Chrissie Wellington

1. Chrissie, you are taking a break from competing in 2012, how are you doing in this situation? Are you missing something? What are you doing instead right now?

I never thought I would say this, but I really am enjoying having a break from full time ironman training and racing. Making the decision to have a sabbatical was similar to the time in 2006 when I had to decide whether or not to give up my career and become a pro triathlete. Although I am fortunate to have a choice, making such decisions is never easy: but now, as then, I simply try to follow my gut instinct and do what I feel is right deep in my heart. But yes, it was a HUGE decision, and one that I deliberated long and hard over.

I have devoted the whole of the last 5 years to being the best athlete I can be. No short cuts, no stone left unturned. And I have loved every minute of it. I feel so incredibly fortunate and grateful to have found a sport that I love; to have had the chance to actually make that passion my career; to have continually defied what I thought was possible; to have made so many great friends; to have travelled the world (including to Germany!), and of course to have developed a platform on which I can now build.

But I believe that racing cannot always be the axis around which my life revolves. It should not be an end in itself – never the be all and end all of my life. Never defining me. It is just one branch on a tree that I hope is as big, rich and varied as I can possibly make it. I want to inject some variety back into my life, some balance, and some spontaneity. I want to be freer to explore and seize other opportunities.

Although I am not racing ironman events this year I am doing other sporting and non sporting related activities that give me a huge amount of joy and gratification – albeit slightly different from crossing the finish line. Some of those goals may not be as big as winning Kona, but are personally important to me, such as spending more time with family and friends, reading more widely, going to music concerts etc. I am working more closely with my chosen charities, attending different races around the world, working with my sponsors, and doing a lot of public speaking events. I am also excited about attending the Olympics (although not to compete!). I spent the last few months travelling in USA and UK to promote my book (‘A Life Without Limits’), which has been great fun. It is wonderful to meet great people and inspire as many people as possible. Although I am not training and racing I am not resting, and am actually I am busier than ever – just in a different way than before!

2. You are still training. In how far have you reduced your workload, or are you doing just as much?

I am doing light, unstructured training. Nowhere near the volume or intensity that I was doing before. I have no schedule, and just do what I like when I like. This might be a one hour run, or a one hour bike, or I might do a 5hour ride if I feel like it. I am also trying new sports – I even tried rowing a few weeks ago. Before I used to spend all my ‘free time’ resting, and now I spend it seeing my friends, doing charity work, going to the theatre, music concerts and doing all the non-triathlon related things that are important to me!

 

3. What made you decide to share your inspiring story in A Life Without Limits?

 

I have invested a lot of time and energy into writing my book over the past few years. My motivations for doing so are varied. First, I craved the intellectual and emotional challenge, and fulfilment, that comes from writing an autobiography I also want to use the book as a means to thank all those who have played a part in my life, both before and during my career in professional sport.

I wanted to share some practical tips for the triathletes, but more important are the ‘life’ lessons and philosophies that transcend sport, and are applicable to anyone – whether or not they are a pro athlete or a coach potato. These come from all areas of my life: my childhood, academia, whilst travelling, during my career as a civil servant, in Nepal and also through sport. Through my words I want to encourage people, young and old, to take up sport, to travel, to pursue their dreams. I want to inspire people to take a chance, to attempt defy what they deem impossible and to be willing to look fear and adversity in the face and truly live their life without any preconceived limits. The book is one such the vehicle for doing this.

But effectively conveying these messages meant ‘humanizing’ myself. I am sometimes held up as this robotic, infallible ‘freak of nature’, but of course I am no such thing. In order for the reader to be able to relate and identify with me I had to expose the good, the bad and the ugly. I wanted to reveal my strengths, my weaknesses, my fears, my concerns, my likes and dislikes, my passions, my true nature. There are things in the book that people may not have known, for example my battles with eating and body image – but it is only by sharing some of these stories, that I can break down the façade, and really impact - and hopefully inspire - the reader.

