Welcome to the Cheeky Olympic Expert Arm Jet series.
Armchair expert. You even nodded yourself so you're like I nailed that. Welcome to a
Welcome to the Cheeky Olympic Armchair Expert Series, where we're diving deep into the events we are most excited about for the upcoming Olympics and bringing you on the journey in the lead up to Paris. Hello, Phoebe.
Anna. And hello
And hello, listeners. So, Phoebes, what event are we going to be discussing today? Today, we
we will be talking about the marathon. We're going to discuss what is going to make this event so exciting in Paris. We'll tell the stories of our Aussie Olympians who you'll be getting behind, as well as some of the other ones to watch in the race. We have an exclusive interview with our Aussie record holder, Um, and then we'll finish with some predictions. So basically we are giving you all the information you need to sound like an absolute expert when it comes to the Paris marathon. Love it.
the reason why the marathon is so interesting is because it has such a rich history, like from the beginning of the Olympics and
kind of the iconic
yeah, exactly. And I feel like it is the, the one race more so than like any of the other athletics, right? Like running races that, um, is like, quite a lot more relatable to the average Joe. Like we never like, not often, like you never have a fun run. That's a 1500 meter race around the track or like, uh, like 3000, like who does 3000 meters steeplechase kind of thing.
Whereas the marathon, like, even as we've just seen up on the Gold Coast, there's like 30, 000 like participants in these races. And I feel like. Um, not only is the marathon a like competition against everyone else, but it's also, um, like more than anything it's. against yourself and like the distance because the distance itself like needs to be respected much more so than like any other event and I just feel like it brings this like whole new like wave of um like
respect,
like not only do you have to like respect your competitors but you also have to respect the
do you have to like respect your competitors, but you also have to respect the event itself. Oh my god, they're running that pace for that distance and it is just like awe inspiring to watch. I also think just like, The longer the distance, the more intense, the like emotional kind of the intensity of like how exhausted they are. And you obviously get the drama of like, people drop out all the time.
People, people won't finish, like there aren't many events in the Olympics that you can guarantee. Not everyone will actually finish this
The race, yeah, like I remember in Tokyo, I like, I can't, I don't know the exact facts, but there was, if you look on the results list, like there's a good sort of like 20 percent of people that actually didn't finish the
is wild! And the thing about Paris is it's going to be hot. It's going to be really warm, which Tokyo was as well.
Tokyo. Yeah. Tokyo was like super humid. Yeah.
Yeah. And, um, it is hilly. It's a really, relatively for a road marathon. It's considered to be a really hilly one. We'll talk a little bit more about the course in a second, but this comes like another thing I love about the marathon, which is that it's one of the only events that like a wild card could come in and do really well, because there are all these factors that you can't control for like the weather on the day.
Some people's bodies are not going to hold up to that, even though they have the fastest times, like it's not the, it's not the event that you could be like, Oh, we can just pick the top three. No worries. Yeah. Which makes it exciting.
so exciting. Cause, and I feel like, like previously in Olympics, like history shown that there are quite a lot of like wild cards that come in and just have like a really good day. And I think like, as to what you were saying, because it is such a long race. It means that there are so many like external variables that can go wrong and because people are like not only competing against each other but competing with the distance like some days it's just not your day.
So it means I think there's like even more hype and even more excitement like around watching the Australians
especially this year because we genuinely,
year. Because we're so good.
going to be talking more about the, we're focusing slightly more on the women here, but, the women's marathon team is the, probably the strongest we've ever sent. And like, we'll go into predictions at the end, but like, Each of those three women, I think have a shot at like a top 10 finish or even better, which historically is just unheard of for Australia.
and I think as well the, the thing that is, will be like super interesting to watch is because the course is so hard and it's sort of like a little bit unknown because people can't race marathons all that often. It's not as though you can like every second week just like go to a random race.
Yeah.
So, no
are high.
are high and no one really knows how anyone's going to perform like in those
And what their strategy is going to be. And like, that's the other thing with marathons is you can kind of work as a team a little bit. In fact, you need to, um, to an extent you need to be like helping each other along. You're not going to want to run the whole thing by yourself. But I'm so excited to watch, like, what are different people's strategies going to be? Who's going to be helping who? And when will they start? When will those, like, bonds fall apart?
Like, when is it every man for themselves? And you're just dropping the people because you're feeling good and you need to, like, almost put that over them to show that you're feeling strong. Like, those things are so fun to watch out
Oh, yeah. And because I feel like some of the major marathons, because there's such like these really deep fields of, like really fast, like African runners, because there's obviously only three people from each country. it means that there's a little less, there's like not that depth in the sense that there's that team kind of like camaraderie. So I feel like it gives, nations like Australia that like opportunity. Yeah.
