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Demi Caldwell: From Pro Triathlon to Trail Running Podiums
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From elite soccer fields to the snowy slopes of Japan and Canada, Demi Caldwell’s athletic journey is as diverse as it is impressive. After years of competitive soccer and back-to-back winters skiing around the globe, Demi found her stride in triathlon, quickly rising to win age-group titles and earning her professional card at Melbourne's Ironman 70.3. Yet, despite her triathlon success, Demi’s heart was quietly pulling her towards a simpler, more profound calling—the trails.
In today's episode, Demi shares her transformative journey from triathlon podiums to trail running passion. We explore the moment of clarity at Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko that solidified her decision to fully commit to trails, the mental shifts required to compete at an elite level, and how embracing simplicity has enriched her life both on and off the trails.
From securing podium finishes at iconic events like Buffalo Stampede and Ultra-Trail Australia, Demi’s rise in the trail running community is just beginning. With deep insights into training, mindset, and the courage needed to redefine personal success, this conversation will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the call to chase what truly sets their soul on fire.
Join us for a deep, reflective, and inspiring conversation with Demi Caldwell—proof that following your passion is always the best route to personal fulfilment.
***Don’t forget, use code PPP at Bix’s website for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!***
Thanks for tuning in to Peak Pursuits! Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod to share your thoughts, questions, and trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits!
Follow Demi Caldwell: Instagram | Strava
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Transcript
00:00:15
Speaker
Hello
Introduction and Guest Bio
00:00:16
Speaker
and welcome to the Peep Pursuits podcast. My name is James Sieber and today we're sitting down with the recent third place finisher in the women's fifty k at UTA, Demi Caldwell. Demi has a really curious story, starting in soccer, then chasing winters, doing back-to-back seasons, and eventually falling in into triathlons with her partner, pursuing her pro card, which came a bit faster than she expected.
00:00:38
Speaker
As you just heard, though, she is now at a very high level in trails and has made that full time transition. And so this conversation was really interesting. And I've taken a lot of away about the importance of pursuing what you find joy in and not what you think you should be doing or potentially what others do. And therefore,
Demi's Athletic Journey
00:00:55
Speaker
you're following those pathways.
00:00:57
Speaker
Demi is one that we will definitely be keeping an eye out for the future. She's already shown immense talents with top finishes at UTA and Cozzy as well as a second place at Buffalo Stampede 20k this year so far.
00:01:09
Speaker
I hope you will enjoy this one as much as I did and with that let's get to the podcast with Demi Caldwell. Demi welcome to the podcast. are you going? Hey James yeah really good thanks for having me on.
00:01:20
Speaker
Thanks for coming along. I'm excited to so to talk, especially after UTA, but also just seeing more about your experience in Tri, where you got to there. I'm very intrigued to put it but it that way. But before we get to that, I'd like to kick off just giving a bit more context into who you are, kind of how you got to moving towards trails and just kind of the whole introduction to sport.
00:01:47
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. um All right. It's a bit of a story, but I suppose when I was a little bit younger, kind of coming out of school, I played a lot of soccer, played a Premier League for a little while.
00:02:02
Speaker
It was pretty competitive there. and i honestly think running was my favorite part of it, though. Like, yeah, the competition was good, being part of a team. But, um yeah, just having a run was kind of where I felt comfortable.
00:02:15
Speaker
And didn't really or did like lots of sports growing up um and then ended up doing my first ski season. So
Partnership and Adventures with Christian
00:02:26
Speaker
went out to Perisha and that's actually where I met my partner, Christian.
00:02:31
Speaker
And from there, ah things changed a lot and we ended up doing ski seasons for about seven years. Oh, wow. So, we yeah, we met at Perisha, went straight to Canada like three months later and, yeah,
00:02:45
Speaker
did Canada, travelled the US, came home, went to New Zealand, came home, went to Japan, squeezed in a trip to base camp in between all of that and um went back over to New Zealand and then ended up moving up north to Mackay in Queensland once Christian got work in aviation firefighting.
00:03:07
Speaker
Hmm. um So, yeah, it was a bit of a bit of a journey, but Mackay is probably where I started, i suppose, like my running journey. Got into a few of the clubs up there. So there's a club called On The Run. There's a triathlon group called Tractivate.
00:03:24
Speaker
And they kind of took me under their wing there and taught me everything I knew and um just did little local events. And, um yeah, kind of realized i I was doing okay at it. So um kind of put a lot of ah lot of work in a triathlon and then, Yeah, I suppose here we are.
00:03:41
Speaker
So the ski seasons you were doing back-to-back winters?
00:03:47
Speaker
Kind of, yeah. We were kind of doing winters and then breaking up breaking it up with like a trip to Thailand or something in between. But, yeah, predominantly doing winters, um skiing, snowboarding, and um just trying to see as much of the places we could while we were, you know, like in Naseko or in Whistler. or um We're in Wanaka and then we were living in Wellington for a little while. So yeah, yeah, busy, but good.
00:04:15
Speaker
That's great way to see some beautiful areas of the world. That's what I was doing as well for a while. And yeah, you see some see some pretty special places. Plus skiing is pretty cool.
00:04:26
Speaker
Not so much. Yeah, that's awesome. And what age were you through this period? Like, and then before you went to move to Queensland?
Demi's Triathlon Beginnings
00:04:36
Speaker
So we moved to Queensland in 20...
00:04:39
Speaker
True. End of 2020. Um, so it would have well, 26 maybe. Okay. okay And so your history was through school, mix of sports, playing soccer.
00:04:53
Speaker
Then by sounds of it, there wouldn't have been much sport, just sort of skiing and boarding and then came back at 26. Is that about right? yeah yeah sums it up that's really it no it's really cool like not being a lifelong runner or even bike had you had any experience riding or swimming at that point oh absolutely not no i was awful first time yeah like first time getting on a bike using clip-ins um even just getting in a pool and trying to swim 800 meters like such a struggle so it was
00:05:26
Speaker
Definitely a journey and definitely something I appreciate that I've done because I learned so much along the way. What was it about Tri that got you hooked? Yeah, that's funny because it was probably Christian's passion over being mine. Okay. His dad did triathlon whilst he was growing up, did an Ironman. I think he ended up completing it in like nine hours, so he was quite good. wow.
00:05:51
Speaker
So it's something Christian always wanted to pursue and then –
00:05:55
Speaker
he was doing it so I was like oh I don't want to miss it out you know i should I should jump on and I should have a go as well so that's probably what got me into it and then yeah just kind of got hooked from there like loved the progression loved learning something new ah met lots of really cool people along the way as well and and just the local events that were were on it you know it was something to do Mackay is a pretty it's you know and there's stuff going on but it's a pretty quiet place ultimately so it gave me something to focus on, um you know, while we were there, which was really cool.
00:06:30
Speaker
And Christian's work, is that what's kind of had you moving around a bit? Yeah, absolutely.
Lifestyle and Training Challenges
00:06:36
Speaker
So yeah, ultimately he got posted to Macquarie to start with. So that was great. And we were like, we'll spend three years here and see where we go.
