Pro Footballer Turns Triathlete? Our Chat with Nathan Jones - Part 2

This podcast is brought to you by Trivelo Coaching, where we help triathletes and cyclists like you train smarter to race faster. I'm your host, Jordan Donnelly, and on my left is former Australian Ironman champion and head coach of Trivalo Coaching, Jared Donnelly. Welcome to part two of our podcast episode with former professional Australian Rules football player Nathan Jones. In part one we talked about all about his transition from his professional football career into triathlon, why he decided to take on the challenge and how his journey unfolded. Taking on the training, the trivelo coaching training program. After 12 weeks he got to the race and in part two we're going to talk all about the race, how it unfolded, what he experienced, the rollercoaster of emotions he went on, and so much more. This part of the episode gets super inspiring, it gets raw, it gets a bit emotional and that's why we love this sport, that's why we love triathlon and that's why we're here. So enjoy this part two, we know you will.

So just tell us through, Take us through the day. So the preparation of getting to there and getting organized, but getting on the beach and taking a big breath and going, here we go, I'm about to start in a minute. What was the feeling like?

Yeah, well, funnily enough, I actually had my alarm for five and I live like 20 minutes from secure to like down a bit further down beach road. We practically rode past my house but I actually pressed stop on my alarm and Woke up at 5:30. Oh no, like freaking out, like oh my God, I'm half an hour late and I was planning on leaving at 5:30 to get to St Kilda and park and be, be there at 6 for the opening of transition at 6:15 and like I plan to like get out of bed, put on the tattoos, get in my tri suit, like put like, like, you know, shammy cream on and like make sure I had my timer like that. Like I was so well prepared. But then when I woke up half an hour later I was like trying to eat and trying to do all of that and then grab my bags and ran out to the car and then I'm, I'm halfway because obviously beach road's closed. I'm, I'm halfway up Nepean highway and I'm like, I've forgotten my wetsuit. Oh no. And then I actually didn't forget, it was packed in the bottom of my bag. But I, so while I'm driving I'm trying to pull out my whole backpack full of stuff to See if I actually pack my wetsuit. And then I was like, contingency in my head was like, I'm just have to do the swim without it. And then funnily enough, I made it. I actually made it in time and got a car park quite quickly and got into transition and got set up. I felt like a sense of anxiousness though, because I'd put the pressure on myself. So I tried to get it organized pretty cleanly and quickly. Did a little bit of a warm up jog and I got down the beach with plenty of time and obviously lined up and yeah, I was, I'll still. There's this, there's a little bit of self doubt, but I probably had that all of my career. But it was just like. Because I knew it was all. I think that's part of what drives me because it's like, I had a point to prove myself and it's like, can I actually do this kind of thing? And that's pretty much what I said on the line. Like, I was like, it was funny because like I said again, it was all fun and games until I got to the start line. Then I was like, proper, I'm here, gene myself up, like, I'm ready to go and like, have a full all out crack and see how I can go. But I think that's what draws me in and probably draws most people of a similar mindset in. Like, when you get to the start line, it's like, all right, let's see how far I can push myself kind of thing. I think that's. And that's what I love about sport in general is like, I like that challenge. Funnily enough, you speak to some people, they're like, you're fucking crazy. What's wrong with you? But then you go to like, the triathlon crew and a lot of the tribalo crew were there yesterday. Practically everyone is of the same mindset. Like, they get on the line and they just love, love that pressure and that challenge. And I think. And that's what I felt when I got on the line. I was like, here we go, let's see if I can really do this kind of thing.

And it must have been kind of heartening to say, well, I've done the training and I'm prepared. I actually know, I actually know what I'm supposed to do. In every aspect of today. All I've got to do is execute. And that's the thing that we drum into everybody. When you stand on that beach, have a smile on your face because 99% of the people around you have no race plan. And, and aren't really sure how the day is going to go because that is their main problem. They have no race plan. And, and that's got to give you an enormous amount of satisfaction going, oh, I've done everything I have to. I know what my race plan is. All I've got control over is how do I execute that plan. And, and that must be comforting thoughts just before you start.

