quite big pre-race on reflection. Jaclyn: Amazing. ⁓ Solid session for what would have that been eight days before racing. Um yeah. Mardi: Yeah, the other thing I will say is that like, which I'm still working on race pace, when I'm in training is definitely faster than race pace when I'm actually doing half marathon in a 70.3. So I'm trying to bridge that gap, but I definitely get really excited when I have a run set, I really love like either hitting the pace that I'm told to or trying to beat it a little bit. And I really just need to like tone that down. But it was a good set. Jaclyn: I think, yeah, yeah. And was it wet as well? Mardi: It was, yeah you, I did message you after that, but there was, ⁓ it wasn't the most fun weather in Brisbane, but I cannot complain to people who live in Melbourne about a little bit of rain. ⁓ But honestly, it just made it all the more satisfying to complete the session and knowing that I had the race a week later, was, yeah, definitely ticking the box. Jaclyn: with them. There's something about ticking off those sessions where they're a little bit challenging, whether it's weather-wise or something doesn't go quite right. just adds a I like to think of it as like a, adds a little stripe where you're like, yep, cool. I can do this on race day, even if the weather's ⁓ less than favorable on race day. I think as well, just back to your race pace in training versus on race day. Sometimes I like to frame that as, Mardi: Mm. ⁓ Jaclyn: race efforts, race effort as opposed to sort of race pace, because that is gonna be different potentially on race day. Like you've got conditions and things like that that are gonna be different. Whereas if you know what that effort feels like ⁓ when you come into race day, it doesn't really matter what the pace output is. Mardi: Yep, I really like that perspective. I'm taking that back. Jaclyn: ⁓ Do you want to tell us about Western Sydney? Mardi: Yeah, Western Sydney. So yeah, Western Sydney 70.3. This would have been maybe my, I wanna say like eighth or ninth 70.3 and I have to do the math. Could even be the 10th, but there was, will, know, caveat that by saying Port Mac last year, the swim was canceled and I've done Geelong as an aqua bike. So just the swim and bike event, which that's actually a really great way of doing it. Yeah, so I was down there with a group of friends and we were all doing the race, which was really good. We had an Airbnb, as I said, got down there on Friday night, put the bike all together, thankfully all good post travel. And yeah, I was really excited just to do a different race course. Western Sydney is, I think the only 70.3 I hadn't done in Australia. Now I think about it, yeah. So I've... Jaclyn: ⁓ wow. Mardi: I've done them all now ⁓ or at least on the most of the course of all of them. And yeah, really excited to see the race venue. So Western Sydney 17.3 is actually at the Sydney International Regatta Center, which is where they held the rowing for the Olympic games in the year 2000. So it's a manmade lake and that is awesome if swimming is fresh water, ⁓ generally a wetsuit swim and really good if Jaclyn: Fresh water. Mardi: swimming in the ocean is scary for you if you're scared of sharks and sea life. ⁓ And also if you don't want to deal with like the waves and currents and things like that it is dead flat and it was a beautiful morning like dead still lovely sunrise on race day and just yeah a really flat and easy swim course. then do the bike ⁓ ⁓ little bit around the regatta center and then out on some country roads. Jaclyn: 100%. Mardi: sort of to the north, which Jacqueline, you've done it as well, haven't you? Yeah. Yeah, so it's a pretty flat course. There's like a few little slopes, but I was looking at the elevation on the map before the race and I'm like, hang on a minute. Some of my like weekday morning rides have more elevation than this whole course. Yeah, and that's... Jaclyn: Yeah. Mm-hmm. I did a couple of years ago. 100%. Yeah, they're kind of like just little like mounds. They're not really anything to write home about. Mardi: Hmm. No, totally. And yeah, beautiful like sort of views. So some cows and horses and things really lovely and some really good shaded areas of the course as well. So it didn't feel too exposed. And then the run course is like three laps, very weird Strava shape. Very, very weird. Yeah. Jaclyn: That run course tends to change year on year. So that was a different run course to the one that I did ⁓ a couple of years ago. I think it depends on what else is on and things like that. But yeah, it doesn't really give a really pretty Strava file, it? Mardi: No, not at all. And what we did was it's like, you sort of went out of the Rogada center onto the main road, did this little loop out and back along the car park and back, then back into the center. But you do three laps and then for the last lap, which I think is the same every year they've done it. So you come up to the third lap of the run course and halfway through the third lap, you're going along the 2K stretch of the rowing course. And instead of looping back around, you keep going so you go like essentially nearly 2k yeah 2k along the rowing course up and then you've got 2k back and the finish line is like at the finish line of the rowing course which is amazing ⁓ Jaclyn: Hmm. So the year I did it, the year I did it, that was an out and back. So we didn't loop around. So the year that I did it, ⁓ you did the three kind of laps where you go out onto the road, which is a bit of a false flat. Like you don't necessarily realize like ⁓ that there's an incline until maybe you're in the third lap and you're like, ⁓ actually like this is really hard. ⁓ But yeah, the year I did it, that bit was an. Mardi: ⁓ okay. ⁓ it's... Yep. Mm. Jaclyn: ⁓ to get to the finish line. were on the finish line side of the river, of the lake, sorry, and then you run out about a K and a half and then you came back a K. So you kind of doubled back on yourself, but yeah, tough way to finish. Mardi: Hmm Yeah and you could like see and hear the finish line on the other side of the lake as you were coming but then there was no spectators for the last like 3k so you just felt like you were yeah it's like when they go into the maze in harry potter you know and you've got all these people cheering and then they and then you're like yep you know you've just passed the 17k marker it's all you from here yep Jaclyn: Yeah. Yep. Yes. That is the best comparison. And there's so many times on race courses where it's like that, like even a sprint distance down at St. Kilda can be like that. As soon as you get away from the crowds, you're like, I'm on my own. I