00:06:44
Speaker
Then we were like, all right, we're ready to move closer to family who are all in Sydney. So an opportunity for Canberra came up. So we, popped in to try and get over there and that got approved so we're actually on the way to Canberra and then another opportunity popped up here in Melbourne so um couldn't say no it was a good opportunity just to see a new place and kind of a stepping stone closer to home so we've taken this for now in Melbourne and then still kind of making our way ultimately to Canberra hopefully.
00:07:15
Speaker
did In one of your YouTube videos, you also mentioned you were looking at places to stay or to move to, is it Gisborne? Is that one of the places? Yeah, yep. So we considered it. um if we're going to If we're going to stay in Melbourne a bit more long term, we want to be somewhere that's got some more trails um around it. So Gisborne, obviously being quite closeak close to like Mount Macedon, um would be kind of a good location for us.
00:07:42
Speaker
But logistically, yeah, I'm not sure how that would work. So we just kind of have to wait and see how the year plans out. And what do you do for work? So I work online for a swim company doing like enrollments and that sort of thing.
00:07:55
Speaker
i basically pick this up. I used to swim teach for the same company in Mackay. And I picked this up when I knew that we were going to be moving around a whole lot. There was an opportunity to work from home. um And I was thinking ahead.
00:08:08
Speaker
like I didn't want to be moving around trying to find new jobs. So i was like, if I can take this one and I can take it with me, um then that's going to be super handy. So, yeah, I've probably been doing this for about a year now and it's um it's really good, great company to work for.
00:08:22
Speaker
yeah um The kind of group that I work with is super flexible. So if I do need time off for races and things like that, then they're on board and they kind of support what I'm doing as well.
00:08:34
Speaker
Brilliant. It's very nice setup to have. One of the the thoughts I always have when someone is in triathlon and actually is trying to pursue performance and getting as good as you can is how it all fits in with your life. Like how did you find getting used to the training level for try whilst working?
00:08:53
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. It's so, so hard and it's so fatiguing as well. But you, I think kind of once you set your eyes on something and you have a goal and, um you know, you want to be working towards that, you can always find the time to do it.
00:09:07
Speaker
But yeah, lots of early mornings, um even like, you know, training in lunch breaks or training late at night as well. And just, just knowing like you're going to finish a session at, you know, 7.30 one night, and then you're going to have to be up at four o'clock to go for, you know, a bike ride with the group the next morning is, it's just constant, but it's,
00:09:27
Speaker
I think you get so stuck and it's so much fun that you just kind of don't really realize you're doing it. Yeah. um But, yeah, that's probably the biggest change I've found switching over to running is that i I just have more time and like I have more energy and I'm just not fatigued. And um it's, yeah, it's just simpler and I love it.
00:09:46
Speaker
When I was speaking to Tyler Windham, he said the same thing, that dropping down to 12 hours running a week is quite nice and like relatively easy from a time perspective. and It still blows my mind a little bit.
00:09:58
Speaker
Yeah, and you can just put more into your training because you're like, I only have to do one session today instead of three. Crazy. Easy work. And from soccer, you said you were playing Premier League pretty high up. When you got in into try, was there always a bit of you that was going to be like competitive, performance focused, trying to see how good you could be? Yeah.
00:10:23
Speaker
Yeah, i think I
Transition to Trail Running
00:10:24
Speaker
think I tell myself I'm not competitive. I just do this for fun. um But, i yeah, I think that's a lie. There's something in me that, you know, I don't want to do something if I'm just okay at it. ah were ready I want to push it. I want to see, you know, how good I can be because you see everyone else doing it and you're like, well, why not me?
00:10:42
Speaker
Yeah, i it's always an interesting topic for me, people that have come from ah high level of competitiveness in another sport and then they come in something else. I like the idea of it being a hobby, but I feel like it's very hard to switch that side of your brain off.
00:10:56
Speaker
So it's interesting. yeah And looking at your results in try, and this is kind of where I'd like you to spend a bit of time, um I guess just kind of breaking down the thought process that moving to trail,
00:11:09
Speaker
When I was looking through your Instagram, it looked like at the beginning last year, you really made a push to try and get your pro card and that you did get that. You had a couple of age group wins.
00:11:21
Speaker
um was I think was it was at Melbourne where you got your pro card at. Is that correct? Yeah. So I won the overall age group at Melbourne 70.3. Yeah. And then you do Challenge Canberra, which was in the pro field. And then it's kind of seemed to be from that, which was November last year, you seemingly switched to trails full time. So can you kind of run us through that whole, that year and and just how it all played out?
00:11:49
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. So I suppose if we start at the beginning of last year, touching on what you said, yeah, I've put a lot of energy into, um,
00:12:00
Speaker
triathlon and I was like, if I'm going to do this, you know, I need to have an aim. So I suppose the first aim was trying to win a um an age group race. So i i I worked around this a lot. I even like changed my work around so that um it would kind of complement when I could train and make sure that that was my priority.
00:12:21
Speaker
So yeah, put a lot of work in um The swim has always been a bit of a struggle for me, I guess, learning later on in life, it's always a hard thing to pick up. yeah So that was always a struggle just to try to get those sessions done. But um yeah, just, ah I don't know, it was like such a big goal of mine. And I was like, I don't know if I'll ever reach it, you know, so I'm just going to try as hard as I can to get there.
00:12:44
Speaker
So then winning, yeah, winning Melbourne, was definitely a bit of a breakthrough for me, gave me the confidence in myself to be like, okay, cool, this is something, you know, that I can pursue.
00:12:57
Speaker
ah Moved on and did the race at Canberra, so raced in the elite field and just, it's a different level. So it's a different thing, like winning an age group race and then moving into an elite race and just being like,
00:13:10
Speaker
Oh my goodness, these girls are very good. yeah um My bike and my run are definitely there, but my swim just wasn't there. And if you're not if you're not swimming well in triathlon, it's really hard to make that backpack and then it's really hard to just catch up on the run. and so I kind of had this feeling that um if I was to pursue it, yeah, I definitely could. But it would have been like I was talking to my coach, um James, and he was like, it might take a year, year and a half to get you swim where it needs to be.
00:13:41
Speaker
And for me, that was kind of a light bulb moment being like, i could I could push this or maybe I can think about running because that's always where my passion's been. So, you know, did Canberra, had a bit of a think and was like, all right, I'll make a decision by the end of the year.
00:13:58
Speaker
and then um obviously race COSY 50, which was a few weeks later, I think. yeah yeah And um I just remember... like getting ready for Cozzy, I was just having such a great time. You know, i it wasn't logistical. I didn't have to, like, organise my bike and figure out if I remembered my wetsuit and all these little things and um lined up for Cozzy and finished the race and just almost straightaway I reckon I was like, no, I love this too much.
00:14:29
Speaker
I think I could pursue running, trail running, and I think I could be quite good at it a lot faster than – then I was going to get good at triathlon. Okay. Interesting.
00:14:40
Speaker
And at this point, you've also, you've done COSI 50 in 2023. You did Tarawara and UTA whilst also still pursuing the triathlon. So having those races, did that, was that showing you where your passion might be more?
00:14:57
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. So ah yeah i was definitely just squeezing them in because I was like, oh, you know, that'd be fun to do um Go to a new place, you know, get to run around. That sounds really cool.
