World Record 80 Year Old Ironman Natalie Grabow on Consistency, Trust & Fun Ep 127

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Mm-hmm.

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No, no. I was, you know, I was just trying to, trying to do a race like I've done races before. It was, so I didn't think of it like that. I just thought of, I'd had a great season. I had 3 really good 70.3s leading up to that. I know, I, you know, of course knew no one had finished the race, you know, over 78. So I knew that, but I was just, You know, that was my 11th time in Kona. So I was just, you know, doing, trying to stay just relaxed and calm. And when I qualified in the year before in Maryland, I did that race not to qualify, but to do an Ironman at 79. Because there's only been one person who's done a race over 78, who's finished an Ironman over 78. So I thought it'd be very cool. Well, nobody really gets excited about somebody who's the second oldest person. But to me, that was a challenge that I wanted to see if I could do an Ironman at 79. So that in and of itself was my challenge for Ironman Maryland. And I had no intention of taking the slot. And the next day, you know, I told one of my daughters, you know, I'm not gonna take the slot, honey. I'm gonna go to awards. And then I talked to my coach and then I talked to the two people that were supporting me and they said, oh, you know, you really should take the slot, you know? Then I had to talk to myself about, okay, I was very close to the finish time in 2022 and there's a good chance I might not finish. And would I be okay with myself? Not too hard on myself if I didn't finish. So I just had the attitude that it would be a good challenge and that I wouldn't be that disappointed. I'd be disappointed, but I wouldn't be that disappointed in myself and that it was a challenge that was worth going for. So that's kind of how I entered the race in the first place, that I was pretty sure I could finish in the time, but I wouldn't be too harsh on myself if I didn't do it. So I was pretty relaxed going into it.

That's great. And I mean, you finished with time to spare.

Yeah, I finished, you know, in a faster time than I did it in 2022 at 77. So I was pleased with that. But actually in both the races, I went in with some injuries. With the other one, I had a foot injury this, I had a hamstring issue. So, you know, it's, it's so hard to get to a big race, you know, because you're pushing the training a little bit. And at an older age to go in without an injury too. So, but I was, I was very happy. I think because of the injury, it bothered me on the bike. So I, I generally push the bike as hard as I can because that's my favorite part. So I'll just, I don't really care about the run. I just push the bike, but I wasn't able to so much with, with that race. So I think that actually helped my run a lot because I got off and I felt very good on the run. And I actually ran everything up. I walked the aid stations, of course, and got my ice and nutrition, but I was able to run pretty much the whole thing in between the aid stations. And, and I hadn't done that for a little while, so that I was happy with that.

So it almost sounds like the injury adjusted your pacing.

Yeah.

For you to be better able to execute.

Right, right. Yeah. Yeah. Somebody said, well, would you do that again? Would you hold back a little? And I said, no, no, no. Even though I know that it's probably the wise thing to do, but, um, I do enjoy the bike and, and I, I like going as hard as I can on the bike. I love that. I love that.

So cool. So you mentioned support and you mentioned a coach. So in this whole process, where does that, where does that play a role for you? Like, where is support? Is it important? Is it like you can't do it without it? Or is it like, yeah, it's nice to have? Where does that fit in?

I'm, I'm pretty motivated, so I could do it without anybody. And, and I love all my support, but this is my life. This is my passion. People have come in and out. As friends and support other than my daughter who comes to— my husband isn't able to travel anymore. He's got some medical issues. So I take care, I'm his caregiver at home. So my daughter who lives, one of my daughters lives in California and for quite a few years she's come to Kona to support me. So she's, you know, really very important at that race. And then I have some friends who are actually neighbors who are triathletes and she raced in Kona. And it's hard to go by yourself to these big races. So they traveled with me and that was fun. We stayed separate places, but, you know, she was racing as well and he helped because I used to use TriBike Transport for getting my bike places. And I had never, you know, traveled with a bike before. So I got a bike case and he helped me put it in it and helped me get it out of there. So, I mean, They're really good friends of mine. But yeah, I'm very self-motivated. This is the most important thing to me other than my family. So I would do it, you know, whether I—

Charge through no matter what.

Oh yeah. No matter what. Yeah. Yeah. But it was great to have them. They actually, my friend Katie did all the race, same races I did this year. So it was great fun to have. Next year we're going to veer off a little bit. We're going to do, I think, one together, but she, She has some other races that I'm gonna do.

That's cool. What about a coach? I know you've mentioned a coach. Yeah. For your support crew.

So, yeah, she's great. Yeah. Yeah.

And give her a shout out, like tell us about her. Like where does she, where does she, how does she play a role into all of this?

