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Alissa König living and training in Spain, battling through injury, Olympic dream, lessons to become a better athlete, changing coaches, change of scenery to improve mindset, working with a team, being the best version of herself, love of baking and family time
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On today’s episode of Just In Stride, we’re joined by Swiss triathlete Alissa König, a standout competitor in short-course racing and a dedicated member of the Swiss national team. Alissa discovered triathlon at a young age and quickly embraced the sport's complexity and intensity.
Since then, she has represented Switzerland on the international stage, including a national title in the sprint distance and appearances at major European and World Triathlon events. Alissa approaches the sport with precision and purpose, continually refining her performance across all three disciplines.
In this episode, she shares her journey through triathlon, the challenges of elite competition, and her aspirations for the future. Whether racing internationally or recharging back home, Alissa moves through it all with clarity, purpose, and a deep love for the sport.
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Transcript
Introduction to Just In Stride Podcast
00:00:03
Speaker
Hello and welcome to the Justin Stride podcast. I'm your host, Justin Pugliese. If you love endurance sports, you've definitely come to the right place. On this show, we'll talk to athletes, coaches, and professionals who can help us reach our true potential.
00:00:18
Speaker
Being a student of distance running for over 10 years and interviewing people in the sport for the last five, I've learned a ton, but there's always more to discover. Everyone has a story and I know you'll resonate with each of our guests as we embark on this new journey together.
00:00:34
Speaker
Join us at home, on the road, or while you run. Together we'll have some fun. So follow along on Instagram at JustInStridePod and your favorite podcast platform and prepare to be inspired.
00:00:47
Speaker
Come along for the ride with Just In Stride.
Sponsorships and Discounts
00:00:50
Speaker
This episode is presented by our friends at Exact Nutrition, a tasty and healthy way to fuel your body before, during, and after a solid training session.
00:01:00
Speaker
I never had out for a run without a few exact energy fruit bars in my pocket, and now they've made fueling even easier with their brand new minis. Same great taste, now in bite-sized pieces.
00:01:13
Speaker
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00:01:26
Speaker
Get 15% off your order with code JUSTINSSTRIDE at exactnutrition.com. We're also supported by our friends at Lagoon, the experts in deep restorative sleep, the ultimate recovery tool for your training.
00:01:41
Speaker
When I spoke with Ryan Hurley, the founder of Lagoon on episode 37 of the podcast, I learned just how important the right pillow is for optimal sleep and performance. After taking their two minute quiz and finding my perfect match, I finally started waking up refreshed and ready to tackle my goals.
00:01:58
Speaker
Now Lagoon is offering 15% off your first purchase with the code STRIDE. So head to lagoon sleep.com and see for yourself why better sleep leads to better running.
Interview with Elisa Koenig: Swiss Triathlete's Journey
00:02:10
Speaker
On today's episode of Justin's Stride, we're joined by Swiss triathlete a Elisa Koenig. A standout competitor in short course racing and a dedicated member of the Swiss national team, Alyssa discovered triathlon at a young age and quickly embraced the sport's complexity and intensity. Since then, she has represented Switzerland on the international stage, including a national title in the sprint distance and appearances at major European and world triathlon events.
00:02:39
Speaker
Alyssa approaches the sport with precision and purpose, continually refining her performances across all three sports. In this episode, she shares her journey through triathlon, the challenges of elite competition, and her aspirations for the future.
00:02:56
Speaker
Whether racing internationally or recharging back home, Alyssa moves through it all with clarity, purpose, and a deep love for the sport.
00:03:06
Speaker
Welcome to the Just In Stride podcast, Alyssa. Pleasure to have you on today. Thank you so much. it's So nice to be here. Yeah, you you came up as a recommendation from from my wife. she's ah She's a big fan being a Swiss-born and you're an up-and-coming triathlete that she's ah she's quite fond of. So I'm super happy to have you. That's very nice to hear, you yeah.
00:03:28
Speaker
Um, yeah, so usually I like to get started just to, you know, see how things are going for you recently. I know you're currently in Spain. Um, so I guess, is that like a, uh, optimal training ground for you? How did that kind of, how's that going for you?
00:03:41
Speaker
Yeah, it's going ah very well, which is like, or done with the winter block and we start racing, uh, soon. Well, I had my first race, uh, two weeks ago and my next race is in like in two weeks in China.
00:03:55
Speaker
ah Yeah, it's very, it's very good in Spain. um It was hard. Winter is always hard, like Switzerland, obviously it's a bit colder than Spain, but winter block always hits hard and I'm happy we see some light now to start racing. Yeah.
00:04:13
Speaker
And how long you been outside of of Switzerland? ah What was the main decision for you to to move away and and and kind of build a life in Spain?
Injuries, Motivation, and Support
00:04:23
Speaker
Well, I had some very good complicated years 2022 and 2023 with injuries and also some um private struggles. And I just knew either I'm done with this sport because I didn't find any any happiness in it I did not have fun training. Like every day waking up, I was just not motivated. And then the injuries obviously were a very hard ah obstacle as well.
00:04:52
Speaker
um So I knew, okay, I have to look around for a group to motivate me. And there's not, there's not that many groups. And I only had like this group in mind because it's a mixed group. It's not only girls, it's boys and girls. So for me,
00:05:07
Speaker
It was clear I'm done and or I'm going to the JFT crew. So that's coached by Joel Filio and Drew Box. um yeah so i'm I was like not really thinking I would make the team or anything. So I just sent random requests.
00:05:27
Speaker
started to talk a bit. And that's done how i am like I just had directly a very good feeling with how they talk and how they they are with the athletes. And that's how the I made my decision to come here. And and the first time I visited Girona, I think I fell in love with the city.
00:05:45
Speaker
And I'm very, very happy here. So have you, did you know the city but prior to to moving there or like, did you have to kind of go to feel it out or? Yeah, had to, i I went like for a weekend and obviously i heard the name, but I didn't never like Google or be interested to go there because Switzerland for me is like, I don't know, we have everything in Switzerland, you know, so I was never really thinking to go abroad. I always told all my friends and family that's a hundred percent no for me. I will never do that.
00:06:16
Speaker
So, and then my best friend came with me to come to Girona for like two nights to see the coaches, see the group, get a bit of feeling for the city. And I think that's then where like my whole head like said like, okay, it's a yes, it's not a no anymore.
00:06:34
Speaker
Yeah, because that's a big decision to make, you know, for for somebody so young already in the sport and finding early success. um was Was it something that you had been feeling for a while?
00:06:47
Speaker
ah Was it more spurred from the injuries that kind of confirmed where you were at and in that headspace? Or was it kind of like a all at once kind of kind of deal to make a decision like that?
00:06:58
Speaker
I think it came slowly, but at the same time, all at once, because I lost the training center that we had in Switzerland. It moved from like a location to the other and they changed the coach and I just...
00:07:13
Speaker
didn't feel very good in the new environment and with the new coach. So I realized pretty quickly that's not it. So I moved back to Zurich and I was very sure that I can do everything by myself. I swim, bike and run by myself and I will be fine.
00:07:29
Speaker
um Yeah, but I really was not fine. Like I did not enjoy it. And I'm a very social person and then training three times a day by yourself. was very, very hard.
00:07:39
Speaker
And then obviously the injury came with it. So there was a stress fracture. Then there was a crash. So I broke my hand and I needed surgery. That was all in 2023. And then in the same year, I also needed in the end surgery for the stress fracture again, because it didn't heal.
00:07:56
Speaker
So then it just blew up. Like, I think my whole life blew up when I was injured because it's like, okay, I can't do this anymore. I can't do this alone. I need someone. So but maybe less about the place and and more about the the feeling that you would get with the support that you have now. Yeah.
00:08:12
Speaker
Yeah. I'm even now I'm like, Oh, why did I not do this earlier? Well, you always know when you try, but I'm like, Oh, I should have moved here like four years ago in this group because I just feel so good here. And I'm so happy.
00:08:26
Speaker
And is that is that something common for like Swiss triathletes? Like, you know, there's there's there's quite a big list of amazing triathletes coming out of Switzerland. Is this common for them also to to move somewhere else and to find these these training groups?
00:08:43
Speaker
I think we have some Swiss athletes that are or were very ah successful that lived in Switzerland and trained in Switzerland, but we also have 50% of them that actually moved somewhere and are very successful with like international groups and stuff. So I really think it depends what kind of person you are, if you can train a alone or if you need someone to look at you and probably just tell you today's not a good day, come out of the pool or come off the bike, like go home, stuff like that.