00:15:08
Speaker
And, yeah, I think I got pretty lucky in COSI 23, I think. I got third in that one. I think a few people might have dropped out. And i was like, oh, cool, you know, that's pretty fun. And then raced Tarawera and I got fifth of pretty minimal training, um which but surprised me a lot, to be honest.
00:15:32
Speaker
Raced UTA, finished UTA that year and said I'm never doing that again. That was the hardest thing of my life. And, um yeah, then went into COSY with a bit more bit more training and did quite well there. And I think, yeah, putting all of those together, I just got to a point where I was like, I want to train specifically and I want to um actually, you know, line up to one of these races with some backing behind me.
00:15:58
Speaker
And I saw of your Instagram posts that was really, well, in fact, there was two that's interesting because your post for Challenge Canberra at the end of it, you essentially said like, it's time to get to work and bridge that gap. But then a few weeks later, you...
00:16:14
Speaker
You say about how you studied TAFE because of a friend, you followed colleagues, do ski seasons, moved overseas, started triathlon because Christian, but then you run for you, which is a really interesting, like they were only sort of four or five weeks apart. Was it cosy in the middle that changed that was something else there?
00:16:31
Speaker
Yeah, it's, I think it's tricky. I would say it was cosy. um Yeah, I can't really explain it. Like I was so locked into triathlon and just, I think I just knew I had to make a decision.
00:16:44
Speaker
And I had obviously I had those two thought processes there. and it was just kind of zoning in on one of them and accepting the decision that I make and then just pushing forward with it.
00:16:54
Speaker
And I messaged your, uh, your coach JT to ask if he had anything to kind of bring up. And essentially it was just that it was to talk about the switch between trail and, and triathlon, but the, he said it was almost like a weight was lifted once you decided to move to trail. Is that how it felt?
00:17:15
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. Um, I thought about this a little bit as well. And I was thinking when I was training for triathlon, you know, I'd wake up in the morning and just be like, oh, got all these sessions to do.
00:17:26
Speaker
And now I wake up in the morning, think about running and I'm like, yeah, sweet, let's go. you know, I know I can nail this session. It's just how hard it's going to be. I like that. And it's when you are committing yourself to spending all this time, even even if it's just a session a day or 10 hours or 12, whatever it it is for you, you've still got to get up and want to do it. Because the end of the day, there's very few people in Australia that are paid to do this.
00:17:48
Speaker
So you've got to really want it. Okay. that's I think that's it's really interesting that you can be pursuing something to such a high level and have the courage to go, no, this isn't this isn't for me.
00:18:02
Speaker
um I think that's really it's really cool and admirable. You switched to trails essentially the start of this year. Coming
Mindset and Training Philosophy
00:18:09
Speaker
into trails, given that you've had such a focus on performance and getting your pro card in try, what mindset did you come to the trails with?
00:18:17
Speaker
he it's It's funny. Initially, so um I raced two bays at the start of the year, so that was, I guess, the first trial race I'd signed up to where I'd kind of committed to doing this.
00:18:30
Speaker
um And I just remember to saying to James, um my coach, and being like, oh, I want to do the long one, like I want to do the 56. And he was like, oh, you should think about doing the shorter race.
00:18:42
Speaker
And I was like, no, I don't want to race that. um There's, you know, there's some really good girls in there. Like Jess was in it. um Who else had their names?
00:18:52
Speaker
I think we were meant to have, can't remember if Anna Ran, but it was meant to be Sarah Klein was meant to be there. Anna Ran, yeah. Yeah. It's it's always, it always gets a very strong field. Yeah, Kate Avery too?
00:19:04
Speaker
Yes, yes. And i remember I said to him, i was like, no, I don't i don't want to race them. And he's like, you need ah you need to be racing the best if you want to be the best. So i was like, okay, cool. So that's flipped a bit of a switch being like, okay, you know, you have to compete if you want to compete.
00:19:19
Speaker
And um that kind of gave gave me the confidence to sign up for Donna Double. And yeah it's just kind of flowed on from there, I suppose. Talk bit more about two bays and also Donna, because your results at UTA and Buffalo, if you were to look at, especially your two bays run and obviously the very different style of courses, I wouldn't have, i and I hope this doesn't come across across bad, I would not have be expected to to be saying you're with the third place finisher at UTA this year.
00:19:47
Speaker
Because you would have been, you ran 225 and I think Jess around, they ran sort of 208, 210. So it's it's a decent gap. And then you've just come in and beaten Jess by quite a substantial margin at UTA. So was there something that went on at two bays or you've just improved? I would just say i had a big break over Christmas and New Year's and went into it very unprepared. um But yeah, wanted to have a crack and...
00:20:14
Speaker
Yes, I think that taught me a lot that you do you need to prepare for these races. like you so You got to put the work in if you want to get the results. So that's definitely the attitude I went into for UTA. Okay.
00:20:26
Speaker
okay Training wise, transitioning from trail, I'm sorry, from tri to trails, you stuck with the same coach, James, JT, Mose Sport. How did things change and how how are they still changing?
00:20:40
Speaker
Yeah, so I had that conversation with him. I was like, you know, I want to just swap to trails and straight away he was on board. He was like, yeah, I think that's a great decision. I think you can do really well at this. um And it's been, honestly, it's been really smooth from there.
00:20:54
Speaker
He's been really great at managing my load. um i suppose, you know, I want to be like, I want to be running like one hundred k weeks, 120k weeks. And he's like, whoa, whoa, whoa, you know.
00:21:05
Speaker
let's do this slowly, let's do this right. um So I've definitely appreciated that and I can kind of see the build that we've had um since we started. And yeah, other than that, it's it's just been nice, consistent training, you know, like I know what my sessions are going to be, I know what I need to do, not trying to change anything too drastically and just stay consistent has been the biggest thing.
00:21:31
Speaker
And are you still using swimming or biking as part of your training? No, not really at all. We had it initially in the start. There was a few bike sessions, just longer rides and stuff.
00:21:43
Speaker
um But even living here in Melbourne, it's been quite tricky to get out and do those rides. So it was becoming a little bit too hard. And um it's, yeah, it's been working quite well, actually not having to incorporate swimming or riding just yet. Obviously,
00:22:00
Speaker
you know, if um I can always incorporate it later, but yeah, right now it's mainly just been in the running and gym. Yeah. Okay.
00:22:11
Speaker
I feel like it would be easy to keep it in, but also yeah, coming from your background, switching more into running focused, it's where you're probably gonna get the most improvement. So yeah, do you miss the time on the bike or in the pool?
00:22:24
Speaker
That's interesting. i i would say no. Like I mentioned, swimming was always tough, but the thing I did love about swimming was going to do a swim session, knowing how hard it was going to be, completing it, and then getting out and being like, that was awesome, you know, I did it.
00:22:41
Speaker
um Hardest thing for me was always the long bike rides. yeah i just I just couldn't enjoy them as much as I wanted to. i would do three hours, four hours, but the whole time I would just be thinking like, oh, man, I wish this was over. Yeah.
00:22:58
Speaker
Yeah, comparing that to running, I go out for a long run now and I'm like, yeah, let's go. I this all day. Pretty good signs that you've made the right choice there, I would say. yeah It makes me think actually, because obviously on the bike, from a fueling perspective, you can essentially eat anything because you don't have that that jostling. i know everyone has their own preferences of eating.