Right. Her name is Michelle Lake and, and she's great. So I had one coach for about 9 years when I first started out. And then I, I knew I needed to go with someone who understood power on the bike, which she didn't. So I, I went I went with someone else and really feel like my bike can't— my bike power really increased working with him. And, um, and I loved him as a coach. I, I would be with him today, but unfortunately he passed away from melanoma at 48. So that was very, very difficult for me because I was with him for 9 years and, um, and I just truly loved him. So when that happened, I, I had to find a new coach. So I asked a few people and one of my former competitors who lives in Maryland had, had had a coach and she recommended her. So that's how I got with Shelly. And so it's only really been, it'll be 2 years on the 1st that I've worked with her. So it was a new relationship really. And you know, it's, it's hard when you've worked with one coach to go to another one. You know, there are always going to be differences in their approach and stuff. So it was an adjustment, I think, for both of us, but we're great now. And, uh, You know, so she, she, she was a great swimmer. She comes from more of a swimming background, which is my weak, weakest area. But, uh, of course I love the bike.

And I know you've said that a few times. I, I am impressed. This is amazing.

So anyway, but, but we're, we're good. And she's a, she's a great coach. I love that.

So cool. Um, what do you think about, cuz you've had multiple coaches now and for a long time, What do you think is the secret to being coachable and to being successful?

Well, I think you do have— I think you have to trust the coach. Of course, I'm very coachable. I'll do whatever you tell me, but it has to make sense. And my coaches have all made sense. You know, that's fine. And I like not having to figure it out, not having to think about whether I'm doing too much of one or the other or too little or whatever. So I'm very coachable. I do exactly what they say. And I think in the beginning of each of them, especially with Michelle, I was wanting a little bit more of what I had before and a little bit of— but I've come to trust the process. And so I'm pretty good at, you tell me what to do and I'll do it.

You'll do it.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's great. So through the evolution of sport over the past— so I think it's been maybe 19 years. How long have you been doing?

21.

21. Okay. Has your training looked any different 21 years ago to now? Because you're still improving.

Well, I'm not improving. I'm not improving.

So tell us about that.

Well, I, Of course, I'm not improving. Your run slows, your bike slows, your swimming slows. I think the swimming has slowed the least because I was never really fast having learned at 59. You know, I started swimming pretty slowly. So I think I got, you know, I improved for quite a few years and then I've kind of, I'm pretty much, you know, staying the same pace with the swimming. Running, always you get a little bit slower, but I'm running well. I don't have injuries. I find that form is so important to really watch my form in, in all 3 sports so that I don't have an imbalance, so I don't get injured. The most important thing to me is not getting injured so that I have to stop and not do something in a day. And so I'm just very attentive to that, like, you know, in my balance. After my injury in Kona in 2022, when I went there with the foot thing, I stopped running on the roads and I started running on the track exclusively, which sounds a little bit boring to go around and around in circles, but I don't mind boring. And that has kept me very injury-free from doing that, staying on a soft surface. And in the wintertime when there's snow on the track, except then I go to the treadmill or for a short run, I'll run on the roads, but, or a race, of course. But I'm staying pretty injury-free from the running, Which is great cuz I think that's the place that you're gonna get in most trouble as you get older from what I see. Yeah.

Yeah. So, um, I know you had mentioned this hamstring injury, you know, through Kona and that you've had little niggles through, you know, what do you do for recovery? Is there, you know, are, are you into the, the sauna and cold plunges? Are you into massages?

Are you just like, let's just, I do a lot of work beforehand, so I do, I do a lot of, I do some mobility works, a little bit of strengthening for the lower back and just, you know, nothing really, you know, nothing with weights, just some movements. And then I use a roller and a, you know, lacrosse ball thing and, you know, a Hyperice, you know, massage thing on anything that might, you know, if my calves felt a little tight the day before, I'll, you know, whatever area that I think might be a little tight or whatever, I do that. And then I do quite an extensive stretching. I'm pretty flexible and I think that's important. And when I stretch, I can feel that, okay, something isn't quite balanced. You know, if I, like with the hamstring thing, I couldn't get a good stretch in that area, of course. And now I get a perfect stretch. You know, I just ran outta time healing from that. You know, I just pushed a little too hard And then I ran out of time. But, you know, so I can, with the stretching, I can see, okay, this is a little tight. I must be doing something a little wrong. So, you know, the name of the game for me is because I love doing something every day is staying injury-free. So I use that time. I spend up to an hour really doing all that kind of thing. And then I do my workout or workouts, you know, and Eat and do my workouts and eat.