Oh, absolutely. I think that's. That. That in itself made every bit of investing with you having me as coach and having a program set up and the repeat, you know, testing sessions and feedback and discussions, because I thought after the race I was like, I would never ever do that. Just be like, I'm going to sign up and go and race a race like that. Like, I just don't understand why people would. Why would you even bother doing that? Whereas I went there with very clear plan of what I was capable of and I was hoping I could maybe do a bit better. And I think that gave me peace of mind and allowed me to actually enjoy the race rather than get halfway through the bike and be like. Like I could imagine if I went back to my mentality, you know, back in December, before we got together, when I was training for the marathon.

I.

Would have been halfway through the bike and being like, what the hell am I doing here? And it's funny talking to people after the race, like, yeah, I cramped and I was like walking and jogging and I was like, man, I would have hated if I was like that. I just don't know how I would have been able to do it. But I, yeah, I felt very grateful for all the support I had leading up to the race. It was a very worthy investment, that's for sure.

So take us through each leg, swim.

Leg, run, leg, the swim. I actually swam a lot faster than what I anticipated, but with, I think with a fair bit of ease, to be honest. I actually sat in behind that, the group and I felt like I was just getting pulled along, obviously, like, you know, dirty water kind of thing. Like, just try to stick with the sort of faster guys in that bunch of.

Just to give the listeners an idea of the type of swimmer Nathan is, he swam an average of 125 per 100 in that. In that event. So, you know, that's, that's in the top percentage of swimmers. And you know, you've only been training in the pool for literally 12 weeks, but you were a squad state representative swimmer as a Junior so, so it is such a huge advantage. But I'm just trying to give everybody an idea of, you know, what level you are at actually.

Yeah, it took a while though to get back to that swimming. For me it was very much like a conditioning thing. And I reckon without doing the technique stuff that you mentioned, I didn't actually ever get a chance to do the effortless swimming, you know, two day course or whatever it was. But I actually followed them on Instagram and obviously went through every single video that you sent through in that, in that log. But just investing the time in doing that stuff, I felt my swimming improve quickly because initially we, I, we were doing it and I was like, I can't really be bothered doing the, the bloody drills. Like I don't have any of this gear. I was like, I'm gonna have to go buy like, cool. I'm gonna have to buy a bloody kickboard and some paddles and snorkel. And I was like, bugger this. But then I actually did and I know my swimming quickly improved again. I was like, oh, I actually can still swim because when I first got in the water I'm like, this is going to be the hardest thing for me to get used to because I've barely done any of it. Like I did a little bit in rehab here and there, but nothing of this level. So. And definitely do the swimming drills because that improved I reckon over the journey of that 12 weeks, I reckon my time per hundred improved by 10 seconds. And that was without specific training. That was just. I have a general knowledge in swimming just from doing it when I was younger. But spending the time doing the, the swimming specific drills, yeah, that definitely helped.

Take it through, take it through the bike.

Uh, well, I was real conscious coming out of the water. Cause it was a long transition and my previous experience was at the 2 xu at Sandy and by the time I got to my bike I was absolutely gassed. So sprinted up the hill thinking I was like gonna, you know, make up 10 places just in that 500 meters. So I was conscious of that just to try and keep my heart rate low and got to my bike, actually ran down the wrong aisle.

Oh no.

And, and then Craig, a guy that I've met through just signing up with Ironman, I did a little bit of media stuff. He was funnily enough walking, he goes, you2 aisles away, you're two hours away. And I was like, because he helped me yesterday find my bike rack and, and I actually ran back out and turned the corner into my ass. Slipped over on my ass. And then, and then I found my bike, obviously, and. And then off I went and. Bike was good. I had so much fun on the bike. Like, I. I love riding. You couldn't have asked for a better day in Melbourne. It was like the water was sheet glass, which was amazing. Generally you have like a little bit of a bump, even on a nice morning, but it was like he could not have. It was picture perfect to swim. And then it was the same on the bike really, like, didn't really feel like much of a headwind, maybe a little bit coming back, but I could barely tell if there was anything, to be honest. And that was awesome. I love that. Like, not that we were riding in bunches or anything, but, you know, there was sort of. It was funny, I don't know the two guys names, but there was two trivalo guys like right near me and another guy that sort of stuck with me that pretty much the entire route. I was like, if I can stay with this guy, he seems like he's doing a pretty good pace and probably similar power. I'm like, he's my man. And there's a few times he got 50 away and then I probably pulled away from him. But essentially we rode the entire lap, two laps together. And the bike was awesome. I actually, like I said, I love riding the time travel. I love going fast on it. And I had an awesome time on the bike. Um, and previously in training, I feel like I'd missed the nutrition a little bit. Like I was just so focused on my power and time that I lost track of it. But I was really on point with like every half an hour, you know, gel, make sure I get through my carbohydrate bottle. And then every hour a caffeine gel. And I had this little plan going and I pretty much, I missed one gel, which was like the one right before transition. But anyway, I was, I was probably concentrating on getting my feet out, making sure I didn't stack on the dismount, but we got there.