00:09:10
Speaker
I think it depends. what kind of athlete you are. Yeah. And do you find like the, the community in in Switzerland is, is the triathlon community is supportive that way? Or do you find, you find that sense of community a little bit ah more kind of where you are right now?
00:09:28
Speaker
Um, I think, I think it's more here, the, the understanding and everything. It's even if you look at small things, maybe not the community, but the cars in Switzerland, they just,
00:09:41
Speaker
Sorry to say, I think they hate cyclists. So I had everything. I had people spitting at me, then the classic like with the window cleaning things. And they just overtake you like so aggressive while here they basically cycle behind you for 20 minutes and wait until they find a slot to overtake you.
00:10:00
Speaker
It's these things and everyone's just more, yeah, understanding and chilled. I mean, of course, it's also Switzerland and Spain is a very big difference of mentality.
00:10:11
Speaker
But yeah, they're very understanding here. So do you find that you, so you find maybe your mentality goes a little bit more with the the Spanish ah life than with the Swiss life?
00:10:22
Speaker
um In the beginning, no. i was like, you know, when you go to grocery and they just take forever to like scan your things or take a phone call while you're dating. was like, oh, come on. And now actually...
00:10:34
Speaker
I'm so used to it. And if I go home and everything's like, baba ram and then ah you just stand there and you're like, okay, everything goes so fast. But I think, m yeah, I could never imagine my whole life in Spain. I will always move back to Switzerland. I mean, think Switzerland has my heart. That's not the decision, but for the sport, it's definitely better here.
00:10:55
Speaker
Yeah. And you noticed that that when you're in Switzerland, you know, everything works, it's on time, but so are the people. They're very on point, you know? i mean, at the station, everyone's just in a rush. And if you miss the train, they just go to get a coffee with you and chill for an hour until the next train goes in Switzerland. It's like, I'm 15 minutes late and it's big trauma. ah So, yeah.
00:11:18
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. So what did that do? You know, the the injuries and stuff. How did that how did you how do you feel like you handled that situation? Was it where you were you kind to yourself? Was it was it, you know, some athletes can get depressed?
00:11:34
Speaker
How did you handle that and then and then find a way to move move forward from there? And so when I had the first stress fracture in 2023, I i was ah was, of course, it's never nice to know or to find out, but I just thought, okay, you know, it's a part of the sport. You're injured now. You have time until, no, sorry, the first one was 2022. I said that wrong.
00:11:58
Speaker
and But I, that you have time until the Olympics, obviously that was a very big goal, but I think I, I stayed pretty chilled and I was like, I'm fine, I can focus on my swimming. um So the first one was fine, but I restarted training and I could feel the whole time something's not right. I can feel there's still some weird pain, but you know, as an athlete and also the everyone tells you, oh, it's fine. Maybe you just, you know, still feel it a bit.
00:12:27
Speaker
It's still healing or there was something. and So I just kept going. And then I trained a very good winter into 2023. And I crashed in February on like a little ice spot, actually on my birthday as well. So I spent my whole birthday in the emergency room.
00:12:46
Speaker
Oh no. yeah And then I had to get surgery the next day because it was pretty bad, broken. But I mean, the hand is a small thing. So I was like, okay, there's like something else that tries to knock me down, but I'm still fine. i keep going.
00:13:00
Speaker
I had to cancel the first races, but I was still like, okay. um And then I just did the first race back beginning of 2023 after my hand healed. And I could just feel it was an Olympic distance and a run, was like, something's wrong. And my foot was swollen
Olympic Dreams and Future Focus
00:13:19
Speaker
again. And I was just very confused.
00:13:21
Speaker
And that's when I decided, ok okay, need to see specialist. And then they looked at things and he basically said in my face, okay, if you, you can keep going, but there's a risk that your whole foot just breaks through basically the bone.
00:13:35
Speaker
um Yeah. You can like minimize and just try to do the surgery as late as possible. But the sooner the better. And I think that's where where I realized, okay, I'm not good.
00:13:50
Speaker
And I always push my feelings a bit away. And I was like, with my old coach, we decided we would just push through the season and try to like, um do not too much loading with the running. So we focused swimming, cycling and some hard run sessions, but no easy sessions anymore.
00:14:07
Speaker
and So the loading was down and then we raced in Hamburg and I raced mentally so bad. And that's where like then everything just...
00:14:19
Speaker
Well, I was um maybe not depressed, but I could just and let my feelings come up and I could just feel I'm in a very, very bad state at the moment. And I didn't not realize that before.
00:14:30
Speaker
And that's where we then decide with the doctor, when's your next appointment for the surgery? And like one week or like five days after um the race, I i had my foot surgery.
00:14:43
Speaker
what What does it mean for you to not race well mentally? and It was,
00:14:52
Speaker
I just always said, okay, I knew there was a surgery coming. So I was thinking like, I can handle that, you know, but you always still think, I have a twitch in my foot. And obviously the doctor said, you know, it can break. There's a chance that it can break. And if it breaks, we have a problem. It's not that easy to rebuild like the whole foot.
00:15:10
Speaker
And I think that was always like somewhere in my mind, but I told everyone around me, I'm fine. Like, I can do this. I don't feel the foot. We could just push through. And I think then the race in Homburg was with the semifinals and repishot in finals and then in the semifinals I did not make the finals by one spot so I had to go the repishage and then i didn't make it in the repishage and I was just like what's wrong with you like something just mentally I wasn't I couldn't focus on racing I was like somewhere else I was not even thinking of my foot I was just mentally not there and I didn't want to be there it's more that I was like on the start line and I was like I don't want to do this I don't want to race and you don't want to stand on a WTCS start line and think that
00:15:55
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. And ex cube excuse my ignorance, but even for people listening, what's the repishage that you're you you mentioned? So it was just like, um if you didn't make it them in the semifinals, you had like ah ah second semifinal for every for everyone that didn't make it to the final from all the semifinals, they would come back together and then go again and then hopefully go into the next day.
00:16:22
Speaker
But Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. It's like a second chance kind of thing. Got you. Got you. Well, I can see how that can be difficult with so many factors going into a race. Like you just want to be feeling good and just ready to go and the body feels good. But I guess when there's all these factors and and you're not a hundred percent with so much uncertainty, that can definitely weigh on the mind a little bit for sure.
00:16:48
Speaker
um But here you are today. and And I guess these decisions too, they, they are amplified by upcoming Olympics and selections and all that stuff too. I'm sure that weighs on you as well, right?
00:17:01
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. i always, well, of of course, at some point you'd like, okay, there's no chance. I mean, I had special criteria that I was um possible for me to hit like in 2024, if I would have been like, obviously like so strong on the racing, they would have reconsidered to qualify me.
00:17:22
Speaker
But with my new coaches, they always said, okay, we are planning for the future. We don't focus on this. For me, was hard to let go of it, even though I knew they plan like very careful and very well for the future.
00:17:36
Speaker
But then when I got the call and they told me, you're not even the reserve athlete without any explanation. Literally the phone call was like four and a half minutes just saying, oh, but you already know you're not qualified. So, okay, have a good day. and I'm like, that's like hard because you obviously know like you're not fit, but then not even having an explanation for anything was a bit hard.
00:18:00
Speaker
Yeah. how do you How do you move forward from from that that kind of news?
00:18:06
Speaker
I i was just
00:18:10
Speaker
i think I can move forward from things well. like i can m I'm a positive person in general. so i can just We were on training camp and it was like I was having a good time and I could feel my progress. I knew I was strong and I knew I could have a very good season.
00:18:28
Speaker
So I can just say, I got some revenge or like that's my motivation. And of course, there's like and another Olympics in four years time. And of course, I knew everything leading up to Paris was not coming my way.
00:18:42
Speaker
um So I could accept that. Okay, actually. Yeah.
Training Adjustments and Mental Well-being
00:18:46
Speaker
Yeah. And, you know, the water was kind of dirty anyways. Exactly. Anyways, when I saw it, I like, I'm happy I'm here.
00:18:55
Speaker
You didn't want to be in that junk anyway. um now Now, looking at your injury, the injuries you were facing there, obviously you don't want that to happen again. So was there um adaptations that you had to make to your training in order for that to, you know, at least be prevented for future?
00:19:16
Speaker
Yeah, um I actually think injuries are part of the sport, but it has a lot to do with and recovery, what you eat, how's your social life going, are you like in a good relationship?
00:19:31
Speaker
I think stuff like that and I was not in a good place um from a relationship that like was very tough on me for exactly those years that I was injured.
