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Episode 6. The Endurance Queen: Kayla Kobelin
59 Plays21 days ago
In this episode, we're joined by Kayla Kobelin, a professional triathlete who discovered the world of swimrun-and hasn't looked back since.
Beyond the podiums and race results, Kayla is also a genuinely inspiring human being whose passion for endurance sports is contagious. In our conversation, she shares the journey that led her from triathlon to swimrun, the lessons she's learned along the way, and the mindset it takes to push the limits of human performance.
This episode is packed with hilarious race stories, honest insights from life as a pro athlete, and practical advice for anyone curious about stepping into the world of endurance sports.
Whether you're a seasoned racer or just thinking about your first challenge, you won't want to miss this fun and motivating conversation.
WILD Ascent first virtual meetup March 22nd 3pm CT. Sign up here: https://www.wildswimrun.com/20-may_ascent-program/?v=0b3b97fa6688
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Transcript
Intro
Introduction and Kayla's Athletic Journey
00:09:50
WILD ONEZ
Hello and welcome to the podcast, Kayla.
00:09:54
Viv
welcome welcome i mean taylor how many podcasts have you been on have you been counting throughout the years
00:09:56
Kayla
Thanks, ladies. Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here.
00:10:06
Kayla
No, no, i have I have not counted my podcast. it
00:10:12
Viv
i i know sarah and i are are truly honored to have you because you are uh the badass of the badasses like you're incredibly decorated athlete and you just have like the purest heart of gold and are so welcoming in the swim run world and like I can speak for anyone who I would like to speak for anyone who's met you and just say like how incredible of a human you are so I'm very excited to call your friend like we're just we love you so much and we love our time flurries as we will probably have some in the next hour so but yes welcome welcome
00:10:49
WILD ONEZ
Awesome.
00:10:49
Kayla
Oh my gosh, thank you.
Transition from Triathlon to Swim Run
00:10:51
WILD ONEZ
Cool.
00:10:51
Viv
Well, for those who don't know you, tell us tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, kind of your, i guess we can start from the beginning. When you took your first steps, what sports do you do?
00:11:06
Kayla
You know, it's funny. i've I've told other people this, but I really did grow up like running. Back in the day, my mom didn't have enough money to like hire a babysitter. So she would just bring me to her 5K races and like put me in the starting corral and was like, all right, I'll see you at the finish.
00:11:29
WILD ONEZ
Okay.
00:11:30
Viv
That's amazing.
00:11:33
Kayla
Did not grow up a swimmer to many people's beliefs. I taught myself how to swim when I was 23, when I was training for an Ironman.
00:11:46
Kayla
So I am an adult onset swimmer. So I think that's proof that if anybody can learn to swim as an adult, it can be me and you can do it.
00:11:56
Kayla
of Got into triathlon, got decently good at at triathlon, turned professional in that sport, did that for a few years, got very burnt out from...
00:12:10
Kayla
that sport and the sort of type A personalities that were there. I got very tired of having my self-worth feel like it was only reflected in like a race result, which really poorly impacted my mental health. In 2019, a friend of mine was like, hey, do you want to do this thing called swim run? It's up in Orcas Island. And I was living in Seattle at the time and knew nothing about swim run.
00:12:38
Kayla
Did not take anything seriously about the race. We did the whole race like without a tether. Yeah, just absolutely no idea what I was doing. But I did know that I really, really liked Swim Run and I liked the community and I liked the vibe and it provided such a different...
00:13:01
Kayla
type of experience and joy than i was getting from triathlon. So I decided to leave triathlon behind and just focus more on running races and swim run.
00:13:12
Viv
I love that. I mean, Orcas Island is a great first swim run. That was our first swim run, too. I mean, it's gorgeous. So if you've not done Orcas, you need to sign up.
00:13:23
Viv
By the way, it's it's coming up.
00:13:25
WILD ONEZ
May 31st.
00:13:25
Viv
So I think we're all going to be there.
00:13:27
WILD ONEZ
its
00:13:29
Viv
killer are you doing Orcas this year?
00:13:31
Kayla
I am doing Orcus this year.
00:13:33
WILD ONEZ
Yes.
00:13:34
Viv
A party. So pretty much, if you're hearing this, you need to sign up and come to Orcas Island.
00:13:40
WILD ONEZ
do you have a partner for Orcas?
00:13:42
Kayla
the part Yeah, so the partner is in the works.
00:13:46
WILD ONEZ
Okay.
00:13:46
Kayla
i
00:13:47
WILD ONEZ
Yes.
00:13:47
Viv
Yay.
00:13:48
Kayla
I am talking to another female. I'm not going to put her on blast the
The Dynamics of Partner Racing
00:13:52
Kayla
podcast, but we are confirming a possible team for Orcus, so I'm very excited about that.
00:13:53
Viv
Yay.
00:13:59
Viv
hoo. Oh, I love that. Cause you, you've raised with like every, everybody, like every category, I mean, every category that we can do. what has been something that you've taken away from working with so many different partners? Because you've you've also raced solo. You've done some of those kinds of races. But what has allowed you kind of be so flexible with so many partnerships?
00:14:23
Kayla
Yeah, I think just having super open and clear communication is extremely helpful. I always tell people and like everybody, like I will literally race with anybody, whether it's their very first swim run or, you know, like the Hugo Tormentos of the world.
00:14:40
Kayla
Like I'll i'll do it all. But I think it's really important.
00:14:43
WILD ONEZ
is capable of racing with the hugos of the world just fyi
00:14:51
Kayla
No, but I i i think what's like really, really important before you say yes to a partner, even though someone could be of similar speed in running or swimming, I always ask them like what their goals are for that race because –
00:14:52
WILD ONEZ
remains it
00:15:08
Kayla
even though you might be the same pace, if you have two very different goals, that's not going to be a fun outcome for either of you two. And it's going to be a very long day tethered together. So if you have a specific time goal, that's great.
00:15:21
Kayla
Maybe I don't. Maybe my goal is to just like high five as many volunteers as possible. So like maybe this race, we might not race together. So I'm very selective when I choose to race with people, I don't just choose like, oh, they're similar run speed, like we would work great.
00:15:41
Kayla
Because usually it doesn't work out like that.
00:15:44
WILD ONEZ
Yeah, I think that's really interesting because when people look at swimrun and they find out that it's a partner sport, that's one of their biggest concerns is pacing for swimming and pacing for running. And what has your experience been like with like the communication aspect of that? And yeah, just like the relationship portion outside of those paces.
00:16:11
Kayla
Yeah, it's it's really interesting. i like I kind of joke with people how like if you are someone like me who doesn't have a dedicated partner and just kind of goes around, it's kind of like you're somewhat in a relationship with these people because like if you are not clearly communicating like what you need and what you want and what you expect out of like that partnership,
00:16:34
Kayla
And if it might end, it can be really confusing and feelings might get hurt. And it's a really small community and everybody shows up in races.
00:16:41
Viv
Yeah.
00:16:42
Kayla
So that's why i'm very selective. I'm I'm I vet people, i I guess, like before beforehand, I would say the things that I get.
00:16:54
Kayla
asked a lot or talked about is if I approach somebody and I'm like, Hey, are you thinking about doing this race? I am too. Would love to partner with you and see like what that partnership might look like.
00:17:04
Kayla
The number one thing I always hear is, oh well you're too fast. Like I'm going to slow you down or like, we're not compatible swim speeds.
00:17:15
Viv
Yeah.
00:17:16
Kayla
but for me, I could care less.
00:17:18
Kayla
Like, Believe it or not, I don't do these races like for a specific time goal. I do these races for the community, for you know this one weekend, I get to go and see all
Community and Mental Health Benefits of Swim Run
00:17:29
Kayla
my friends.
00:17:30
Kayla
And like I would love to this year like do a swim run with somebody who's like never done a swim run before.
00:17:39
Viv
Yeah.
00:17:39
Kayla
Last year, I got a partner with Jen at Austin, and it was her very first time racing with a partner. And it was so cool.
00:17:46
Viv
That was cool.
00:17:52
Viv
Yeah.
00:17:56
Kayla
And she just she was just so stoked the whole day. And I was so just like grateful and happy that she trusted me with that.
00:18:05
Kayla
And just like seeing the smile on our face when we crossed the finish line was so cool.
00:18:10
Viv
It's out. I mean, cross like Sarah and I crossed on the finish line and seeing you guys there was awesome and I think like talking to her too a little bit after the race of just like getting her like immediate feedback right there she was like oh my gosh it was just so fun and I think that like that is a theme throughout like everybody we've talked to in this community too is like it's it's just so fun to be doing these races it's so fun to just show up even if you're having like a bad race day and you're going for time or you're going for whatever like
00:18:41
Viv
You're to those days, but I think it's the it's it truly is the people that keep us coming back to these races. Like we could meet somebody for the first time and immediately like adopt them to be our best friend because we're like, oh, tell you all about it.
00:18:55
WILD ONEZ
Yes, 100%. So Kayla, is that a mindset shift that you had coming from triathlon into swim run? And how did that play out for you coming from such a rigid sport into this new sport and community?