Did it help knowing that the things we discussed, like, you know, understanding the power range that you were going to ride between and the average speed that that should equate to and getting to halfway and checking that, you know. Yeah, am I there? You know, because we had a plan that was around 2 hours 20, and here you are halfway riding a 108.

Yeah.

And did you think, oh, no. What did you think at that point? I'm okay for this or.

Well, I, I was a little bit nervous because I Was like that's so much faster than what we anticipated. Like, but then I was reassured by like my numbers. I think I can't remember the power. Like top end range was like 260, bottom end was 250ish. I think my average ended up being 250 for almost 40k an hour. Which um, but the main thing I focused on, which we had a so much and this was my issue in training, was like you obviously explained the difference between normalized power and average power, was trying to bring those, those two numbers like closer together. And I knew like, because I started my clock and I didn't reset it out of transition. So I had like a bit of a sprint out of transition and then I would have sprinted a little bit out of the first turn and then settled in. So I knew that would have spiked my power a bit. But essentially I got back to halfway and pressed lap and there's like a no 6 watt or 4 watt difference. I was like, that's pretty good. Like and in training I'd had like 20 watt difference. Um, so I was like that four is, four is good and I'll try and do better now on the next lap. Cause I don't have any sort of sections where I'm going to get out of the saddle and use any power. I'm just going to roll around the corner and get back and settle into a nice pace again. And I think the second lap was maybe 3 or 4 watts difference again. So I knew even though the time was quicker and the speed was quicker than I anticipated, still my power was on point. I knew I wasn't at the top end of that range either. So I didn't, I didn't really panic too much. Like if I had have been at that pace and been pushing 265 or 270, I would have been like, I'm way over what my capacity is. But consider I was more around that 250, 255 mark. I, I enjoyed it. Like I, I was just like, I'm going real well here and I'm gonna take it. Like I'm riding way faster and I'm right in the middle of the range and I'm not spiking my power too bad. Like this is a good result.

Oh, fantastic.

Yeah.

And look you almost apologetic. Out of transition. Way too fast, way too fast. And I'm saying don't worry, relax.

Well, it was like so just in comparison, the one 90k time trial I did on Beach Road on pretty much the same track, like was seven minutes slower than that. And it was a similar day when I did it like no wind. I got up really early in the morning for that. And so for me to ride 7 minutes quicker than I'd ever ridden a 90k time trial, thinking I have completely cooked power and heart rate and my output and all these kind of things and. And I remember you actually gave me a great pointer on the Thursday, like check your halfway point and check speed because you were saying, like some days will be different, you'll get a headwind and you might push 260 and you only go on 38k an hour. And then there'll be other days where like the weekend where it was a perfect day and actually push less to ride faster. And it's like getting a gauge of that, like live feedback and knowing what you're looking for. I think that just helps settle me and rather me think negatively about it. I just was super. I was actually ecstatic because I was like, that was way too fast. I don't know how I did that.

It's a great lesson, isn't it dad? Where Nathan's using all that data to give an accurate picture of how he's actually doing as well as the day might just be a little bit faster as well. You know, the edit of the day, you might happen to be around a decent bunch of people where you're getting more draft than you normally would. So.

And it was all those points that.

He mentioned on the Thursday plus Nathan really, he got and understood after that 90k time trial, let me do some 75s and then some 60s and 40s, you understood how to stay out of zone 6 and 7 and zone 1 and 2 and you stop gassing yourself and having to recover and it's a smoother ride and it doesn't spike the heart rate because you're not riding too hard. Then you have to recover and you're not using more fuel because you're keeping in a close checked range and that will enable you to run so much better. And you got that really quickly because I was showing you graphs of look at you doing here. You could ride so much faster with just a better execution, with no more effort. And once you understood that, you were like, this is free speed.

