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Jane
Archer Foley, USAT race age 37
ES: How did you get
started in triathlon?
JA: I started triathlon
in the UK 7 yrs ago. I first started running at university, 2-3 miles, 2-3x a
week and got faster. When we moved to Scotland I joined a running club and
ran with triathletes and they made me signing up for a triathlon.
ES: What was your first
one like?
JA: My first one was a
sprint. I showed up with my heavy mountain bike and everyone had really
expensive road bikes and it was a pool swim...I loved it! After that I was
competing couple times a month. Then I did Houston, got 4th out of
41, and Oilman half IM and completed it, to my surprise, in under 6 hours,
and just recently the ironman [TX] in 11.36.
ES: IMTX was your first
one, how did it go for you?
JA: The swim was
frightening, the ride was slow and steady, the run was great. I had a plan
before I started and I was training with Dana. Between the Houston Sprint and
Oilman I didn't have a coach so I wasn't sure what level I was at. Having a
coach took it to the next level... I followed his training plan to the letter
and didn't miss a workout apart from the last week when I had a knee injury.
I was worried that I may not do the IM...
ES: It certainly didn't
stop you from killing it on the IM...
JA: I saw Chrissy
Wellington at the book signing (during expo) and I told her about my knee
injury and she said, look Jane, I [Chrissy Wellington] have not done a single
IM without an injury and I have won every IM I have ever entered...you know
your limits, she said, just set new ones.
ES: Wow.
JA: It was an incredible
day [for IM] and the support was wonderful. I had a plan and stuck with the
plan, and it worked. I was so focused on what I was doing, I didn't even
notice the heat...I had all these mantras going, and that helped.
ES: What was one of
them?
JA: "Everybody is
hurting right now, but you know you can hurt more"...during the last 4
miles I was the same pace with this guy and at the last mile I was shouting
at him the whole time, you can hurt more! You can hurt more!... It was just a
perfect day. Only the swim was horrible...
ES: How's that?
JA: It was an absolute
mosh pit...all these fists flying, feet flailing in front of me, and I was
getting kicked and punched. Next time, I will place myself somewhere
different....
ES: There will be a next
time?
JA: Nothing will be as
bad as North Shore Park (laughs)
ES: You have experience
the worst so you can appreciate whatever comes next... so what is your race
plan for the rest of the year?
JA: I am going to do
some short course races, Olympic in Sept, half in Austin, Woodlands/Houston
Marathon. I wouldn't mind reducing my bike time some more, I love the bike.
The bike takes you back to being a teenager, riding around in the
neighborhood with your friends...I would really like looking into some time
trialing...
ES: You looked very
strong on all three disciplines, Jane...
JA: I am actually not
very strong on any of the three...I am however very strong in transition...
very strong at getting dressed, changing my footwear, fastening my race belt,
etc...(laughs)
ES: Sounded like you had
a great first IM experience. Is there anything you would not have/would have
changed about it?
JA: Overall, I felt
great mentally and physically; I was so well rested. The week before the race
I didn't do any workouts because of my knee injury but my coach said that he
would rather I be over-rested than under on the starting line. And I stuck
with my plan and it worked. I really know my nutrition; I have practiced it
so many time, the only thing I would change is the addition of salt tablets
and perhaps some Imodium. I didn't take any this time. The race passed so
quickly...one minute I was in the water and the next minute I was running...
ES: You seem to me to
have a really good positive attitude for the sport. Many on the course would
not have said [IMTX] passed quickly for them.
JA: I just really enjoy
it. I am thinking of Cozumel or Arizona for my next IM.
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