 

4. Have you already thought about 2013, or would you rather not think that far ahead and enjoy this break for the time being?

Of course I am thinking beyond 2012, but I want to make a final decision about what the future will hold later in the year!

5. After the last few years it must also be great for your family and friends to have you around more!?

Yes, it is wonderful to be able to spend more time with my family and good friends. Before the only time I saw them was when they were cheering for me at the races!

 

6. How important is it for an athlete to take a break to avoid overwinding?

Recovery as the fourth discipline of a triathlete. When I first became a triathlete I couldn’t rest my body or my mind. I had to change this characteristic to become successful. It is not the actual sessions of swim, bike and run that make you fitter, it is the periods you spend recovering in between, during which your body adapts and regenerates. That’s why I say that I train 24hrs a day, 7 days a week – recovery IS training. It’s the most important part of it, in fact.

I believe an off-season is very important. Six weeks is my chosen length of holiday, starting after the World Championships in Kona. For the first two weeks, I do nothing but enjoy myself with friends and family. No exercise whatsoever. Then I embark upon a two-week period of sporting activity that doesn’t involve swimming, biking or running. Just enough to fire up the aerobic system once again. The third stage of my off-season is when I first start to venture out to the pool or on the road, but the exercise will be much less intense than normal. I can still lie in each morning, and there will be no sign of a log book anywhere about the house. Only then, after six weeks of rest, will I start to build up for the new season with something that might be recognisable as focused training, albeit still with an emphasis on aerobic fitness. That off-season will have broken you out of your routine and rejuvenated your body and mind. You will feel refreshed and ready to pursue your new goals.

 

7. You were unbeaten for almost three years, how did you manage to find motivation?

 

Fortunately I am quite a self-motivated person, but there are always occasions when I cant summon up the energy to get out of the door in the pouring rain, or face another indoor bike session. This is when it is so important to have some strategies to help overcome this lethargy or lack of motivation.

1) It’s important to have a clear, realistic, yet ambitious goal. It should be written on a piece of paper and posted somewhere visible. It is also crucial to know WHY you want to achieve that goal. For instance, the goal might be to complete your first 5km, and the benefits are to improve your health, meet new people, to prove to yourself that you can meet the challenge, to honour a loved one’s memory, or raise money for charity. YOU must be passionate, excited and energised about the goal and the reasons behind it – rather than simply doing something because you feel you ought to.

2) Create a strategy/practical plan to give direction, structure and help prevent procrastination. The plan should be realistic and tailored to you and your life.

3) Create an environment that supports this plan, for example find a gym, run track, pool that is convenient and financially affordable in the long term; keep your running clothes at the office so you can do a quick session in your lunch hour; keep your swimming paraphernalia at work so you can delve into the pool without going home first.

4) Set smaller tasks or stepping-stone goals, to make the large/longer-term goal seem less overwhelming, and ensure that you can enjoy the journey with successes along the way. If you find it difficult to carry on during a training session break it down and set small goals, like getting to the next lamppost - promise yourself that at that point you can either A) stop or B) keep going. By giving your brain the reward of having completed these smaller goals creates positive momentum. I bet you always answer B - keep going!

5) Use music, listen to a podcast or lecture, or read your favourite book/poem, or watch uplifting movies or YouTube clips of others overcoming huge hurdles to achieve their dreams.

6) Keep a log of your workouts. Make sure you highlight any accomplishments and successes, note how they make you feel and then celebrate getting up and over these little milestones. When you find your mojo flagging, look at that book, and recall difficult times of old, when you have struggled but overcome lethargy, tiredness or discomfort – and know that if you have jump over those hurdles in the past you CAN do so again.

7) Sometimes we need others to help motivate, guide and encourage us. This could be a coach; a training partner; your spouse and children; a local sports club/group or even online forums. Extrinsic motivation can also come from making your intentions public. The next time you're wavering about a workout, go to Facebook, Twitter, your blog or call your best friend and tell them, "I'm just about to do this session…” or “I am going to sign up for this race”. This social expression will give you the urge, and accountability, to deliver on each step, and update people on progress towards your goal.

