A change for Charlotte Paul
It is not surprising to see Charlotte Paul in Kona during the Ironman World Championship week, but the Aussie is 5 months pregnant at this time and has other priorities in her life. That though doesn't mean she can't enjoy Kona in October.
Slowtwitch: Charlotte, well how are you doing?
Charlotte: Really well thank you Herbert.
ST: How far along in your pregnancy are you now?
Charlotte: I think I’m 21 weeks – starting to lose track now. I’m into the good bit though. Big enough so that people notice, and don’t just think I’ve been in the good paddock, but not so big that I can’t do things and feel like a hippo. The first trimester was just like being an athlete again – voracious appetite, exhausted all the time and a little bit grumpy!
ST: We loved that very cute TT ultrasound picture you shared with us a little while back. Were you surprised when you first saw it?
Charlotte: Yeah, I was a bit freaked out. We didn’t really notice until looking at the scans afterwards – at the time I was too busy checking that all the bits were in the right place!
ST: Have you and Kristian already set up the room for the baby?
Charlotte: Crikey no! That won’t happen until Christmas time. The baby room is currently my office, so I want to keep hold of that for as long as possible.
ST: More importantly, do you have a tiny little bike set aside for the baby, and we don't mean yours. 🙂
Charlotte: Ha Ha, cheeky! Well, since the TT ultrascan image the baby has picked up it’s first sponsor and Kestrel has it’s youngest ever athlete! So I’m leaving that one for Steve Harad to sort out. He says he has one ready, so I’m really excited about seeing it. A carbon trike maybe?
ST: You mentioned that working out 25 hours a week has been reduced to 30-40 minutes a day. How are you coping with this element?
Charlotte: It definitely took a while getting used to. The baby was the plan this year and so was a year off racing. It took me 6 months to fall pregnant and during that time I really wound it down. It took me the first few months to be able to sleep past 6am and even longer to stop feeling guilty when I had a zero training day. So I didn’t go from 25 hours straight to the 30 mins, it’s been a gradual process of weaning myself off it. It’s been good for me and I’m enjoying the mental break more than anything.
ST: What are you spending your time with as we speak?
Charlotte: I’m really busy. I’ve been helping my husband Kristian Manietta with our businesses. We have an online triathlon coaching company- www.trispecific.com and we run Trigger Point Performance Therapy in Australia. I’m lucky that I’ve been doing this part time for a few years now, and so now I work on them full-time. Unfortunately I was a terrible employee whilst I was racing! Always tired, arriving late and leaving early! So putting in more time and effort is really paying off. I’m enjoying using my brain a bit more and tackling the challenges with fresh eyes. Kristian is extremely passionate about both businesses, so I free him up to do more. It’s really fun to work on something that’s your own and see it grow. It’s also great to be still involved in the industry I know and love.
ST: With neither of you racing here in Kona, what brought you here?
Charlotte: Kristian has 5 TriSpecific athletes racing so we’ve come to support them. We’re also here for Luke McKenzie and Amanda Balding’s wedding after the race. Then we’re off to Maui for XTERRA, which Kristian is racing it for the first time- purely for fun. I stand out like a sore thumb amongst all the super-lean athletes in their togs on Dig Me Beach!
ST: Was it hard to "just" be a spectator?
Charlotte: You know, not really. I’m really happy and content with where I am right now, so there aren’t really any pangs of wishing I were out there too. If I were injured or sick then it would be a different story. I feel so far removed from being an athlete right now, that I have a much greater appreciation for what it takes to be an Ironman athlete, let alone to get to Kona. I do wonder how I ever did it? You know it’s good to sometimes look down from the balcony to get a different perspective. I hope to come back with renewed enthusiasm and not be so hard on myself, because just to participate in this sport, with the dedication and commitment it takes really is amazing. Something that was hard to see and appreciate when I was racing.
ST: Well it was great seeing you here.
Charlotte: Thanks Herbert, likewise.