will be thinking about like Harry Potter now when I do that. Very good. Mardi: Yeah. Yeah! So yeah, you do the last like three or four K by yourself. ⁓ Obviously the last like maybe three or four hundred meters with crowds, but yeah. So that's a bit of a rundown of the course. We're really fortunate on Sunday. It was beautiful conditions. Like I said, stunning sunrise. It was very still. ⁓ And one of the things about Western Sydney, which is different from other 70.3s is that you can rack your bike on race morning. Jaclyn: Mmm. Mardi: which is great, because a lot of 70.3s, which I also love, you rack the day before, and then you just come in on race morning and then set up your transition area or hang up your transition bags. So that was, yeah, that was great, because it meant Saturday, we could just go do a practice swim, ⁓ get our check in stuff, but then not have to about ⁓ bikes, nutrition, bike computers, all this stuff until ⁓ race ⁓ Jaclyn: I think that's a good one. Like I can't remember what the start was, but I think there was quite a few first timers like because it's a smaller race and there is the capacity, a smaller race comparative to say like Cannes or Melbourne or Geelong. And you can rack your bike the day. Like that's where it's got a little bit of appeal for first timers. Like if you want a 70.3, that's maybe not as overwhelming as Cannes, it's got different transitions and things like that. ⁓ I think it's a really good option. Mardi: Yeah, 100%. And I think they make it like that so that people from Sydney or people staying in Sydney can go as well, like that they don't have to come out the day before. And they can just come out once for race morning. But yeah, I think 800 beginners, the Instagram said from Ironman. So that's awesome. Like as in 800. Jaclyn: Mmm. Fisher. out of like 13 or 1400 finishes. ⁓ What was of plan? What were you thinking going into the race? Mardi: ⁓ Well, I think I knew I'd signed up for Cairns, which is in six weeks from now. Cairns 70.3, like basically straight off to Cairns last year. And I love going up to Cairns as do you. Have a great time in Cairns every year. And this one came up a little bit more by chance. Some of my Melbourne friends were coming up for it. I knew I wanted to spend some time ⁓ with Sydney team at work and it just aligned really nicely ⁓ to the trip and just come down once. Jaclyn: Mm-hmm. Mardi: So for me, I sort of thought, I've been training really well lately and I really want to see what's possible on a course that ideally isn't hot ⁓ because think every single 70.3 I've done has been a hot course like Sunny Coast, Cairns. ⁓ Jaclyn: Yeah! especially recently like even if we go back as far as ⁓ Taupo. Mardi: ⁓ yeah, Taupo and Taupo is like you would expect it to be a bit cool, but we just had a randomly really warm day in New Zealand. ⁓ So I was really excited to like not ideally not have heat as a factor in the run where it becomes like a bit of a attrition race. ⁓ And yeah, just really was kind of excited by that opportunity. I also think, I feel maybe in the last year or two I've. Jaclyn: Mmm. Yeah. Mardi: performed better in races where maybe there's a bit less in the way of atmosphere and crowd support and things like that, which I have a lot of time for crowd support and cheering your friends on and all of that sort of thing. But I think for me, I've just found in the last year or two, Iron Man aside, where it was amazing and really pushed me on, it just sets this external expectation for me that there are other people who have ⁓ an expectation on my performance, which I know is not the case, but it just, Jaclyn: Mm. Mardi: creates this almost anxiety in the race that like, if I'm struggling that that's, yeah, I'm letting someone down that's watching. And I know that that's not the case. So I feel like I just was really excited to do a race where I knew I'd have friends on the course doing the race, but you know, really only had one or two friends ⁓ on the sidelines. Jaclyn: Yeah Yeah, I really like that. And I think you had such a big year last year, with doing ⁓ full iron man, which know you put a lot of time and effort and cared so much about. ⁓ There's about then also being okay with just stepping back, just with stepping back and doing a half, but also like you did gold coast six weeks ago, this is kind of like your middle race and then, and then cans in June. I think that. also just being okay with what happens. Mardi: Totally. And another thing was I knew that if I didn't do it, I'd have such FOMO on the day. Jaclyn: And don't you worry, ⁓ I did. was a huge part of me ⁓ sitting ⁓ at home and tracking and wishing that I was there racing. Like it looked absolutely stunning. The conditions were perfect. ⁓ Back to the bike course, how did you find ⁓ the U-turns and end points? Because the shape of the course, it kind of like has some branches that Mardi: Yeah, yeah they were. Jaclyn: go off and there's a U-turn and then you've got to come back in. Mardi: Yeah, yeah, so there was some sort of long straight sections and actually didn't probably zoom in enough on the bike course to realize in that first probably 2K, you kind of do a bit of a loop in almost like car park areas and it's very technical. ⁓ So I felt pretty good coming out of the swim early on, know, was in that first wave, which meant that getting onto the bike course, there wasn't as many people ⁓ on the first lap. So that was kind of good negotiating the corners. And I thought, gosh, like half an hour later, this is gonna be little bit chaotic. But yeah, once you get out onto the long straight section, as you said, it does those three little sort of bunny ears out almost, out and back. Yeah, I kind of liked them though. I felt like the road quality was a little bit Darcy in some sections. They had painted like spray painted pink. Yeah, spray painted some of them pink on the road, which was really helpful. But I definitely did see a few bottles that had bounced out of Jaclyn: Hehehehe Hmm. Mmm, I had forgotten that. Mardi: people's bottle cages and things like that around. ⁓ Jaclyn: As long as our bottles are not bodies, we can manage that. Yeah. ⁓ Mardi: Yeah, god, there was a burnt out car. yeah, yep. ⁓ And I do think it was, as I said, it was beautiful. There was like a little bit of cloud over the countryside and you could see the blue mountains, things like that. So it was beautiful. I did also think if the weather was feral, this would be really rough because it's very exposed. Yeah, if it was windy, if it was wet, I'm like, this would not be fun. ⁓ Jaclyn: A windy day! Mardi: But yeah, the bike cost was really good. I had in mind for the bike that I wanted to do