00:23:17
Speaker
I think, again, Tyler ate fruitcake, but I couldn't imagine that. But carrying over nutrition and hydration from your past training into trails how have you found it? have you made any changes?
00:23:29
Speaker
I've definitely put a lot more focus into it now. So in triathlon, I thought about it and I'd be like, yes, we don't have 90 grams on the bike or i might have a gel on the run, but it definitely wasn't a priority.
00:23:43
Speaker
i found I could kind of get through those races, – not under fueling, but not having to prepare and think about it too much. Moving into trail, I'm definitely learning that you need to get enough, not only fuel, but enough um water in as well.
00:24:02
Speaker
um I'm pretty good at just not taking on hydration. Yeah. And you realize pretty quickly that that's going to catch up with you and um you know it could ruin your race at the end of the day. So Yeah, just trying to build up build up kind of what I can tolerate carb-wise, trying to get more liquid in during the races. And yeah, I think that's just going to take a little while to to get used to. Have you had a race where you did underhydrate and it became an issue?
00:24:31
Speaker
I would say most of the runs I did last year, okay you know, it's where we were UTA, um probably noticed it at Cozzy last year. I got 30K where you get to the village.
00:24:44
Speaker
And I just like, I remember seeing Christian, he passed me a bottle and i was like, awesome. And then I just stood there for a moment. I was like, oh, I need the bathroom. And i I literally, I reckon I stood there for like 30 seconds because someone was in there and they pointed to these portaloos and I was like, oh man, that's so far away. And it was like, my brain just wasn't processing anything.
00:25:01
Speaker
And I was like, well, maybe I just haven't had enough. And um yeah, just kept running, like ran the next section, you go up the hill and that sort of thing. And um I think that was probably where I noticed it. And then just finishing the race and just being absolutely spent, like feeling really sick for a few hours. And um yeah, I think that's when I know i haven't had enough whilst I've been racing. and And you never got to that point in tri?
00:25:29
Speaker
I ah just don't think it's, not that it's not long enough because ah the length of time is probably the same, but yeah, you almost get away with it a little bit easier. Yeah, just find it fun to to listen and learn from it. It's just such a different world.
00:25:46
Speaker
But in saying that, actually, I'd probably say that I probably just wasn't aware of it as much, whereas now I'm much more switched on and understand, you know, why I'm feeling the way I'm feeling.
00:25:57
Speaker
Okay. And is that something that's happened only since moving to trail? I would say so because I've, I think because I'm so passionate about it, like I put in the the time to figure those things out.
00:26:08
Speaker
Yeah. Whereas triathlon, I suppose a lot of my time was spent just doing the training, like just doing the training was so fatiguing that now I kind of have the space to do the training, but yeah, also think about those other little things like, you know, what's the specific strength work that need to be doing or why am I feeling this way after having this particular gel or, you know, all that.
00:26:31
Speaker
I like to hear it. it's i'm I'm a fan of analytical approaches to the sport and people really and honing in on what works specifically for them as opposed to just like just doing 90 grams an hour because that's what you hear all the rage is or even higher or et cetera, et cetera. So no, I like it. And it definitely bodes well for...
00:26:49
Speaker
What we're going start to talk about, which is some of the the better results, at least on paper, we'll hear how they actually went for you. But more recently, the first one being Buffalo Stampede, where you the 20K, you came home in second, you took over third place, who's a local to me, Laura, with about 300 meters to go And that was kind of the first time that even though you'd had very good, like you'd hit the podium before you had top five at UTA, that was kind of first time where I was like, oh, wow, like Demi's strong and fast. And you could sort of tell that the 20K probably isn't where you naturally feel the most comfortable by guessing, and correct me if I'm wrong there.
00:27:26
Speaker
But the fact that you were putting yourself right up there in that was a very good sign for the rest of season. So how how was Buffalo for you? Yeah, Buffalo was ah kind of, yeah, a bit of a breakthrough race for me, I think. So initially in races, i would be like, you know, I'm going to run my own race.
00:27:43
Speaker
I'll do what I can do on the day. um For Buffalo, I kind of set myself a goal of, no I'm going to go out at the front and I'm just going to see what happens. So, yeah, started the race at the front with the girls and kind of, I think I was first on the climb for a little while until Laura came up.
00:28:01
Speaker
And she was absolutely powering through it And I was like, God, this is so impressive to watch. I was like, ah I'll keep her in sight. All I've got to do is stay at the front of the race. um And then i think Bridget came past me not too long after that, probably at the top of the climb.
00:28:16
Speaker
Yeah. I was like, yeah, that's fine. You know, keep them in sight. And that was kind of my, that was kind of how the rest of the race went. And I was like, as long as I can see them, I'm still competing. And yeah, pretty much until,
00:28:31
Speaker
That final, it would have been like the 2K into the finish. um Bridget had overtaken Laura already and I could see Laura. Yeah. And I was looking at her and i was like, man, she's just's been this far away the whole race. Like, I don't know if I can do it. And there was a guy actually running next to me and he's like, come on, let's go. She's so close. You got her. Yeah. digating me up And um that was actually super motivating and it kind of clicked something and I was like, yeah, right. You know, the race isn't over until it's over. So let's let's put it in.
00:29:00
Speaker
And, yeah, kind of that 300 metres to the finish, eye I was like, all right, I'm going have to pass and I'm going to have to keep going. And, um yeah, passed and then just just put it in until the end. And, um yeah, i was just super happy. I was like I went into the race of a goal.
00:29:17
Speaker
um You know, I had ah had a kind of plan whilst it was playing out and then kind of pushed right through to the end, which was, um yeah, which was just a just a big thing for me. And, um yeah, just had a great time doing it.
00:29:30
Speaker
And compared to your run at Warburton at the Donna Double, how did that feel different to Donna? Just being prepared and having a plan would be it.
00:29:41
Speaker
Donna, i definitely wasn't prepared and i
00:29:46
Speaker
I just didn't know what was going to happen. And um yeah donna yeah, Donna cooked me, but Buffalo buffalo felt good. So training, training works. Yeah. Funny that.
00:29:58
Speaker
It's a good sign though. It's a good sign. When
Preparation for Races
00:30:01
Speaker
I was going through, and i'd like to talk about your YouTube channel in a sec, but going through YouTube for Buffalo, one of the things you said was that you never know what's happening ahead of you.
00:30:09
Speaker
And I feel like that is such ah unique mindset for trail running because you can be a hundred meters behind somebody and never know for 20K because of how the trails can work. And I'm guessing that isn't really what happens in tri because you're probably on an open road. You can see what's see what's what's what's going on but it it's yeah you can and someone can be as you can see when Laura came through the finish was in quite a bit of pain and cramping you never know what's gonna what's gonna happen ah ahead coming off Buffalo how are you feeling about UTA and and what was left to do and the work you'd already done yeah like I was definitely feeling confident I knew that um
00:30:53
Speaker
I, you know, I've still got a lot to learn and a lot that I need to work on, but that's kind of exciting because because I know how much further I could take this. And so, yeah, the build into UTA, it was it was pretty specific. Like I was obviously going into it being my A race.