Yeah, yeah, that's what I think. That challenge alone is the one thing I love the most. And that was only for the last, like I said, six weeks of the program. But I can't wait to get back and ride on it again because I just love going fast. And the better I Get at it. It's like, it's such a reward obviously, because it's just like I'm learning something new again. So, you know, when there's something new, you, I just want to get real good at it because I'm like, imagine how fast you could go if you were good at it kind of thing. So yeah, I love that aspect of it.

It's good that you're saying that 24 hours after the race when you can't walk.

I still can't walk. Trust me.

Okay. The run, take us through that.

Okay.

I butchered the run and still ended up with the result. How amazing is that?

Yeah, I, I would have loved to. I probably went a couple, I went a couple of minutes slower than I wanted to. I think I ran to 127 maybe and I wanted to run under 125 so I was only, it wasn't too far out. But if you look at my graph like by about the 12k mark, it was like a bloody gorilla jumped on my back. 12, 14K. The last, the last 6, 7K was painful and yeah, I just went out way too fast. I think I got, I, I, I had it in my head, no, I've got to go slow first couple of K. But it's like I just couldn't slow down. I think that, that pacing kind of thing, particularly off the bike and I think the adrenaline, like coming out of transition, I didn't feel great. Like I was like, holy shit, my legs are so sore. How am I going to get through this? It's like I just wanted to get up and running kind of thing. And like I knew my plan was initially like run four twenties for the first two, maybe 3K and then put back to four minutes. And then if I can go quicker, which I should be able to, I have been able to before, I would. But yeah, I pretty much ran the first 10K, 4 minute K's or under and like I said, I got to 12 and I was like, I have burnt, I've burnt myself here.

It's a great lesson and it's really good that you're so willing to share it because, you know, it's hard to admit you kind of that up a little bit. But really, you know, that is a hard lesson. For all the triathletes out there listening, it's so easy to say I'll just do that. But actually going out and executing is the hardest part and that's what makes or breaks a lot of athletes. And you got to a breaking point because you ran a 356 in the first 2K, you know, instead of running the 420, you literally 25, 30 seconds ahead of where you should be. And you know that prevents you from feeling good at 14k. 16k and people go, it doesn't make that much difference. I guarantee if you can run the first couple of kilometers at 4, 20, you know, because when you get to 14k, 405 pace feels like 305 pace. It's that difficult to hold because you are a different runner at 4k compared to 14k. You're fresh at 4k and it feels like this is a piece of cake. And all of a sudden it's no longer a piece of cake. It's like I've got a piano on my back and I'm carrying it around this track. So I was out in the course and trying to be calm and give you some calming advice like I was doing with the rest of the Trivalo people. And the steely determination in your eyes, even though I could see you were going into the fog. And that's what I call it when you get to, you get to a point where you no longer care about the time that you're running. You're just surviving and you can't wait for it to finish.

I tell you, I still cared about.

The time, but it was like you sparked into, into action when I was saying, right, think about your form, start thinking about, you know, I haven't got long to go. Concentrate on things you can control and tell us the mindset you had at the turnaround with 5 or 6k to go, where you were in the worst hurt box that you've probably experienced in a long time.

I'd say, yeah, no, for sure. I think I remember you reminding me that, particularly on that last aid station with like 2 1/2, 3K to go. Like I was, that's where I was in the ultimate world of pain. Like, it was funny, I told you after the race I had been like pacing off this one guy. I stayed like 20 meters behind him pretty much the entire run. We were running together for a bit, but then he sort of picked the pace up and I knew if I kept going quicker I wouldn't be able to cope. So I dropped back just a little bit and I held like a, maybe a 30 meter distance and right when I started to really hurt like that 13, 14K mark, I was thinking, man, I started to have like the demons. I was like, I should stop and walk. Oh, like, I need a drink. I Need. I need to take a breath. I need to go to the toilet. Like just any excuse in my head. And I was like, no. And you're just fighting that demon, the whole whammar. I don't know if I can make it. And then the guy in front that I've been pacing off stopped. And I was like, oh, no. And I ran past him and gave a tap on the back. And I was like, now it's up to me. I'm on my own with like 4k to go. And I was like. It was literally like I was just trying to take it 500 meters at a time. And then I. I saw you at that, probably two and a half K to go. And I through that aid station, I'd been. I'd been alternating like water at one electrolyte, the other, water at one electrolyte, the other. But that last aid station. And made it all the way through to the. To the finish. But I just needed something to get me there. But you just started.