Talk us through the Paris, the course at Paris.
So it is super hilly. I think from, I think it's like at, I think it's fairly flat at the start and then the hills sort of like, start getting pretty nasty in the middle.
That's going to break
Yeah. And it's not just the going up it then like descending on tired legs, like, especially in the heat, like we're talking cramping. I just, honestly, like it will. Yeah, I, I, I don't think, I reckon it could be one of those things where it's almost like, not like the, not the tortoise and the hare, but I, I do think like pacing is like more so than other marathons is really going to come into play and just like not making a move too early. It's,
It's yes. It'll be like position yourself well and don't wreck yourself so that once, because there's all those hills, there's that big downhill, as you said, that's maybe, you know, early 30 K's and then they'll have, you know, eight K's or something, a flat home. And I feel like that's when the race is going
race is going
still has legs at that stage? Cause you will be chewing up the other
that stage? Because you will be chewing off the other
it'll be later in the day. Like, and you're going to be there watching this. I can't believe that. I just remembered where, do you know where you're going to try and stand or? No, sorry.
I shouldn't say no because I have definitely thought about this. I should not, I shouldn't lie like that. so I want to go out to where it gets hard. So I was thinking of depending, I don't really know what the situation is going to be. I really want to hire a bike or get like a line bike or the equivalent for the Paris version. And like, I, I would love to see sort of the start, but I don't really mind too much.
I'm more focused on, I really want to be out in the, like, thick of it at the sort of like 25, 30 K mark when things are getting hard. And also because you're like quite far, well, by that stage, you're actually like quite far out of the city. I feel like the crowds will be a lot less. and it will be like a little bit easier to kind of feel like you're like, right.
like you're
Amongst it.
it. And then what, will you try and get back to watch some of the later
later stages? Yeah, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. We'll
that's just going to be so exciting. Holy heck. So talk us through who are our Aussies who are heading over to Paris?
All right. So first we'll talk about Sinead, who, later in this episode is actually going to be coming on, like Pheebs said initially, did you say that? Yeah. Um, so that is super exciting. So Sinead is our Australian record holder, she, uh, is 47. So she went to, she's actually the only one. Out of the three girls that was at the last Olympics for the marathon. and she finished 10th there. So
is an unbelievable
it is genuinely crazy.
that shocked, I remember that happening and everyone being like,
What? Yeah, so she is probably like the front runner, I guess, for the Australian team. Yeah, I think the thing with her though is she hasn't raced a heap recently. Um, talking to her though, like she's obviously been super, she's super fit, um, and has been training really well, but I guess it will be interesting to see how she goes. I know that, like. She is the fastest Australian in terms of like her personal best. Um, but I don't think she's run a whole heap of marathons like in the hills.
So it will be like, I know she's obviously training
now
now in the hills and everything, but it'll be interesting to see sort of like how that transition goes. Yeah.
Sinead has one of the most amazing stories, I think, out of like any athlete going. So
Ever.
yeah, yeah, literally, well, she, Sinead started running when she was 33 years old. Yeah. And. Um, just as a way she had young kids, I think, and just as a way to kind of like, you know, get back outside and start doing some fitness. And then, you know, participated in basically what was essentially a fun run and did exceptionally well. And her friends were like, You've got to join a running group. Like you're really good.
run around the town in Melbourne. Yeah.
And then she, um, started training more seriously. I think she didn't run her first marathon until late 30s,
kid in the,
Yeah, that's right. She's, she had another kid. She cruise, cruises around a bit, runs her first marathon in her late thirties, which I think was Melbourne marathon. And obviously it was just A freak. She's a freak. She's so talented. And so now, as Anna said, she's 47. She looks like she's 30. She is
know. She looks younger than
I was like, oh my God. And she is just firing on all cylinders. She is so impressive. Um, and she still works, like she's got a job. She's so, you guys will hear from her later. She has such a balanced perspective on it all. and yeah. I'm very excited to see what she pulls out in Paris.
Yeah, do you think the reason why she's been able to like continue to improve as she's gotten older is because like in terms of Um, like do you think that's just like her body is obviously she's sort of like getting better and better. or do you think it's because she like came to running late that she sort of had that, like later sort of like improvement?
I feel like we're seeing with women that endurance sports, they can just keep doing them, which is great news for us, we can still be, maybe we'll just keep getting better and better,
better. Um, we just need to pop out a few kids, and
Lisa Whiteman's 45, running PB's, um, you know, Jess is in her
know, Jess is in her late 30s. Yeah,
Yeah. Which,
coincident? But
Okay. This is wild. I've said, I've told you this already, but this is wild. I learned two days ago, Sinead Diver is two years older than Benita Willis. Who, Benita Willis, for those
her, I actually
Yeah, I actually only recently learned who Benita Willis was as well. But she, um, is probably like our, like, best distance runner that has come out of Australia. She like still holds so many records, but she retired like 10 years ago. Like in my mind, she was someone who, you know, she used to, she was a famous runner back in the day. She she's younger than like some of the, yeah, it's just, which is insane. And she retired at 32. That's before Sinead started running.