00:31:11
Speaker
um We went and did a recce, went and ran the course on Easter weekend which was really cool. um And even just going into a race, knowing the course, I think is huge.
00:31:24
Speaker
kind of It kind of lets you visualize and lets you have a plan for how it's actually going to go on um on race day. So, yeah, main things there, I suppose, building into UTA was just staying consistent, trusting my training,
00:31:37
Speaker
and then backing myself once it came to the day. When, again, your YouTube for your UTA recce weekend, I was very impressed by the fact that you guys went up Ferber, then did a loop, and came back up Ferber again.
00:31:52
Speaker
found... feel like that's a good sign for for race day that you're you're willing to do that twice in training in one one run. um your Your YouTube channel, like I love seeing this. the The first one I saw was um for Buffalo and there aren't that many people that are making YouTube vlogs as such for training. Where's the inspiration come from that or for that, sorry?
00:32:15
Speaker
Yeah, so I talked to Christian about this a little bit because it's always been in the back of my mind to do it. And the biggest thing I think was not to do it for anyone else, but to do it for myself or for us.
00:32:28
Speaker
Cause I just feel like, you know, we do these races or we go on these adventures and we do all these amazing things. And it's so easy to forget what you've done and how cool that was.
00:32:39
Speaker
So in my mind, it was a way to kind of document the process, um, and just remember like, you know, where you started and kind of where you're going and be able to look back on that and, um,
00:32:52
Speaker
just have good memories too. So yeah, ah it's exciting. And i I love doing it because I get to watch the videos and I'm just like, oh, that's right. You know, we did that and, well, that was a really cool day or that was a really awesome spot. And, um, just be able to bring like family and and that into as well is, um, yeah, just, just something that I, yeah, like, and yeah, I just want I just want to keep doing for a little while. So yeah.
00:33:19
Speaker
Well, please, please do keep going. cause i'm I'm enjoying it. And I think I feel like the Yipun tourist board needs to pay you because watching that one, i was like, I really want to go visit that. It looks beautiful.
00:33:29
Speaker
Yeah, and not many people know about it. So it's a beautiful spot. Really, really cool. Yeah, I asked Siobhan, my wife, who's Australian, and she had no clue where it was either, like Queensland, but never been up there. it's um It's great. One thing that I saw in that one is using Strava segments in training and sort of, don't know if you're kind of specifically going for them or just building your workout around them, but is that something that you do?
00:33:52
Speaker
do i do it if we're if we're moving around. So yeah, if we're in a different spot and we're like, oh, you know, we have these heel reps to do, it's just a really cool tool to be able to not have to just be like, oh, we'll just use this road. It's like, yeah, you can go find something specific and you know that you're going to get a good session out of it.
00:34:10
Speaker
um So, yeah, I wouldn't say i use it often, but I use it if I need to. Yeah. looks cool driver as well. You get these crowns. Yeah, exactly. It's a bit motivating, isn't it? Yeah, exactly.
00:34:22
Speaker
And Yipun, that was straight after Buffalo. You went up there? Yes. Yeah. Yep. So it wasn't exactly like it was a completely, not necessarily smooth, but there was a lot going on in the training block in those last six weeks leading up to to UTA. Do you find that, or how do you find training in that sort of environment moving around?
00:34:43
Speaker
Yeah, 100%. So I think I've mentioned it in one of my videos too, that um previously I've thought that to get you know the best out of yourself, you need to be in one place and you need to, you know, lock into the sessions, do the same thing, have that kind of consistency. But I think life happens and, you know, you're going to have to travel or something's going to come up. So being able to be flexible with your training and accept that that's what you have to do and that's where you are can be really beneficial. And I think that's just what I've what i've had to do and what I've done for a long time. Like
00:35:19
Speaker
we move around a lot and that's absolutely fine so just incorporating running and training and making it work for me is how i'm going to get the best out of myself i really like that and does that um correlate to in in your buffalo post you said that you've been focusing on simplifying life lately is is that connected yeah absolutely um so a bit of a story but living in mckay ah it felt a lot simpler up there.
00:35:46
Speaker
um I'm not sure what it was. Maybe it's because Christian and I were both on shift work. So, you know, we had a little bit more spare time moving to Melbourne. Christian's work in Monday to Friday. i'm basically doing the same.
00:36:00
Speaker
And, you know, you only have your weekends. That's all the time you have. And it it does make it stressful. And I used to look at my family living in Sydney and being like, these guys are so busy. Like, why are they so busy?
00:36:13
Speaker
And, um, just i it's just nice to step back and be like, hang on, like I have control over this. Like I can choose how busy I want to be So, yes stepping into trail running has been huge because I i don't have to worry about a bike or a pool. I just know that I've got some runners, awesome, helps me clear my head at the same time and I can just take the space to, you know, appreciate where we are and not get caught up in like that rat race, I suppose. Yeah.
00:36:42
Speaker
Makes me think as well of moving around a lot. Obviously running is a solo sport. You're the only one that goes and runs, but so often we are training together or you have that local community, but it can't be easy when you're moving around. Is that something that does matter for you? And when you are moving, have you found finding these new communities?
00:37:02
Speaker
it's The running community is awesome. I think you can run into so many people and there's so many different ways to to find these people as well. Like I think parkrun's a huge thing. I do love parkrun.
00:37:12
Speaker
um You know, you can go to these events, you can not know anyone and by the end you're chatting to someone or you're grabbing coffee afterwards. yeah And, um yeah, even moving to Melbourne, you know, doing one race, meeting someone at one race um and then, you know, they bring you into their community.
00:37:29
Speaker
So I guess an example of that, I meant um ah met Amy at Two Bays and she's part of um one of the athletics groups down here. And then she got me into some of the cross country races that they do. So it's, ah cool yeah, I think, you know, i don't move around with the same people. Like obviously I've got Christian, but you, you just connect through running and um yeah, it just kind of flows on from there.
00:37:55
Speaker
I like it. So you, this is really jumping ahead, but are you looking at doing some of the cross country series this um I'd like to. Yeah, I went and watched the one that was on at St Anne's Winery on the weekend. yeah I wanted to race it, but i was like, oh, i'll give myself a bit more time just after UTA. And yeah, I i honestly didn't know you could run cross countries out of school.
00:38:19
Speaker
It was super eye-opening. Yeah, they're they're really cool. Sean and I did them for the first time last year. And like we're willing to drive four or five hours to do them so that it kind of says that they are, they're great fun. And as I just said, running solo sport, like when else do you actually get to run for a team anymore?
00:38:38
Speaker
Yeah. It's such a cool feeling. so Absolutely. Yeah, that's really cool. I'm happy to hear it. I like it. And again, speaking about comfort zones and stepping outside of them, when you're a 50k trail runner, doing a 6k cross country is a bit different.
00:38:52
Speaker
um All right. i kind of beating around the bush a bit here to get to UTA, but I just wanted to sort of set the scene because I really feel like your UTA performance potentially could have gone ah under the radar because you came third, which is the podium, but it's not first. And obviously first
Reflections on Trail Running Success
00:39:08
Speaker
place always gets more attention.
00:39:09
Speaker
And you're racing in the same race as Caitlin Fielder, and she's just going to get the attention because it's Caitlin and she's incredible. But you were really close and Ali in front of you, it was a like...
