Olympic Trials Talk With Gwen
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Do you remember when you first set the goal of making the Olympics? When did it begin to feel realistic?
When I was in middle school I dreamed of going to the Olympics in swimming, but quickly realized that dream would not come true. I never made a national, or junior national team so my goals changed and my new goal was to major in mathematics and swim for fun. Sadly, my mathematics goal changed too when I realized you had to study math theories, not just solve equations. (I graduated with a masters in Accountancy instead of mathematics.)
Gwen just after winning the Olympic Gold Medal in Triathlon in 2016
When I started triathlon, I was told that I could make an Olympic team but I didn't believe it. I didn't fully believe I could make an Olympic team until I qualified by placing 2nd in a race I was ranked 54th in. At first I felt guilty, undeserving. I was overwhelmed and took a family vacation with my Mom and Dad. It didn't fully sink in until I was asked "Gwen, do you want to go to the Olympics? You qualified, but that doesn't mean you need to go. You can say no." I was taken aback, but it forced me to realize I wanted to go and I wanted to win. (That was in 2012, when I did not win, I was 38th but it fueled a fire to win gold in Rio)
How, if at all, do your goals and mindset differ from this point of the year in 2016?
In 2016, a bronze or silver medal would have been a failure. To say my goals are different this time around is an understatement. However, my mindset is relatively the same. In 2016 I had all the tools in my toolbox to perform, I knew I just had to have an average day, do what I've already done. This time I know I haven't had eight years to prepare for one event. I've only really had two years of track training to prepare. My mentality is still the same when I break it down to the process of focusing on doing my best, getting the most out of myself, and challenging myself to perform at the highest level. The outcome may look different, but the process and mindset are still the same. I still journal, reflect, and prioritize sleep and recovery.
You chose to stay in Portland rather than train at camp since you feel your body does not respond well to altitude training. Can you talk through the thought process of trying to balance using the team environment to push you and still individualizing things for your specific needs?
Having teammates is one of the major reasons I decided to train with Bowerman. However, I've proven over and over that I don't perform out of altitude. Going to altitude is stressful on the body. Your body is working harder than at sea level. Most people go to altitude and distractions are eliminated (they no longer have house projects, they are living with others who help share the cooking load, there's no going out and seeing friends). However, for me, I create more stress when I go to altitude. I can't live without my son and husband for forty plus days, so I take them with me. If you have a three year old you understand how traveling to a place where you don't have childcare, support, backyards, or toys can become more difficult. In Portland, I have the perfect setup where I live close to where we train and don't have to drive a car (something that is stressful for me). I have a sauna for heat training. I have an at-home-gym. When I travel all these amenities disappear and become additional stressors for me. The stress becomes too much and my body and mind can't keep up, causing me to get in a hole. This year, I only spent four weeks solo at sea level, before some of my teammates returned. While they were gone, I feel so fortunate to have had Shalane here to run with and to coach me. We really thrived together and I love now that I have Emily, Marielle, and Vanessa back in town to prep leading into the final weeks until the trials.
Is there one key workout that's given you a lot of confidence or do you just look at the total body of work?
I haven't been training long enough to have one specific workout that gives me confidence. I find I haven't had too many repeat workouts with Jerry. My confidence comes from consistency. I don't need to smash any one workout out of the park. I know that consistent training is better than one great workout followed by two bad ones. I do have a favorite workout though. It would be mile or 1k repeats with three to six minutes of rest.
You took up triathlon post-college and became the Olympic champion. After that you switched over to running and compete at a world class level. Those both take a lot of self belief and determination. What's your best advice for people who want to do something hard and maybe a little out there in their own lives?
Growing up I was overly worried about what other people thought. I was racing and training and living my life to try to please other people. The older I get the less I care about what others think. I have a small group of people I entrust and ask for critical feedback from (my husband, coach, a few friends, etc). I know that I am trying my best and working hard and smart, which gives me confidence. I also know I'll make mistakes, and that's ok. I'll try better next time. Following my dreams has always just been me wanting to find my potential. When I made the switch to running it was an easy decision for me. Staying in triathlon may have seemed like the easy choice, but I would have been miserable and unmotivated and not getting the most out of myself. I love running and know I haven't reached my potential. It allows me to give my best, to be motivated, to prioritize sleep and recovery. I take pride in knowing I will leave it all out on the track and am hopeful that inspires others to follow their passions as well.
Your husband Pat is a great chef. What are your top 3 favorite meals that he cooks?
My top three meals constantly change because Pat is always coming up with new creations. One meal that hasn't changed over the years is a salad. It sounds basic, but it's good and sometimes basic is best. It's lettuce, celery, cucumber, peppers, tomato, hot cubed sweet potatoes, avocado and dressed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Another favorite is scrambled eggs. I know it's not a meal, but I've tried so many times to make eggs like he does and I can't because I am not patient enough and turn the heat up too high. Recently he's been making rice bowls, which I love. It's just sauteed veggies, cooked rice, a protein, and a bomb vegan sauce made from cashews, ginger, lime, garlic, miso paste, liquid aminos, and water.
Do you have a favorite Jerry story?
Jerry is someone who is very difficult to get on the phone, but also very difficult to get off the phone. He has somehow learned that I dislike long phone calls and I take pride in the fact that Jerry and I have never had a phone conversation over 10 minutes. I think this must be a record for an athlete of Jerry's. Jerry knows that if he wants to chat he can call my husband, Patrick. The ratio of calls from Jerry in our household is probably 4:1 (Patrick:Gwen).