And I know, well, you didn't mention sleep. How is that for you?

Sleep is great. Yeah. I sleep well. So good.

Yeah. Cause you started this sport at, would you say 59?

There was a time when I wasn't sleeping well, you know, going, you know, I feel bad for the women that I, the good thing is that it's talked about more. And I think, you know, one of my friends is, you know, And my daughters are both in their 50s and they're going through menopause and sleep and all that, hot flashes and all that stuff hits you. And, you know, so there was a time where it wasn't so great. But now I guess that's one of the few benefits of being my age is that I sleep very well.

Yeah.

Yeah. My sleep is good. And, you know, I've always been an early riser. So I go to bed early. I get my husband organized and into bed and I I get into bed early too and get up and do a lot of things around the house before I get him up and stuff.

So, okay, so you have to define early. So what is early to bed and early to rise?

I'm asleep usually by 9 or 9:30. Okay. At the latest. And I'm up anywhere between 5 and 6.

Okay.

Yeah. All right.

So yeah, look at that, a full 8 hours at least. Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, I know because of my husband's schedule and because of other things that, like yesterday, I knew I had a lot of things to do. So I just— I don't do this often, but I got up at 4 just so I could get everything in. But it's been a busy, you know, of course it's a busy time of the year with Christmas and getting everything and, you know, entertaining and getting everything back to normal and all that stuff. So But yeah, I have no problem getting up extra early. I've got a lot of energy in the morning. So, you know, some people are morning people and I'm one of those people.

You're one of them. I love it. So cool. So let's rewind a little bit. How did you, what was your history in sport growing up? I mean, of course you were born in '45.

Right.

So maybe not a lot of opportunities for women. So I'd love for you to touch on that. And then, you know, at 59, what, what possessed you to get into triathlon? Like, that's, that's a pretty intense moment.

So yeah, you know, when I grew up, of course, in my neighborhood, you know, you just ran around outside and you, you know, you, you played in the woods and you rode your little bicycle and did stuff like that. And none of the kids I grew up with in that time had taken lessons in anything. Now we moved them when I was going into 9th grade into a a little bit more affluent town where the kids had had some lessons like tennis lessons and swimming lessons and that kind of thing. But I had never had that opportunity. You know, my parents just, that wasn't in their, you know.

Part of their values perhaps?

No. And nobody, none of the kids did. It was just that, you know, nobody, you went to school and you played outside. So, and through high school there were no really girls' sports. You know, I was a cheerleader. So I cheered for the boys. The basketball team and the football team. And, you know, didn't think anything of it. That's what we wanted to do, be cheerleaders. So, and then even in college, I poured all my competitive spirit into my studies. I majored in math and I got a job at AT&T Bell Labs as a software engineer. So I have always been competitive and I was just very hardworking in that area for that time. And then I got married and had my girls. And, you know, somebody said, oh, we should, you know, play some tennis. And I had never learned to play tennis. But, you know, we started out, you know, once a week, you know, when my girls got into nursery school or kindergarten and just played a little tennis and took a few lessons there. And then that was pretty much all I did during those years. I started to run a little bit. You know, I would start a little bit and then I would stop and then get injured and start again. And in my early 40s, one of my daughters was in gymnastics. So I had a lot of, I had spent a lot of time getting her meals and driving her. It was 4 hours a day, 5, 6 days a week. So it was a big commitment. And I also coached my other daughter's little track team and things like that. So I was quite involved. But my gymnast daughter, she quit gymnastics. And so that freed me up to go back to work. So I went back to work and I found that it was really limited time to do anything. So I started running because that was something I could do in a short time and feel like I was, you know, kind of getting into shape. And I would do StairMaster and go to a step aerobics class. And so I got more and more active during my 40s and 50s. And I did a lot of running races during that time. And I had a lot of injuries. And then in my late 50s, My friends were all getting into triathlon. And, you know, I was kind of embarrassed. I said, "Oh, I'm busy," you know, for the local sprint. And then I finally admitted I'd never learned to swim. So they were all— You know, I love to hang out with my friends, do what they're doing. So they were all doing a local sprint, and I felt like I wanted to do it too. So I convinced— One of my daughters had just graduated from college, and she was in DC. And I said, "Amy, could you just come up and do the swim for me? And then I can do the bike." I had gotten a bike. Bike. And I was a longtime runner. So she did. And I just loved it. I loved the energy, all the people, the competitiveness. You know, I was just like, okay, this is my sport. I just have to learn to swim. So, you know, somebody said, oh, you can do it. You know, I'll show you how to breathe and blow bubbles. And, you know, there's some books out and videos. So I started the process of learning how to swim. When I was 59. And so through that fall and winter, I, you know, I got where I could at least, you know, get from one end of the pool to the other. And then I did a couple sprints. I mean, I wasn't good. I was like floating on my back half the time and doing doggy paddle or whatever I was doing. But I was very comfortable on the bike and the run. So I did 2 sprints, an Olympic, and then I ended up doing a Timberman 70.3 at the end of my first year. And I won my age group in all my races and knew that was my sport, you know. So, and then the second year, back then you could qualify for Kona at a couple of the 70.3s. And one of them was Eagleman. And my second year I wanted to qualify for the World Championships and the 70.3 was just announced. That was just new. And I thought, well, that'd be a good goal for me. So I went to Florida and I won and I took the slot to the 70.3 World Championships. And then I went Eagleman. And I came in second to a woman who already had a slot to Kona. And she said, you know, it will roll to you if you want to go. And I said, oh, you know, why not? You know, it might be the only chance I ever get. So I, you know, gave up my other slot. And so that Kona in 2006 was my first Ironman, my first ocean swim, my first marathon. And I was very intimidated when I got there. But I came in third in my age group. Group. So I was very pleased with that.