under two hours 50 minutes. Sunny Coast 70.3 last year I did 251.30 something, which was like 15 seconds slower than Sunny Coast a year or two, no, than Cannes the year before, which was 251.17 or something. So I was like. 250 we're going for it. I know I've been doing a lot of writing on my TT outside Like lock in sort of thing and also T 100 Gold Coast huge confidence boost coming out of that So on my garment, I'd set up the times for where I need to be every 15 K and ⁓ In order to achieve 250 ⁓ so I'd use chat to get the minutes and Jaclyn: Merci. Mardi: and I'd actually done that for Cairns, the full Ironman last year for my Gold Bike time. And I put little motivational messages on it, like little things to myself, which was so nice. So when I was in there the night before on the app, like I realized I still had all the ones saved from Cairns, which was really nice. ⁓ Jaclyn: Aww, I love that. That would have been so nice reflecting back on almost 12 months later. Mardi: Yeah, yeah, totally. So I'd set these up to come up on my Garmin, so I, my Wahoo, sorry, so I'd know when, yeah, if I was on track along the way, ⁓ And then it wasn't until maybe like ⁓ 20K to go, nearing on 15, that I was doing the math on my total ride time. And I was like, knew I was on track, but was a couple of hundred meters ahead each time it beeped. Jaclyn: I love it. Mardi: But then I thought, hang on a minute, I think this is gonna be closer to 245 than 250. And I just like tried to hold the Ks per hour, wasn't focused too much on power, though I knew it was pretty consistent. And then, well actually no, I did stay in my power range, if coach is listening, stayed in my power range. But yeah, I ended up coming off the bike at like 243. Jaclyn: Amazing. Mardi: I 243, 40 something. So I was really stoked with that. And I think looking at my watch in transition, I was doing the math. was like, yep, I've got like a two hour window here for a PB. Yeah. I was like, I got two hours, two hours for this. And actually think that made me really relax for the run because I didn't feel like there was this pressure on it that if I wanted to, you know, beat my personal best time that I needed to pull out a, you know, elite. Jaclyn: Amazing. Hahaha Mardi: run or anything like that. I didn't feel like I was chasing that. Yeah. Jaclyn: Mm. Mm. Very good, I love that. And I think having those little goals throughout the day, it's always hard to go on speed in a 70.3. I think sometimes you get those really windy days and everything just goes out the window. ⁓ But I think how cool that you were just like, you had those little goals in mind that you also knew were really like achievable, but still like a little stretch. Mardi: Hmm. Yeah, and I think, I'd base that ⁓ pace and sort of time based on my T100 ⁓ average which I know that was a super windy day. We had a headwind tailwind situation, but I knew based on my power, from my training and my average speed, that that was hopefully achievable on a flat course. And I'm just, ⁓ yeah, really stoked that that went to plan. Jaclyn: Yeah. Perfect. Take us through the run. Mardi: so ⁓ I do have exercise induced asthma which to rear its head in races. So I took my asthma pump in T2. Actually, I tell you what, I had a great transition spot. So I think because I did some good races last year with Ironman, ⁓ I am in fact an AWA, an World Athlete Gold. ⁓ Which is essentially like the frequent flyer for Ironman. Jaclyn: ⁓ are you an AWA? Mardi: Yeah, but I'm a gold because I did quite a few races last year, including an Ironman, which I think ⁓ totally flipped up with my status. ⁓ Got me bonus points. ⁓ So you get priority transition area, which I thought that didn't really mean much, but it was actually really good because he came straight in off the bike. You were just there and straight out. didn't have to sort of contend with the rows. You were on like a... Jaclyn: got you some bonus points. Mardi: an open side, which was really helpful. So came to transition, yeah, took some Asperpuffer, runners on, went to leave transition and one of the Iron Man media people were there with their phone and she had a purple phone case. So there I was, had like, I'm pretty sure I had like the race belt and stuff in my mouth while I was trying to, yeah, like sort my visor out and stuff. And then I just like pulled it out and just waved for the camera. And I think one of my friends tagged me in it, so. Jaclyn: Ha Mardi: I did make it to the gram in t2. Jaclyn: Yeah, that video was definitely doing the rounds in the girls group chat, that's for sure. Mardi: Yeah, and then, yeah, headed out onto the run course. Like we talked about three lap run. I really just tried to settle in to comfortable pace. I think it was like 5.20s-ish was the aim, like 5.10s to 5.20s. ⁓ And yeah, just paced that. Saw quite a few friends out on the run course. Actually, as I came out on my first lap, saw Nat van Coviden, who was a subsequent winner of the females. ⁓ And then, Yeah, just as sort of, had quite a few, again, like sort of out and back sections where you double back on the course. And so it did mean you got to see friends and give people a little high five along the way, which is always really motivating. ⁓ And then, yeah, highlight probably of the run was Jess Fox cheered for me. Jaclyn: Mmm. ⁓ my god! For those of you who don't know, ⁓ Jess flocks the slalom. Mardi: Yes. Slay Limp, Jaclyn: yeah shout out to jess if you listen to the happy pace podcast ⁓ Mardi: Yeah, Olympic gold medalist, like multiple Olympic gold medalists. Yeah, I'm sure she doesn't, but she, she was there and it was so strange because I just was like running along and I said, didn't really know that many people. So had an expectation of who I would see and where, and there was a girl in a purple cap and she yelled out, go Marty, really loud. And I was like, thank you. Like, thank you. And then I just looked like, did a double take and I was like, that looks like just Fox. Jaclyn: She mine. Yeah Mardi: I started thinking about that for minute or two. like, what's she doing here? This is so strange. ⁓ Anyway, then looked at Instagram afterward and she was there. ⁓ Apparently I hear that her partner did it. Yeah, and they live in Penrith or near Penrith, because there's the, obviously there's a rowing there, because we were at the rowing center, but there's also like a canoe slalom event, course there as well. ⁓ Jaclyn: Hehehehehe Hair partner, yep. Yeah. Yep. Mardi: So that was definitely a highlight of the run. ⁓ Yeah, so paced it through the run ⁓ and yeah, did that last little U section solo. There's an aid station at the end, which was managed by some awesome volunteers