00:19:15
WILD ONEZ
That's not so I guess like time focused.
00:19:20
Kayla
Yeah, or aerodynamic focused.
00:19:22
WILD ONEZ
Yeah, exactly.
00:19:23
Kayla
Yeah.
00:19:25
Kayla
Yeah, it it was a huge mental shift for me. Like I spent years tracking everything I did from like my heart rate to my period to like everything. Everything lived in like spreadsheets. Everything was, you know,
00:19:45
Kayla
down to the second or the watt. Again, if you had a bad race, it was it was a huge deal. I put a lot of dependence on my self-worth and like how I placed, which again is not healthy.
00:19:58
Kayla
So when I came into swimrun, I sort of looked at it as like an outlet or an escape from the more like type A triathlon community.
00:19:59
Viv
Yeah.
00:20:11
Kayla
And it was great. Like I just for once I could go be in nature, which I preferred trail running over like running on the road anyway and not have any like goals for myself. Obviously I think subconsciously like you can never really escape that mindset. There's always a part of me that like wants to be better and improve and and whatnot, but it's just given me so much more,
00:20:37
Kayla
So much better mental health, I would say, because I'm actually able to like enjoy a sport, have fun, know that if I have a bad race or a bad day or the partner that I'm with is just not having a good day, like it's okay. It's not the end of the world.
00:20:52
Kayla
Like I go back home. My job is the same. I live in the same house. My friends are the same. Like no race is that catastrophic where if you don't have a good day, like you need to email yourself.
00:21:05
Viv
Like something blows up.
00:21:07
Kayla
Yeah.
00:21:08
Viv
Yeah.
00:21:10
Kayla
So it's been, it's been a huge change and I have loved every second of it.
00:21:15
WILD ONEZ
I love that so much for you. So like with this huge mindset shift coming from triathlete into swim run, was there like a specific race or moment for you that changed your perspective on maybe triathlon and what you wanted to do with that moving forward?
00:21:38
Kayla
Oh man, honestly, it was probably the first swim run race, which was Orcas. I mean, one, just the scenery, the set, like it's unreal. Again, if you've never done Orcas, please go do it.
00:21:49
Kayla
It's so magical. Not enough photos can like even describe that race.
00:21:53
WILD ONEZ
Yeah, we
00:21:55
Kayla
Yeah, but I remember back when I did it in like 2018 or 2019, I mean, we were out there for like seven hours. And I mean, we were like walking parts of the course and I mean, we were a mess.
00:22:06
WILD ONEZ
Uh-huh.
00:22:07
Kayla
But I was like,
00:22:07
WILD ONEZ
Relatable.
00:22:08
Viv
Yeah, retweet actually, yeah.
00:22:11
Kayla
but i was like I am having so much fun. i didn't know I could have so much fun just like walking and giggling and laughing. And I just had this moment of just like, oh wow, like i I don't have to like win every race or get a certain fast time.
00:22:27
Kayla
Like my friends are still my friends.
00:22:27
Viv
Yeah.
00:22:29
Kayla
I get to be in nature. We're still gonna cross the finish line regardless. Like everything's gonna be okay. So it was it was a very profound race for me and I enjoy going back every year because of that.
00:22:44
WILD ONEZ
Yeah, orcas definitely holds that same place in our heart as well. And we have had to skip it the last couple years. And getting to go back there this year, we are very stoked. It's also the weekend after my birthday. So I'm like, party!
00:23:00
WILD ONEZ
Yeah. Yeah.
00:23:01
Kayla
Oh
00:23:02
Viv
Yes, literal party of Mount Constitution.
00:23:05
Kayla
my gosh. Tell me, tell me what room number you are.
00:23:06
Viv
yeah
00:23:09
Kayla
We'll have an after party at your, your Airbnb.
00:23:13
WILD ONEZ
a
00:23:14
Viv
We'll have to see if that little blue house is available.
00:23:14
Kayla
able
00:23:17
WILD ONEZ
Yeah.
00:23:17
Kayla
That was also, that was also my other motto in triathlon was like, if you can't win the race, win the after party. So like, I, I,
00:23:27
Viv
Oh, I mean, absolutely.
00:23:29
Kayla
Yeah, so we're going to have a big after party at Orcas, Sarah.
00:23:32
Viv
Keep the heads up.
00:23:33
WILD ONEZ
I love that. but but So I've never been in triathlon or around that community. What differences have you experienced between the two?
00:23:47
Viv
Sorry, what experiences have you not experienced?
00:23:51
WILD ONEZ
Yeah, i like I've just, I've never what
00:23:53
Viv
it like It's a whole different world, I will say. like i mean I haven't done it as an adult yet, I guess, so to say. But like growing I grew up doing like Iron Kids, and that mind shift change is is so real that you're talking about. it It's not holding. I think it's just certain competitive sports. It's holding yourself to a certain standard. I i mean, I still do it. Sarah knows. like She's like, so what are we to this race? and i'm like And I'm like, we're just having fun. And she's like, uh-huh.
00:24:21
Viv
Yeah, that sprint towards the finish. Yeah, that was an that was, that was, that was fun. That was so fun.
00:24:26
WILD ONEZ
That was so good.
00:24:26
Viv
if That was so, I love that.
00:24:27
Kayla
you
00:24:27
WILD ONEZ
So good.
00:24:29
Viv
No, stop it. So she like, again, so why is Swim Run's a great partner sport is like talking about your goals. Like Sarah already knows there's going to be an underlying thing where she has to pick me a little bit, but it's,
00:24:42
Viv
it's such a mindset shift and like besides the mindset shift that's that's huge and the community like what other things could you pinpoint like we're not here to completely shit talk triathlon because there are some good triathlons out there but i think it's like when you get to a certain level too
00:24:57
WILD ONEZ
I think
00:25:01
WILD ONEZ
like I'm curious about it and I'm curious about the differences in general.
00:25:05
Viv
yeah oh definitely
00:25:05
WILD ONEZ
yeah
00:25:06
Kayla
yeah and Yeah, not to hate on all triathletes. I swim with a lot of them. They're great people. But your point, I think the best analogy I can think of is if you are in a triathlon and you get a flat tire on the bike, all the athletes are going to whiz past you and they're going to say, oh, thank God Vivian got a flat.
00:25:20
Viv
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:25:22
Kayla
Now I have an advantage ahead of her. Sucks to suck. I hope you know how to fix a flat because nobody will stop and help you. But like, for example, at Orcas, I think it was three years ago, I was running in the trees with my partner, Steve, all of a sudden my swim cap ripped. This lady in front of me is like, oh, do you want an extra swim cap? I just like happened to carry one.
00:25:46
Kayla
And they just like totally stopped their race for me. And she like dug a swim cap out of her suit and gave it to me. And I was like, why are you so nice to me right now? Like, well what is going on?
00:25:57
Viv
Why are you helping?
00:25:58
Kayla
Yeah. And there's been times where like I've given gels to people, right? Where it's just like, hey, do you need anything? Like, so you're having a hard time. people are more willing to help other people on the course. It's not this sort of like dog eat dog, every man for themself. And I really, really appreciate that about the community in Swimrun.
00:26:19
Viv
know. Absolutely. I think I mean, we'll preach about the community and why you should try swim run and do all of it every day till we're blue in the face. Because truly, like, I think this sport has brought us some of our best friends, our lifelong friends.
00:26:32
Viv
Like, Sarah and I have only been in it 2021. were only two years after you. Like, I mean, we're very baby into the sport.
00:26:38
WILD ONEZ
Mm-hmm.
00:26:40
Viv
the sport hasn't been around that long, but it still has the feeling of, like, longevity. Yeah. And like you have, you've done the most extreme swim run, one water, and you've also done world.
00:26:52
Viv
You've gone back to worlds before. Like, how is it for people that are thinking about like, Oh, maybe I can't do worlds. I can't get to that level. And like, what was that feeling like going to the birthplace of swim run and worlds either for the first time or the second time or the third time, like,
00:27:12
Viv
Do you have a different appreciation for it from the first time to the now?
00:27:17
Kayla
Yes, absolutely. I think anybody who's been in the U.S. who has gone over there and has done that race, I think you can feel as good as you want about your training over here. But then there's something about like standing at that start line being like, oh, crap, like what am I getting myself into? Like, I know everybody talks about these rocks and how they're slippery and like technical, but like, you know, like this like oh crap moment went through my head and was like, oh my God, like, can I actually finish this race? Because it is very different out there. And unless you've done that race before and have experienced it, it's it's really hard to describe to people.
Managing Allergies and Safety in Races
00:27:59
Kayla
You know, i would say, don't worry about finishing the whole race. Just worry about getting past that second checkpoint. And if you get past that, you're fine.
00:28:08
Viv
Easy sailing. it's Good. You're cruising at that point. You get to get the chocolate balls at the church. I promise.
00:28:19
WILD ONEZ
it And the Twix is after that too, right? They brought the Twix back.
00:28:27
Viv
They did, and I didn't realize that it's a whole Twix bar. Well, Kayla, you can't have those, can you?