That's amazing. When you're talking about Kona versus all these other races that you have done, what do you think differentiates that race from any other?

The heat and humidity. Yeah, the conditions and the wind. A couple of years doing it, the wind on the bike was just like I could barely keep on my side of the road. It was, you know, I haven't seen in the last couple of years that I've been there. But there were years where I really knew what they were talking about. I mean, you were just like leaning over trying to stay upright. So, and then just the heat and humidity and trying not to cramp and really getting your, you know, hydration correct and salt and all that. Because there are hot races, certainly, you know, that, that just, that weather, you know, you arrive there and it just, It just wears you out. I think so.

Yeah. Well earned for sure. So it sounds to me like your secrets, if you will, to longevity in sport is that it's part of you, like it's part of your identity and you are just so committed to wellness and continuing to move that you just keep doing it.

Right.

I mean, can you speak to that at all?

Yeah, I think that's right. I just, I'll always do it. You know, I mean, people actually said, well, are you finished now? And, you know, that was just a race, you know, in my thinking. It was a great race and unbelievable amount of attention, which I just never saw coming. But other people will do it too. You know, there'll be other women at 80 and over who will do it too. So I, you know, might have been the first one, but I think, you know, There were so many unbelievable women who are winning their age group there in the younger. And I see it, you know, you're staying in it longer too. You know, when I first went there, I was 61 and, you know, there were very few, if anybody, in the 70 age group. And now you see, I mean, you see pretty much a lot in the 70 to 74 now. I was surprised this year there were only 2 in the 75 to 79 and 1 didn't finish. Yeah, that's, that's been kind of slim, I guess. So it is hard to stay in the sport and, and, and maybe hard to be motivated to go there in those conditions and stuff and, and, and do that.

But do you have, do you have a favorite race moment from Kona and any Kona really? I mean, since you've been so many times, or was it crossing the finish line this most recent time? Was it some, like some experience maybe with a volunteer or another athlete or the press now that you're so popular?

Yeah, I, I have some. I think my favorite Kona will always be my first one. Because I was just kind of scared and intimidated, you know, watching those fit people run up and down the Leahi Drive and bike and what are you all doing? You know, aren't you supposed to be resting or something? Yeah. Yes. Yeah. And to do so well. And I just remember it rained a little on the bike and I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my little bento box and it got soaked. And I remember one of my friends said, now be sure to eat on the bike. And I just remember eating that soggy peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Marge says I have to eat on the bike, so I'll eat this thing. But they, and then after they made a video of just different moments with the music and just that music, anytime I hear one of the songs in that little clip thing, I just have such fond memories of that whole thing. So yeah, you know, I mean, this was great. And I, as I say, my daughter was there and we had such a great time together and, and she's such a sweetheart and a great support. And she's, she rents a bike and she puts Christmas lights all around her and she's riding around, mom, you're looking great. You know?

Oh my gosh. That is amazing.

Yeah. She's got a lot of videos where you hear, "Mom!" Going up Ali'i Drive sometimes, not Ali'i, Palani, I sometimes walk and she says, in the past she said, "Mom, you're a runner, you can do it." I said, "Amy, I'm walking." So anyway, we have a good time and we have a lot of traditions and things she does and breakfast the next day. And so we have a wonderful time together. So that's That's part, you know, very special to me to have that bond with her.

So it's not just the sport, it's the rituals that you guys created around the sport.

