xtri.com - interview with Jo Lawn

Hi Jo, and thanks for chatting with us! So give us a rundown of how the day went for you in Taupo…

Another ironman finish.....I had a good day, I just wasn't fast enough. My training this year had taken some new routes....and my endurance aspect was overlooked. I thought with Ironman becoming so fast, speed was the major ingredient. But I surely found that out!! Ironman is an endurance event, period!! I felt great all day long, but I just couldn't go any faster, or harder or longer.

With Gina in the lead, what thoughts did you put in your head to stay positive? How did you keep pushing yourself to the max?

With Gina getting in the lead around 10km in the run, I tried to stay with her, but then again I didn't want to play her game. I still had to listen to Jo Lawn and look after me. I tried to hang there for a while and I did keep the time gap the same for nearly the next 20km......but then once you turn towards home at 32 km, you see the town, and you can feel it, and it is very hard to claw back someone who is in the lead. But I never gave in, as in ironman the finish line is the end!!! Never would I ease up before the end. Pushing myself to the max comes hand in hand with racing. I always give it my all, whether it be a mini swim and run race or an ironman event. Staying positive is a must. No matter where you are in a race, positive thoughts are the only ones to focus on. As you never know what can happen out there. Keep your chin up and keep focusing on the next step.

There must have been enormous pressure for you during race week, with you attempting a 7th win at IMNZ. Was this stressful for you, or are you someone who thrives on the extra attention before a race?

Really before any race people feel stress, of course going for my 7th consecutive win I did feel some pressure. The pressure is really only put on me by myself....my wanting for success. But as I have learnt not only does winning a race mean success, if you achieve what you set out to do....you have achieved. I am not one who thrives on extra attention....I really like just being the normal Jo Lawn. Athlete, person and friend. The only stressful part of the week leading up to the race was to arrange all my media, and sponsorship requirements. I love to do all of this stuff, and you have to be fresh and positive for each and every one.....everybody is special.

This year also marks some changes for you – you now ride a 650c bike, and you’ve changed up your training/racing strategy a bit. What drove these changes, and how are they going so far?

My new 650c Cervelo P3....is awesome. The top tube on this frame just suits me better. I can really get comfortable and take full control over my bike. It is so cool, and in the past I have ridden many 650c bikes. And with my training, I just felt that I needed to add a little spice to my workouts. So to do this I have now a specific bike and run trainer. I feel that in the girls’ race now speed is so important. Even though Ironman is still an endurance event, you must have all the boxes checked. So in the past I have only done a couple of specific workouts and I felt I needed more specifics. My bike coach Amy Taylor has tried to get me to spin more. So eventually I am comfortable turning a big gear with hi cadence. This does take some time to get use too, and by the time Kona comes around it will be second nature!!!! And also on the run, John Bowden is helping me do some specific race pace training. Just showing your body what it will have to do on race day. This took me some time to adjust too, but again sometimes you must take some risks to reap the benefits...........

It seems more and more these days we hear of top athletes training together, either officially (like Team TBB) or unofficially (if a number of triathletes are living in the same town). Do you train alone, or do you have partners? Gina Ferguson is a fellow Kiwi, would you two ever join forces for an occasional training session?

For me I love to train and whether it is with people or by myself. A lot of the time I train with my husband who is also an awesome athlete. In the past we have spent some months training in France with Triathlon NZ, where we trained a lot with many different athletes. Like Cam Brown, Debbie Tanner and Sam Warriner. But I have never really been involved with a team.....as I feel ironman is such an individual sport....but for sure you can train with anyone, anywhere, anytime if it suits everybody. Gina is not from where i live. She is in Christchurch and I am in Auckland so for us to train together, one would have to move!!!!

It will be getting cooler pretty soon, if not already, in New Zealand. Do you have plans to train in the northern hemisphere in the upcoming months?

Well as I am sitting here typing, it is boiling outside. The weirdest thing about NZ is that one day it can be freezing and raining and the next day you have hot, humid sunshine. So it is meant to be getting cooler but not right now today........Yes I am leaving pretty soon to head up to the northern hemisphere......I will be spending some time on the east coast around Miami. I will be doing some races in and around Florida. But for Kona training I will be heading back to Boulder Colorado!!!!!!!

In your opinion, what’s the greatest (or favorite) triathlon moment in history? Are there any races or events that occurred during a race that stand out in your mind as setting our sport apart from others?

Wow for me it would have to be Sian Welch and Wendy Ingraham crawling to the line in Kona. That is just the best thing ever. To push your body and mind that far...............where you come to a crawl. Wow. That is giving it your all!!!!!! That is pretty much what BEING AN IRONMAN IS ALL ABOUT.... never ever giving up.

How did you celebrate your race on Saturday, and what have you done this week to recover?

Well the celebrations for obvious reasons were a little different.....but still I had an incredible time at the finish line. Athletes do have to learn that they cannot win every race! I really enjoyed the time bringing in the finishers late in the day. That was just so special to see people not giving in...until they get to the finish line and hear their name being called an IRONMAN BY MIKE REILLY.....you must celebrate with everybody who finishes an ironman. We are all winners in our own way. I can certainly learn some things from the finishers at midnight. That never giving up is the best thing ever. The week after the race I spend it eating out with friends, family and sponsors. Eating and drinking all the naughty stuff, that I have so long wanted to indulge in. I don't do any sporty stuff for about 2 weeks, so this also enables me to recover faster. Just walking and chilling.......

In triathlon, there are always gripes about drafting, especially among female pros who get mixed in with strong AG men coming from behind during the bike. What do you think is the remedy to drafting?

I think what happened this year at Ironman New Zealand, with having the pro field start 15 minutes ahead of the rest of the field, this set us up for a very fair and non drafting section on the bike. It just takes away the temptation of getting caught up in groups. And also it takes away the dropping back, attacking and passing around many athletes. It was a much fairer and even race. There just weren't groups anywhere near the pro women. Even if the races started the pro field 30 minutes prior this would for sure make it 100% honest race. Not many age group athletes would catch us. Just taking out the possibility or chance of coming together....

What’s ahead for you this season? Do you have “A” races and “B” races?

Coming up for me over the summer is a variety of different races. I am not 100% sure of which races, but I will be for sure gearing up towards Kona come October 10!!!!!

Thanks Jo, and have a great season!

For more info, visit JoannaLawn.com.