00:28:33
Kayla
No, we did not stop for the Twix bar.
00:28:36
WILD ONEZ
Oh, tragic.
00:28:39
Viv
Can you wait, with your allergy, can you have Twix's?
00:28:39
WILD ONEZ
I don't know what to
00:28:42
Viv
Are they deemed safe for you or are you just like...
00:28:45
Kayla
I actually don't know, but in a situation where I'm at a race and someone's offering me food, I'm going to err on the side of caution and probably just not take it.
00:28:56
WILD ONEZ
That's safe.
00:28:58
Viv
I don't blame you. yeah for those who don't know, Kayla is definitely allergic to like, I feel like almost with everything, but mostly just peanuts and nuts in general.
00:29:07
Kayla
Peanuts, tree nuts, and salmon.
00:29:09
WILD ONEZ
I didn't know about the salmon.
00:29:09
Kayla
Yeah.
00:29:11
Viv
Salmon. And you love, it's like, the Scandinavian countries, too.
00:29:12
Kayla
I know.
00:29:19
Viv
So that's, like, I feel like it. Girl, we got to, if there's a scientist out there listening to this, can we help Kayla out? We got to get rid of these allergies. She is a Scandinavian girl.
00:29:35
Kayla
Yeah, it's it's rough, but it is what it is. I've made it this far.
00:29:42
Viv
Do you raise with an EpiPen like Sarah does?
00:29:45
Kayla
So for the World Championships, yes, because if I, there are nuts and like peanut butter sandwiches out there and in the crazy coincidence, like opportunity that would happen,
00:29:51
Viv
Yeah.
00:29:58
Kayla
If I did not carry an EpiPen and I was out there and I went an anaphylactic shock, I would absolutely die by the time help comes and then a helicopter comes.
00:30:03
Viv
Mm-hmm.
00:30:07
Kayla
For these shorter races, I try not to. I think Attilo in the US s does a really good job like keeping all that safe. But yeah, for like the world champs in One Water, I did race with an EpiPen.
00:30:22
Viv
Okay.
00:30:22
WILD ONEZ
Do you bring one with you?
00:30:23
Kayla
I do bring one. Normally we always carry two. okay If we're listening here and we have allergies, you always carry two. But in a racing situation, i put one in the back of my arc pocket in the back.
00:30:37
Viv
Smart. Okay. How is training... I mean, this is like uncharted territory for both Sarah and I because I'm allergic penicillin. There's not penicillin on the race course or anything like that.
00:30:49
Viv
Like, I'm not going to be like, hey, here's some penicillin shot. Like, here you go. That would be weird. That would be really weird. When you're training and picking your fuel properly, do you, I mean, you always have to think about your allergies, but has there been fuel that works for you in those situations like the best?
00:30:59
WILD ONEZ
Billington.
00:31:10
Viv
I guess, does that play like a role in, it's what I'm trying to ask is like, yeah, you got to figure out what you're allergic to, but also like what works for you.
00:31:14
Kayla
Yeah.
00:31:20
Kayla
Yeah.
00:31:20
Viv
and and that's a big thing like for women is like, we feel our bodies so differently than men do.
00:31:25
Kayla
Totally, totally. Yeah. I definitely think there's like a few companies that I use that I like. Again, it works for my stomach. It doesn't have like any crazy like peanut butter or salmon flavored, you know, fuel.
00:31:32
Viv
Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:37
Kayla
That would be insane. Yeah.
00:31:41
Viv
I wouldn't put it past like the Scandinavians to do that though.
00:31:44
WILD ONEZ
Yeah, would have passed Norwegians to create something like that.
00:31:48
Kayla
That is, that's probably in the works.
00:31:51
Viv
Yeah.
00:31:51
Kayla
No, but it's true because like there are so many bars out there that you can eat, right? That are like peanut butter, nut crunch.
00:31:58
Viv
Yeah.
00:31:58
Kayla
So it's like, I don't eat any bars. I eat a lot of like these gels from like Never Second. I really like the way they taste.
00:32:05
Viv
yeah
00:32:06
Kayla
They're safe. They work for my stomach. Great. So yeah, I do have to be careful. And especially in the summer when I go on runs with all my friends and they bring all their snacks and they're always like, oh, Kayla, do you want some?
00:32:17
Kayla
It's like, no, I just bothered.
00:32:20
Viv
We're not, yeah, not feeling that adventurous today, guys.
00:32:25
WILD ONEZ
That's fair.
00:32:25
Kayla
Like i have
00:32:25
Viv
How fast do you feel like running with me on your back?
00:32:29
Kayla
I have a Garmin inReach, but I would not like to use it for a peanut allergy.
00:32:33
WILD ONEZ
No. Yeah, I'm allergic to bees. And like, that is, yeah something that I am concerned about.
00:32:40
Viv
There's been multiple times where it's been slightly questionable.
00:32:46
WILD ONEZ
Yeah.
00:32:46
Kayla
And that's scary because you can't just avoid the bees.
00:32:46
WILD ONEZ
Yeah.
00:32:50
WILD ONEZ
Yeah. And so I started after the last time I got stung because it was a bad reaction. My doctor was like, I'm going to give you an EpiPen because you do crazy shit all the time. And you're going to want one if you're out in the middle of nowhere.
00:33:02
WILD ONEZ
And, you know, like then you're going to need other things, too. So let's make sure like you are prepared because that is part of nature. You can't always avoid that. And honestly, like it is something that has brought a little bit of an anxiety for me with racing.
00:33:34
Viv
Yeah.
00:33:38
WILD ONEZ
But yeah, it's been amazing. kind of a crazy experience for me running with an EpiPen and then just kind of not really knowing. I think the uncertainty of all of it is the thing that weighs on me the most, but.
00:33:51
Kayla
No, i I totally agree. And again, although similar, but not similar, like if I go to an aid station, right, like it's not going to be guaranteed that the person who was making peanut butter sandwiches is now like handing me like a cup of water, right?
00:34:04
Kayla
Like I just, I don't know.
00:34:05
Viv
Yeah.
00:34:06
Kayla
we don't know. You don't know when to be my... approach you.
00:34:10
WILD ONEZ
Let me tell you.
00:34:11
Kayla
Yeah, like that that definitely definitely adds more stress, especially when these races take place out in nature where you don't have cell phones, you don't have any way really to contact anybody.
00:34:25
Kayla
You know, at least for me, like I can contact the race directors and and like ask them what's going on. But obviously you can't call up Lars and have him like vacuum all the bees off the course.
00:34:36
WILD ONEZ
good
00:34:38
Viv
I mean, we definitely could try.
00:34:42
Viv
just i just see Laura's in like a nice like bee suit out there with a little vacuum. They're like, all right, Fighting the air with a little vacuum.
00:34:49
WILD ONEZ
you like
00:34:51
Viv
That would be...
00:34:53
WILD ONEZ
do you find How do you find a rogue bee? You know, that's how I always get stung
00:34:59
Kayla
Oh, my God.
00:35:00
Viv
Well, there was like... bees at the cliff jump at orcas, I think our first year.
00:35:04
WILD ONEZ
There was. Mm-hmm.
00:35:05
Viv
And she goes, conveniently, this is the first time Sarah and I are like really racing together. And she says, there's a lot of bees over here. So we might need to jump from the other side. I go, okay, cool. Like we can totally do that. And she goes, yeah, I'm definitely allergic. And I go, I'm sorry.
00:35:18
Viv
What? And she's like,
00:35:19
WILD ONEZ
I mean, I don't know if I'm deathly allergic. We haven't had find that out yet.
00:35:23
Viv
we haven't had a test that out yet.
00:35:24
WILD ONEZ
hope I never do.
00:35:26
Viv
But she was like, yeah, I'm allergic to bees. And I'm thinking like my mom is allergic to bees, but like she's definitely allergic. So like she anaphylactic shock. She's like the worst allergy person because she doesn't always carry her EpiPen. But like she like that's where my mind went. And I was like, oh, my gosh, I cannot let Sarah die on this course.
00:35:43
Viv
No, no, no, no. I was like, oh, my gosh. So but yes, we figured that out. Definitely communicate with your partner, everybody.
00:35:51
Kayla
that
00:35:54
Kayla
yeah let them know of like any allergy gluten-free issues maybe before you choose to sign up with them I also like that's also something I tell people too I'm like hey you're not allowed to carry any like nuts or gels or bars and if you can't do that that's fine like we won't be a team yeah there are some crazy medevac situations that
00:35:58
Viv
Yeah.
00:35:59
WILD ONEZ
Mm-hmm.
00:36:10
Viv
Yeah.
00:36:16
Kayla
one water, one of which was the guy got stung by a bee. Actually, crazy story is we were on the same island as that team when that happened. So like our teams were back and forth quite a bit and kind of just taking some different routes, but we'd always end up at like the same swim exit. And then we'd like go to the next island together.
00:36:35
Kayla
and We had sort of crossed paths in the woods. It was the second day, so we're pretty tired at that point. and It was super cold.
