Fast Aussie Katey Gibb

May 8, 2014

Age grouper Katey Gibb started triathlon just a few years ago but she is already tearing it up. At Ironman 70.3 Busselton she won her age group and finished 4th overall. We checked in with her and talked about racing, training, and balancing work and social life.

Slowtwitch: Thanks for your time Katey.

Katey Gibb: Thanks for the interview, I am really honored!

ST: Well, you earned it.

Katey: Haha I am still finding it all pretty surprising!

Slowtwitch: Thanks for your time.

Katey Gibb: Thanks for the interview, I am really honored!

ST: Well, you earned it.

Katey: Haha I am still finding it all pretty surprising!

ST: Congrats on a good result at 70.3 Busselton. But you have done well overall before.

Katey: Thanks! Busselton 70.3 was a huge surprise for me, but it was a race I had been focusing on for the last few months. Most of my best results are in the Sprint and Olympic distance races having a few WA State Titles under my belt, I have managed to crack the top 10 in Busselton for the last 2 years but this year’s 10 minute PB is the biggest jump. I definitely think experience and focused coaching by Andrew Ivey can be contributed to this year’s success. I am definitely keen on doing more long course races to see how far I can go.

ST: How well do you know Kate Pedley who charged past you during the run?

Katey: I actually didn’t know who she was prior to the race as she was in a different age group… but she sure can run!! It just happened that she was heading out of T2 the same time as me, and just flew past in the run. I thought about trying to pace her, but the speed she was going there was no way I could hold that for 21.1km.

ST: Did you chat with her after?

Katey: Actually no. I haven’t met her before and don’t really know what she looks like… other than from behind as she ran past! I am sure I will bump into her again so I can congratulate her and maybe get some running tips.

ST: Talk about that race in Busso.

Katey: I was pretty nervous heading into Busso as I had set the goal to break 4hrs 30min and had trained pretty hard towards that with my new coach Andrew Ivey. Come race day though I felt surprisingly calm and was excited to race. The start was new to me as I race locally in the normally small ‘Open’ category, so I had to contend with a large wave start that can be quite hectic. I managed to place myself well on the start line, get off fast and away from the main pack, which helped to get into a pace that I could hold for the rest of the swim. Exiting the swim I was happy to be in the lead of my wave, making for a smooth transition. Out on the bike I really focused on setting my pace and holding a steady average the whole way, being mainly a sprint athlete I tend to get a little excited and go too hard at the start. Not being a great cyclist I was really glad there was little wind, so I could just focus on riding. I knew I was having a good day when I wasn’t getting passed by many people, I can tell you this doesn’t happen often!

I was happy to get onto the run as I have had some good running results lately and really wanted to see where I was at. My main focus was to maintain a solid pace and possibly find someone to run with, knowing that there were some strong runners in the field I wanted to get ahead early. As you mentioned before, Kate flew past and I knew that I just couldn’t hold that pace, so just focused on holding it together and keeping momentum. Running down the finish chute was one of the best experiences I have had, as I knew I had smashed my PB (by 10minutes I found out), won my age group and placed in the top 5 overall!

ST: Your swim is very good it appears and so is your bike, but word has it that you like running best.

Katey: Yep it is true I like running the best. I actually don’t have a background in running, I only took it up after high school to keep fit, but I soon fell in love with it and the freedom and time alone you get when running. Fortunately I have been involved in squad swimming since I was 7, which has helped me a lot in triathlon. Now the bike I definitely have a love/hate relationship with! I didn’t get road bike until I started triathlon and have worked very hard to get good at it. It is still an area I am working on and getting stronger at, I have to keep telling myself I like it!

ST: It appears you have adapted quite well to bike riding.

Katey: It has been an area I have really worked on for a number of years and included many hours of riding in the hills and speed work through the local ATTA time trials. I definitely have a way to go and there is always room for improvement. I have come to enjoy it more since joining my new training group at EliteSportz. It is always nice to find a good group to ride and training with.

ST: What kind of tri bike are you riding?

Katey: I very recently bought a Specialized Shiv Expert which I am in love with! Busselton was only the 3rd race I have used it, but it is so comfortable and took no time at all to get used to. I had only had one other TT bike before this so I was nervous about making the change, but I am so glad I did.

ST: Do you still compete in many running events?

Katey: Definitely! This why I love having an off-season from triathlon. In Perth we are lucky to have some great running events held through winter. I try to participate in as many as possible, mostly ranging from 10km to half marathons, with some trail runs thrown in. It is also good to mix with other athletes outside of triathlon and test yourself against the best in other sports.

ST: But you are still relatively new to the sport of triathlon.

Katey: I guess I am still relatively new, although it feels like I have been doing it a while. I did my first triathlon in 2008 as part of a local Women’s Triathlon, I was only 21 and had no idea what it was about, but I got hooked straight away! I am lucky that I found a sport that really suits me and have been able to quickly work my way up through the age group and Open ranks. Triathlon is great in that you mix with so many different people, it is so unpredictable and there is always room for improvement. I always feel that I can achieve more in the sport that pushes me to see how far I can go.

ST: Can you describe your day job?

Katey: I work full time in Marketing at BDO, an accounting firm. I am lucky in that I work 9 to 5, so can pretty much plan my training around work. It does get tricky trying to balance everything and to find some down time, as I am pretty much out of the house at 5am and don’t get home until 8pm. Let’s just say I have become excellent at time management and ensuring that every minute of my day is productive… not to mention a very supportive boyfriend at home! I do get some strange looks after a tough training session when I walk into the office looking like a zombie!

ST: Does he compete in triathlons too? And if so, who is faster?

Katey: I actually met Brynt when I very first started triathlons at running training. At the time he was one of the top elite triathletes in WA and is still extremely good despite taking the last few years off to focus on his career. We often do running races and cycling time trials together and it is always my aim to stick with him for as long as possible, I haven’t beat him yet but I know I have had him scared a couple of times.
He has been excellent with supporting me in triathlon as he has been doing it for over 10 years so he has lots of good advice, I can definitely say without him I wouldn’t have come as far as I have.

ST: I assume no mid day workouts except for the weekend.

Katey: Yep, unfortunately I have to fit it in before or after work and on the weekend. Going to work is my recovery time!

ST: What do your work peers think about your extracurricular activities?

Katey: I do get shocked looks when people find out what I have done before work, whilst most people are sleeping. I organize the corporate sporting events at BDO, so people are used to me harassing them to sign up for things. It is also funny because you become the go to person for fitness and health advice.

ST: Do you also give out nutrition advice?

Katey: Haha no! I am the worst with nutrition and wouldn’t know a thing. I am only new to the whole nutrition thing in regards to performance and rely on advice and guidance from my coach. It has really been an area of trial and error with me, but I am slowly getting the hang of it.

ST: So what is next for you?

Katey: Well I am off on holiday this week to go climb Mt Rinjani on Lombok and to have a bit of a rest. I definitely want to do Mandurah 70.3 in November and the summer triathlon season in WA. Following my result in Busselton, I think I will try and fit some interstate and SE Asia races in… if work permits.

ST: Anything longer on the horizon?

Katey: Hmm, not at this stage! I am pretty happy just sticking to 70.3 at the moment. I think I have a lot more to achieve in this space and will work at that for the moment… plus the thought of a full Ironman scares me!!

ST: Anything else we ought to know?

Katey: I’m just letting the results from Busselton settle in before I make any concrete decisions on where I am headed next, but I am really excited about the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead for me in triathlon. This winter will definitely involve focused training so as to hit the ground running come summer!