It was coke. Is that what it was?

I went, I went, I went, coke, water, coke, electrolyte, coke. And then I literally took six different cups and like shotted all of them and kept running. And then that took my mind off for a bit because of this. Kept like burpees. I was like, wasn't running. I was just running and burping. And then. And then I got to the point when there was the crowd and then I was like, ah, I gotta keep going here. I'm start like a. I found a little bit in the last maybe 2k. And what was the comment about holding form? Was like the one thing that arc with me because I felt in the previous few cases that I was starting to get sloppy. Like, there's a few times where I almost tripped over and I could feel my feet. I was just into the man rather than running on. But yeah, once you made it, once I made it back, it was like, you know, I think pride kicks in a bit. And I was like, I want to finish here. And like. And I'd been doing the numbers in my head. I'm like, I'm gonna make it. I might be able to break 4:16. And then. And then the corner. I picked up the pace all the way to the finish shoot, and I saw 4:15 pretty much at the end of the finish shoot. And I'm like, I've got to get there to break 4:16. And I end up doing it relatively easy. But what was it like when I crossed the line? Yep.

What was that Feeling up the red carpet coming into the finish. It's an emotional roller coaster, isn't it? Take us through that.

Yeah, for sure. Some kids, kids as I mentioned before, we live like not far from Beach Road and they walk to the end of our street, set up some deck chairs and four kids were there and my wife was there and mother in law and my wife's sister and her partner and stuff. And they were the whole ride and the last lap it was fun. I had like different groups of people at each like different points. At the corner of Dendy, I had Indian street and Beach Road, I had my brother at the corner of Bay street and Beach Road. And then my family down near Blackrock. And then I had Marty from Giant down at. Was it the turn in Mordiallock or Mentone? So I pretty much had like a crew that I looked forward to every lap. It was like I'd get excited when I was coming up to them, but then my wife, when I came past in the last lap, they jumped in the car and drove up to St. Kildo and got down to see me run and then come down the finish. And I remember running down actually like I said earlier, I got you get a little bit because only 20 minutes before I actually strongly considered stopping. I was like, I can't do this. This is way too barely feel my legs. I'm like, why am I doing this? And it's just that back and forth your heart's telling you go and your mind's trying to trick you to stop kind of thing. And I think the real. And that's ultimately when you cross the line. It's that reward like for you to have the courage to keep fighting through that. I think that for me that was like the ultimate reward because that's exactly why I signed up for it was, was to see. And it makes you feel a bit emotional now, but to see or to feel that feeling when you think you can't and then you can, it's like, yeah, it's super, super gratifying. And, and like running down the carpet yesterday is that exact emotion I felt like when I crossed the line I was like, ah, that was hard. But how good was that kind of thing? Like, can't believe I did it.

And you can, you can understand why people are drawn back to, to challenge themselves again. It's like an addiction, isn't it?

Addiction?

Because you are so deep in, in hurt and questioning your ability and, and you're so proud at the end that you overcame anything that was thrown at you for the day, from the minute your alarm didn't go off at the right time and slept in, you know, to the actual crossing the line of far out. I just did. I just did it. And. And, you know, it's happened to me many times, and it'll happen again. The endurance. Something about the endurance that. That just gets you so emotional that you've. Yeah, it's a victory, and it's not about winning. Yeah, you're winning with yourself. That's what it's about.

Yeah, I think that's. That's what I love the most about it. I feel like I haven't done a full. But even the half me, it was like, it's kind of. That kind of endurance sport is, like, metaphoric for life, really. And, like, you know, life is like. It's not all sort of sunshine and rainbows. You know, like, there's a lot of ups and downs, there's a lot of struggles. And the sor. Of goes back to that decision for why I chose to have a crack at it. And, you know, I hope to race more races and keep doing it, because it's like, for me, sport has always been that, and my journey in, particularly in the afl, typifies that, really. It was. You know, it was tough for a lot of my career. And, you know, I never. I never wanted to run away from that challenge, no matter how dire it got when I played footy for Melbourne, and I wanted to sort of see my way through the darkness, to see the light kind of thing. And that's. Ultimately, it was a reflection of life when you raced that race, because you go through all of those ups and downs like you're loving it. I was loving my life in the bike ride. I was like, this is awesome. And then, like, I just. You. And I'm loving the start of the run, and I love the second lap through the first bit of the run. But then once I got out on my own again, you start to doubt yourself, and you can feel it. And it's just that challenge of you against you is very much like. Yeah, like I said, it's sort of metaphoric for life, really. And that's why I think you love it. And I think that's why it's so emotional, because it's just so relatable. And it's almost like you taking on that journey in one event kind of thing.