Teamwork and Mental Strategies during Races
00:36:44
Kayla
And all of a sudden, I hear this helicopter, and I was so tired that if you've ever been out to the archipelago, because this was we were on the World Champs course, so we were on one of those islands.
00:36:55
Kayla
If you've ever been out there, like helicopters should not be out there. There's no reason for them to be out there.
00:37:00
WILD ONEZ
so quiet and pristine.
00:37:01
Viv
Yeah.
00:37:01
Kayla
But I was so tired and I like saw the helicopter. I was like, oh, they must be doing like a like a scenic tour of the Archangelago.
00:37:11
Viv
This is so cool.
00:37:13
Kayla
like, I'm totally just gone and delirious. But then I see the helicopter like getting lower and lower and lower and then it's going below the trees. And I was like, oh, no, I think something's wrong.
00:37:24
Viv
Oh, that's not supposed to be there.
00:37:27
Kayla
And then we see like all these One Water personnel like sprinting towards the helicopter and... We were like, well, it's not our problem. So I had think I had the map at that point, which was insane to say, because we were on a road.
00:37:41
WILD ONEZ
Bye.
00:37:41
Kayla
So i was like, OK, I can do the roads. So then we got to the boat, and Melissa was like, yeah, what's his, I forget his name. He got stung by a bee, and like he's just totally blown up.
00:37:52
Kayla
So yeah.
00:37:54
Viv
That's
00:37:54
Kayla
They medevaced him out and brought him to the hospital, which is super unfortunate. But I guess good to know that out in the archipelago, they have access to medevacs so quickly.
00:38:06
WILD ONEZ
That actually did bring me a little bit of peace of mind when one Water was utilizing those medivacs because... Like you just, you never know out there and you are in the middle of nowhere and it feels very secluded.
00:38:24
WILD ONEZ
Sometimes depending on where you are in the race, you might not see another team for, you know, an hour or so. I know last time Viv and I did it.
00:38:31
Viv
Yeah.
00:38:31
Kayla
Yeah.
00:38:33
WILD ONEZ
Like we were kind of in that awkward middle part of the race or near the end of the race, but like things get really spread out. There's not always large packs that you're with.
00:38:42
Viv
Oh yeah.
00:38:45
WILD ONEZ
So yeah.
00:38:46
Viv
For, yeah, for anybody who doesn't know what warm water is, it's like a world on steroids. It's adventure racing mixed with swim run. Essentially it's and it's done in stages.
00:38:57
Viv
Correct me if I'm completely butchering this, but it's done in stages to where You have somebody who orienteers. You guys have to like plan out kind of your route. have somebody on a boat with your fuel as well to make sure you're fed and kind of coherent, so to say.
00:39:13
Kayla
Yes.
00:39:17
Viv
My personal favorite spot of, I literally have this, I think that's like one of my screensavers. I will put it on there for one water is when Kayla has mastered the standing maps.
00:39:29
Viv
as well as her her her moment of orienteering where she did actually have the map.
00:39:29
WILD ONEZ
Thank
00:39:35
Viv
And she knew where she was going. Let me put that out there. She was like,
00:39:40
Kayla
Oh, that's hilarious.
00:39:40
Viv
so
00:39:41
Kayla
I haven't seen that before. And yeah, for like people that know me, uh, when you sign up to be on a one water team, there's like, you have your roles. And, and honestly, sometimes some of the role is like, you have to have one female on the team.
00:39:56
Kayla
So it's like, all right, I i roll, i show up, I run, I swim.
00:39:57
Viv
We're
00:40:00
Kayla
don't really touch.
00:40:01
Viv
good.
00:40:03
Kayla
Could orienteer things? Yes. Could i do it in a very slow and painful manner? Yes. So in the few times that I did have the map and I actually went the right way and like held the map the right way and didn't have it upside down, you know, going off of like 30, 40 hours a awake, I was very impressed with myself. So that's amazing. I'm glad that i'm glad that someone caught that.
00:40:26
WILD ONEZ
So
00:40:26
Viv
Oh, yeah, no, it was one of my favorite moments, because I know you, too, I'm like, hey, we're gonna, we're gonna do this way, and, like, it was, the boys, they were having, like, it's every race that you do, swim on endurance-wise, like, you guys know this, you're gonna have a moment, you, like, you don't know if it's, I'm gonna empty out both ends, I don't know if i like, I'm gonna have, like, just where i need to walk, or just, like, you know what, like, talk to Jesus, like, or see the little glitter on the ground, like,
00:40:39
Kayla
you
00:40:56
Viv
You have your moment, and that's okay, but you also have a teammate. Again, why swimrun is such a partner sport. Even if you do swimrun solo, like find your people around you and like play tag too because you always have to check up on each other.
00:41:09
Viv
You have to be like, oh, hey, you okay? Okay, you're being fed. Like, all that stuff too because you're going have your moment.
00:41:14
Kayla
Thank
00:41:15
Viv
And like in one water too, it's this huge, massive race through archipelago. And you have moment, but know that you you still can do it. Is there anything that like you personally like kind of like kind of pull out of your back pocket as like, man, I just hit my wall. Like, is there anything that gets you out?
00:41:35
Viv
Cause I sing to Sarah personally to get her out of her funk.
00:41:42
WILD ONEZ
I don't know how it starts, but it's amazing.
00:41:42
Kayla
That's so sweet.
00:41:45
WILD ONEZ
Yeah.
00:41:45
Kayla
That is literally so sweet.
00:41:46
WILD ONEZ
Yeah.
00:41:49
Viv
She's quiet and I'm like singing karaoke.
00:41:51
WILD ONEZ
yeah
00:41:52
Kayla
I am way more scientific about it and I'm not thinking about any other person but myself, selfishly. If I'm having like a low moment, which again, I have usually in every race or multiple low moments,
00:42:01
Viv
Hmm.
00:42:09
Kayla
Something that I think about is I'll just tell myself like, okay, this is going to be five or 10 minutes. And like, just as this has come, like this will also pass. It's not going to pass if I don't do anything about it though. So a lot of times what I'll do, and I actually use this from triathlon is I with like a sports psychologist and what she had me do is like visualize a stop sign. So when I'm starting to like either feel negative or get negative thoughts or feel like I'm maybe like running on empty. I'll picture a stop sign and then like around the stop sign, it'll like, it'll be things like that I need to do. It's like, okay, do I need to drink water?
00:42:48
Kayla
Do I need to eat food? Do I need to talk to somebody, right? Like I'm with a partner. Maybe I just need encouraging words from them or the one I don't like doing as much. Do I need to slow my pace down?
00:43:03
Viv
yeah oh
00:43:05
Kayla
And usually when you hit those low points, it's not near the end of the race, because you're like, oh, I can just grunt it out. But if you're doing Orcas and you're hitting a wall two hours into the race, you're like, oh man, it's gonna be a long day.
00:43:18
Kayla
And it's so easy to just stay in that negative head space. But I always try to like picture the stop sign and just like, okay, what do I need to do to get out of it? And it's usually one of those four things always works.
00:43:31
Viv
pretty good I feel like it's also like when it's weird to compare but like a toddler like you don't know what's going on she's like you hungry are you like our baby like you're like okay because I know I get hangry like if I am not fed it is like so we're tired my mom can attest to that one for sure when you're when you're again in the middle of these races I'm guessing I'm a visual person, so I like stop sign.
00:44:02
WILD ONEZ
Yeah, I'm definitely going to use that.
00:44:02
Kayla
Yeah.
00:44:04
WILD ONEZ
I'm just like thinking about that as you were saying it and like what would be on my stop sign and like what would I need?
00:44:10
Kayla
Yeah.
00:44:11
WILD ONEZ
That's great. that Yeah.
00:44:13
Kayla
You could put make it any color. Like it could, you know, it may it may not even say stop for you. It might say like, check in hold up. What's the rush?
00:44:22
WILD ONEZ
Let's fucking go.
00:44:22
Kayla
Like, yeah.
00:44:23
WILD ONEZ
Yeah.
00:44:28
Kayla
Yeah, can make it say whatever you want, but the point is for you to be able to like catch yourself when it's happening and then do something about it.
00:44:35
WILD ONEZ
Yeah.
00:44:36
Kayla
Not just like, not put it all on your partner and just be like this terrible partner, you know?
00:44:36
WILD ONEZ
So you're being proactive.
00:44:43
Kayla
So, yeah.
00:44:45
WILD ONEZ
Yeah. Great advice. I will definitely be using that my next race. Yeah.
00:44:51
Viv
Do you any other like mental mental notes? Because like, I mean, you going through literally, I mean, when you kind of talked about like the low points of like comparing yourself and all that stuff, like that that's something that I think we all do innately. And it's just like, it's easy to be like, oh my gosh, I'm not fit enough or this race isn't going to be doing this. But like, you know, you've done the work. It's just, oh man, like, am I going to be able to do this the way I want it to?