00:19:42
Speaker
So, and then I was just not focusing because, you know, the first time I was injured, was like, oh, that's fine. I just go like to some summer festivals. i'm going to have some fun.
00:19:53
Speaker
So I did this and I guess people also were thinking like, oh, well, she should probably just lay in a bed and not like being dancing on a festival with her crotches and stuff. But that's exactly what I did.
00:20:04
Speaker
So I did many things wrong my way. i had a good time, but it was definitely not the good way. So um I think now I'm like mentally in a very good place. I don't have...
00:20:19
Speaker
anything in my private life that like ah knocks me down, let's say it that way. like I'm very happy, I ah eat good, I sleep enough. It's all these things. And I think if you're nice to your body, your body is nice to you.
00:20:33
Speaker
and I really had to learn that. So I think that's my biggest thing. And then, of course, I have the coaches now. Three times a day when we try the train, literally three times a day, the coach there and he sees you, he sees your body language, he asks you and It can just tell when you're tired and we do less and adapt all these things.
00:20:54
Speaker
And I think that's what I really need. I need someone to look at me and be like, yeah, you're tired or that's an enough, stuff like that. Yeah, I mean, this is even more important at your level, but even for the amateur out there, um no one's watching them, but at least if they have a coach.
00:21:12
Speaker
Because, you know, a lot of people follow plans that they find online or whatever. And they they're like, why would I get a coach or pay for a coach? Well, these are exactly the reasons why. Because they can at least, at the very least, listen to you and how is it going or observe your training. And, you know, you got somebody literally watching you every day. But at the very least, have these conversations around fatigue and recovery and, you know, how the load is affecting them.
00:21:38
Speaker
And prevent these kinds of things from happening. you And i I was also that mindset. I was also like, I can just follow a plan. It's fine. Like I mentally, I can push myself very well.
00:21:48
Speaker
i don't need someone to look at me, but it's like, no, you need someone to look at you. I think everyone yeah kind of does. And you're doing that full time, right? Yes. Yes. So, I mean, for you, it's good. Someone else doesn't need to, like, you don't need to think they do the thinking for you. Right. exactly I don't need to think about anything.
00:22:07
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So all eyes on l LA right now. um And as a professional, you have, I'm sure the Olympics is one thing, but then um like, how do you build your season?
00:22:19
Speaker
What's the, sure for sure there's other goals within your career that you're, you're trying to achieve. Yeah, so um last year we came back to European Cup racing, then in the end of the year we did some World Cup racing, even though I was like, can I please go WTCS, please?
00:22:36
Speaker
And they were no, you need to be patient. And then this year as well, of course, then you have the Federation as well that wants you to race WTCS and stuff. And yeah.
00:22:47
Speaker
So this year we start with World Cups as well. And then I will start in Hamburg with WTCS going back to this level. and And I'm very, very excited um because I think I'm... No, not I think. I know I'm a different athlete than the last time I raced Hamburg, which was my last WTCS race.
00:23:06
Speaker
So, yeah, we build on... Like my coaches are building on consistency. So how, yeah. And like, we need to be patient like to, because they just know, they know the level and they want us to race at a certain level, not to just race there, but to perform there.
00:23:24
Speaker
And I needed to learn to trust them big time because they're 99% they're right. I should say hundred percent. but you Did it take you a little while to realize that, how trusting a coach is so vital to an athlete's success?
00:23:39
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. Well, i I trusted them very early ah going with them. But um sometimes, you know, when you're just like, oh, can I not just go race ah World Cups from the beginning? And they're like, no, no, no, and we do this and then we do that.
00:23:54
Speaker
And everything came how they said it, you know, so I'm like. I'm good. I trust you. But it's it's difficult when you're feeling fit, right? therere they're They're coaching you to peak at a certain a certain level, like stress and rest, stress and rest constantly, I'm sure. And they're they're already envisioning kind of strategically how they want you to, where do they want you to race, how they want you to race so that you can peak at the most important, crucial points, right? To have ultimate success because you're putting in so much work. Yeah, yeah. And it's also like before with my old coach, he was also a good coach. He he brought me like ah to to good races and good um results and stuff. But with him, like but before it was just different. I was always at intensity training all the time. Like January was the same than August. But now we have like these blocks and we we work to have like a whole season that you can build on.
00:24:52
Speaker
and like just get better and better and stronger. We have altitude camps that makes absolutely sense and stuff like that. yeah Now the altitude camps, are there also in Spain are you traveling elsewhere? and We go to Fontromel, so that's like two hours away from Girona in France.
00:25:09
Speaker
yeah Okay, nice, nice, nice, nice. um i do We'll touch on this more your season upcoming and and how the season currently is going, but I'd like to go back to the beginning too to just kind of get a little background story on you.
Early Sports Influences and Triathlon Discovery
00:25:24
Speaker
What was Alyssa like when she was a kid? where where did sports How did sports impact you early on? And how did you find the love for triathlons? um I would say like it's funny because every time you hear like from some Olympians, you hear interviews that like, oh, as a kid I couldn't sit still.
00:25:46
Speaker
i was not that kid. Obviously, I was always out and I had two brothers and you try to follow them, like especially the big brother and more like this. And I was always active, but I also could sit still.
00:25:59
Speaker
um So I was not like, I don't know, hyperactive, I guess. My dad was into marathon and he did some yeah run races, some biking, just mountain biking for fun.
00:26:12
Speaker
And my mom is into horse riding. So her biggest dream was always like, I want my girl to like also be into it. And the I really was not. And she tried so many things. um yeah as of I tried many many sports um and then it was just like from, you know, when you just, I don't know, once a week I went with some girls to like do some sports and then you had like one day where you did like jumping and like running, like 60 meter sprint. Then you did like race, stuff like that.
00:26:47
Speaker
and I remember I did the 1k race and i was like it was a pretty warm day. i had to My laces were open during the race. so My mom wanted me to close them during the race. So we did all of these things.
00:27:01
Speaker
I came to the finish line and literally all the girls were just like with red hat. I was just like, okay, where are we go next? and She keeps telling me this. And then we went after this day at some point, we went home and she said, some I then came to the, I was third, I think in the 1K race.
00:27:19
Speaker
And I was very, very angry at my mom because we went home and we didn't wait for the medals. And I think she heard that for like one or two years that I was like, I wanted to go on that podium and everything. And that's where they were thinking like, okay, but why does she like running so much? And why is she actually good in it?
00:27:39
Speaker
So it was always naturally for me to run. That's also where I came. So yeah, then they started to put me into athletics to like see what else. It was always the running for me.
00:27:52
Speaker
I was just always like, if I could go and run, I didn't care about the socializing. I just wanted to run. i think that was like the start of it. and Nice. So you just kind of gravitated towards that. And I think that's that's really nice. you know even Even for me as a kid, like um i I always liked the endurance challenges school.
00:28:15
Speaker
and in school Or like when they had like a 12 minute run test, I would love to go and do that where all the kids were like, oh no, like I don't want to do this. like So I was just like always gravitating towards the endurance stuff somehow. and And that's kind of not at your level, but where I kind of lie now, which is funny to look back on, right?
00:28:35
Speaker
yeah Or even soccer, playing midfield, just running up and down the field. And it's like, oh, well, I guess it kind of makes sense. You just have this this engine. Yeah. Do you find that the school programs are were good for you back then, like in athletics and track and field? And um did they kind of support young athletes at the time?
00:28:56
Speaker
um No, I don't think my school really supported it ah because in the beginning I was just in a normal school, but then I changed to sports school and they then obviously did support.
00:29:10
Speaker
um We had like what you said, those sports days where you, everyone was like, oh no, the next thing is the 12 minute run. and Yeah, well, I don't think there was like a big support from that school actually, no.
00:29:25
Speaker
Okay. Okay. And so how did that evolve for you? Like, was it more, did they put you in more runs or did like, how did your parents kind of hone maybe this passion or or observation that they had?
00:29:38
Speaker
Yeah, so they started to like ah run with me like some you know in Zurich, some um basic small races. And I just suddenly, yeah i think I won everything like in in the region of Zurich.
00:29:52
Speaker
And I just really loved it. And at the same time, I did some... I don't know what's the English word, but it's like some acrobatics on the horse because my mom then took other ways to like get me some interest into the horse.
00:30:04
Speaker
And I had like a very, very nice group there and I love to go there and train, but more because of the social aspect and that athletics, I did not really have that. Like I did not have many friends there. I just really wanted to go for a running.