00:39:20
Speaker
You basically said a minute, I think, back for most of the day. And and there was one point coming up the final final section in 10K, like I thought you were going to catch. And looking back at the stats from last year against Kate and SJ Miller's times, you were matching them out of the bottom and those two had an incredible race. So I guess I wanted to give it context so people could kind of see that but it really was something impressive and special, but I'm also then really interested to learn how it went for you. So a bit like we would for a post-race recap, can you run us through kind how it went?
00:39:58
Speaker
um And also with the experience of having UTA before, you've had the time on the course, obviously the course changed a little bit from last year to this year but yeah with that knowledge what you were coming in expecting wanting what the approach was and then how it went yeah awesome cool um yeah I was super happy with UTA so i suppose starting the race I had a little bit of a mindset from Buffalo I was like you know I need to I need to be at the front if I want to be if I want to be in it but I also knew that um
00:40:35
Speaker
you know, you don't want to go out too hard either. So it was a bit of a toss up because I suppose that first section, that little out and back, it's not, not necessarily fast, but it's definitely runnable when you could definitely cook yourself um if you tried. So yeah, started and then was just running with the front girls. And um obviously Caitlin was there and I was just like the whole time I was like, this is so cool. yeah And I was like, ah maybe I'm too close. Maybe I shouldn't be running this close to her. was there with Jess and Ali was there too. And,
00:41:05
Speaker
Um, we all just kind of ran that section together to the out and back and that was, yeah, like that was all pretty smooth. Um, I did pull back a little bit cause the girls I think they and would running like three thirties down one of the hills. And I was like, no, this isn't, this isn't for me.
00:41:22
Speaker
was like, step back a little bit, just chill out. You got all day. Um, and yeah, so kind of did that out and back. kept running and then had a little chat to Ali before the golden staircase.
00:41:34
Speaker
So that was that was a new section from the course last year. Yeah. You go down there. Yeah. So that was tricky and Ali absolutely got away. She destroyed those stairs.
00:41:46
Speaker
Oh, interesting. Yeah, yeah. she's I think she must be quite a good technical or downhill runner or something. But um yeah, watched her get away. and I was like, my goodness, I need to work on,
00:41:58
Speaker
on going downstairs or something and then you kind of hit that single track and that that was super nice and flowy so got a bit more momentum there got to the um is it Laura where you go back up yeah and so I knew that was coming and I knew Laura stairs were going to be tough but I didn't realize how tough and how long they went for um so I could kind of still see Ali at that point too and was just like you just gotta to you just gotta push these like you know, walk as hard as you can and um run what you can as well.
00:42:31
Speaker
so yeah, got through that section. just Sorry, before you head on, that section, like you said, was the the new, or going back to old, but different from last year. How much slower do you reckon that made this initial part of the course?
00:42:47
Speaker
Yeah, i honestly don't know. i've I've heard people throw some numbers around, but pretty slow, because even just going down the stairs is going to take a chunk of time. comparing it to running on the flat and then yeah, coming up Lura It's got to be 10 minutes or something. I don't know.
00:43:05
Speaker
it sounds right. And looking at the times, it I don't think I, well, I know Brody and I didn't fully understand how different that was doing the preview. It also makes me think one of the things that we often see when people come from tri to trails is that they have this incredible engine. They're normally very good at fueling, typically good at hydrating.
00:43:26
Speaker
um and But technical running is obviously... something that you really have no need to be good at or to practice. So that section along the base and through the lower forest is is a touch technical. And obviously the very end of the race is.
00:43:41
Speaker
how How do you find technical running? i Yeah, I find I could be better at it. And I just find that I just need to practice it a little bit more. Just having like quick footing and, um you know, kind of thinking two steps ahead is probably the biggest thing that I need to work on.
00:43:59
Speaker
And you can just see how much time you can make on technical sections when you watch the really good runners. And, um yeah, it's it's tricky to sum up like is it better to be a technical runner or an uphill runner? But I think, honestly, you just need it you need to have it all. Yeah.
00:44:16
Speaker
yeah how do we do that yeah there's there's not really any hiding i actually just spoke to simone about this a while back saying like would you rather be technically a very good runner or be really really fit and we both we both agree that it's probably easier to get fit than it is to develop the skill of technical running um but you can't really have holes not when you're competing for podiums at uta now absolutely Anyway, sorry, so you come up through the Lura stairs, get towards the echo point, running around from there, take us from that point.
00:44:50
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, cool. So, man, it's so hard to remember. I think I was just running. was just like, you just got to stay in it. um so Could you see Ali still on the run into Fairmont?
00:45:04
Speaker
Not directly into Fairmont. Okay. Kind of lost her through some of those stairs. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. And so at this point, where was your mind at? well What was the approach kind of going into that last section? i Honestly, I was just thinking about what I was doing. i was thinking about trying to get enough fuel in, um knowing that I was close and just trying to stay in it because I knew there were a few hours left.
00:45:32
Speaker
Yeah. It's actually, i suppose the biggest thing i was thinking about was, but the biggest... changed that I noticed in myself was that I was focusing on the front of the race whereas ah usually i would be focusing on the back of the race and thinking about who was catching me but that didn't even cross my mind i was just like I know where second is that's all I'm focused on right now that's a very cool and good switch I like that so did you did you ever look back throughout the race I it was in my head I was like
00:46:04
Speaker
I wanted to, but I just made sure that I didn't. Cause I was like, what, what use is that? Cool. I like it. I like it a lot. Okay. So coming through Fairmont, you're still, I think you're about a minute or so behind Ali at this point.
00:46:17
Speaker
How did the rest of the race pan out? Yeah. So yeah got through Fairmont and then, um, got some splits that I think I got a split that like Caitlin was four minutes ahead or something. And i was like,
00:46:30
Speaker
Yeah, but I want to know where second is. So I was like, oh, that's cool. You know, that's pretty close. Awesome. and we'll just keep We'll just keep tracking along. And, um yeah, just honestly just kept running that next session, like wasn't having any issues, was just getting nutrition in. um um was I suppose I was passing a few people, seeing some miles along the way, which was pretty cool.
00:46:52
Speaker
And then got to the next aid station, Queen Vic. Yep.
00:47:00
Speaker
So at Queen Vic, yeah, so I i was crewing myself for the whole thing. So i was carrying all my nutrition and um I was just aiming to, you know, fill up the water. I fill up another flask or two of water at Queen Vic.
00:47:13
Speaker
And um Tom, one of the boys that trains with JT Multisport as well, was actually really good and he, As soon as I came in, he was like, water's over here. And he ran out with me and was like giving me splits as we kind of headed off out of that aid station. So i was super appreciative of that because it um wasn't something i was expecting. Yeah. And, yeah, just honestly i was just feeling good at that stage too. And I knew what was coming up. I knew there was a big downhill coming. So I just needed to um see how that was going to go and obviously not push too hard to –
00:47:47
Speaker
um take time out of the climb that was going to come after that. But was having some issues with my shoes too. So once to we started that descent, I hadn't worn these shoes on a, on a big downhill before.