00:45:18
Viv
and and lightening the load a little bit too because like I am so good at being like oh like I didn't train enough or I didn't do this enough or maybe I didn't feel like the best and reframing it into something different because like for me I have to just realize and like let it go but that took years for me because it's not easy yeah I mean
00:45:40
Kayla
Yeah, well, yeah to me it's to me, it took a lot of visits to the sports psychologist. So, yes
00:45:46
Viv
We love therapists and sports psychologists. We will preach that.
00:45:50
Kayla
i I completely understand. i think things that help me are I go through a lot of visualization exercises before the race. I'll go through a visualization of everything going right.
00:46:03
Kayla
But more importantly, I'll go through a visualization when things go terribly wrong so that when they do when they do go wrong, it's like, you know what? I've been here. i know what I'm going to do. Whether it's like me, whether it's my partner. Oh my gosh, my partner just broke their leg. Well, I've already been in this situation. Like, here's what we're going to do. Or like, again, this has happened to me. I'm swimming. I didn't zip up my suit all the way. All my gels fell out.
00:46:26
Kayla
Now what?
00:46:27
WILD ONEZ
Oh.
00:46:28
Kayla
You know?
00:46:29
Viv
Oh no.
00:46:29
Kayla
That way you're not as tripped up by that.
00:46:30
Viv
Yeah.
00:46:32
Kayla
And then I think another thing that has really helped me, and I know everybody's guilty of it, I'm guilty of it myself, is when you finish the race, You're hanging out at the post-race party and how'd the race go?
00:46:46
Kayla
That used to be my least favorite question because most of the time people are asking really like, what was your time?
00:46:48
Viv
Yeah.
00:46:54
Kayla
What place did you get? Did you win? and let's say you don't have a good day and maybe you didn't, you had a time goal and you didn't get the time goal you wanted. i would always think of something in the race that I would want to highlight instead of oh yeah, like this was my time or no, you know, just like wasn't my day. So instead of saying that or like thinking of an excuse, you know, you can say something like, yeah, you know what, Sarah and I created so many cool memories today or yeah, it was so cool. I got to shake the hand of every single volunteer, you know, like how can someone be mad or disappointed about that? so
00:47:32
Viv
Yeah.
00:47:32
Kayla
I would always have just like something in my back pocket to just say like, to to, I guess like reframe the goal or the day so that I felt like I wasn't trying to like word vomit these like crazy excuses as to like why I didn't have the day I wanted.
00:47:32
WILD ONEZ
yes
00:47:49
Viv
Yeah, that is so true. Like, it's so easy to be like, oh, well, what went wrong in my day? What went wrong in my race versus like, hey, you know what? What went really well?
00:48:00
Viv
Like, I remember to feed myself today. Like, when?
00:48:02
Kayla
Exactly.
00:48:03
Viv
Like, those small things.
00:48:04
WILD ONEZ
Yeah, that's great.
00:48:04
Viv
Yeah.
00:48:06
Kayla
Yeah. It's huge. It's huge.
00:48:08
Viv
I love that. I a huge proponent of, like, all right, positivity time. And sometimes I, like, can be overly positive, but I think it's so helpful when you have, like, hey, you know going to have a good day. But what was really good about it, like,
00:48:26
Viv
Telling somebody about that because like there are so many good things like even the bad and the ugly, especially with endurance racing and you would never know what wall you're going hit.
00:48:34
WILD ONEZ
Oh, do you have any good spicy stories for us about how you maybe, i don't know, was in a experience or in a really hard spot in a race where you did feel really low and you had to pull yourself out of that?
00:48:56
WILD ONEZ
mean,
00:48:56
Kayla
Oh, man. i could
00:48:59
WILD ONEZ
i mean race stories are great.
00:49:02
Kayla
I could throw a dart at a wall here. Actually, I do have one from this year at One Water, and I don't think I've spoken about it publicly.
00:49:08
Viv
Okay.
00:49:11
Kayla
We were four hours into this race, okay? Mind you, this race has a time cap of 60 hours. So being four hours in and already feeling like this, I was like, this is not good. There was a really long swim we did. This ferry had just come through this channel, which meant the ferry had churned up all the already cold water into colder water.
00:49:34
Kayla
And it was super, super choppy. It was super windy. And i was in the like the middle swimming. Justin was in front. And i just remember I quit the race in that swim, like full stop. I said, i am done. i don't care if I disappoint my teammates. I'm going to get to the other side of these rocks. I'm going to jump in the boat.
00:49:57
Kayla
I'm done. Like I'm done with the archipelago. I'm done with Sweden. I'm never coming back here. and then to make matters worse, I started puking. So poor of Vincent behind me is like swimming through my puke because I'm so seasick and I'm so cold.
00:50:07
Viv
Yeah. Oh. Oh.
00:50:14
Kayla
I'm crying through my goggles. I just, I wanted nothing to do with that race ever again. i didn't care. Like nothing mattered at that point except for like wanting to quit that race. And then I got over to the other side.
00:50:30
Kayla
Justin's kneeling over. Justin's puking his brain out. I'm puking his brain out. this sweet, tall, German angel, Vincent, our teammate, gets out of the water and just in the most calmest demeanor, pulls out the map and he's just like, okay guys, we're just, we're gonna go this way.
00:50:49
WILD ONEZ
Bye.
00:50:49
Kayla
And just totally disregards like Justin and I, like i mean having the lowest moment, like what I felt like in my life, I am just bawling my eyes out.
00:50:54
Viv
Like completely vomiting.
00:51:02
Kayla
Could not care less. He's like, come on, Kayla, I'll keep you on the rope, let's go. And like in that moment, I was like, man, like this guy is showing up for me in a way that I've like never felt before.
00:51:14
Kayla
And now i guess I don't wanna let this guy down, which is the benefit of partner racing, right? Is like, it pushes you past your limits in ways that you never thought you could go.
00:51:20
Viv
Yeah.
00:51:25
Kayla
And sure enough, I just had a bad moment. I ate some food and I took some water and I was fine.
00:51:34
Viv
Just a little, little bit of sunshine and on a little rainy cloud.
00:51:36
Kayla
Yeah.
00:51:38
Viv
okay So we're going to go to check. guys and I can just picture him saying that to you guys. He is like, he, I know you've done like other, other recaps and stuff like that of one water this last year.
00:51:51
Viv
And it was like a rollercoaster for your team because you guys had a teammate who was injured and you guys have 24, 48 hours to get somebody else.
00:51:59
WILD ONEZ
you
00:51:59
Viv
and Vincent was the angel that came in and he, I think like, really made your guys' race like he like he just has the best attitude in general but he was truly like this is a little ray of sunshine because even when he was having room moments like you guys were still like again benefit the partner racing that was really cool to like watch you guys do that and like hearing that story just one literally like one demeanor shift just like oh okay yeah yes we're going
00:52:30
Kayla
that was it.
00:52:31
WILD ONEZ
Thank you.
00:52:31
Kayla
And I think it's like so important when you are racing with a partner for Stormrun to like communicate like, hey, when you're having a low moment, how do you want to be talked to? How do you want me to communicate with you?
00:52:42
Viv
yeah
00:52:43
Kayla
Because some people, respond really well to getting yelled at. Some people respond really well, like me, if we just pretend the whole situation doesn't even exist.
00:52:54
Viv
next
00:53:08
Viv
No, I preach that too. Like you can't, you can't just go erase. can't go through life without like, okay, no, I'm still working on my mind reading skills. Like I think I almost have them down, but I'm not, I'm not there yet.
00:53:21
Viv
Sarah and I will, we'll work on it together. don't work guys. And we'll maybe, maybe get down like the twin telepathy, maybe that level of mind reading, but you definitely have to talk to your partner because, or just anybody you're racing with, even if you're doing a marathon and chasing somebody,
00:53:37
Viv
for the first time, or 5K, literally anything. Like, you gotta chat with somebody about how you're feeling.
00:53:43
Kayla
Yeah, yeah, and you gotta like just let your ego go Like whether it's, like I might feel like I have it all together, right? And like some guy, Steve, who I race with, he might be like, Kayla, did you eat? Or did you need to eat?
00:53:54
Kayla
Like, don't take it personally. He's just like, he's just looking out, you know?
00:53:57
WILD ONEZ
Looking out. Yeah.
00:53:59
Kayla
And like, I would do the same.
00:53:59
Viv
He has to make sure you finish the race alive.
00:54:02
Kayla
Yes.
00:54:04
WILD ONEZ
I think that's one of the most like caring things that you can do as like a swim run partner because time is so fluid in the race, right? Like you may not realize 35, 40 minutes gone by in the swim and now you're already running a mile in the next run you're starting to feel like your energy is low, but it just seems too early because time is fluid and it's just, it doesn't always make sense during the day, but your partner, fully coherent.
00:54:31
Viv
Mm-hmm.
00:54:33
WILD ONEZ
knows that it's time to eat and says something. It's like the most wonderful thing you can do. Hey, did you eat? Hey, did you drink? No? Okay, well, let's do it together.
00:54:45
WILD ONEZ
but
00:54:46
Viv
time. Mm-hmm.
00:54:48
Kayla
It sounds so simple, but it's so true.
00:54:51
WILD ONEZ
Yeah. yeah it It's almost silly saying it, but it is really one of the most beneficial things is having that partner there for the reminder.