Yeah. Yeah. For that race, for sure. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. And I, you know, I've done some races by myself and that's been hard, but it's really, it's really helped my self-confidence that I can do some of these things if nobody else is doing them, but I can still go ahead and do it myself since my husband hasn't been able to travel with me for the last 4 years or so. Sometimes I want to do something, but nobody else is doing it, and I've been able to, you know, I'm not real brave and go into a new place and a new race, but I've been able to do it, and that's really provided me with a lot of self-confidence just in life. I think, you know, doing this sport in general has, has been very good in that way.

It almost seems like you're speaking to someone who maybe is too afraid to try this sport. And you're like, well, hey, just go. Just do it. Right?

That's right. You know, I think one thing I've learned is, you know, what's the worst thing that can happen? And don't worry about what other people think. You know, it's like me going to Kona. Like, what if I fail? You know, why would I let other people influence what I want to try to do. You know, it's— and I think when you're younger, you sometimes are afraid to do things. What's somebody else going to say if I don't, you know, if I don't do well or whatever? And I think you have to remember it's just about you. People forget your times or how well you did. I can't even remember my own times, you know. So nobody's gonna, you know, you remember, yeah, okay, I did finish it at 8:00 deep. But you don't— in general, I can't remember what other people have done and what their times have been. And people ask me and I'd have to look it up half the time to know. So it's, it's really about you and what, you know, your own sense of satisfaction, challenging yourself to do these things.

So great. So I know you are— I was going to ask you some like quick questions here, but you already answered one, like what's your favorite discipline? We know it's the bike. Are you on the trainer a lot? Were you out on the road? Or is it a mixture Both?

Like, what does that look like?

Yes.

So when I started out, I was out on the road. You know, I got my bike at a bike shop and I had never ridden much. So I went to the group rides on Saturday and I would get dropped every Saturday. And there was one hill, I'd call it Drop Natalie Hill, but I would know which way to get back. But I really learned a lot of bike handling skills doing that. I learned how to ride in a pace line and really I gained a lot of confidence doing that and riding in close quarters with other people. And that was a time when I just felt pretty safe, and I would ride by myself a lot during the first 10 years. And then, then I just started reading too many stories, and it just got very congested around where I live, and, uh, I started getting nervous about it. So, and then I was starting to train with power, and I could see that I could work pretty hard, you know, just using a dumb trainer and my power meter, and, uh, and do it. So I pretty exclusively train indoors. I did just for my birthday, I bought myself a new road bike. Some of my friends ride outside in the good weather. So I'm going to try to get outside at least with them, you know, with our lights and feeling pretty safe going early. And so because there's nothing like riding outside, but you just have to be careful too.

Yeah. So curious minds wanna know, what'd you get? What, what, what was your bike?

Yeah. So, um, my, one of my friends that I always talk about, my friends, he reps a lot of triathlon and running type of thing. And so he reps a brand you probably haven't heard of. It's called Parlee.

Mm-hmm. Yeah, of course.

So, so I have a Parlee time trial bike and a Parlee road bike. Okay. All right.

And do you like it?

Oh, I love it. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I absolutely love it. I love my road bike. They have disc brakes and electronic shifting and all the nice things.

All the bells and whistles.

All the bells and whistles. So I'm happy.

So I, Natalie, I see your earrings, but like, are you a diamond girl or are you a bike girl? Or maybe both?

I would say both.

Yes.

I love, I love jewelry.

Okay.

All right.

I love it. That's so awesome. Any other like sports-specific things that just like are your jam, like a certain jersey that you have or like a pair of socks or sunglasses or helmet or nutrition products or hydrate? Like, are there anything that you just couldn't live without?

I, no, except for my power meter and my, you know, computer and stuff. I couldn't live without that. Love your data. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I do love to look at that. Um, I do.

Yeah. That's awesome.

And, uh, you know, and my pace on the run and, you know, that kind of thing. You know, as I say, the swim, because I learned late and because I'm not great, I look at it, but I don't obsess over my swimming so much, you know, thank goodness it's the shortest part and I don't think I'll ever exceed the time limit or whatever. But I am gonna do a challenging first race. I'm, I'm gonna have to be pretty good on the bike. I'm gonna do Happy Valley, which has a pretty hilly bike course. But so I like to challenge myself to, to things and, and, and have a 3 70.3s on my schedule for next year. And okay.

All right. So do you think Ironman is gonna be next year or is it just 70.3s right now?

Or, I mean, 70.3s next year.

I say just very lightly.