00:30:18
Speaker
And at some point my parents said, okay, it's too much. You need to decide like what you want. And they were very sure, oh, she's going to like doing that acrobatics on the horse because he loves socializing there. And she does not really have that many friends in athletics. But for me, it was the decision to athletics. And that was when my mom was like, or both of my parents like, okay, interesting.
00:30:42
Speaker
and that's then when a coach reached out, he did like kind of talent spotting. um And he just invited me to his trainings on ah on a Friday. That was always, and it was just the highlight of my week.
00:30:55
Speaker
Oh, nice. Yeah. So he had like an independent group kind of. Exactly. He was just like spotting for young talents. And then, yeah, he got me into this group. And at some point he said, maybe you should try some swimming next to it.
00:31:08
Speaker
I was like, swimming? I never swam. but I don't know the age, maybe 11, 12. It's like, why swimming okay we can try and then also some cycling and yeah then suddenly said oh you should try a duathlon and yeah I was also successful there i think it was my second duathlon and I got Swiss champion so this was a bit like what's happening here very this young phenom doesn't even know what's going on well I was so bad cycling I was so bad such a bad swimmer I was so bad in cycling I just
00:31:43
Speaker
showing up and I could like run all my way up to the podium. I don't know how I did it, but yeah, that was like, okay. yeah Yeah. Well, they say in triathlon, you don't win it in the swim, right? You can lose it in the swim, but not win it. Yeah.
00:31:56
Speaker
Yeah. yeah yeah Yeah. That's cool though. That's really, really cool. And I guess you liked the success. It made you feel good. as a kid and yeah of course in the beginning i think we only raced the duathlon and it made me very successful but all i did was basically going with the bike to school we had a big hill so i always had to cycle up the hill twice a day so i did this and then i think we just randomly said okay we try a triathlon and as i said my swimming was really not anywhere on a good level but apparently and got like third in that race I think in my first triathlon and I came in and i said to my mom okay I don't remember that but she keeps telling me that that I said okay this is the sport and I want to do this and she said okay that's fine like they knew nothing about triathlon they've never heard it like heard of it but they know how it works so they were like okay we do that
00:32:52
Speaker
Yeah. So did you, so then did you, and I guess you never missed another podium, right? You you always stuck around till the end. Yeah, was, well, I remember there was like a mother there when I got like the first triathlon and I got like second or third, I really don't remember. And she was like, oh yeah, yeah.
00:33:07
Speaker
But the best are currently at the youth ah festival, or something that was on. Don't like take this too high that you were just on the podium. And my parents were like, wow, we're just doing this for fun. But then I think I didn't really miss a lot of podiums after that, even when the orders were back.
00:33:24
Speaker
but No need to put, put the kids down, you know, yeah let them have yeah, yeah, yeah. So how did, so how does, I guess, how did you progress in the sport if your parents didn't
Balancing Sports and Personal Life
00:33:34
Speaker
know a lot about it? And I guess you just kind of, I mean, how did you start to build up your like notoriety and get into bigger competitions and stuff if,
00:33:45
Speaker
if they didn't know much about how to do that? Well, we had that coach that did the talent spotting. He also had triathletes. I guess he just had a very good eye for me to then say, okay, go try duathlon and go try triathlon.
00:33:58
Speaker
And he then did some kind of a training schedule and stuff and just gave some natural national races. And then it didn't really take maybe a year.
00:34:10
Speaker
And then I was ah asked to be in the national squad. And I also remember I got asked from athletics for running and for triathlon and I couldn't do both. So then I decided to go into the national squad for triathlon.
00:34:23
Speaker
And then, I mean, then you just, you're already as a youth and junior, you then have the support from the Federation. i was then and good enough to go to the sports schools or all the structure then started to like build up like that.
00:34:39
Speaker
And how did that feel for you as a kid? Like was that must have felt like the coolest thing ever, ever. um Yes, sure, it was the coolest thing ever. But for me, it was always, already as a kid, I was like, I love my friends and I loved my school. And then I had to to leave my school where I had all my friends to go to the sports school, to go into a class that was already together for two years. And I was like, just fresh there. And I really did not like that.
00:35:06
Speaker
But also, if I look back, I'm impressed how I made all these decisions against my social life that is so big for me. and So that was also hard. It was always very nice, but for me, it was also not everything. It was never just that.
00:35:25
Speaker
Of course, it feels good to stand on a podium, but it feels as good to be with your friends, like just on a Sunday ah to do some other stuff. Just regular stuff, regular kid stuff. Yeah, exactly.
00:35:38
Speaker
So other other than athletics, what were your other interests, would you say? Or what are your other interests? Athletics or triathlon? Oh, yeah. though i mean I meant triathlon. Yeah. When you're not training for triathlon.
00:35:52
Speaker
Well, I was always into baking. So I always annoyed my mom that the whole kitchen was always a mess on the weekend. and But the yeah, they like to eat it. So I was always in this. And then, of course, when you're like going direction 15, 16, you want to go out, you maybe have your first boyfriend so there was always other interests around that but of course at the same time I qualified for like the new for European championship and stuff so yeah it was and were you did you like ah did you look up to anybody at that at that time in the sport did you realize that this could be something you did as a career or you know was academic something that was uh interesting for you at the same time
00:36:39
Speaker
Yeah, um I was always like, I want to do something with medicine. But then there was also the decision I couldn't do anything that I wanted to go into the hospital and doing the sports. So the only thing that I did was a a paper in finance and accounting.
00:36:57
Speaker
um in four years time also supported by um like the sport it's called United School of Sports so that's what I did um yeah so I knew it was important to have a paper my parents always said there's no way without a paper you you have to do something and looking up to someone I think of course you see something on the TV or some athletes but I was never the athlete that was like I want to be like her.
00:37:29
Speaker
And my mom sometimes was like, I think you will never be good in this sport because all the athletes your age know everything about it and you know nothing. And she was always concerned. She was like, ah is she really that interested?
00:37:42
Speaker
But I really am. It's just like in a different way, I guess. hey Maybe more relaxed. i team know I think I'm, no, but my coach would not agree with me that I'm a chilled athlete, but I think I'm just like, yeah, just learn to like, just go and yeah be chilled with some stuff.
00:38:02
Speaker
Obviously, it's changed now. If I look at the start list, I know who's like a good swimmer. I know who's the good cyclist and stuff. Yes, now I do. But would you say like maybe you're more balanced, more...
00:38:13
Speaker
you know, cause you see there's, there's different types of athletes, right? I'm sure you see all of them, even at the Zurich marathon this past weekend, you see it. And I mean, just some that are serious, like stone cold.
00:38:28
Speaker
There's guys like me, I've been running for a long time now. And like, Nothing phases me on the start line, just having a good time saying hi to everybody. So there's like two ways to be, I guess, or or maybe there's more than that. But I guess you see it all too.
00:38:45
Speaker
ah And, how you know, maybe it helps shape you and and how you want to show up to these these events and the kind of athlete you want to be too. Yeah, I think um if i wasn't all in for triathlon, I wouldn't have come that far.
00:38:58
Speaker
um But I can say I'm not like, oh, this is like everything. i ah it is everything for now, but it's not everything for the next 10 years, you know? And if you just, there's athletes or all of us will struggle at one point to end our career.
00:39:17
Speaker
But I know i have a social life at home. i i have I have friends that, or also my brothers, like they, They understand the sport, but I can come home and walk into the house and just talk for like five days about something, exactly something else. And I love that. I don't want to talk about the sport all the time.
00:39:37
Speaker
I think that would break me or like my patience is like, As an athlete, so um I think I'm very open with life and I sometimes feel a bit sorry for the athletes.
00:39:53
Speaker
Maybe they really love their life, but I'm like, hey, there's more. like And if you're injured, yes, that's like very, very shit for your career at the moment, but there's more. like You still have both of your legs, you still...
00:40:07
Speaker
I don't know, have a heart that beats and you can enjoy other things. I think it's what you need to learn to enjoy other things if something doesn't go your way in the sport. You always have baking.
00:40:19
Speaker
I always have baking. When I'm not well, I bake. So all my friends will be happy that I'm not well because I give them stuff to eat. Cookies for everybody, right? Exactly.
00:40:31
Speaker
do Do you think, um maybe even today, but do you think you realized your own potential or you believe that... You know, maybe it's that coach, maybe it's your your parents who realize the potential in you to to succeed at the level you're at so far.
00:40:48
Speaker
I had coaches before that told me, ah okay, until here and I don't know what to do with you. We're not coming for like, um maybe you're just not made for the sport. I always struggle with a lot of sickness. So even my parents at some point were like, maybe your body is just not made for it. um And I think it only really changed with the coaches that I have now to literally show me you have so much potential and we we really believe in you and we believe this is not over.
