Emma Jeffcoat~ Adventures of a Triathlete: Welcome 2017- January Update

Hi Everyone,

I hope you all had a fabulous new year & start to 2017!

A new year always brings with it time to reflect on the past 12 months. The unforgettable cloud nine highs, treasured moments & experiences and touchy lows that we realise have now made us stronger!

2016 was exactly this for me, qualifying for my first Elite (U/23) world championship Australian team, winning the National and Continental Oceania U/23 title, having my first World Cup races on the triathlon circuit & earning a fifth here while my family watched on and cheered over in Hungry at the Tizzy World Cup.

My first international season over in Europe, based in Vitoria-Gasteiz Basque Country, Racing ITU as well as for my speedy German Bundesliga team Lemgo Komet.
Plenty of international travel & training experiences among arguably one of the worlds best daily performance environments of the Wollongong wizards for a few months! And unfortunately ending what was otherwise an amazing year with a frustrating injury.

Not to mention...

I got a big step closer to completing my nursing degree at the University of Sydney within the EAP Elite Athlete Program. Traveled to 20 different countries averaging more than one flight per week. Talk about Frequent flyer points tally & excess baggage regular!

And I can't not mention an unforgettable five weeks through South America making lifetime friends, experiences and memories in that insane continent!

Reflection is great & I think it's so important to stop, give yourself some credit & acknowledge all the things you did well & not so well in a year!

Because as Tom Hanks once said:

"It's supposed to be hard. If it were easy, everyone would do it."

But what I love in a new year is the chance to set goals, big & small for the year! Processes that will help me to raise my bar higher as I strive to be the better athlete than what I was in 2016, and last month, last week or yesterday! It's exciting & it's a big year ahead!!

Like most triathletes January is well within our base phase of training! Tapping away to get that underlying training miles out on the road, grass & in the pool! Laying the bricks of which to build our house over the next 12 months! Personally I'm a big fan of base phase, I quite enjoy the more relaxed Month of training, generally local within Australia which is rare for us triathletes!!

I was lucky enough to start my new year with my family up at our favourite spot on the mid New South Wales North Coast at Seal Rocks where we have our second home at the Sugarloaf Lighthouse! An amazing place & It's always nice to mix up training in a different setting! The Trail coastal running, mountain biking & ocean swims up there are plentiful, even if it means dodging a few great white shark's....

I followed this with a week of training down in Canberra at the Australian Institute of sport with my coach Mick alongside the triathlon New South Wales Squad. Utilizing the World class facilities at the AIS & around Canberra. There certainly some amazing riding to be done down there without having to avoid the traffic & metropolitan buzz of Sydney. Not to mention of course a swim in the famous like Burley Griffin... how could one forget!

Following this it was time to get back to routine at Sutherland training within my HPT High Performance TRI squad!

My first race of each year is always the famous Australia day Aquathon down in Wollongong, although we feel like it should be renamed the "Australia Day Aquathon World Cup" as it always draws a quality international field down there!! And really what better way to kickstart Australia day then racing around in your green and gold Trisuit with a whole lot of honour & pride!! See working on Australia Day isn't a crime when you love what you do!

As always this was a quality hit out and I was pleased to be pushed along the 900m swim & 7km run course by the girls among the International Performance Centre or more commonly the Wollongong wizards!! With line honours taken by Ash gentle and Jake Birtwhistle! Enjoying that sting of being back to some fast racing early in the seasons work!!

Next up for me will be Kinloch, in the North Island of NZ on lake TAupo, in February for the Oceania Sprint Championships! A course I raced 2 years ago, but I haven't forgotten that technical bike course nor the Hill which will be…. Fun??

Jokes aside I'm really looking forward to getting back out there and racing my first triathlon for 2017, time to see where we're at!

For me 2017 will see a continued partnership with my wonderful sponsors that I had the pleasure of working alongside in 2016! These teams of people make what I do possible & a whole lot easier along the way, take it from me; check them out if your in need!

AvantiPlus & The team at AvantiPlus Narrabeen
University of Sydney Elite athlete program & Sydney University Sport & Fitness Program
Pace Athletic (highly recommend the Weekly run club that leaves from their various stores on weeknights, just check the website here for details)
Catfish designs

Of course all the while working strongly within the Triathlon Australia High Performance Program alongside new Triathlon Australia High Performance director Ben Gathercole. Welcome Ben into this new role, I know all of us athletes are excited to see what the next 4 years ahead to Tokyo 2020 brings!

Finally if anyone would like to catch me for anything triathlon- swim- bike- run related I'd love to hear from you!! Please see my social media platforms;

Instagram: @emmajeffcoat

Facebook: Emma Jeffcoat -Professional Triathlete