That's before she even
It's crazy.
running. It's crazy! so tell me about Jess Stenson. Again.
Jess, uh, yes. I want you to do Jess. Sorry. In my head, I was thinking that you would do Jess because you do a great Jess. Yes,
I think I referred to when we were doing the pick your fighter for all of the, the six women that had like actually made the qualifying time for the Olympics. I think I compared her to a superhero and I stand by that. She's got a, she's got a 10 month old and, uh, three or four year old. and she's just, she's so strong. So I actually think the Healy course.
of Paris
like, the heat will be like really good for her. cause I just feel like she's such a strong runner, um, and she's like really gritty. So I kind of feel like she almost sort of like thrives in like really hard conditions. Um, she won the Commonwealth Games in 2022 in Birmingham, which like to your point before of the teamwork, like I've. Listen to a couple of interviews of her and they speak about like how they worked as a team and how they found that like really beneficial.
And I mean, she went on to win. Um, and then I think the other girls came fourth and fifth or maybe
Yeah, they did. They did really well.
really well. Um, so yes, I mean, we'll talk about predictions later, but I, I don't know,
I,
backing her
it's a great sign that she performed, like she can race well, like she can race for a podium finish at a championship race. And then obviously the heels and heat are going to work in her favor and just, just being a great person. Yeah. Just
I also think, yeah, I think it's like her mindset and her attitude, like she has such great perspective of, she's obviously this incredible runner.
but I feel like the, what makes her seem so much more impressive is the, just like, she's so, She's so sort of like grateful for running and she talks about how like having kids she feels like has actually like bettered her relationship with running because she almost doesn't sweat the small stuff as much and because she has like them to fill her cup up as well. so she doesn't like, isn't sort of like searching for that, like, meaning that she
Someone's been reading Jess's blog. Um,
yeah, and I just think as well, like, I think when the going gets tough, I just I, like even with little things, like as we sort of speak about, there are so many variables that come into play and inevitably things are going to go wrong, like for people in the lead up. And I just think she's so resilient. Um, like she'll be breastfeeding, um, like she has so many like things to sort of manage, but I just feel like if anyone can kind of cope with that, it's her. They're such
impressive
So cool. So cool. I saw her actually at the Gold Coast.
so did I. I saw her, I was watching the marathon and then she was going for a jog and we were cheering everyone and I saw her and I was like, go Jess! Did
Did you say that? Yeah. Did she hear you?
Yeah, yeah. She gave me a little
smart.
I was like.
I saw her in like the warm up area, they were like doing the warm up around the pool. Yeah, yeah. Um, and I was like, oh my gosh. Oh, so cool. She's so cool.
Um, okay. Let's talk about Jen. Jen.
Gregson. so
Um, so Jen also has just like an unbelievable story. Um, which Jen is traditionally more of a track athlete, competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and she made it to the final of the steeplechase and on the final water jump, coming to the final stretch of the final, she, um. Uh, ruptured her Achilles as she
her Achilles. Oh, it was so sad. And
Oh my God. I knew her heart just dropped. Oh, it was so sad. And then obviously just like absolutely devastating for her, but, um, not wanting to miss an opportunity. She literally got. I think she got both Achilles
heels while
she was at it. got pregnant, had a beautiful baby Archer, and started training for marathons. And she just has not missed a beat. She has been so impressive in the marathons that she's done so far. She's done two?
done two. Yeah. So the, her first marathon was almost exactly a year ago on the Gold Coast or is, um, she ran two 28 and that was incredible. Um, and then five months later, she, uh, like flew over to Valencia in Spain, um, and ran two 23, um, like low two 23,
which was maybe our second fastest time. Is that right?
Yeah, so she's the second fastest qualifier. Yeah. Yeah. So she's on two marathons, one of which is the second fastest qualifier, which is insane.
that trajectory,
Yeah, I know.
six minutes in. in less than six months. And I feel like since then, she has just been head down training. We know she is incredibly fast and strong. She trains in Brisbane, which is like, that is so hot. She does lots of hilly running in Brisbane. So I actually feel like she's going to be best prepared for the heat. Like that's her, that's what she naturally runs in. I also feel like out of all of them. In my mind, she's the most competitive.