00:41:20
Speaker
and And you need someone that believes in you because yeah, after all the injuries at some point, you really question and you're like, do I really really still believe in myself? Or like, yeah, maybe not. So I think it was,
00:41:34
Speaker
Like the most work, obviously, from them to make me believe in myself because they believe, if that makes sense. Yeah, well, sometimes um people outside can see something that you can't even see yourself, right?
00:41:48
Speaker
I always ask that question because i yeah I'm just curious about that. Some people are just so confident in their own abilities that they can push through no matter what, no matter what people say or or how past performances have been, you know?
00:42:00
Speaker
um But sometimes it has to come from the outside ah to propel us forward and to maybe give us a little push when when we're down, right? Exactly.
00:42:11
Speaker
Like you had a little bump in the road there. Now you're with ah a strong team, strong coach, strong so support and showing them that you believe and showing up every day.
00:42:23
Speaker
I'm sure you know this better than anybody, but it's never just about one race or one event. It's the sum of all all the parts, you know? Yeah, exactly. um Yeah, what would you say to somebody who's maybe new to the sport or um trying to to make improvements? Like, what do you think is the most important factor?
00:42:46
Speaker
I think to enjoy it because many years I just, I mean, that sounds so basic, like just enjoy the process. But so many years I was just sitting on my saddle and thinking like, what am I doing here? And if you question yourself that, I think you should think,
00:43:02
Speaker
Why actually do I want this? um And find the joy in it. Like find good training partners, find people that believe in you. but also the world doesn't go down if you have a bad day or if you have a bad run. It's way more bike session.
00:43:17
Speaker
Just like keep like trusting your body and the process. And yeah, but really you need to like to enjoy. I think it's the most important, but to like be nice to yourself because that's also something that's very hard for me.
00:43:32
Speaker
Like if you have a bad session, just tell yourself it's fine. Like it's okay. Life goes on. Tomorrow's another chance. Exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what I love about it too. That like there's always tomorrow, you know, there's always another, there's another race. There's another, it's whatever you want it to be. right You know, sometimes if I have like a very bad race, I can sit on my balcony when I come back and I'm like, these people, they walk past my balcony. They don't care like what you did or like,
00:44:02
Speaker
Also, like I sometimes think we we live on Instagram too much. like Of course, if you post something bad and then you see the stories of everyone else that did good, just put your phone to the side. And like if I just look out of the balcony, I'm like, okay, life's good. you know Find other reasons for the life to be good.
00:44:21
Speaker
Yeah. and and and And is is the the life of a professional triathlete everything you thought it would be? Or is it totally different than what you might have thought before? Or right did you ever give it any thought to what it could be?
00:44:35
Speaker
Yeah, of course. ah I mean, I'm a professional athlete since 2019 now. name And I was like, I think I learned a complete new world when I came here.
00:44:49
Speaker
Because before I was just like, oh, can go out on a Friday and just do my run session. Like, you know, story that... one instead of like 10 that's fine I just sleep bit longer and and I can take a nap off there and then go for a swim but that's really not what it is about I think you really Yeah, like here, it's literally all we do is sometimes it's so boring because people are like, oh, but you live in Spain. It's so nice. But sometimes all we do is like wake up, eat, we go train, we come back, we eat again, we sleep, we go out again.
00:45:23
Speaker
It's boring in winter. And the I had to accept a bit the boring life. but I'm like, okay, ah yeah, what I said, you need you need to be nice to your body.
00:45:35
Speaker
and I think, ah yeah, I really learned. that that's how you're the best athlete athlete to give yourself rest and have a bit of a boring life for a few months.
00:45:48
Speaker
who and And do you guys all live in the same kind of house or are you living in different places or how does that? We all kind of i yeah i'll just have ah like different places. It's just like everyone has an apartment or something. I live with an Irish athlete and she's also um in the same group, um which is also very good.
00:46:08
Speaker
ah Yeah. Because they have different um have different distances or different disciplines than their coaching. I know people that do sprints, like short distance triathlon.
00:46:23
Speaker
yeah But they, of course, have other athletes that are just not doing the swimming with us. or then yeah just different Did you find? What's that? Different nationalities.
00:46:34
Speaker
That's cool. Right, all right, right. Well, must be fun to have an Irish ah roommate. I was hoping in the beginning the English, but we're doing good. We're doing good.
Triathlon Challenges and Training Strategies
00:46:44
Speaker
Yeah, but the the drinks at night, hitting the bar, I'm sure that's fun. Going for a Guinness, no. Going for a Guinness.
00:46:52
Speaker
Yeah, the right way to pour them too. um Now, I want to ask you this too, like because there are some pretty high-profile Swiss restaurants, Triathletes, Nicola,
00:47:03
Speaker
um Daniela, you know, they're they're like world champions, top Olympians. Like, did did you ever fall into or or do people in Switzerland at least put that pressure, do you find, on their athletes or maybe on you to be the next and next great one?
00:47:23
Speaker
No, I don't think so. I mean, even like the triathlon in the media world, they don't really... care like they wouldn't put pressure on us because they don't put anything really on the newspaper or anything I mean if you have local newspapers they're very good at it they they they are very nice to us but it's not like I don't know soccer or ice hockey it is very big in Switzerland where they would put pressure on people and even like Of course, sometimes I hear like, are you the next Daniela Ryf? And I'm like, okay, first of all, I'm doing short distance.
00:47:57
Speaker
That's what I don't like when they go like, ah oh, but you know like, that's nothing. If they compare this, like the distances and what she achieved versus what you obviously haven't, because you're not even doing the same distance.
00:48:10
Speaker
That's what I don't like. But I don't really hear often. Like, of course, people know Nicola Spierig, um, which is a nice thing because I think we have so many, like also now Julie Daron with ah the silver medal in Paris, we have so many good athletes and I think we should have a bigger, ah Switzerland has the most medal, Olympic medals in the, from all the countries. And I think we, we,
00:48:36
Speaker
We ah deserve to be a bit bigger as well in Switzerland, but they just, I don't know, ice hockey is more important, I guess. Maybe not. I mean, hockey is talki's really big in and Canada, so i know what the I know what the feeling's like for sure. yeah um And I quite enjoy that about Switzerland too, that there is that. But I agree with you. I think What's not really comparable. And I saw, I think, ah I don't if it was a quote from you or, uh, in one of the, the blurbs or whatever, but that it's two different, it's two different sports. And, and I, this is what kills me about endurance sports. Sometimes that people just feel the, the need.
00:49:16
Speaker
even new people to the sport, the need to go for the big one, like you need the big Ironman distance. And I mean, this takes such a toll on your body. Like having done, i started with duathlon as well.
00:49:29
Speaker
Um, eventually got there, but, It takes a big toll on your body and it's it's not the same speed at all. that you you know I watched ITU in Montreal. These men and women are just flying um and it's so fun to watch, but it's such a different kind of competition, right?
00:49:47
Speaker
Yeah, i would I would wish that more more people would understand it and not just judge. If you tell them the distances you're doing, they're like, but you're literally done after an hour.
00:49:57
Speaker
Like others do seven more hours and like you can come with me tomorrow for the run session and do the run session with me. I don't care. And then we can talk how cute the distance is because we just train as hard and the racing is so hard. It's just, I have so much respect, of course, for long distance athletes.
00:50:14
Speaker
And we have respect for us, but like for people that just do it, maybe I did an Ironman, you know, getting the tattoo. ah one and It's like, but okay, but then you can do it. Everyone can finish it, of course.
00:50:29
Speaker
and I mean, the shorter distance, but it's just another and pace. You cannot cannot and compare the two things. And I don't do it. Like I have respect for both.
00:50:41
Speaker
Right. Exactly. And you should, you should, it's just a yeah different level, right? It's different speeds as you get longer distances, obviously speed, speed, speed slows down and it doesn't make one more less difficult than the other. Like you could argue that running a 10 K all out is as exhausting as running a marathon yeah in different ways, um obviously, but cardiovascularly, you're just, yeah, you're like at a limit that you can't reach in a marathon.
00:51:08
Speaker
Um, Have you been connected like with any of these, you know, Daniela, Nicola, like have they, have you spoken to them, in in know, being in the triathlon world or um like, do you look up to anybody in the sport right now, and either Swiss or non-Swiss?
00:51:25
Speaker
ah Yeah, well, Nicola was in ah also in the national squad when I was in it. So he would just meet each other at races or at like some with the national squad, some events and stuff. And of course you talk to them.