00:55:02
WILD ONEZ
to do the things you need to do to continue racing and to shoot the shit when, you know, you're in the middle of it. And I don't know, that's when we came up with this idea of starting a podcast. So, you know, creative, creative ideas are flowing.
00:55:17
Kayla
Yeah, and like all the fun stories you hear about races like never come from the races that go well. like I feel like everything I learn about myself and about racing always comes from like just like me being really stupid or just like having a huge accident.
00:55:25
Viv
Oh yeah, know.
Women in Endurance Sports
00:55:36
Kayla
like I don't know. Those are the more fun times, I think, actually.
00:55:41
Viv
Yeah. This is the parts of the race that you remember, I think more. I might be a trauma response, I'm not sure, but it's definitely, it's definitely little bit more on on the list.
00:55:54
Viv
We are, we are, I mean, we're huge proponents of like cheering everybody on too, like during races. And so are you, like every single time we see like Austin is a great one you out and back situation where we get to cheer everybody on.
00:56:09
Viv
And like, I think it's really exciting for us, like, us three, we love getting more women into swimrun. That's why Sarah and I like thought of this podcast idea in the middle of a swimrun. I'm like, need to get more females in. those are like Are there any like huge barriers? Again, you've seen endurance sports from like the beginning to like to now and kind of the mindset shift too. but as As a woman, what kind of walls or pressures
00:56:41
Viv
in endurance sports have you faced either growing up or now or in triathlon? Because like, it's, we all go through life differently. We're all unique. And and the challenges that we face, especially a female in endurance sports.
00:56:55
Kayla
Yeah, that's a great question. i would say for me personally, and like to your point, this is going to be different for every female, regard like depending on like where you live and your community. But for me, it was just like finding women who actually also do endurance sports, like where I live. It's very hard. Although Bend is a great town. It's a very triathlon, you know, middle distance focused town where like there's not like as many people who I can just go out on a run for like eight hours with. And if I can, most of them are men.
00:57:30
Kayla
I have built up that relationship with men and women now, but for a very long time, it was very hard to find other women to go out and run with and be inspired with and swim with.
00:57:30
Viv
Yeah.
00:57:42
Kayla
And then obviously when you train with men, that brings on this additional... pressure, at least I put on myself, which is not only do I have to be as fast as the boys, but I have to be faster.
00:57:54
Kayla
i can never bonk, right? I always have to be perfect and and better than them to prove to them somehow that like I deserve to be here or I belong.
00:58:14
Viv
Yeah.
00:58:15
Kayla
I try not to, but it's it's still hard to not go that route. I think it's just like, i don't know, the pressures of like being a woman in a sport and like wanting to prove worth.
00:58:28
Kayla
Yeah.
00:58:29
WILD ONEZ
Yeah.
00:58:30
Kayla
So yeah, I would say that's that's been, i think the toughest is like finding a community that feels like I can truly just authentically show up on a run and maybe it's just not a good run day and I'm on my period and I'm slow and ugh, you know, but like, it's okay.
00:58:48
Viv
yeah no it's uh that's something that like recently found out I was in the last year maybe two years how much your period actually affects your training it is wild like I was like oh my gosh I'm so slow this week I'm like on my own period like I should be like like feeling stronger like I'm a woman like not oh no it is okay to be this way like
00:59:09
WILD ONEZ
Thank you.
00:59:13
Viv
I've worked with, not to preview anything that we've talked about with Marcus, but like I've worked with Marcus Barton. He's very nice coach now, and he like thinks about, asked him, he's like, so why are you feeling so low? like Genuinely, are you on your period? And i was like, actually, yeah, this week I am. He was like, okay, let's shift this and work on completely different things. like Obviously, we're not going to strength. We're not going to this heavy stuff that you could get hurt because you're our bodies are, again, so different than men's.
00:59:41
Viv
So to even think about that is a whole wide open, different chapter. We could go down five different rabbit holes there.
00:59:49
Kayla
Yeah, and on top of that too, like, a lot of us cannot control when we get our period. So like, if one of us gets our period during Orcus or right before Orcus, like,
01:00:03
Kayla
Again, that's just like a mindset shift you might have to do. And you might say, okay, well, I've done all this training, but maybe just given what my body has today, it's it's not going to be maybe like what I thought. And maybe let's reframe some goals. But yeah, just another thing that us women get to deal with in endurance race training.
01:00:22
Viv
That's the joys of nature.
01:00:22
WILD ONEZ
I think it is pretty crazy because i have done a few races now where I wake up race morning and Mother Nature's like, hello. And yeah, orca actually our first time.
01:00:35
Viv
Yeah, actually, the first the first time we did orchids.
01:00:36
WILD ONEZ
Yeah. And then my first 50 mile race that I did a couple winters ago also happened to me.
01:00:44
Viv
That's right.
01:00:44
WILD ONEZ
And that was a morning where I just absolutely like it was a miracle that I got to the start line and I think that for me, reframing the mindset of your day can actually be a really powerful thing because then you go from like putting your pressure, putting pressure on finishing the race and having, you know, a time specific goal In mind to just being like, okay, well, Mother Nature decided whatever she wanted to do, and now we're here. And then just like letting that go, and then allowing yourself to just have whatever day you're going to have. And honestly, with the two experiences that I've had,
01:01:27
WILD ONEZ
they've probably gone a little better than what I expected or I think what I was hoping for to begin with in the first place. But I think that like the root of that is because I allowed myself just to let it go and to just race with the mindset of it's going to like this race is here.
01:01:46
WILD ONEZ
I'm i'm here. Like whatever is going to happen is going to happen. And we're just going to let it fly and have fun.
01:01:51
Kayla
Yeah, there's like another motto again, like from triathlon. It's like you race the day you're given, not the day you've trained for. And I love that motto so much because it's like there are so many things out of your control, whether it's whether your partner, Like, i don't know, maybe your stomach is totally fine.
01:02:02
Viv
That's really good.
01:02:02
WILD ONEZ
That's good thing. Mm-hmm.
01:02:15
Kayla
And then today you ate a gel and all of a sudden your stomach's not having it, you know? And it's just like, well, this is what I'm given. So I got roll with it.
01:02:25
Viv
Mm-hmm.
01:02:26
WILD ONEZ
I think it makes the experience more enjoyable and memorable as well. If you can go from that very rigid mindset of maybe like a goal that you had into like, okay, well, this is my circumstance and I guess it just is what it is.
01:02:40
WILD ONEZ
And now we're going to make the most of it instead of fighting against it, whatever's happening, like doing your best in the moment in that race to just allow yourself to experience
01:02:43
Viv
Mm-hmm.
01:02:53
WILD ONEZ
what it is, what's happening and not just like giving up control of some of that.
01:02:56
Kayla
Yeah, I'll be, I will be vulnerable here and and share a story of when I had to do that. Two years ago, I think I did Orcas with my partner, Steve, who I had met there, amazing guy, great guy, if you ever need a partner, Steve's great.
01:03:13
Kayla
I had just come back from One Water and the World Championships, so my body was very tired. I had no business going to Orcas and doing that race.
01:03:24
Kayla
And not even five or six minutes into the race, my body just like totally gave out, like going up a hill. I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was having like an anxiety attack. My whole body was like numb.
01:03:36
Kayla
My legs just felt like wet tree trunks. And again, we are six minutes into this race. and I just start bawling my eyes out to this man who I had just met the night before.
01:03:50
Viv
Thank
01:03:50
Kayla
And I'm like, like i you know i was in a very negative headspace and I was just like, Steve, you know what? today's not my day. I can, I can tell you this much. Like I, I don't know what's going on with my body. I don't have control over it. I'm so sorry. Like I'm going to have to walk up this hill, all these, the whole fricking race was, was passing us. I was so embarrassed. And the last, that was just the last thing I wanted to do was continue that race with him. I felt so bad. I felt like I was letting him down.
01:04:17
Kayla
I was being a bad partner. And he just like gave me a hug and he's just like, hey it's all good. Like my only goal is to just like be out here and in the woods. Like, and he was just, was so nice.
01:04:27
Viv
I love
01:04:28
Kayla
And we we ended up just having so much fun that day. And we were just like laughing and and giggling. And, he trusted me enough to do another race with him somehow.
01:04:39
Viv
that.
01:04:40
Kayla
And i still remember that as like one of my most fun,
01:04:42
Viv
Amazing.
01:04:45
Kayla
races because here I am just meeting this random dude and then I'm just crying five minutes into the race. he' you know He's probably like, what did I sign up for? like Who is this woman?
01:04:56
Kayla
But when you're able to just like totally surrender and just say, like screw it, let's just finish this race, oh crazy things can happen.
01:04:57
Viv
yeah.
Positive Mindset and Personal Growth
01:05:05
WILD ONEZ
Something very liberating about that. Like, I don't know. i hope that I can start races in that mindset more often. i had an experience at the start line of High Lonesome 100 this summer. And we had a very crazy spring, summer moving. We moved into this house, fully like moved into this house six days before the race.