Right. Yeah, I'm not— there's still a record out there that I'll have to see how my body holds up. You never know at any age and especially mine. But I would like to— there's still Madonna Buder's record for being the oldest to finish an Ironman at 82. So, I mean, I would like to see somebody do that. It could be me, could be somebody else. So, you know, I'll just see. I mean, I love the sport. I'll just keep doing it as long as I can. You know, as I say, you try to do everything you can to stay healthy. And I have good energy. And so, so far so good.

I love how you say so far so good. That is, that's phenomenal. Like, let's keep going, right?

Yeah. You know, you never know. I competed with a lot of really strong women over the years, and I've seen them have to drop out due to something or other. And so you never really know, you know, what life's going to throw you You know, women who have really done well, you know, develop a disease or have an injury they can't overcome. And so you, that's always a possibility for any of us, I think. So I'm grateful every day, you know, that I can get up and train. And how wonderful is this that, you know, I get together with 11 high school girlfriends twice a year. And, you know, they've had hip hips replaced, knees replaced, you know, are kind of creaky. And they're, they're all great women. But, you know, I'm very lucky to be able to, you know, do what I do compared to them, you know.

Do they, do they look at you like, are they supportive? Or are they confused? Or are they like, how do they respond to that?

We started getting together about 27 years ago. And we hadn't seen each other for a while. And, you know, we're all 80 now, and they hadn't seen me for a while, and, and they, you know, they started wondering what the heck's going on. I want to go out and run in the morning or do something, and so they, they weren't real understanding in the beginning. They tried, I think, but it's taken them a lot of years to, to understand where I'm coming from and that I'm just very different and that I really know. And I don't let anybody else influence what I'm going to do. If we go someplace and there's an opportunity to run or swim or whatever, I'm going to do it. So they've come to be very proud of me, I think, and very supportive. But it took a while, you know, because it did. Yeah.

Yeah. What would be I mean, it sounds like just your continued commitment to not letting that bother you.

Right.

And just continuing to train. I mean, are— would there be any other suggestions you would have to, to people? And I mean, whether they do triathlon or not, I feel like your commitment to health.

Yeah.

And to exercise regardless of whether it's triathlon or not, like, because I think once— why can't we all do this?

Right. Once you feel strong, like you're doing some things and, and you feel stronger, then I think that's just a really big incentive to keep going and to keep doing. Oh wow, I feel good. I can lift this and I can carry my groceries and I'm not huffing and puffing and I can do just the day-to-day activities. I can help somebody. Maybe you have a spouse you have to help. And I think that's a great side benefit of doing that. And I think the confidence thing is big for me. Like if you have maybe a very challenging, it could be anything, it could be walking or water aerobics or pickleball or whatever. But if you have, you know, a really great experience doing that, or you feel like you hit the ball well, or you, you know, you did something, and I think it's a great feeling to have accomplished that. Now I'm very competitive, so it's a big boost to me because I, you know, I challenge myself to do these things and that makes me happy. You know, anybody can find what really makes them happy. Maybe it's, maybe they need other people to walk with and chat and that type of thing. But I think once you get going and you incorporate that into movement into your life, you'll see how it benefits your body and your mind, you know, your confidence, your, you know, just your, your attitude and, and the way you, you view life, I think.

So it sounds like being dedicated and taking small steps.

Yeah.

Get you closer to feeling more confident, and then it just like the ball just keeps rolling.

It is. You have to start though. You know, you have to just start. And I understand that not everybody can do it. It's just like, you know, people have limitations. My husband has limitations. Not everybody is lucky enough to be able to do it. But if you can, if you can do something, find something that makes you happy, you know, something that gives you joy. I swim and half the lane during certain times is a water aerobics class for people with arthritis or whatever. But they're having a wonderful time chatting and moving. And so there's yoga. There's so many opportunities that if, especially if you like other people, you know, to get out and then you'll make friends and then you won't want to disappoint your friends because you'll want to go back and see them. And so for me, I'm just very independent. I can just do a solitary bike ride for hours and be fine. But not everybody can do that, I understand. So, you know, find out what's going to motivate you to, to look forward to each day to, you know, get yourself in and just feel better about yourself, I think, once you do that.

I hear all these amazing things that you're sticking to and the consistency and showing up. Are there any vices, Natalie?

I think you mentioned you were a nutritionist.

I am, but that doesn't— so this question comes from Coach Peter. He thrives on Red Bull and pizza.