00:47:58
Speaker
And my toes were just hitting the end of my shoe. And I've never experienced that before. And I was, oh man, I don't know how many toenails I'm going to lose, but I could definitely feel it whilst we were going down.
00:48:11
Speaker
So that, I just thought about that the whole time. I was like, man, my toes are hurting. And it really made the time go fast. Got to the bottom. Yeah. and um Yeah. Stopped at the bottom, filled up a flask with water.
00:48:27
Speaker
was, yeah, I think that's where I'm still learning to take on hydration. I probably hadn't had enough at that point. So filled up a flask and was just putting a little bit on myself. It was heating up a little bit then.
00:48:39
Speaker
and so previously when we recceed this section, i ran, and i knew I could jog. the whole uphill. yeah And as soon as we got to that first uphill, I was just like, oh man, this is so much harder than it was when I did it in training. And its it's funny to make that switch and just be like, yeah, you're so much more fatigued and you just you've just got to lock in and um get it done.
00:49:04
Speaker
yeah So yeah, obviously it's bit of a grind coming out of the out of the valley, but um that's when I did start to get eyes on Ali again. So she had a pulse and she was, she was checking along and I was just looking up at her like, oh man, she's so close.
00:49:19
Speaker
Just got to keep moving. And, um, that was another thing I've tried to focus on is the idea that you just got to keep moving forward. Like there's no point stopping. There's no point resting because that's just going to take time. You're out at the end of the day.
00:49:33
Speaker
So just thought about that for the whole climb out and kind of kept seeing her and then she disappear around a corner and i was like, oh, I wonder if she's just trying to stay out of sight. But she was looking back, I knew she was a bit nervous too, which was interesting.
00:49:48
Speaker
did Did that give you ah bit of sort of ammunition as well, thinking, oh, she's she's looking back? It definitely did, but I was also at a point where i was like, I'm honestly pushing what I can push right now.
00:50:01
Speaker
Yeah. So, yeah it was tricky at the same time. And so i think at this stage too, i was ah knew I was in third, and that was almost – kind of above my expectation.
00:50:13
Speaker
So a little bit of me was like, this is fine. And I know that's not where I should be thinking, but I was like, third's amazing. Like, I'm so happy where I am right now. and This is crazy. yeah um but yeah, it was definitely kind of at my limits with where she was and where I was.
00:50:30
Speaker
It is really interesting because in the preview, both Brody and I pitched you for the podium. um But I feel like it's so easy to be the outsider looking in and see someone's potential, but actually living that and believing that yourself can be really tricky until you've got evidence. So ah had you experienced that before where you've been in a race and you've kind of gone, this is good enough, even just for a moment?
00:50:51
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. All the time. i think it's so easy to settle and think this is fine. You know, this is where I'm in. This is fine. But is I think it'll take some time, but I think practicing the idea that um the race isn't over till it's over. It's kind of like we but what we were saying, you know, you don't know how far ahead the next person is. Maybe they're just around the corner. If you could just close that gap, then that's going to that's going to put you one position up. So yeah, um yeah racing till the end of the race, I think is um a huge part of trail running.
00:51:23
Speaker
And the last section, i'm guessing you lost sight of Ali for the last few Ks. Yeah, yeah, I probably didn't see her after kind of you get to the top of the fire trail and you run into that like single track um to the stairs and, yeah, didn't didn't have eyes on her from there. So um I did, I love the single track, you know, once you get out of there, it kind of goes up for a little while and then you hit, is it like Federal Pass where it yeah goes into Ferber Steps? Yeah, love that section, knew that was coming so i knew that was going to be a nice run.
00:51:54
Speaker
But it's it's interesting when you see those like 4K to go, three k to go signs and in your head you're like in any other race that would be so cool to see. But in this race you go, K of that is stairs.
00:52:07
Speaker
Yeah, it's brutal. How did the stairs feel? um As good as they could have, I think. they They were hard but I knew it was just the stairs to go. So that was that was motivating and it was just that process of keep moving forward. Yeah.
00:52:24
Speaker
um not stopping, obviously using the handrails and stuff when I could, running the runnable sections and um just getting to the top kind of as, not comfortably, but as soon as I could.
00:52:36
Speaker
Yeah. ah In a track session I saw you did, you mentioned like a lot of positive self-talk to get you through that that that session. Is that something that you are actively doing when you're running?
00:52:48
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, it's so easy to get into a negative mindset, but it's It's you doing it. No one else is doing it. So as soon as you know that and you know, you know, i think once you trust your training, you believe in yourself, then it's so easy to flip that switch and actually be able ah to tell yourself that during a race and have the confidence to um do a little bit more than I guess you think you you can. Yeah.
00:53:16
Speaker
Is there anything, you don't you don't have to say this, but is there anything particular you you say to yourself? I don't think so particularly. Just keep moving forward. um is probably the biggest one yeah and yeah no not particularly just just I suppose paul being positive and um I think trying to smile during a race too you know when you go through um your support stations and you've got people helping you like yeah you're hurting but if if you can smile and kind of have a you know just flip that switch a little bit for them then it's gonna gonna boost you as well
00:53:51
Speaker
ah You mentioned earlier as well, you didn't have any crew set up. Christian was racing the 100K, so he wasn't was he available. Have you had crew before at races and will you now try and have one going forward?
00:54:05
Speaker
So I've never had a crew and it's purely because I, and not that I haven't had the right people, but I don't want to put that stress on anyone else. And for me,
00:54:17
Speaker
It takes the stress off me. I know that I can carry my own stuff. I know what I need to do. And I'm not relying on anyone else. Like, you know, if they weren't there and they had all my nutrition, like, what am I going to do after that? It kind of takes takes that part of it away.
00:54:31
Speaker
But I can definitely see how it would be beneficial um and how you would save some time doing it. So it's definitely something I'll consider. But definitely for UTA, i had the option of my parents. They were happy to. They said, you know, we can hold your stuff for you. And I was like, no, I want you guys to enjoy the race, enjoy the day.
00:54:49
Speaker
And I don't want to be worried about you at the same time. Okay. It is an interesting one. We watched Dan Jones and Miguel come through Fairmont and they were running together.
00:55:02
Speaker
dan got past his bottles. Miguel had to stop and fill up at the water. And that is where the gap happened. Like immediately there was 15, 20 seconds that Miguel just lost. um So it's it's interesting to see that.
00:55:14
Speaker
And that's actually the impact to that it it can make going forward, like to really be competing for that first place where every second can count. Yeah, absolutely. No, I think it's huge. And it's, yeah, definitely when you look at the times at the end of the race and you go, oh, you know, if I didn't do that, that would have been, you know, 30 seconds I could have saved.
00:55:34
Speaker
yeah yeah and like i said you never know if you're 30 seconds closer to somebody they panic and send it but yeah that's all just speculative thinking that does not really help for now yeah um ah so as i said you finished third place you were 507 47 five ah seven forty seven so was that 72 seconds behind Alison and only five minutes 20 off Caitlin who both of you were actually closing in on slightly so it's it's not like Caitlin ran away with this one which is very impressive to see from both yourself and Alison Wilson.