01:05:35
WILD ONEZ
And between the move, the training, i just, I knew that it wasn't like, I knew going into it, like, I had no idea what was going happen.
01:05:36
Viv
Yeah.
01:05:48
WILD ONEZ
I've never been in any territory like this before. And standing on that start line was probably the calmest that I'd ever been. Because I just allowed myself to have a day out in the woods in the backyard, like,
01:06:22
Kayla
Wow, that is so cool. It's so it's so crazy, like, what our mental state can do in a positive or negative way, like when it comes to, like, certain kinds of performance.
01:06:32
WILD ONEZ
Yeah.
01:06:35
Kayla
That's crazy.
01:06:37
WILD ONEZ
yeah
01:06:37
Viv
It's wild. I mean, I will definitely attest a taso witness, Sarah, in the Highlands. And I saw her at 30 miles. And she, like, you could just tell, like, the demeanor shifts.
01:06:49
Viv
because i knew she was nervous but like staying here she literally came down that valley and was like smiling she was like i'm so like my body like my toes like everything like kind of hurts but like i'm good i'm so like i'm just happy to be here like hi she was like i just need pierogies like i'm good i'm like you could 30 miles in like one of the hardest terrains and like the and i think just like that also radiates too
01:07:00
WILD ONEZ
What do you expect?
01:07:17
Viv
to other people at the race. Like if you go in there and you're like, Hey, you know what? This is the day that i'm I'm given, like, regardless of my training, like I'm here have a good time. And I think that that's like why swim run is so special too, is I think we have a lot of athletes with, with there a variety of backgrounds that like good or bad, you show up and you, you try your best and you have fun. And I think that's just the vibe from run as well.
01:07:45
Viv
general,
01:07:46
Kayla
Yeah.
01:07:46
Viv
You can have a bad time.
01:07:48
Kayla
Yeah. And you can have you can have you have the worst race ever and sometimes they'll they'll race with you again.
01:07:48
Viv
Even if you have a bad time, like you're still gonna have fun.
01:07:56
Kayla
and
01:07:57
Viv
please
01:07:58
Kayla
or you'll make friends along the way. And when you cross the finish line, Like nobody cares, like nobody cares what place you come in. I think we all just care that you went out, you tried something maybe like new or foreign or totally different.
01:08:09
WILD ONEZ
You have
01:08:15
Kayla
You put yourself out there and you just made some good memories.
01:08:20
WILD ONEZ
And did you have fun? I feel like that's the most, was it fun? Like the most asked questions, did you have a good day?
01:08:25
Viv
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
01:08:30
Kayla
Yes.
01:08:30
Viv
What? Yeah. is It's just exciting, I think, to get, like, that feeling out there. we all We all try and chase it, like, I think that first, like, oh, my gosh, I'm doing this. This is so fun. And then, like, i it's just, it's so it's so cool. And, like, we...
01:08:48
Viv
we have this podcast to like talk about the good, the bad, ugly of, of swim run, but also endurance sports. And I think it's what makes us so special is like the variety of people we've gotten to talk to, but through your, your background and now like swim run, like, like, I think I have your name and my contact is like Kayla swim run guppy queen because like you, you really are a guppy. And, but yeah,
01:09:16
Viv
you You just set an incredible example. Like, I know, like, there's, I will, you're literally one of my favorite people ever. There's so many favorite people. Like, you're on that list. But what advice do you have for people who like, you've you've seen it, you've done it all. Like, what advice do you have for people just coming into endurance sports or even thinking about, like, ooh, can I do this?
01:09:40
Kayla
Yeah, oh my gosh, there's so many ways could go about this. Don't be afraid to have fun and just ask dumb questions. Like, I mean, I know this saying like, oh, no questions, like a dumb question.
01:09:52
Kayla
But like, I think I went into swim run thinking I knew everything about it because I come from a triathlon background. So it's like, I know how to run. I know how to swim. Like, how hard can this be?
01:10:02
Kayla
And yeah, I felt like i felt scared or embarrassed to like ask questions or like, what's a tether?
01:10:02
WILD ONEZ
Mm-hmm.
01:10:09
Kayla
Like, oh, those are some cool paddles. Like, where did you get those? I was just way too, up my own ego to ask anybody for help or advice.
01:10:24
Kayla
So now I like try to be that person for other people. So if like people come to me, it's like, here, let me help you with like all the problems that I didn't do myself, which is like why I always go to like the shakeout runs before all the races and stuff.
01:10:35
Viv
That's incredible.
01:10:41
Kayla
And I like to just like meet all the new people. And just like, I don't know, just put yourself out there. Just like sign up for something that sounds crazy.
01:10:50
Kayla
You know, this girl I talked to at work, she messaged me and she's like, Kayla, you inspired me to start figure skating because of like everything you do with your sports.
01:10:58
Viv
incredible
01:11:00
Kayla
And I was like, wow, that's wild. Like, but she just did it. You know, like, even if it scares you, even if you don't know anything about it, just sign up for it.
01:11:06
Viv
Yeah.
01:11:09
Kayla
Like, I promise you, you will figure it out.
01:11:12
WILD ONEZ
I love that. It does.
01:11:13
Kayla
Yeah.
01:11:14
WILD ONEZ
like Yeah, truly, though, like the first step is just like signing up and like that commitment and then figuring out the rest as you go. and Like, don't overthink the sign up.
01:11:25
WILD ONEZ
All you're doing is signing something and paying some money like they're like, you don't have to have it all figured out when you sign up.
01:11:26
Kayla
No.
01:11:32
Viv
No, you figure out like steps A through Z later. Sometimes all I is some dust tape and rope and you're good.
01:11:41
Viv
And some airplane ties.
01:11:41
Kayla
Yeah.
01:11:42
Viv
That's what my dad my dad loves there, zip ties. You can do he can do anything with those three things. You were unstoppable, let me tell you.
01:11:48
WILD ONEZ
Oh
01:11:49
Kayla
What about like a pocket knife? Do we do we need that or scissors?
01:11:53
Viv
Well, maybe. I mean, your teeth. If it's depending on who we'll get aggressive with the...
01:12:00
Kayla
want to like cut the rope.
01:12:03
Viv
Or nature. I mean, we're going to be out in nature. rock.
01:12:08
WILD ONEZ
Yeah, I don't know how we got here.
01:12:11
Viv
We don't know how we get here most of the time. it's
01:12:16
WILD ONEZ
love is Okay, wine one last question for you, maybe.
01:12:20
Kayla
Oh my God, that's
01:12:26
WILD ONEZ
What would be a piece of advice that you would give your younger self that was just starting to get into endurance sports?
01:12:35
Kayla
amazing.
01:12:37
Viv
That's a good one.
01:12:38
Kayla
Oh. Don't be so hard on yourself.
01:12:40
Viv
Yeah. yeah
01:12:41
Kayla
I... I put so much pressure on myself to do everything perfectly and better.
01:12:43
WILD ONEZ
Yeah.
01:12:51
Kayla
And like all my, all my trainings would like live in training peaks. And a lot of times I would do my trainings in like three week blocks and the swim before last week had to be faster than last week's.
01:13:01
Kayla
And then this week's had to be faster than those two. And it's like, I just got so caught up in the things that I thought mattered, like really didn't.
01:13:12
Kayla
And like what really matters is just being consistent with your training, sleeping, drinking water, fueling your body and creating like a healthy mental space in your brain where like you have an outlet where you can like talk to friends and family. Like when it comes down to it, it's, that's really it.
01:13:33
Kayla
That's all training is like you can make all the spreadsheets and have all the coaches in the world, but like, It really just comes down to like working out every day and like eating and sleeping. All those little things about your pace, whether you're slower than this week than last week, like, God, none of that matters.
01:13:54
Kayla
Just like, remember to have fun. Like, don't get so caught up in your average pace with everything. Fun fact, I haven't, I have not owned a watch since August.
01:14:06
Kayla
Every single...
01:14:07
Viv
You do you everything watch list.
01:14:09
Kayla
Yeah, every single run, every single swim I've done, i have done without a watch. And let me tell you how liberating that is. It's amazing.
01:14:21
WILD ONEZ
I bet. I experienced a little bit of that when I did No Watch November last year.
01:14:27
WILD ONEZ
which
01:14:27
Kayla
Vivian's like, you guys are insane.
01:14:30
Viv
Well, I've started swimming without my watch, but it's only when there's a workout that I can remember because there will be some like, if i if I'm not in a good headspace or just like just need to swim, it's really helpful to have my watch discount. Like if I have like an 8K set or whatever, like if I have a long, long set, like four 800 or whatever, like if I have something crazy like that,
01:14:57
Viv
I need my watch to count for me because I just want to I just want to swim i just want to let go. So those are the times where I really like have my watch with me. But I have started have started to swim without my watch and run without my watch too. Like there's like, i' I'll manually and put stuff in Strava. Like i I love having Strava to like look back to memory, see my old routes. Like, oh, like I remember...