who absolutely bought the vibes. ⁓ Turned into the 2K to go and I knew that I was like close, I sort of thought I would land like 517 or something, but it wasn't until the last like K that I realized Jaclyn: That's very cool. Hmm Mardi: that I was close to 515 and came across in like 515, I started sprinting the last like 500 meters, I don't know where that came from, but then yeah, it came in at like 515, 15 or 16 I think it was, which is huge for me, that's a 10 minute PB. Jaclyn: Amazing. Incredible. Amazing. We love that. We love that. Very good. I think that's, that's the sign of the strength that you've developed from so much racing ⁓ recently as well. ⁓ But that's amazing. And yeah, I knew watching at home, I was like, I was so happy for you when you cross that finish line. ⁓ Obviously, Marty and I have been doing this sport a long time and doing this sport together. Mardi: Yeah, and I can walk today, which is the real achievement. Yeah. Yeah. Jaclyn: a long time so it's always really special when one of us ⁓ gets the finish line in one piece. ⁓ Overall highlight? Mardi: and I also know Emma who to the podcast, she won her age group. Jaclyn: Well yeah, I was gonna say just before we move on, ⁓ massive shout out to ⁓ who won her age group and finished ⁓ third female age group overall. ⁓ She's had a massive season, ⁓ Melbourne 70.3 November, into a really solid ⁓ short course season over the summer, raced Gold Coast with Marty and I last ⁓ month. Mardi: Hmm. Overall, whew. Jaclyn: and then ⁓ wrapped up her season at Western Sydney with the most special race and getting to train with her and do all those sessions. Like we've done so many sessions together over the last six or eight months. Super, super proud to see her cross the line when in her age group. I know that was her goal. Mardi: That's awesome. obviously I was really happy with my, time, not like it's all about time, but you know, I was really happy with that. That was something that was important for me ⁓ and felt special for me. And to ⁓ all the friends that I was with have a really good day too. And for everyone to achieve, yeah. And for everyone to achieve their goals. Cause everyone came in with different goals. You know, we had some who got on the podium for the age group. Jaclyn: Hmm. so special. Mardi: We had one go sub six for the first time. One got a spot to 70.3 World Championships. know, one was using it as more of like a training race for cans in six weeks time. So yeah, it was just really nice because everyone was so happy with what their result was. And I think, you look at some of that and you go, one of the girls did like close to 430. You know, I did 515 and. Jaclyn: Is it a bit? Mardi: the other went sub six and like those times are 45 minutes apart. And we were all so happy with our own performances and also so happy for each other because yeah, it's all against yourself in some way, you know? Jaclyn: Mm-hmm. I think all go in with like this mindset of what what we want to achieve and It's actually amazing because we all ⁓ what what is a good day for each of us is so so different because it's not just time. It's like ⁓ you could go and have the most amazing day and get anywhere close to what a goal time was. ⁓ Mardi: Hmm. Jaclyn: ⁓ On the flip side you could have what you would consider to be a really rough day and get a PB So I think time aside. I think if you've got those little goals you can go in and just have Have such an amazing day Mardi: and also, yeah, I knew a couple of girls from the club I trained with Rebound in Brisbane who were doing their first 70.3 and they smashed it. Jaclyn: ⁓ wow. Mardi: So yeah, so awesome to see and yeah, I'm sure they will be, have been so yesterday, but today we'll be very keen to sign up for the next one. I'm very sure. Jaclyn: Absolutely. All right, let's go into this week's topic of the week. So last week we spoke about different ways to train for a triathlon. Today we're gonna move into something that's very easy to get caught up in and obsess over throughout your triathlon journey and that is equipment. Mardi: Yes, ⁓ my gosh. So triathlon being three sports, there is an infinite number of items that you could need ⁓ and could use. And I think even at all levels of the sport, there's always the next shiny thing, like the next more aerodynamic, know, pretty old lighter, whatever it might be, like it is a bottomless pit. Jaclyn: ⁓ absolutely you could easily spend 15 20 25 thousand dollars on having everything and still not enjoy it or still not be comfortable so I think let's let's break that down start with a swim. ⁓ Essentials, ⁓ Marty, ⁓ what are your essentials for swimming? Mardi: Definitely swimwear. Good start. ⁓ But yeah, But I recommend some chlorine proof bathers as a start. ⁓ Once you start swimming more than once a week, A, you don't to wreck them, but you also want them to dry quickly. ⁓ You want to get cost per wear down if you're buying a cute pair. ⁓ So definitely invest in that are comfortable and also fit nice and tight. The temptation can be to buy something that's ⁓ a little bit more a leisure piece of swimwear where Jaclyn: Good start. Definitely. Mardi: you maybe is a little bit more flattering, but honestly, you're in the pool. No one's going to see the tighter, the more aerodynamic, the less water goes down the top. Yeah. Jaclyn: for sure. Following that is a good pair of goggles. Mardi: ⁓ ⁓ We have a thing about goggles, Jaclyn: We really do. So let me just the scene here regarding goggles. ⁓ So as much as everyone loves to new bike day and new day, ⁓ those days don't come around. ⁓ Mardi: Mm. Jaclyn: Potentially as often as what new gogle day does ⁓ So in it in the girls group chat, we love to talk about new gogle day Mardi: Mm. Mmm new goggle day because there is nothing like the feeling of going for a swim in a new pair of goggles where they're not foggy It's like crystal clear the elastic fits perfectly like that is a good swim Jaclyn: You can see the bottom of the pool. It's not blurry when you breathe. Yeah, it's a vibe. Mardi: Mmm. It is such a good feeling. And I also think because with goggles, I don't know about you, but I will wear the same pair of goggles to death. And when I'm wearing them, I'm like, ⁓ I really need new goggles. And then forget about it. Then I get to the next swim. I'm like, ⁓ I really need new goggles. And then when it finally, that day finally arrives, it is awesome. In terms of goggles that we recommend, ⁓ the Zogs Predator, is it called? Jaclyn: ⁓ I'm not sure. I'm not a Zogg skirly. ⁓ I wear the Eflas swimming goggles. I've love, love, love, love. So I was given two pairs for Christmas ⁓ and yeah. And I've been wearing one