So, okay, well, I've never tried Red Bull. But I eat a very normal diet that people are very surprised about. So in the morning, I have Cheerios with blueberries on, a little bit of sugar, orange juice, and coffee every morning. So that's what I eat. And I eat just whatever appeals to me during the day. I eat a lot of peanut butter. I eat a lot of bread. I eat anything that, you know, I just look and see what sounds good. And I eat a lot of miniature marshmallows and dark chocolate. And I love sweets and all that. So yeah, I don't drink Pellegrino on the bike. And so—

Oh my God, that's so good.

I don't drink a sports drink except in a race when I pick one up from the aid station. So yeah, so I just, I really like to eat and I like to eat just I just, you know, my husband and I, we just have— I grill every night and we just have some kind of, you know, chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and a salad or a vegetable and some pasta or something. So it's a very normal kind of thing. Potato chips and, you know, just the whole nine yards. Yeah, it's so funny because my friends, I keep mentioning They're vegan. So I said, oh my God, you know? And because my daughter went away, we celebrated Christmas early. And then I had my triathlete friends over and they're all, they're non-dairy, they're gluten-free, they're vegan, you know? So they had to bring some kind of a loaf made of black beans or something, you know? And I did some roasted vegetables and stuff. So, you know, made chicken for my husband and me. But yeah, I, and she keeps saying we eat very clean. And so I, that's great.

It sounds like you eat comfortably. You eat in your own, you're confident in the way that you're feeding yourself.

Yeah, I am. I am.

You don't necessarily have to label it.

Your body knows what it needs. What it, you know, okay, I feel like I need some bread or some, uh, that kind of thing. Or, okay, I need some protein now. I need to. You know, some tuna fish or peanut butter or an egg. So that's the way I operate. Whatever my body craves, I go, okay, I'm really dying for a salad now, you know. So I just go with what my body says that it needs at that time.

It sounds like your personal awareness is very keen. You have a lot of, you know, trusting yourself and listening. And to choose a certain type of food or whether to train or not or, or whatever.

I, I, I am, you know, I, I'll read articles and this and that, but most of the time I just stick with what, you know, works for me. I mean, life is short, you know, I'm not gonna, this is my fun. This is my passion. It's not my job. I'm not making money here. You know, I just enjoy eating. My girlfriends and I were going to Aruba next month and, you know, we'll eat, you know, and then I'm going sailing with them the month after. And so, you know, I just have a pretty balanced life. But I, you know, I do take my training very seriously.

Very seriously. All right. So what about supplements? Any supplements in the mix?

I know that, you know, I take multivitamin and glucosamine chondroitin. Okay. I don't know if that helps, but I've taken it forever.

You've taken it for a long time.

Yeah.

Okay. All right.

That's pretty much it. That's pretty much it. Yeah.

Natalie, the simplicity and the trust and awareness that you have for yourself is just, it's so refreshing.

Oh, good. Well, I guess I'm blessed with a good system too. Like I have a friend who he just, I don't know, he was having, he was throwing up and couldn't keep food. Like I can't imagine that. Like I can just put anything in my body at the aid station. Oh, a cookie? That looks good. Or, you know, okay, there's some potato chips and I'll have one of those. You know, so I seem to have a system that, you know, it knows what it needs at that point. Okay, that broth looks good right now. And I take it in. So, okay, I feel a cramp coming on. I'll take whatever drink they're serving for that. So I think they're making a change. Everybody's excited about for the, what they're serving Ironman. So that's, you know, that's fine with me. I do use Goos for my energy gels when, you know, when I race. So I do like those. I have my flavors. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. Okay.

Cool. Okay. So are you the liquid, the thin goo or the thick goo? Like the small ones or the big ones that are like thinner?

Um, do you like the small ones?

Probably the original ones. Yeah.

Yeah. I only know the, I guess the original one, chocolate outrage and caramel salted caramel latte or so.

Yeah.

Okay.

All right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Those two flavors.

Yeah. Okay. That's so cool. Love that. All right. Um, and, and what's, what's dinner post-race dinner? Do, is it just whatever it sounds like it's whatever you have access to or wanna make or whatever you feel like? Yeah, yeah.

Of course, we get back to the house, you know, I'm a late finisher.

Okay.

So like, I don't finish till about midnight. So, you know, I, you know, whatever Amy had gotten during the day for her lunch, she got me something too. I think it was a chicken wrap of some sort. So I had a few bites of that and took a shower and went to bed. But she always goes to Lava Java the next morning, gets me me a bagel with cream cheese and lox. And it's wonderful. I sit there in bed having that and laugh. And then we look at the video of me falling over and over again. And then we'd laugh some more.

And I'm so glad you mentioned that because that was the first clip that I saw of you was tripping right before the finish line.

Right.