8) Train your brain: Recognize negative self-talk and consciously replace those thoughts with positive affirmations. “This is too hard or I am too tired” is replaced by “I am as strong as an ox. I CAN run a 5km!” Second, have a mantra to repeat ad infinitum. Mine is ‘Never Ever Give Up’. Third, spend time on visualization. Imagine yourself as being strong, confident, and successful. Imagine how it will feel to cross the line, hear the roar of the crowds, or fall into the arms of your loved one.

 

8. What advice do you give to athletes who want to take part in endurance sports?

We all have our own personal barriers, be they mental or physical. We are all nervous about trying new things and giving ourselves bigger mountains to climb. We all worry about the ‘what if’s’. But you can do anything you want to – the only limits are those that exist in your mind. Four years ago I was asked whether I would ever do an Ironman. My response? ‘No way, you must be completely mad to do something like that!’ Imagine if I had never gone back on my word, if I hadn’t changed ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’, if hadn’t dared to push myself harder, and most importantly what if I hadn’t had people to support, encourage, mentor and most of all make me believe in ME?

Anyway, as for practical advice - a couple of things I have learnt along the way are to start slowly, and be patient. You must take your time, as well as be prepared to overcome lows and occasional failure, if you want to achieve your goals.

I would find people to train with, whether it be a club, coach or a training partner. Someone to offer help, advice, support and to motivate you - and hold you accountable - too! Clubs in particular offer a cocoon of advice, support and encouragement and are open to athletes of all abilities, from the novice to the elite. Women could also join GOTRIbal (www.gotribalnow.com) - an organisation that I helped to develop that links women together around the world who love sport.

As I said above, I would encourage people, regardless of ability to have a realistic, but ambitious, goal – and work out the steps that they need to take to get to that goal. And make that goal, tangible. Write it on your wall, tell your friends and family – try never to forget the reason you started running, or sport, in the first place. I would encourage women to research the equipment they need, to be comfortable and prevent injury. You don’t need to spend too much, just make sure you have the basics.

It is also important to really listen to your body. The more you rely on gadgets such as heart rate monitors the more difficult it is to develop a deep intuition about your body and its reactions. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that more is necessarily better (eg more miles and hours does not necessarily mean faster and stronger).

My former running coach, the late Frank Horwill, always said “there is no such word as cant, only I will try”. I always try to live by that motto, and give everything I possibly can. You might not succeed at first but never give up – you can achieve your dreams. Just be patient and have faith in yourself and most importantly ENJOY IT!

 

9. How can an amateur continuously improve his/her triathlon performance and work regular hours at the same time, or is this impossible?

It is not impossible! I won the World Age Group championships in 2006 while I was working full time! It just requires good time management, realistic goals, organisation, supportive family and friends and a willingness to dedicate your ‘free’ time to training and resting!

10. Of all your achievements and accomplishments in triathlon, what is the one thing that you are most proud of?

Really it has been the fact that I have defied what I thought was possible for me to achieve. Every step of this amazing journey I have managed to go beyond any limits I have placed on myself. That’s the most satisfying thing of all.

But in terms of one race it has to be overcoming more than I ever thought possible to win my fourth World ironman Championship in Kona last October. This was definitely the most gratifying, satisfying and proudest moment of my career. I had a bad bike crash two weeks before, and sustained some serious injuries, both superficial war wounds and also internal damage, which affected me physiologically as well as physically. I dug to the very depths of my soul and truly pushed beyond any limit I thought existed. It was the hard-fought race I have always dreamed of, and I feel that maybe at this race I proved to myself, and others, that I really was truly worthy of being called a champion. Of course, I couldn’t have raced like I did without my great support team and the other competitors, pushing me every step of the way, so my victory is also, in part, theirs.

 

Fotos: Norbert Wilhelmi & Larry Maurer