Absolutely. A universal feeling among anyone that takes on any kind of challenge like this. And I saw you get interviewed straight after you'd cross the finish line and it's pretty rough to interview someone when they crossed at the 70.3, the announcer grabbed you, and you could barely talk, but you could see the pain in your body and in your face. You'd absolutely suffered through that last 5 or 6k. And we actually asked you not long after that, we saw you, and you're still just in a world of hurt. And it's funny how you have that contrast between how much pain you were possibly in and how deep you were combined with the elation of you finished, and it was one of the greatest experiences.

Yeah, for sure. I think. Oh, that's. That's the funny thing about it. Like, and you guys said after, like, let us know if you had to ask me straight.

Well, you did.

You did. I was like, I don't know if I'll ever do another one again. Like, oh, geez. I hated it. Like, the pain was horrific. And, like, I could barely bend over. I couldn't pick stuff up off of the ground. I kept my kids with me to pack up, transition. My wife took the babies home because I couldn't pick stuff up off the ground. I was like, I'm gonna need some help, or else. I. Like, if I get down on my knees, I'm not sure I'll be able to get back up. So. Yeah, and. But as you said, like, you know, once, and then once I saw the family and you see, like, how proud they are, like, it was funny. My wife, like, for the whole time, she was like, you're crazy. Like, I can't believe you're doing this. Like, why would you do this? But even to them, they're like, oh, that was, like, so inspiring. That was awesome. I can't believe you did it. That's amazing. I didn't. I didn't think, you know, that you couldn't do it, but it's like watching you do it, and I was like, it just makes you feel good about yourself. Like I was saying before, it's like the challenge of you against you, and then the reward of when you commit to something and you. You put the effort and the time in. Yeah, it's like, it's. You can't explain it unless you do it. Like, it's when you achieve it. Like, you achieve. Like, when you achieve anything in life, you put the time in, you put the effort in, and you learn, and you relinquish your ego, and you continue to strive to get better. And a lot of the time, it's incremental. Like, you know, and there's no Linear line to being successful. Like you go two steps forward and a step back and five steps forward and three steps back kind of thing and, and that's like life. And that's exactly the journey I've been on in, in this sort of challenge with the triathlon stuff. And yeah, I've loved it and I think this, well, hopefully it's sort of building block to doing some more stuff and just time management dependent. But yeah, I definitely, I said to Gerry right at the start I want to sort of stay fit enough that, you know, when I can fit things in, I can put a block of training together and have a crack at it. And yeah, I've had a great time and I loved the experience yesterday.

It's a really great story for all the people listening and it's testament to your mindset and your courage because you had the most minimal preparation. And I wouldn't take on a lot of people who told me they had 12 weeks for 70.3, but I trusted you had a professional outlook because you've been at the top of your sport, in your chosen sport for a very long time and you don't get to do that if you're a fly by nighter. So, so that gave me unbelievable confidence that, you know, I don't know you, I didn't know you that well. You know, I knew as a little young fellow and watched you grow up from, from afar from that point on. But, but you only had 12 weeks to, to get yourself endurance fit from a sport which is based on power. Sure, there's endurance to last the whole game, but you're getting recovery, you' efforts and then you get to recover in this. It's sustained effort for a long, long time. And the inspirational thing that I want to get across from watching you was when you were at your lowest, you dug deep mentally and that's what got you through. You had the fitness, of course, you could have had more fitness with more time, but even though you only had the bare amount of fitness is what probably 15, 16k mark, that's where you would expect someone who's only done 12 weeks to be really struggling. Mind you, you're ahead of your record pace, you are well ahead of what your expectation was, yet you still had the desire and the ability to push through. And that's the thing that I think everybody needs to understand. You know, that takes a certain human to be able to do that. And we're all going to be challenged in some way or another in an event or sport that we're in and it's really, that's the satisfying part when you look back is I'm really proud of myself for having a challenge thrown at me. I'm feeling so bad, what am I going to do about it? And you feel so good about yourself. I think that's the thing more that inspires me as a coach that you know, seeing someone and you know, in the trivelo group we had a whole lot of those stories where you know, I'm standing at the end just almost crying every time someone comes up to me and they've just said, ah, I've just done a 27 minute PB and I'm just going, that's just incredible. Yeah, like, you know, and, and that was killing me, Jared out there. But, but you know, I was so focused and, and that's, that's the thing that I love about this, this sort of sport, not just triathlon, but individual sport where you getting tested. Is that something that, that I think you've felt?