00:51:38
Speaker
And then Daniela was obviously in the long distance, which is just, yeah, you don't have the same ah national team. So you yeah, exactly. ah But I just, I really like how she is as an athlete.
00:51:50
Speaker
and Also how she is on social media. and I think it's hard for me to say a name and say, I'm looking up to this and that because I never really had that also as a kid. It's like, I just want to be me and I just want to be happy in my life and not say I want to be Olympic champion. It's just not my mindset to say that.
00:52:14
Speaker
But of course ah you have goals, and but I don't want to be like someone. I just want to be the best version. of myself. That sounds so cheesy, but it is very true.
00:52:28
Speaker
Yeah, no, I love that. I mean, just I just went down Arabic. I don't know if you know who Bob Dylan is. I don't know why I'm gonna tell you this. But um Bob Dylan was like a famous rock and roll folk artist in the 60s.
00:52:41
Speaker
And there's a duck ah biopic about him that just came out. And anyways, he's an iconic figure in music, in in American music, let's say. um And so this movie depicts that.
00:52:53
Speaker
But this is kind of all... he was as well. This idea that he just wanted to be him. He didn't want to be a rock star. He didn't want to be famous. He just wanted to write music.
00:53:04
Speaker
You know, he just wanted to play music. And similar to like what I think it's it's a great message anyways, and kind of a little what you're saying is like, I just want to be me.
00:53:15
Speaker
I want to do it my way. I don't want to be like anybody else. And I think in a world where we compare ourselves to others so much in through social media or whatever, it's busy comparing.
00:53:27
Speaker
Yeah. It's, it's a, it's such an important message I find. And it's great that you're, you have that wisdom already to, to be able to acknowledge it and also feel it.
00:53:38
Speaker
Um, cause I think it really is important, um, for our own mental health. Um, how we carry ourselves in a sport and to really appreciate what it is and and and why we want to do it.
00:53:51
Speaker
Exactly. so Yeah. Yeah. um And so what are your goal per goals like for for yourself in the sport? What do you want for yourself? um What do you strive for every day?
00:54:05
Speaker
and So, well, short short term, and obviously it's going ah back this year to WTCS Racing. And be, a yeah, it's been been two years since I was ah in it. So I know I'm a better athlete and I'm just very excited to see where that gets me.
00:54:23
Speaker
And, you know, after Tokyo, I always say i will go to Paris. ah Many things didn't come. the way I wanted them to come.
00:54:34
Speaker
So of course LA 2028 is a very big thing and it's where I want to be. But I also see it a bit more chilled, like because you just don't know what's coming. I want to stay healthy. I just want to want to want to get better. And I know I have a lot more potential and I know I can be in LA.
00:54:54
Speaker
um So yeah, it's like the biggest goal of course but I'll see how the body is how how I am and just so take it step by step like take by and four years is short but it's long i mean next year I mean we're already halfway through 25 26 is around and again it's going to come before you know it right qualification starts next year so let's go yeah let's go yeah it's crazy it's just like health is so important you know I mean I realize that now I'm getting older and
00:55:27
Speaker
an Achilles tendon soreness turned into six months. It's nuts. yeah And it just takes you out and takes it's not a fun thing to go through. So health is always, i think, number one. um And I'm sure you you you feel that too.
00:55:43
Speaker
When you're like at such a level, what are the things you're working on to improve? like I always wonder this, like when you're already so high, it's obviously harder to make the gains, right?
00:55:56
Speaker
But can you shed some light on that? Like when you've been doing it already for a while, um what are some things that you work on? Maybe it's more details, maybe it's more nutrition or or recovery based, but I'm just curious about that.
00:56:10
Speaker
For me, um it was a big thing getting better with nutrition. That's more like saying during long rides and stuff. So I would never fuel, I would never eat.
00:56:21
Speaker
And now... just like doing these things I didn't even know how important it was to like fuel during a long ride I just thought like it's fine I'm fine like I can do three hours it's okay so it's more all these details you there's always details you can work on I can say I'm a very um I would say maybe lost athlete as well because sometimes I well my coach is uh Sometimes I'll be like, Alissa, you should book your flights, you're racing two weeks. It's things like that, that I just mess up. Well, I wouldn't say I mess it up. I'm just like very, i don't know. I just so need to pay more attention on the details. And I think there's always something you can be better at. So you can pay more attention to more details and be more focused while, like during the sessions, and
00:57:14
Speaker
Yeah, the thing is with this with the group I'm in, ah can't even say, oh, my goal is to beat what I did last year with like during the training, of course. It's more like and everything's like not all like controlled, I would say, but it's um We don't always push on the edge. So it's about surviving. We always build on fatigue, we say.
00:57:37
Speaker
So in January, in February, we'll be more tired than in January. And that keeps like going. And then just when you're getting tired, and you just need to be on top of things like make sure you sleep, make sure you eat and enough.
00:57:51
Speaker
I sometimes really struggle just to eat in general, not because I have a problem with food, but because I'm just not... When the body's tired, sometimes My body doesn't want to eat, so I really struggled to get it down. So I tried to get shakes down and like my coach gave me some, you know, for the old people, the shots that you need to take calories down.
00:58:13
Speaker
yeah It's like the small details that you can always be better at. Yeah, those little ah shakes you get at the pharmacy. Yeah, that's exactly. I was like, really? That's for other people? He was like, well, if you don't want to eat, you take this.
00:58:26
Speaker
And I don't think people understand, like, actually, because I had this conversation, actually, with another Elisa, believe it or not, from from Montreal, marathoner. But she was talking, she came back from injury, too, and she was talking about nutrition and how much she, once she understood how much she needed to eat, yeah it was almost shocking, like, how much...
00:58:47
Speaker
fuel you need yeah in order to support all the activities, especially at the level that you're doing it at. And for as long as you're doing it, you know, um can you describe what a good dinner like would look like or in terms of food, can you describe how much food you need to eat? Or is that difficult?
00:59:07
Speaker
I just like to give people an idea what that actually means, you know? It's hard to say um how much. I always cook too much. So that's something I just don't know because some days I just eat so much more than others.
00:59:24
Speaker
Well, I'm vegetarian and I'm also gluten-free. So that's a ah bit annoying sometimes. But... then Yeah, i would just have a big bowl of of rice and some tofu and some veggies.
00:59:38
Speaker
And because I don't get enough protein, I would also have a protein shake like an hour after the dinner. And like, sometimes I i mean, the bowls are big that we eat or that I eat. And then sometimes two hours later, you're hungry again, when someone like that doesn't train wouldn't even get half of your bowl down. And then you just need to listen and like eat more because your body asks for it.
01:00:03
Speaker
and But it's hard to say like how big, i would say the portion is very big. Yeah, right. And also snacking in between, right? I feel like this is a big thing too that maybe is a bit misunderstood to keep that metabolism.
01:00:15
Speaker
Yeah, don't do the only eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. No, you need to like, if your body tells you I'm actually hungry, just give him more. Like there's a reason why. and even if you don't feel hungry sometimes, well, for me, if i sometimes don't feel hungry, I just try to.
01:00:31
Speaker
Because i what you said, i know you need way more than you probably actually think you need. Mm-hmm. And what about on the on the sessions themselves? Like, what do you what are you getting down? Is it like bottle, gels, or bars? what's the how much How much carbs are you are you consuming? Because I know some athletes can get up over 100 in an hour, right? So so that's still my my weakest point, I would say, cycling and getting enough down. Because also coach has said like 60 to 90. Of course, it can always be more than 90, but I don't think I'm the type that needs 100.
01:01:08
Speaker
m But I really struggled because one bar has maybe, if it's high, 40 to 50. So you should eat like even more than a bar. and i started to have maltodextrin in my bottle, just that I really have the calories and the carbs.
01:01:25
Speaker
um A lot of shales, I started to make my own rice cakes. i don't know if you heard about the trend of all the sizes. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's basically marshmallow and fried rice stuff and sugar. It's just sugar.
01:01:41
Speaker
But like sometimes you need to like switch things up because the boars are getting boring after like eating it every day. So, yeah, I try to be like... I struggle to be at 60 carbs an hour, I need to be honest. But actually the aim would be 60 to 90. That's what we get told.
01:01:59
Speaker
um That was new to me too when I came here because like, what do you mean I need to eat?
Race Day Strategies and Performance
01:02:04
Speaker
Because I eat before and after, is that not enough? But your body just needs constant like fuel all the time.