pair, I probably got them little before, since just before Christmas. And what are we in now? Mardi: What is it called? Are you on effortless swimming? What? ⁓ what do think? Yeah. What a gift, yeah. Jaclyn: may ⁓ and still clear, still seal on my face, still fitting well. I do have another pair so I will use a fresh pair for cans ⁓ but only because they're there. Mardi: Yeah, ⁓ that's amazing. They have also been all over my Instagram, so they're doing some really good digital advertising. But ⁓ I have been on Zogs Predators for the last ⁓ couple of years and can actually buy them on the Iconic, which is super helpful because they come on sale and they get delivered the next day. So they are a great pair to start with ⁓ or the effortless swimming Jaclyn: the other ones are the Speedo goggles and the Vanquisher. So actually my coach Lindsay has been asking me to send her the link to the spare pair of Speedos that I carry in my bag because she borrowed them a couple of weeks ago. Lindsay if you're listening they are the Speedo Vanquisher. Look I think the main thing when you're buying goggles is to make sure that they fit on your face. Mardi: ⁓ yeah. Jaclyn: And seal around your eyes. Everyone's face is a different size and a different shape ⁓ if you're Melbourne, there's a swimming shop ⁓ where you can go and that'll actually help fit the goggles for you ⁓ So I would strongly recommend if you're really unsure ⁓ Otherwise, you can ⁓ go your local sports and you'll be able to pick up a pair and to at least get you started Mardi: And also swim cap so we obviously have some really nice happy pace caps on the website if you like your lilac ⁓ But definitely a silicon swim cap. They are much longer lasting you can get ones for long hair in the speedo brand ⁓ So if you do have long hair you find your cap doesn't stay on definitely look out for ⁓ Long hair caps ⁓ you can fit your ponytail in them ⁓ then wetsuit for the swim so Jaclyn: Yeah. Mardi: I don't know about you, Jax, but I just borrowed someone's wetsuit for my first try. Jaclyn: No, I did buy one ⁓ for mine. I had this real fear about open water swimming And I just really, I wanted to have that wetsuit for my first ⁓ triathlon. But that said, I only ⁓ replaced it ⁓ about 12 months ago. So ⁓ good option to borrow one if you're sure ⁓ how long you're gonna be in the sport for. ⁓ Or if you're not sure on kind of the style or the fit that you like it's a really good idea to borrow one But if you are fairly sure that you're to be in the sport for some time It's definitely ⁓ that's worth investing ⁓ and I think ⁓ you can get them For around that sort of five hundred six hundred dollar mark give or take But I definitely recommend a well-fitting ⁓ wetsuit if are going to be racing ⁓ and races like in Melbourne or even Cairns you do need a wetsuit for. Mardi: Yeah, absolutely. Also triathlon wetsuits are different from surf wetsuits. So surf wetsuits or beach type wetsuits are like a neoprene that absorbs a little bit more water and they're a lot thicker whereas the triathlon ones are very thin, quite aerodynamic. I always have to wear gloves to put mine on because otherwise my nails will like nick the wetsuit. But yeah, highly recommend investing in a good website. Jaclyn: Mm. A good wetsuit. Mardi: good wetsuit, invest in a good website as well, ⁓ and you will not look back. Jaclyn: Amazing. I think some other things sort of down the track that you can get for swimming are and you definitely don't need these if you are swimming on your own. You may need them if you are looking at joining a swim squad ⁓ and as you get like further into your triathlon journey things like fins, ⁓ a pool ⁓ paddles, kickboard, even a snorkel. They're things that you can look at down the track and if you join a swim squad you definitely don't need them. first up but but good options. Yeah. Mardi: Yeah, bye. Jaclyn: this is where it's easy to go crazy. Mardi: Oof, absolutely. So for starters, a bike. Yep. Yep, absolutely. I think it's very easy, like you said, to get carried away in this department. ⁓ And everyone has different starting points. You know, if you come from a cycling background, maybe you've got ⁓ a bike already. If you're new to Triathlon, you know, maybe looking at Facebook Marketplace for a road bike potentially, or if you're looking to go straight to some of the longer distances, going straight for a TT. Jaclyn: in good working order. Mardi: We're actually going to do an episode on Rudy's versus TT. So we might caveat and sort of hold that conversation, but ⁓ obviously have a bike. That's a great start. Jaclyn: Yeah, functioning brakes, gears that shift, things like that. That's what you're looking for. Mardi: Love it. A helmet also in safe working order, very important ⁓ and worth spending a bit of money on too. Jaclyn: Yeah, like if you're going to invest a significant amount of money, this is where I would suggest spending your money is on a really good helmet. ⁓ I have had a bike crash ⁓ where I have hit my head and that helmet definitely ⁓ protected me from much more significant injuries. So I think ⁓ I am always one that's going to lean towards safety first, but a well fitting helmet. ⁓ that's also not too old. So something to remember is you might have a helmet down in your storage cage or out in your shed that you've had for 10, 15 years. I would definitely, if you've got the means to do so, recommend replacing that and getting a new one. Mardi: Yeah, absolutely. And I also would say, helmet and like sun protection two things that I am really willing to splurge on because they're for safety. So any kind of sun protection, particularly cause we spend so much time outside ⁓ and a helmet because it will literally save your life as it has for you, Jax. ⁓ Yeah, it's bit of a ⁓ no brainer quite literally, ⁓ but also great excuse to buy cute color helmet. Jaclyn: which you do have. So ⁓ keep an eye out for that if you're in Brisbane. Mardi: I do, multiple. I do love the cask, I think it's a, I do love the cask mojito. That's a good one. Also sounds like a cocktail. So that's a good one. They bring out some good colors and styles, but again, everyone's head shape is different, similar to face with goggles. So ideally go to a bike shop and try on the ones you're looking at just to make sure it just sits really nicely on your head and they'll be able to help you out at the shop as well. Also, you will want to have a spare kit. So a tube, tire levers, CO2 canister, adapter for CO2 canister. ⁓ What have I missed? ⁓ ⁓ ⁓ think what I'll say about this stuff is like, ⁓ if you're new to the sport, like please just have these things on you. If you are not a hundred percent sure how to use them, that's okay. Yeah. Cause I think if you're out on cycling routes where Jaclyn: A multi-tool, multi-tool. Yeah. Mardi: you might ⁓ have other cyclists around. Like generally if a cyclist sees another cyclist stopped with their bike, down, look like they're changing a tube, they'll always ask are you right? Like, do you need a hand? ⁓ And I can of a couple of times in the last, 10 years of cycling where, it's been me on either end of that situation. ⁓ But if someone stops to help you, Jaclyn: for sure. Mardi: just having all the gear that's needed, not needing to borrow a spare tube from someone else or use someone else's CO2 canister is really important, like just being self-sufficient. And nine times out of 10, people will be happy to help you, but it goes a very long way if you have all your own kit to use. Jaclyn: 100%. 