Oh, absolutely. I think like I've learned that over a long, long period of time. But that's where the gold is though. Like if you can, if you can, if you have the courage to face that pain and think like you know, depending on how much you look into it. But there's so many different people that inspire in this space where you know, only, you know your, your body is so much more capable than what you actually think it is. But it's your ability to be able to like control your mind under pressure. And that's not to say that they don't have the same like people that are very good that don't have the same thoughts like I'm tipping all of the top guys yesterday would have been going through the same demons, but it's like your ability to overcome and sort of quieten down that, that, that stress level and just be able to deal with it in the moment kind of thing. And, but that's where the gold is like, and that's where the reward is if you're willing to get through that. Some people are built like that, others aren't. But if you want to really find that true satisfaction, I reckon like just have a go at it because you surprise yourself. You'll surprise yourself even when you don't think it's possible. You'll still, and you can still find a way. Yeah, like the gratifying joy that you'll feel from or overwhelming feeling of achievement you'll feel from that is like, it's hard to even describe really until you Go through it and you come out the other side and be like, whoa, like, what am I actually capable of kind of thing.

It's a really incredible insight from you specifically, and I just want to ask one more question on that kind of challenge, because, you know, you suffered kind of in almost an endurance aspect, so much challenge with Melbourne over such a sustained period. And in a similar way, you had to kind of go through that week by week, you know, fronting up to games where you knew as a team you were going to be challenged. What kind of more advice do you have for everyone else out there? When and how did you get through those periods? And how has that translated. Yeah, through. Through to now?

Oh, I think I sort of touched on it before a little bit. Like, yeah, I think it was like, it's. It's probably been bred into me over a long period of time. Like, you know, morally, it was, you know, from a young age. My parents in particular were, like, encouraged me because, like I said, I did a lot of sport. A lot of that when I was youngster was individual stuff, but it was, like, about giving your best effort and sort of never giving up. And no matter how hard it gets, you know, you don't sort of shy away from the challenge. You just. You have a crack at it. And if you fail, you have to learn to accept that and take the lessons from it and train harder and try harder and all these kind of things. And that's just what I was always like as a kid. So then when I was faced with that, from a footy sense with Melbourne, it was like, I sort of had two options probably a couple of times through my career of, like, the crossroad of I could easily jump ship and go to another team, but. And maybe see some success there. But, like, for me, it was all about fulfillment and, like, a sense of achievement. And, you know, the reward is in the journey as much as it's in, like, winning the, like, taking the trophy kind of thing. And for me, it was like, if I. If I was to leave in a footy sense and go to another club, win a Premiership, but I'd only been there for 12 months or two years, like, what joy am I feeling that, like, I wasn't part of building this. Like, I was just like another sort of brick in the wall that contributed to it, sure, I'd have a Premiership medallion, but, like, from a fulfillment point of view, like. Like, where was the story behind that kind of thing? Like, and what. What was the emotional hook for me? Like, for me, sport Is like all about an emotional hook and you know, committing to something to seek it out no matter how hard it gets to sort of achieve and get a reward at the end. And ultimately from footy cents, I didn't get that as far as winning a premiership. But I look back and the impact that I've had on so many people and the response that I've had from so many people and you know, the, I guess the respect that's been shown and you know, I guess the feedback that I've received over the last six months, months has been probably as rewarding, if not more rewarding than the fact that had I played in a premiership and beat a Premiership player, there's been so many people that have acknowledged that and that's been, I think that's been more fulfilling for me. Do you know what I mean? And ultimately for the same reasons is why I sort of undertook this challenge. Because it was like exactly the same sort of theory, you know, like I committed to a training program and no matter how hard it got and I couldn't be bothered getting up in the morning and I have been woken up like eight times with the babies and I was like, there's no way I'm running tomorrow. And then all of a sudden at 6am and I'm like I'm going running and then I run and I feel like a sense of achievement and it's like that compounds and compounds week after week after week and, and then ultimately you get to the race and you have a crack and you get a result. The reward for me was in the journey really like and on the weekend and I got to achieve something that I set out to do. But the joy that I felt along the way was, you know, it was super fulfilling. The learnings, you know, the different crews that I got to hang out with, the people that I met, the sort of lead up races, you know, the phone calls with Jerry, sort of debriefing, training sessions and you know, the text messages of advice and just the check ins with the, you know, the general care and well being, all those kind of things. Like all of that added up to the result yesterday. And I think that entire journey for me is what, what made it so fulfilling, which is, you know, very much sort of like what I said as far as, you know, my footy career went just in a much shorter period.