This most recent race. And then you got up and I I was like, God bless that woman, because if I had fallen at the finish line, I think I would still be there. And you just so beautifully, like, it was like, it was like a phoenix rising. You were just like, okay, I'm just gonna get up.

I just wanted to pretend it never happened.

I mean, I—

if I got up fast enough, no one would really notice it. Like, okay, that didn't happen. Don't look at that part.

Yep. Well, I did notice that other news outlets don't— didn't post that, but some did.

Yeah.

So, but again, I just, I thought it was so endearing that it was like, okay, here you go. Like, just get up, keep going.

At first I was kind of embarrassed, but now it's just like, it's fine, you know? Yeah.

Uh, so it was just ran across the finish line and then you just kept going.

I never know where the finish line is. So I just keep going. And then Cherie was there who set the record at 78 in 2022. Yeah. So she's very much involved with Ironman for a long time. So she was at the finish line congratulating everybody. And so, yeah, she had texted me when I got there because we're longtime competitors and we have, you know, we correspond occasionally. So she said, oh, you know, it's so great that you're here, you know, and blah, blah, blah. Because I really wasn't sure whether anybody else was going to be in my age group. She could have very easily, because I knew she had qualified at Hawaii 70.3, she always does that. So she could have very easily, you know, been there racing as well. But, you know, I was just doing my thing. So it didn't matter to me. But And I, you know, the tracker had the people up where you could see that no one else was going to be there. But so yeah, she was at the finish line. So she was so happy for me, really. She was very sweet and very, very sweet afterwards. So, and then my husband, my coach's husband put the towel around me. So he was at the finish line too. So that was nice. Yeah. Yeah.

That's so cool. So tell me about this Guinness this world record? Like, I mean, did they mail it to you? Do you like— is there like pomp and circumstance that goes along with it? Like, how does that all work?

Well, they write you and say, you know, fill this out or whatever, and then, you know, we'll send it in, and then you can— then here's a form, you can get a certificate, you know. So that's what you do.

And now you have this big— like, like, where is it? Is it hanging?

Is it just Where is it? It's hanging.

It's hanging. Okay.

I have a, uh, finished basement, which is where my bike is and where my bulletin boards with all my stuff are.

And, uh, so this is your like pain cave, right? But like your celebration cave maybe? Yeah.

It's got all my medals and awards and stuff. And yeah, some, some guy just out of the blue sent me this big red had M-dot and with a plaque on it saying what I had accomplished and stuff, just sent it to me. So that's hanging on the wall. And somebody in town had a beautiful blanket made up with my name and everything and Laker pride, which I live in Mountain Lakes and we're the Lakers. And so really very sweet. I got a whole box of Vuori clothing from the CEO of—

Okay.

Yeah. That was great.

That alone is motivating me to keep in this sport.

Yes, yes, yes. You too might. And a friend of my daughter's works for Nike, and she sent me some Nike shoes and some things. So yeah, I haven't gotten anything from Cheerios yet, but I do— I do—

I will give them a call, Natalie, for you. You need to be on the COVID of that box of Cheerios. Yes. Oh my gosh. How cool would that be?

Right. So no, it's been, it's been fun. It's, uh, I've met just really nice people and so I'm just enjoying it.

It's really, it's so cool. So we'd like to tie things up by, uh, summarizing or sort of highlighting 2 or 3 tips that you have for either somebody maybe who's not in the sport or somebody who wants to stick with the sport or somebody who is committed to their health and to activity. So what would be those 2 or 3 things that you would offer our audience?

Well, if your audience is triathletes, they're already kind of a competitive group so that they know that and they know the satisfaction from doing well. And so that's easy to motivate you to, you know, to find challenges, you know, for, a race. Okay, I want to improve my time or I want to feel better on this. I don't want to cramp on that. And I think just always challenging yourself, you know, to do that. And it's just keep it fun. And, you know, it's just, I think that's, you don't want to make it so that you're going to quit. You know, it needs to be fun and you need to, you know, feel good afterwards. And so I think if you're competitive, you're just going to enjoy it. You know, that's what I found. And there's disappointing times and everybody goes through them. So everybody has ups and downs. There's, you know, races that you, you know, you didn't do as well as you thought. But, you know, for me, it's the day-to-day training. You know, races can be good or bad or whatever. But I think it's just if you're consistent and just keep at But I think that's— it's a way of life. And I think that's what you have to think of it as.

Well, Natalie Griveaux, world record holder, thank you so much for being on the Find Your Edge podcast. I appreciate all of your insights. You are an inspiration to me. You are an inspiration to young women across the globe and older women across the globe to just keep going. So thank you for that.

You're welcome. It was great.

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