100 % you can get ⁓ little Essentially their ⁓ compressors ⁓ are battery-operated and they're probably about the size of a ⁓ card now ⁓ I got one for Christmas and I just stick it in my ⁓ In my back pocket, which saves me carrying co2 But ⁓ absolutely like that would be a little bit of an upgrade but definitely carrying your own spares and co2 ⁓ is really, really important. The next thing is comfortable cycling gear. ⁓ This is also another area that I'm relatively prepared to spend quite a bit of money on. Definitely when I first started out, I didn't have super comfortable nicks. I wasn't riding a great deal, so it didn't matter. But as I started riding more, I definitely saw the value in spending a bit more money. on comfortable cycling gear, nicks, jersey, things like that. And it's one of those things that just makes your experience riding a bike a lot more comfortable. And it's also one of those things where if you get what you pay for. Mardi: Mm. Yeah, 100%. And also, we probably haven't touched on tri suits just yet, but ⁓ yeah, there's ⁓ what call chamois in ⁓ cycling bibs, which is like kind of like a padded ⁓ seat in the bib, ⁓ which yeah, helps to relieve some of the pressure ⁓ from the back seat. So that is really ⁓ comfortable helpful. ⁓ And in a tri suit, there's typically about a third or less padding So it's definitely a little bit more aggressive ⁓ on race but you cause you are running ⁓ as well, obviously don't want as much padding in a tri-suit. So I think for training wearing cycling bibs, cause they've got that little bit more padding ⁓ versus wearing tri-suit for training is definitely a bit of an insider tip. Jaclyn: for sure. I think just to kind of ⁓ round out essential gear Mardi: Yeah, absolutely. lights if you're riding, you know, early in the morning or close to the evening. Yeah, having lights is super important as well. ⁓ Jaclyn: for sure. I think a lot of the bike stuff comes back to safety. Mardi: Yeah, 100%. ⁓ Jaclyn: I some things like that ⁓ you can get down the ⁓ and if you decide that you're gonna stay in the sport is things like a bike fit, ⁓ huge value for money. The comfortable you can be, ⁓ the ⁓ more enjoyable your is be. ⁓ The more important you're going be ⁓ if you can get a bike fit ⁓ and that's not necessarily about the most aero. ⁓ Mardi: the more important you're gonna be. Jaclyn: I had a really great bike fit here in Melbourne and the conversation that we had was about having control of my bike, being comfortable in aero or if you're riding a road bike, being comfortable on your road bike before then looking at where you can make gains in terms of aerodynamics and things like that. Mardi: Yeah, and also, you know, a few people who I coach have had experiences with new bikes where their hands are going numb or they can't feel their toes like an hour into the ride. ⁓ That's, ⁓ yeah, someone a bike fitter, ⁓ some physios or bike fitters, they will make adjustments to your bike, be it the handlebars, the seat. There's so many little, yeah, cleat position, there's so many tiny adjustments you can make and having someone qualified, look at that, is gonna put you in. Jaclyn: plate position, pedal position. Mardi: really good stead in the long run, not only from a comfort point of view, but as you said, Jack's like your speed as well. Jaclyn: and I think lastly on the bike, like the things that are more of a luxury and like maybe way down the track for some people Mardi: Hmm. Black computer. Jaclyn: ⁓ computer. ⁓ Really, really nice to have, but if you've got a GPS watch, that does the job as well. Mardi: Yeah. have, I actually didn't have a bi-computer until ⁓ 2023, I it was. Like I literally cycled for like seven, seven years or something with just my little, little watch and didn't know any different. Jaclyn: Wow! Yeah, ⁓ Bike computers are aero helmets, like nice to have, but unless you can really ride in aero in a really good position for a prolonged period of time, it's probably not gonna make that much of a difference for you, especially early on. ⁓ And then ⁓ race wheels, so things like disc wheels or deeper rimmed wheels as well. Again, nice to have. And you will go up to races where that is what people have and that you look at that and you kind of think that's the norm ⁓ But again, it's also one of those things that are only beneficial if you can control your bike with those those wheels on Mardi: Yeah, 100%. I think really as well, just bike fit being probably the best luxury upgrade out of all of those things. Like it is all well and good to have all of the bells and whistles on your bike. But if you're uncomfortable, you know, you're going dumb, things like that, none of that stuff matters. I think Jaclyn: Big one. Yeah exactly, on to the run. Mardi: Yeah, so good pair of runners is really all you need. ⁓ I think for running, it's become quite the norm to have a rotation of running shoes. ⁓ So different shoes that you do your easy runs versus your sessions versus your races in. ⁓ And that's not to say that you need to go out and buy three pairs of shoes by any stretch, but it's just like, rather than waiting till one shoe is at the end of its life before buying the next pair of shoe, ⁓ like have some overlap them and kind of build your little Jaclyn: Yeah. Mardi: library ⁓ of shoes and also because you're wearing them all across your week they're going to wear out a whole lot less quickly because you know you're not wearing them all the time. Jaclyn: Mm-hmm. Mardi: ⁓ If are entering an Ironman or 70.3 distance event, there's also a list of banned shoes. ⁓ Jaclyn: Oh, good pick up. Mardi: Yeah, and just Google, there's a list on the Ironman website. Jaclyn: exactly. else that you need if you're doing a race that's ⁓ sort of olympic distance or longer is you will need a belt for your bib number ⁓ and that is just for ease of