01:15:22
Viv
running this one, this was really fun I a hill or whatnot. Or like if somebody asked me like, hey, do you like any routes? Oh, okay, here we go. So I'm a metric queen and in that way. And I think I'm just figuring out like my heart rate too. So like i'm I'm getting more into that.
01:15:38
Viv
But I do swim without my watch sometimes.
01:15:42
Kayla
I'm really proud of you, actually. i know I know how hard that is for you.
01:15:44
Viv
Sometimes.
01:15:48
WILD ONEZ
a
01:15:49
Viv
So we get there, but yes, so will I will wear my watch. But it does it does die and I just don't find my charger and everyone everyone's like, oh my gosh, you do that? And I go, yeah, you just I have to wear another watch because my tan line is so bad.
01:16:01
WILD ONEZ
Or cover it.
01:16:01
Viv
That's the only thing. Like I have to cover it with another watch. because When you live in a sunny state like Louisiana, it's it's the watch tan line
Future Goals and Reflections
01:16:09
Viv
year round. It doesn't come and go.
01:16:13
Viv
It's there.
01:16:13
Kayla
That's true.
01:16:14
Viv
It's a fashion statement, I will say.
01:16:15
Kayla
That's fair. That is fair.
01:16:19
Viv
Okay, I have one more final question. It's not really a question, but I know where we're doing Orcas. What other races can you tell us about that you're doing? Or dream races, I should say.
01:16:33
Viv
Because I know you have like a lot of things up your sleeve, a lot of things that are moving, coming up in the next couple of years as well.
01:16:33
Kayla
I'm so
01:16:41
Viv
But is are there anything that like you're looking forward to either racing or experiencing this year?
01:16:47
Kayla
Yes, I, there's a few things at the end of the year that I haven't figured out yet. So I'm like TDD on some, some races, but need to figure that out.
01:16:58
Kayla
But super excited this year. I'm going to go to Rockman. Yeah.
01:17:03
Viv
Yay! You're going love it. It's so fun. We got to get Sarah there, but
01:17:07
Kayla
been an absolute bucket list item for me. I've seen so many people over the last three years go over there and do it. And I get crazy FOMO. I know you guys did it.
01:17:17
Kayla
Kate did it. I've just been like, I'm like, I got to do it. Like this year is the year. So I signed up with my friend, Chris, who's from the UK. We are super excited.
01:17:28
Kayla
He's done it before at least. So he has
01:17:29
Viv
Okay, I was about to ask, yeah.
01:17:31
Kayla
some knowledge, but another fun thing that I'm adding on, which might feel like a weird fact is before i go to Rockman, I'm actually going to go over to Paris and I'm going to spend like three days over in Normandy exploring like the D-Day area.
01:17:50
Kayla
Cause I'm like a big world war two buff.
01:17:50
Viv
That's so cool.
01:17:53
Kayla
So yeah, my, my taper will be like going to like, Omaha Beach.
01:18:00
Viv
Oh my gosh, you're gonna have to tell me how it am I am too a World War Two nerd. So please, I will I will be like, That's incredible.
01:18:11
WILD ONEZ
Bye.
01:18:12
Kayla
I'll send you pictures. of Yeah, so like honestly, I don't know which one's going to be more fun. Like going and doing that or doing rock music.
01:18:21
Viv
guys
01:18:22
Kayla
But yeah, couple other races. I'm TBD on the world championships currently. I do have a spot, but TBD on that, I think.
01:18:30
Viv
Yeah.
01:18:34
Kayla
later on, I would love to get more into like true adventure racing. I think that's something that's like really, really interesting to me and, and getting better at navigation so that I can feel confident in my orienteering skills.
01:18:39
Viv
yeah
01:18:51
Kayla
but also, like I said before, i think one of my goals too, is to just like do a swim run with a female that's never done a swim run. I actually got
01:19:01
Viv
Yeah.
01:19:01
Kayla
hit up two days ago on Instagram, this girl who lives in Bend is like, Hey, i want to train for my first swim run. Like, can I pick your brain? So I'm going to go grab coffee with her, week.
01:19:11
Viv
Nice.
01:19:11
Kayla
So that's the sort of stuff that actually like really fires me up to be honest.
01:19:17
Viv
That's really cool. Oh, I love that.
01:19:18
Kayla
Yeah. Yeah.
01:19:21
Viv
Like, hey, so this is the swimrun Kool-Aid. Take a big gulp and we will well get you we'll get you set.
01:19:27
WILD ONEZ
with Sourmon sauce.
01:19:31
WILD ONEZ
this coffee is spiked with somon
01:19:36
Viv
Don't mind it. It tastes normal.
01:19:38
Kayla
Close your eyes. It's okay.
01:19:42
Viv
That's awesome.
01:19:43
WILD ONEZ
That's amazing.
01:19:43
Viv
I'm so excited for that. Yeah.
01:19:45
Kayla
Yeah.
01:19:46
WILD ONEZ
I also love that our community is like this.
01:19:47
Kayla
Yeah.
01:19:49
WILD ONEZ
So just inviting and welcoming to newcomers.
01:19:53
Kayla
Oh, yeah. I think like we probably know how it feels to not have this type of community available.
01:19:54
WILD ONEZ
We're really...
01:20:00
Viv
yeah
01:20:01
Kayla
So it's really cool to be there for... people when maybe like we didn't have those resources like when we entered swimrun.
01:20:11
Viv
Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, like, I'll tell my entire run club knows about swim run and they still ask questions. Like, it's gotten kind of bad. Oh, like, even my coworkers, like, I traveled a lot last year. did Rockman with Kate. I did Worlds with Lex. So, like, I was gone almost every weekend.
01:20:29
Viv
But because of swim run or racing, And my co-workers were like, oh, what are you doing this weekend? You are doing another race? And i was like, actually, no, I'm personally traveling. Like, this is this is for fun, guys. Like, I'm not doing a racecation.
01:20:42
Viv
But it's all, like, it's so cool to see, like, how far swimrun reaches, too, like, globally. it It truly is global. Like, yeah, strap on and running and all that stuff is too. But, like, it's so niche. And, like, when you get another swimrunner from, like, literally any other country,
01:21:00
Viv
So at states, like you, you automatically are like, oh, speaking same language. Like, oh, that's your pool will be set up, paddles. So it's really, it's so cool like have it like be, and again, like why we started the podcast too is to really have conversations like this of like, hey, we, here's something that you might've thought of, but we're gonna talk about, especially being a woman in endurance sports. And then little taboo to talk about your period with,
01:21:29
Viv
But guys, even though I think, like, all the guys in swim run, haven't met anybody who's, like, completely grossed out. They will come up in conversation, like, oh, man, cramps or whatever. Like, oh, here's some Aleve. I don't know what you want. Like, do you need a do you need a cheeseburger? Like, and it's, but there's so many taboo topics that we talk about that don't get talked about, really, unless you're, like,
01:21:57
Viv
in like a little bubble and you're like, hey guys, so can we talk about this? And you're yeah, this is it. This is nothing that it should be put in a box. Like, it's okay.
01:22:10
Kayla
Totally. Totally.
01:22:12
Viv
No.
01:22:12
Kayla
That's why I'm super stoked. You guys made this podcast. I'm honored that you want to be on here. cannot wait to get it out, share it with the masses so that you guys' is podcast explodes.
01:22:26
WILD ONEZ
Woohoo.
01:22:27
Viv
Well, you're definitely going to go viral. so Nothing else.
01:22:30
WILD ONEZ
Yeah. You'll be famous.
01:22:35
WILD ONEZ
Just because of this podcast. Nothing else. so
01:22:39
Viv
wild ones.
01:22:41
Kayla
I love it. can't
01:22:44
WILD ONEZ
Oh, it's hilarious. There's such a little small niche group of people who listen to the podcast.
01:22:53
WILD ONEZ
So thank you for coming on because we are very excited to share it and hopefully grow our listeners and grow all of the women out there who are interested in swim run, but just maybe might need that little push to really sign up for the next race. We're really hoping that this will help.
01:23:12
WILD ONEZ
like normalize the nerves, normalize all of those feelings that like it's okay to sign up for something and not be 100% sure how it's going to go. And just taking that next step into, you know, figuring out and finding out, you know, what your limits are.
01:23:30
WILD ONEZ
I think that's what that's what it's about.
Conclusion and Farewell
01:23:32
WILD ONEZ
So thank you for joining us, helping us spread the good word.
01:23:37
Kayla
Thank you. And everybody remember the after party is in Sarah's Airbnb at Orcas for her birthday.
01:23:46
Viv
Yeah, it will if you look at Mount Constitution, they'll be blasted on the side.
01:23:51
WILD ONEZ
Yep.
01:23:52
Viv
Sarah's birthday, this address. Let me know. if you If you are interested in the after party find one of us three and we will give you the beat.
01:23:56
WILD ONEZ
You won't want to miss
01:24:05
WILD ONEZ
Oh, amazing.
01:24:06
Kayla
Can't wait.
01:24:08
WILD ONEZ
Awesome. Well, thank you all for listening to this episode of the podcast and we'll see you next time. Love y'all. Bye.
01:24:15
Viv
Hey!