01:02:12
Speaker
And during the run, it's more the drinking. I drink the carbs or in summer, um also electrolytes and having shale for hard sessions. so Nice, nice, nice. And I guess it's not so important in your races because it's so like it' so short, right? No, I think i I was also that mentality, but I really think it is important, especially on the Olympic distance.
01:02:35
Speaker
I really need to also like start to realize what my body copes best with. um We for sure also need to take shale and stuff in the bottle. Yeah.
01:02:46
Speaker
Oh, okay. Like on the bike. gets point distance But still we should. But yeah, we should on Olympic distance for sure. Okay. Okay. ah like so it would be like something in your on your bike more? Yeah, I would chill on the frame.
01:02:59
Speaker
and the yeah just Which is a good time to do it anyways, right? Because you don't want to be messing which race and like what you Sometimes you I'm not... Well, had races Olympic distance, so 40k of cycling where I had not a chance to take my bottle because we were just constantly...
01:03:16
Speaker
pushing and turns corners and yeah, sometimes, uh, it's hard, but then you can argue it's even more difficult than like these Ironman races because of all the technicalities that you yeah need to face. right Exactly.
01:03:29
Speaker
Like I know that the course in Montreal quite well, we've gone to watch that a bunch of times, like lots of turns uphill, downhill, like, uh, it's quite fierce. And, uh, and also there's like, you guys are biking so close together as well. And, um,
01:03:46
Speaker
It's pretty intense to watch. It's all kind of close quarters, right? So yeah but so it's it's a super it's a different style altogether. It's super, super fun. No, like it.
01:03:57
Speaker
It's you find that What do you find the most challenging part about doing races that close together that fast?
01:04:07
Speaker
You mean ah like the cycling together? Yeah, I mean, i know it just it can get quite, how do you say, um don't know if it's competitive or you know, you can get quite close, close quarters, right?
01:04:20
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So for me, um I'm not umm not a front pack swimmer. Well, I'm going to be front pack swimmer. There we program So sometimes you just have girls that wait until the bike is over. You know, they just sit in and they don't care where they are.
01:04:40
Speaker
But you know, they're powerful. And it doesn't even take that much to close gap if you just have like five to six girls that would just like. do a nice little rollover and just give some turns.
01:04:52
Speaker
That's where I get very, because I know I'm a strong cyclist, but I'm getting very like annoyed when people are not even trying. And then they, for example, outrun you because they didn't do a thing on the bike.
01:05:04
Speaker
But I mean, then you get angry or I get angry, but it's like the whole point of triathlon. You don't have to, go to the front if you don't want to, but it's more, I don't understand the mentality for just sitting in when you have the chance to actually close the gap to the front.
01:05:18
Speaker
That's what I don't understand. Yeah. and And what would you say is your weakest point ah to date?
01:05:28
Speaker
Still swimming. I mean, if you, yeah, I, uh, I work very hard on myself in the swim. i try to really be You know, every session try to be 15 minutes before it starts to do the proper warm up to now also make sure ah to take shales, even in the swimming, if it's a hard one to try to stay focused on like the whole stroke and technique during the hard sessions.
01:05:51
Speaker
But it will always be my weakness, the swimming. while I think I did so much improvement already for like um last year um in the pools. I just need to transform it into the racing.
01:06:03
Speaker
But I'm excited. i mean, it's also exciting to work on weakness because you see the improvement and everything. so yeah I'm planning to be any swimmer yeah I mean my my weakness is always a swim too i gotta say like I think when I did my my uh my first triathlon it was Olympic distance um at the Olympic Basin in Montreal and I think it was like I was so scared and I didn't know anything so I didn't go it was cold I didn't show up with a wetsuit everyone had wetsuits I think a volunteer gave me her jacket because I had my little shorts on and I was
01:06:37
Speaker
freezing. yeah I was scared to go in the water because of everyone. I didn't want to compete or get elbowed or anything. So I was like, I can, I have photos. My friend took a photo of me just walking in the water after everyone took off.
01:06:50
Speaker
But, um, Yeah, it's such a challenge, but um still is today. But what what do you think some like someone getting in the pool for the first time, what are some simple things that they can do to to make improvements in their in their in their swimming?
01:07:05
Speaker
Other than just like getting in there a lot. Yeah, that's like the biggest thing, getting in there a lot. Someone that looks like your technique actually ah to just tell you ah someone that really knows what they're doing. Because I think...
01:07:21
Speaker
It's hard to go by yourself and find out, oh, what's like what do I do wrong? I think you need someone that looks at you. ah just started to coach um also a guy from Switzerland.
01:07:33
Speaker
And when I saw him swimming, out I don't know, maybe two years, maybe not even two years ago, swimming for the first time. And I was like, I never coached anyone in swimming. i was like, i don't I cannot promise you anything.
01:07:47
Speaker
I'm able to do this with you. And now he like swims, he's doing the 70.3 in Switzerland and he can swim a little distance. And like, it's just like, I was just standing there giving him small things to say, I don't know, like use more of it like your, um your apps and stuff. And that helps so much if you have small things that someone tells you. I think it's hard if you just go by yourself and just try or assume that's what you do wrong.
01:08:16
Speaker
think you need someone. Cause you can't figure it out. You can't see yourself. And that's yeah the whole point of it. It's like, where's your butt in the waters? It's sinking like where your hand positioning is when it's landing in front of you too. So a lot of people do the crossover thing. And yeah, there's, there's little, there's little things for sure. I'm also coaching a triathlete and yeah, it's difficult, but you know, actually his girlfriend is a, was a better swimmer. So I was like, yeah, go to the pool with her. I'll give you the workout.
01:08:47
Speaker
Because I'm doing it virtually, but ah no, he's loving it. Yeah. Yeah. It's a lot fun. Are you coaching more and more now or No, he more asked me as a friend and I said, oh, yeah, of course I i try. i have no experience.
01:09:01
Speaker
I have a paper, but I also think the paper sometimes does half of the job because there's so people that have so many papers and when I see them, like what they tell the athletes, I'm like, you don't really understand triathlon, do you? So I think, uh, with all the experience we have or what I went through already with the injuries, I think I can be, um, I could help more, but it's obviously like more athletes or people that want to start something, but it's not my main thing.
Advice for Aspiring Athletes
01:09:34
Speaker
who Do you think, um, Like what I'm sure people look up to you as like an inspiring figure in the sport. And so what would you share with people who, who, who watch you like as an ambassador for the sport? what What's a message you'd like to, to share with, with people?
01:09:53
Speaker
m i think I already said that in other interviews or stuff that I posted on Instagram, Of course, most of the people follow on Instagram and Instagram is not really what we're doing.
01:10:09
Speaker
Like I said, um yeah, the whole winter is it brutal. I cannot say it like a different way. I love it. I don't want to say it's not nice, but it's hard. um So yeah, to sometimes, I mean, they see the results. And for me on my social media, I love it. Like I have nearly no negativity. i have so many people that like,
01:10:30
Speaker
like following my journey a long way already with all the injuries. And now if I do good, they're so happy for me. And I really appreciate that. Yeah. But also don't forget that, like what I said, when I was injured, I went through some private things that were very tough. Like, don't forget that people can can go through things that you don't know. Yeah.
01:10:51
Speaker
and yeah Do you think it's, you so you think it's important to show more of an all round or all rounder approach. That's a Swiss thing, right? i Yeah, exactly.
01:11:02
Speaker
I always try to like show things that maybe are not that cool or but then it takes also a lot to, and some people would take it negative. it would be like, oh, like your, your life's a privilege, what you're doing.
01:11:17
Speaker
Like I had a guy coming to me and he's like, oh, you're living my dream life. How does it feel? Like I'm on trainings camp, but for you, it's like, um, it's, your whole life is a training camp.
01:11:29
Speaker
This must be so exciting. Do you feel the same? And I'm like, there's, yeah, of course it's exciting. I would not choose this life. I love it. Like I'm, I am privileged. I know that, but I also work a lot and yeah.
01:11:44
Speaker
so And what, so what's the, maybe what's some of the best advice you've ever been given um as a triathlete?
01:11:53
Speaker
um Why is it triadly this hard? ah Okay. How about life? Is that a life feedat life's a bit easier? Yeah. So my dad, um when I had actually, I think the first stress fracture there, um he went through heart surgery and he had, a I think he had three tries on his heart to then actually get it right and getting like back to beating Norm like how it should again.
01:12:23
Speaker
So since he had this, he like, I don't know, his whole perspective on life and how he talks to me. So literally every time we would hang off the phone, he would just be like, and enjoy every day, you're healthy, enjoy going out for a ride or go have a coffee if you feel bad.