Unbelievably insightful. Unbelievably insightful answer. Yeah, that's, that's truly amazing. I think we'll, we've kept you a Long time on here. I think we'll wrap up here. Last question we asked you yesterday. And then 24 hours later, when or will you race again?

Well, I actually am signed up to race the 2xU on Sunday but I'd have to be, I'd have to drastically improve from now. Till then I thought it was a chance but, but in all honesty, I don't reckon I've had this kind of like general soreness ever and it's like full body, like everything hurts. So yeah, I, I, I'm hoping maybe Sunday, but if it's not Sunday I'll have a bit of a break because I pretty much haven't stopped since footy finished. Like I got straight into training just to get that routine going. So I would give myself a rest and, and then maybe get Gerry to set up a bit of a base plan for winter. Even though I'm a bit, probably a bit more time limited. But I'll still be able to fit in probably a couple of hours each morning and then we'll go from there. I don't know, like I would probably sign up to Melbourne again later this year but I've actually got a wedding on that day so I can't commit to that. So it's sort of just finding out what fits next. And if it's not Melbourne, it would be a few of the Olympic races in the 2 xu and maybe 70.3 like Geelong next year or something like that. But, but I don't know. Wait and see. I've also thrown up Sunshine coast in September, but that's a bit time dependent. Well, I don't know.

The point is you're doing a race again which is.

Oh absolutely. I'll do a race again for sure.

That's right.

That's gold. And the funniest part was yesterday. I'm never doing that again.

You actually said that.

I still felt like that last night I got out of bed to go to the toilet and I literally took like five minutes to get out of bed and I was like holding the wall as I like walk to the toilet. And even though it was dark, it wasn't the fact it was dark, the fact that I couldn't trust my legs. But yeah, nah, that's all part of the fun.

No one can accuse you of not trying hard, that's for sure. Fantastic journey and I've enjoyed every single week of it and I've had some very good laughs about how you've responded to some of the text messages and it's been a really insightful period for me to work with someone like that. So it's been great and I hope the listeners get a lot of value out to hear that. You're just like everybody else. You do have periods of ups and downs and it's the journey and the destination is fantastic when you get there, but it's also more about the journey. So we really appreciate you giving us your time. I know it's only a day after the race and you're very busy, so. So I'm sure people have got so much value out of your. Your. Your race analysis and, and it will be inspiring for people to think that, Jesus, I can push myself a bit further if I have to. And so really, thanks for that, mate. And. And thanks for giving us so much of your time.

Yeah, thanks, guys. And thank you specifically. Gerry, I've. I've loved working alongside you, being awesome support and yeah, I particularly. I found triathlon probably when I needed it most in as far as my life. And yeah, I've loved your insight and your support as a coach and your dedication. I was truly not surprised because people assured me that was the service I was getting. But your level of commitment to each individual to make sure they get the best out of them and the amount of feedback and insight and review and time that you put into your athletes, it's. And it's been a pleasure to work alongside you and there's no surprises why so many triathletes that work with Trivalo get such good results. So appreciate it, mate.

Thanks so much, Nathan. Really appreciate you coming on. That's it for this episode and we'll see you next time.

I.