getting on ⁓ onto the run. Mardi: Yeah, they do give you safety pins, but I could not imagine being in T2 trying to put safety pins on my suit. yeah, you just attach the bib to it, grab it and ⁓ do it up in T2. Jaclyn: Get out of there, yeah. Again, nice to have is, and I think probably most people coming into the sport would be a garment or a GPS watch, a cross, whatever it might be that you're using. ⁓ Very, very helpful, especially during training and racing. Mardi: Mm. Jaclyn: I think ⁓ just one thing on the shoes is you don't need to have like a pair of carbon race shoes. to be racing at all and this applies for any endurance event that you're doing ⁓ it is something that's really nice to have they do give you little bit of a pop and a bit of a pep in your step ⁓ but again not essential. Mardi: Totally I do think you know if you have a little race things You can get normally your timing chip for a 70.3 or a full iron man It's like a little bit of plastic on a Velcro strap which put around ankle a lot of brands sell like a little Anklet like neoprene thicker band which you can put the race What do you call it the timing chip on you can put the timing chip on Jaclyn: Time in chip. Mardi: and that is actually really good because it can stop the plastic from cutting into your ankle which can be quite painful. ⁓ And then I think you mentioned Hatten Sonny's, always a good one. Again you know sun protection, unlimited budget for kit cap and sunglasses. that's kind of all the things you know that you to get by and get started in triathlon. And probably what I would say is like it's a bit of an evolution, not a revolution in terms of upgrading your gear. So you know, as most triathletes will do the kind of Jaclyn: Hmm. Mardi: evolve your gear over ⁓ Start with basic setup and then add to or then upgrade ⁓ and kind of build into it rather than feeling you need to go out and spend 20 grand tomorrow. ⁓ It also I think helps you appreciate it more you do have the really nice things. I think about how, ⁓ yeah, my setup over time changed so much, but if I went from Jaclyn: Mm. Mardi: you know, zero to what I have now. wouldn't appreciate it or ⁓ wouldn't feel the benefit that I do from the gear that I've got. What about you, Jax? What's been your evolution over time? Jaclyn: I think, ⁓ like I said way back at the start of episode one, I did do my first triathlon with a TT bike, but that was just more of like timing and I saw one on Marketplace that was the right size for me at the time. So, and I was in a position where I could get that quite early on. So, I think for me it's been sort of gradually just upgrading things over time. So definitely on my current TT bike getting a really good bike fit. ⁓ I do have race wheels now and I have gotten an Aero helmet and they're things that I just really enjoy having and really helped me on race day sort of get into that kind of, I guess, race mindset. ⁓ But I think the same as you, whereas if I had have had all of those things straight up or been in a position where I could have all of those things for my first triathlon, there's kind of nowhere to go in that stuff. And I kind of like that. It's kind of like the triathlon wishlist. think it's really important. And I think it's getting me in the sport for quite some time as well. What do you reckon your, I mean, I guess like your, I mean, not your biggest regret, but what's one thing that you would happily still go without now? Mardi: Probably the Aero helmet. Jaclyn: ⁓ Mardi: haha I don't know, like, ⁓ mean, yours looks cool. Mine looks pretty daggy because I just got off Facebook marketplace before my full last year marginal gains. But ⁓ I just think the cost per wear on it's pretty low. ⁓ I wouldn't wear it anywhere it was in a race ⁓ I just think it looks a little bit overcapitalized for riding down the street. ⁓ And ⁓ Yeah, I just think if you're just wearing it in a race, the cost per wear and also, you you're better to invest in a really good quality, just road helmet for your everyday riding from a safety point of view. ⁓ But at the same time, if I'm thinking about what I want to buy next, it's probably a nicer air helmet. So I can't really talk. ⁓ Jaclyn: Yeah. for sure. Yeah, interesting. I think for me, I used to hire my race wheels from, I had a local bike shop near my mum and dad's house But I still think there are a few times I probably used wheels that were maybe like a little bit too deep for me at the time and what I could control on the bike in the wind. Mardi: Hmm. Hmm. Jaclyn: I mean, I'm happy with my setup now ⁓ in terms of And I feel like that I have a setup that I can ⁓ ride really well ⁓ But I think it's just something that maybe two or three years ago, I might've had better races or felt a bit more confident on the bike a bit sooner without that. Mardi: Yeah. ⁓ All Well, what's been happening in the pro world? Yeah. Jaclyn: Perfect. Pro racing, yeah. So we had a T100 Singapore, which was a men's only race, ⁓ not weekend gone the one before. Mardi: So talked about this last episode and I feel like we really hyped it. ⁓ I don't know, do you think it fell flat? Jaclyn: I think it felt ⁓ flat, but I think for me what was really exciting was seeing Matt Hauser step up from ⁓ short course into middle distance racing ⁓ and ⁓ it really, really good go. And ⁓ he was of there till, ⁓ he was there. Like he finished fifth ⁓ in his middle distance race, which I think is incredible. ⁓ But he was really there and really competitive kind of until he wasn't. Mardi: Mm. Yeah, and I think, when I say I fell flat, Hayden Wild did win the race, as we said last episode, he's basically every T100 he was in last year. ⁓ And won Singapore by the longest winning, largest winning margin of any T100 race to date. So was about six minutes. ⁓ So once he took the lead on the bike, ⁓ and was quite early on in the bike, it was actually just a bit boring to watch ⁓ in sense that ⁓ they the camera on him a lot. ⁓ They have it sort of Jaclyn: Mm. Mardi: much further back in the field. So was just a lot of chat from the commentators. And when it's a, whatever it is, like three hour, three and a half hour race, like it's just not super entertaining. I think that's the only thing. But Had Sam Dickinson from the UK. ⁓ on the podium and Mika Noot, wasn't it? Those three. Yeah, which is an awesome podium, but I think we would have loved to have seen it be a little bit more of a competitive race. ⁓ And I also think, you know, like we mentioned explaining the distances that this year T100 are doing separate women's and men's pro races. So I feel like when you watched them last year, if the men's race was not super competitive outside of Hayden Wild. Jaclyn: Mmm. Yeah. Yeah. Mardi: at the front of the front, at least could watch the women's race and know that you know, you were going to get a bit of a better match and it was on the same day. It was like, you know, an hour or two later start. So yeah, I kind of, I kind of wanted more. Jaclyn: Hehehe Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I agree. I don't really have much, much more to add on that. ⁓ So yeah, I think let's wait and see what happens. We've got the women's race in Spain coming up in a couple of weeks, which hopefully will be a bit more exciting as a spectator sport. ⁓ But I think, yeah, we can chat about that at the time. Just a couple of things on this one. The age group race was on the following day to the men's pro race. Mardi: Mm. Jaclyn: and they did have a few ⁓ weather implications. There was lightning during the race. The other thing that happened, which I don't know if it was mentioned the social media at all, was the age group leaders were actually taking the wrong direction on the run. So ⁓ ⁓ ⁓ athletes that I trained with, she was racing and was leading. ⁓ Mardi: Ooooo Jaclyn: she was taken the wrong way and she kind of knew that she was going the wrong direction, but like was led ⁓ off the course. ⁓ it took a couple of days for to work out who ⁓ the winners of the race ⁓ were. Mardi: Mm. Yeah, cause I was going to say, didn't they have to call it off during the run? Like they stop people during the run cause there was lightning and a typhoon coming or something like that. Yeah. Nuts. Jaclyn: Yeah. Yeah. spoke about the age group Western Sydney at the with ⁓ Marty's race ⁓ but there was also a pro race well. Mardi: Yeah, so there was also obviously the pro race at Western Sydney, which is the first time I've had the pro race at Western Sydney for I think like eight or 10 years. It's just been an age group race the last couple of years. So really ⁓ added to the hype of the race, having the pros there. It was really great going in on Saturday where were doing our check-in. ⁓ Jaclyn: Mmm. Mardi: We could, you know, saw a couple of the pros arriving to rack their bikes. Saw Kam Werff, who is a professional cyclist and triathlete. He is always racing around the world and very fortunately was back in Australia for this race. So got to meet him, said hello, a little photo ⁓ so on. Jaclyn: cool. There's also, think, a little bit of like hype when there's a pro race as well. Cause like you said, you, and I remember this from New Zealand and definitely like it cans the last few years when you, when you go to wreck your bike and, and you're lining up, like you've got these pros who, who we definitely, ⁓ look up to and really enjoy being on the same course with, Mardi: Yeah, absolutely. So on the women's side, we had ⁓ Nat van Coviden ⁓ in first place, Ellie Sauthausen in second and Regan Holyroke in third. I wanna say that the girl who came fourth, Emily Watts, that was her first pro race, which is insane. Yeah, she is a Sydney local and had an insane race. ⁓ I think up the front of the race, Ellie and Nat have a really great on-course rivalry. They are both... ⁓ Jaclyn: Wow. Mardi: really strong Australian athletes and it's awesome to see them both fighting it out. I know, you know, Ellie looked really disappointed on the podium in second place and that's cause she obviously loves and cares about it so much ⁓ equally now. So I think huge race from both of them and really an exciting matchup. I think, you know, the race to against each other T100s, a couple of 70.3s now. So I think that's definitely, ⁓ yeah, two really great Aussie athletes to watch. And Regan Holyoke, she doesn't do a lot of 70.3s. Jaclyn: No, I think definitely prefers the Ironman distance and I'll be really excited to see her in Kona this year later on. Mardi: Yeah, absolutely. And I was actually at the podium and the roll down and Regan took the spot for 70.3 Worlds in Nice. So there was one slot for the girls and yeah, both Nat and Ellie have spots already. So that's exciting. We will see Regan in Nice. Jaclyn: ⁓ amazing! Mardi: so on the men's side I'm actually interested to see where the men came out because I remember on the bike course the pro men were passing me on These sketchy as part of the bike course It was like the only small downhill and there was some potholes along the right-hand side of the lane ⁓ And I don't know how they did it. I pretty hard left. But yeah had I think it was cam worth ⁓ Jake Burt we still in one other person like a zoom past me on the side. So I know Camwef is definitely upfront on the bike, but by the looks of the results we had, Jake Birtwistle took out the win, fresh off T100 Singapore. Actually, so T100 Singapore last week, he had the fastest run. Could have mentioned that, should have mentioned that. He came I think sixth in the end and pulled off the fastest run of the day, backed it up with. Jaclyn: Mmm. That's right. Yeah. Mardi: the win at Western Sydney 70.3. ⁓ Trent Thorpe from New Zealand in second and Jarrett Osborne in third. He's in Aussie as well. So yeah. Jaclyn: Amazing. Good weekend for the Aussies at Western Sydney. Mardi: Yeah, yeah, I mean it does tend to attract a bit more of a local crowd. suppose Western Sydney is not the most international of locations, But yeah, I think it would just add so much having the pros on the course as well. You know, I think just seeing them walk around the expo and people sort of stopping them for photos or admiring their bikes, things like that is just so awesome. So. Yeah, it just really adds to the sport and adds to your enjoyment of the whole weekend too. Jaclyn: I think that's what I really love about triathlon. Mardi: Mm, yeah, Jaclyn: Amazing so there's no no there's no pro racing coming up ⁓ over next weekend ⁓ but over the next few weeks which we can touch on we've got T100 Spain, ⁓ we've got Yokohama WTCS race ⁓ ⁓ Ironman Pro Series ⁓ ⁓ Mardi: Ion Provence in France. ⁓ Yep. Jaclyn: Thank you, Mari. Perfect. So we've got those coming up over the next few weeks so we can touch on those ⁓ as they happen, but I think... cans. Mardi: And we are six weeks out from Cairns. So we've got six weeks till Cairns 70.3, which we're both racing. ⁓ So yeah, really excited to talk more about the last couple of weeks of training leading into that and do some race week episodes as well, I think. Jaclyn: Absolutely and I think with that you next week. Mardi: Awesome. If enjoyed this we would for you to subscribe to Happy Pace podcast on Spotify or Apple podcasts to rate us ⁓ to share them with your triathlon friends or your soon to be triathlon friends. ⁓ We'd love. for you to join the conversation and also find us over on Instagram.