01:12:41
Speaker
It's more these things that... Like I can learn a lot from him because before it was maybe not always like that. And it's, I think people that go through something that then can tell you,
01:12:52
Speaker
You need to enjoy everything. And it's, yeah, I think it's this um from in general people telling me to enjoy it and not because at some point the sport is going to be over and you don't want to like fight against yourself the whole time and just always, we always want more and we always want to be better, but also be thankful where you've been and what you already did and not always only look ahead, but also look back at some points and be like thankful because yeah, at some point it's going to be over and you want to enjoy it.
01:13:27
Speaker
Yeah. Be, it's as difficult as it is to be in the moment, you know, and, uh, I think that's good advice from your dad. It's, um, and it's funny. Sometimes an event is what yeah teaches us something even, even later in life. Right. Um, puts things into perspective.
01:13:46
Speaker
so what would you say, let's say sport has given to you in your life? What, how, what do you think, how, what kind of impact do you think it's made on you? Well, sport has been my whole life. I mean, it made my whole character, um,
01:14:01
Speaker
It's given me, I don't know, ah so many hard times. But like, I think there has been more sad tears than happy tears, but I think it informs you so much as an athlete and a person.
01:14:14
Speaker
So it has given me, i don't know, so many people that I can look up to and like have good conversations with them. and Also having like the bad conversations.
01:14:25
Speaker
But I mean, it has given me, like for example, last year it has given me the two World Cup podiums. where I'm like, you stand there and you're like, Oh, this is how it feels. And then you're alone in your hotel room and it's like, this is it.
01:14:39
Speaker
So it also gives you some realization ah on life. I don't know. There's like the medals are nice, but The world just keeps turning. So yeah, it has given me in the end how I am and how I think, because I would have never learned half of what I learned without the sport.
Future Aspirations and Favorite Training Spots
01:14:59
Speaker
So I think it really made me as a person, and also in my social life, um in in my whole life and in, especially in my perspective on life, I think. Do you you see um a future for you or have you thought that far ahead, like outside of the sport? Have you thought about what comes comes next for you?
01:15:20
Speaker
You seem to be already in that frame of mind, right? Yeah, I do. Well, with the injury, it really kicked me to be like, okay, what else is there what you want to do?
01:15:31
Speaker
So ah I really would love to be, um I don't even know the English word, when you work in the ambulance. and Oh, like a paramedic? Yeah, exactly.
01:15:41
Speaker
Yeah. So this is something, um I guess it's very challenging. But them yeah, i I informed myself a lot about it when I was injured. And I really like looked into um it a bit deeper.
01:15:55
Speaker
And it's definitely something would love to do. I mean, in the end, it's a brutal job. But um I think you can have a big impact and a positive one. So I don't see myself like coaching or anything at the moment. well but yeah But it sounds like that from the conversation earlier, it sounds like that was a direction you wanted to take anyways. So when you were yeah yeah at the infancy of this sport, but also thinking about like education and what what what what you might be passionate about, it sounds like that way might have been something.
01:16:31
Speaker
Yeah, actually. they That was already on your plate. who So, so where do you love to train? where Like, let's talk about, um you know, you've probably done training camps. Now you're in Spain, you've trained in Switzerland.
01:16:43
Speaker
Maybe you can share some, some spots and some good, some good rides or run spots that you love in each. Well, i just went back like a week ago to Switzerland and I went riding and I was like, nothing.
01:16:57
Speaker
can ever beat Switzerland. So everyone that wants to ride in nice spots, I can really recommend like Zurich. I'm more from the countryside from like the Highland there from Ropperswil.
01:17:09
Speaker
So oh yeah yeah, that direction is just stunning. I mean, it's a lot of climbing. It's not really flat. We also have the lakes. So I think literally there's nothing that can beat Switzerland because we have everything.
01:17:23
Speaker
m But of course, Cirona also very nice. There's so many nice loops here. If you want some like coffee stops, Cirona is definitely the city to do that. um yeah It has like the lifestyle with it.
01:17:40
Speaker
m yeah And then we go on training camp to Fontromoe. ah Last year, everyone was like so excited to go and I was like, what's up with you guys? like It's not that special. But once I was there, i was actually like, yeah, this it is very impressive. It's a very, very nice place to train as well.
01:17:58
Speaker
But my only one would always be Switzerland. with Yeah, that that region, Rapidsville, I raced, I did the 70.3 last year there, and I did a lot of, you know, I always believe you got to go ride the course,
01:18:13
Speaker
But I really enjoyed that bike course. Super, super nice. And um like you said, climbs ah for a good part of it, but then nice descents through like the countryside overlooking the the lakes, Zurich and stuff like that.
01:18:28
Speaker
yeah Super, super nice. So you get back often or you you just come back a few times a year? Only a few times. um Yeah, I would love to. Well, yeah.
01:18:41
Speaker
Not love to because ah I'm way more focused when I'm here. When I go home, I try to squeeze everything in, try to squeeze all my friends in, my family, and going to the hairdresser and stuff. So it's better to stay here. So I maybe go like three times a year.
01:18:59
Speaker
Well, last year was a bit more, um but now, yeah, I don't have that many reasons anymore to go home. Like, of course, friends and family, but um yeah, not that often.
01:19:11
Speaker
do you Do you get stopped here? do people like Are you like a celeb in Switzerland? or No, no, no, never. I mean, maybe if yeah if you're at the race, they would be like, oh, hi.
01:19:24
Speaker
But like, no, definitely not. I think in Switzerland, they would not even stop Roger Federer if they saw him. the fun artist They would just be like, oh, let's give him some privacy.
01:19:34
Speaker
I was going to say, yeah, that's how Swiss people are though. They don't want to bother nobody. ah i ah I'm always like with my wife, we're out. I'm like, Oh, I like not a celebrity, but I just recognize somebody. I know I'm like, I'm going to go say hi. like, no, no, leave them. Leave them alone.
01:19:50
Speaker
It's not the Swiss way. Yeah. ah But I told her i we were just on a run today. I said, um, ah Yeah, i'm I'm done being the Canadian guy trying to be Swiss. I'm going to be the Canadian guy in Switzerland, just like respecting the Swiss, but yeah being Canadian, you know, yeah because I think that's just the the nice way to be.
Conclusion and Farewell
01:20:10
Speaker
um Yeah, Lisa, I want to thank you so much for taking the time today. and know we had some some logistical scheduling challenges, but I'm happy we finally got it done. We we so we stuck with it.
01:20:23
Speaker
And yeah, I really enjoyed talking to you today today. And yeah, thanks again for your time. Me too. Thank you so much. Yeah, and and I wish you all the best ah this this season and as we approach the Olympics, we'll be yeah we'll be following along.
01:20:36
Speaker
Thank you so much. I'm excited, yeah. Yeah, take care. Thank you. Ready to crush your next goal? With 15 years of experience across endurance sports, from 5Ks to ultras, over 10 marathons with a personal best of 2 hours, 45 minutes, including Boston, New York City, and Berlin, plus 2 Ironmans,
01:20:57
Speaker
I know what it takes to achieve real results, but training for a race is about more than just logging miles. It's about training smarter. And that's where a coach makes all the difference. As your coach, I'll create a personalized week by week plan tailored to fit your unique goals, lifestyle, and schedule.
01:21:16
Speaker
You'll also get guidance on race day strategy, nutrition, pre-race routines, and the insider tips that can transform your performance. With a coach, you're not guessing through training.
01:21:28
Speaker
you're following a proven customized roadmap with support every step of the way. So if you're ready to train smarter and reach new levels, email me at justin at justinstridepod.com and let's make those goals happen.
01:21:42
Speaker
Thanks for tuning in to the Just In Stride podcast. I truly appreciate you taking the time to listen and I hope you enjoyed that conversation as much as I did. Please take a minute after this to rate and review our show on Apple Podcasts.
01:21:54
Speaker
With your feedback, we'll be able to make the show even better and it'll help us reach new listeners too. You can also find us on Instagram at Just In Stride Pod for all the latest episodes and updates.
01:22:06
Speaker
Of course, this show wouldn't be possible without a solid team behind me. With logo and design by Vanessa Pugliese, as well as audio, music, and editing by Forrest McKay, a huge thank you goes out to both of them.
01:22:19
Speaker
Guest outreach, social media, writing, and advertising are handled by me, your host, Justin Pugliese. Finally, we'd like to thank you, our listeners, for coming along for the ride with Justin Stride.