00:56:10
Speaker
Reflecting on it now how are you feeling about the day and how does it make you feel about the rest of your year? Yeah, feel still, yeah, still super happy about the result. um It can be so easy to get caught up and be like, oh, you know, I could have done this better. i could have done this faster. But at the end of the day, looking back, I think, yeah, like i I did everything I could on the day. I'm super happy with the position I ended up in. And I think that just comes down to having the confidence um in my training and myself.
00:56:42
Speaker
And moving forward that's definitely motivated me to um just knuckle down on the things that I know I need to improve and um just enjoy the process at the same time obviously but put the work in. I know if
Future Aspirations and Plans
00:56:58
Speaker
I put the work in I'll i'll get the results so yeah I'm excited. Yeah I think we all are as well.
00:57:04
Speaker
What are the things that you feel like you need to be improving and what's the priorities at the moment? and ah Technical running is probably going to be my biggest focus and um just training my gut to try to be able to take more fuel in at the same time. I think i run when I run, I tend to have a pretty high heart rate. um So I think I'm probably burning probably a bit more than I think I am and just getting enough in is going to be hopefully a huge part of improving.
00:57:36
Speaker
Do you know what you were consuming for UTA? I ended up consuming, I think I was on like 75 grams per hour. was aiming probably to try to get in around 80, 85. eighty eighty five Yeah. So was just a little bit off, but um more than I've consumed previously. So we're getting there.
00:57:54
Speaker
did Do you use the same stuff that you used when you were training for triathlon? Yeah, at the moment I do. So I use Infinite in flasks. Oh, yeah. It's a powder and then I use um precision gels as well.
00:58:08
Speaker
But yes, I'm playing around and seeing what what's going to work, but that seems to work for now. It's just getting enough in. Yeah. did Did you feel sick at all during the race? ah No, I actually, yeah, had no issues at all. so That's good.
00:58:22
Speaker
And you obviously didn't get into an aid station and was sort of questioning life for 30 seconds. i just that's That's progress. Not this time yet. Brilliant. And what's next for you this year? Yeah, so i what's next?
00:58:38
Speaker
there's a There's just a little local race I like to do in Sydney called Salo de Surf. and That's just like an 11K run. So this next kind of section, I'm just going to try to work on some speed and getting some of that back into my legs. Christian actually have a holiday booked to Norway in August.
00:58:59
Speaker
So there's a race in Stranda that is, and think it's a 28K run, basically just goes straight up and straight down. So that looks be pretty cool. So we're really excited to get over and do that for a bit of fun.
00:59:13
Speaker
But ultimately, I think for the end of the year, I'm going to do a run up in Airlie Beach called but Sunday Trail Fest. They have a fifty eight k um I just really like to support them and go over and run that one. It's a beautiful, beautiful location.
00:59:31
Speaker
Then I was just having a look at, I think it's Four Peaks that they run down here. ye Over four days. That looks sick. Love that. um So maybe that and then maybe look at Cozzy at the end of the year as well just to have a good crack.
00:59:43
Speaker
ah like it it's a cool school cool schedule and four peaks is a great race you see some of the most beautiful places in northeast vic um and it's hard and competitive so yeah have you have you done it i've done a couple of the days i've never done all four um i've have coached people that have done it and and a lot of locals have as well um but yeah the the fact that the last day finishes The only one that has the downhill is good, but you still have to run down from Feathertop on day two. So that kind of throws a 12k descent into your legs.
01:00:17
Speaker
So it's, but yeah it can obviously say get curtailed a bit by weather and sometimes they can't summit Feathertop or they can't summit Hotham, but they can normally go to the plateaus, which is still like 10k climbs.
01:00:30
Speaker
But it is one of, it's it's probably, it's it's very well known. i feel like because it's an uphill only, some people will ignore it. Like I'm not and someone that loves uphill running, but it is a great local event and it's very good for, we said, push yourself outside your comfort zone, seeing where you're at.
01:00:50
Speaker
and rounding yourself out so i like it what i didn't i have kind of noticed that and it might just be that this ah they aren't coming up on your results but you seem to be really targeting the buy utmb and buffalo i.e the big competitive events is that a very conscious decision no and not at all i think they just look like fun so i sign up for them okay cool all right and do you how do you feel because this would be your third time going back to cosy if you were to go you don't mind that Uh, no. So I think something for me is I think I'm good at something if I know something.
01:01:24
Speaker
So for example, going to COSY, I've, you know, they changed the course both years that I've done it. So it has been a little bit different, but, um, going back to something where you're kind of comfortable in what you're going to do and what you need to do and, um, that sort of thing, I think brings the best out of me.
01:01:41
Speaker
um, Yeah, I kind of enjoy that process of knowing what's what's going to happen or at least being able to plan for it. Yeah, lovely. And zooming out, going big picture, you've committed to trails now. Like it very much sounds like it's it's for you. You said even back when you're playing soccer, running, you think running was the thing you enjoyed the most out of it.
01:02:04
Speaker
But ah you have been at a very high level in triathlon and soccer, getting your pro card. As much as you're happy to sort of share, what do you want to get out of trails? Yeah. Yeah. So i I would really love to just be competing against somewhere like the top girls. And, um, you know, even if I'm not winning races, I just, I want to be up there. I want to, um, you know, see how close I can get and just see where it takes me to like, I love the idea that you can travel and you and then you can race and you can see new places. And, um, yeah, it's just, I don't know. It's feels kind of freeing to have the opportunity as well to enter some of these races and,
01:02:43
Speaker
race against some top women so that would ultimately be the goal you know nothing specific but um i want to be competitive and i'm going to keep um doing everything i need to to to get there and if there was a message to sort of leave for the future version of you that becomes like you're racing for podiums you're you're trying to be as competitive as possible that you think is important from what you've learned so far what would that be It would be to like chase what you enjoy. And by doing that, you're gonna you're going to have confidence in yourself. You're gonna enjoy what you're doing and gonna meet some really cool like-minded people along the way.
01:03:25
Speaker
Demi, I think that's a great place to close this out unless there's anything that you feel like we haven't spoken about you'd like to talk about more. No, I think that's good. Well, I'll just touch on quickly about your podcast that you guys do. So um started listening to you guys the end of last year just before I kind of switched over and it was really cool to listen to. I love listening to you guys share other people's stories and listening to how other people race and sharing all those experiences. So um I guess I just want to be give give a bit of kudos to you guys for supporting me along this as well. And um in the back of my mind back then, I was like, oh, you know, maybe one day they'll say my name on the podcast. And yeah, it feels like it's kind of come full circle. So definitely appreciate that.
01:04:10
Speaker
On behalf of everyone, thank you. And it definitely did not take very long to get your name on the podcast, which is a testament to how how strong the start of your season has been. And I would definitely be speaking for all of us saying that we're excited to see what the rest of the year brings and good luck and have fun.
01:04:27
Speaker
And thank you for coming on. Yeah, absolutely. Appreciate it. Thanks, James. And there we go. Thank you all so much for listening to that podcast with Demi. As I said in the intro, I find her story really interesting. And the fact that you can be so focused on pursuing one thing, achieve it, but realize that actually that's not where you're meant to be.
01:04:46
Speaker
Having the courage to go, that isn't me. And that I feel like my path is in another area. I think that is really remarkable and commendable and something that I personally take a lot away from.
01:04:59
Speaker
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