She is like, she is like a competitor and I feel like she's going to be there. Yeah. Yeah. Ready to battle it
Yeah, I wonder just like her strength as well from the steeplechase. Like, I feel like she, I don't know, there's honestly no science behind this, but I feel like she would be strong up the hills. Like, because if she's used to in like a 3k track race, every, what, like 150 meters jumping over a hurdle, even when things get like really hard, like I feel like you've got to be pretty strong to be able to do that.
able to do that.
all right. So, uh, let's go global ones to watch worldwide. Who, uh, who are you looking at?
are you looking at? At least they're going to make an interesting race. So one of these is Taigst Assefa. Um, she is from Ethiopia and she's our world record holder. I'm actually convincingly a world record holder. I think she broke it. Was it Berlin last year? Yes. Berlin. She, the world record was 214 something. She'd only run a few marathons. She's 27 years old. She ran 2. 11. She broke it by minutes and this is a world record that, yeah, it's just insane.
So she is, like, she is pretty much a favourite coming into this race, I would say.
a into this race, I would say. And middle distance, she does it all. So she's actually eligible and qualified to represent the Netherlands in the 5k, the 10k
10k
and the marathon.
she might run all
genuinely might run all which is kind of crazy. So she, she's the first person to medal at the 1500, 5k and 10k in the single championship. So in At the Olympics. Yep. So in Tokyo, she won the 5k,
the 10k.
the, yes, came third in the 15, then was like super disappointed that she came third. So then went on to run the 10k. and it's pretty funny, like her, she's a bit of a character. So her after she won the 10k, She, like in the interview, she said, from the beginning, I was really tired. I felt like I was sprinting. I was thinking about yesterday, the whole race, and I've never gone deep like that. But then she's somehow just come out and won, which is genuinely bananas.
She's also just a bit rogue. I feel like she's done some rogue things.
so rogue. So in the, in her, she's only run two marathons in her debut marathon, which was last year. So the 2023 London marathon, she was like yo yoing off the front pack heaps and like kept dropping off. And then she would like sprint to get back and then, yeah.
And then she actually like completely stopped twice to stretch her quad and like, On both of those occasions, the commentators have been like, okay, well, it looks like Saffron's out of the race and then she's just come back anyway, then she went on to actually win the race. Um, and yeah, a few, like six months later, she's gone on to win the 2023 Chicago marathon and also run the second fastest time in history. Winning it in 2. 13. 44.
Iconic. She's an icon. Very excited to watch her.
Icon. She's an icon. all right. So earlier we mentioned that we'd be chatting to Sinead. So we apologize in advance if the audio quality is subpar. Um, we, uh, were given the opportunity to interview her
interview her. In
In real life, she actually holds a cheeky t shirt, which I'm sure is probably framed in her living room. Yeah, I think it's actually the secret to her training.
she brought it over to Europe with her.
She's gonna wear it in the opening ceremony.
Can you just imagine for a second?
would die.
would die.
anyway, so yeah, so we're about to speak to Sinead. She, uh, as we've mentioned is the Australian record holder for the marathon. Also just a lovely human being. So we hope you enjoy this little chat because we did.
did. We sure did.
So, the marathon is such a mental event. Where does your mind go during a marathon? Yeah, I mean, It's so long. You have like so much time to think about things, but I find really that it's the first half of the marathon that's really mentally hard because you feel pretty good physically. Um, that's when I do all my thinking. But once I get to 30 K, all I'm thinking about is how sore everything is just getting to the next kilometer. Um, all of that.
So. The second half is more physical, like physically demanding. And then the first half I would think is more mentally demanding. Um, where does my mind go? I kind of like, before I start a race, um, my mind is everywhere. I'm really nervous, but once the gun goes, I get into race mode and I literally think about how my body is feeling. My next drink stopped coming up. Like my mind doesn't really wander.
Um, especially if I'm going well, if things aren't going well, then I start noticing like the road is uneven. I think I'm feeling a bit hot and everything starts to unravel a bit.
But in a good race, I try and stay as focused as I can and think only about like how I'm feeling and like, like keeping an eye on my pace and making sure I'm not going too fast or too slow and just getting into a rhythm and just kind of finding that line where you're going hard enough, but not too hard, comfortably hard, I guess. Yeah. Is there anything that you um, try to think of when like things Or if you're having a bad patch or just say it, not a bad, right.
Is there anything that you, um, sort of do to try to like get back? Yeah. I always remind myself like you, every marathon I've done, I've had a bad patch. Even when I broke the record and that seemed to go really well, I went through a bad patch and I always remind myself, um, you're going to come out of this. It's, it's not going to last for the entire race and just keep pushing through. And you do actually come out of it.
Sometimes it's just you like need another gel or a drink or something happens or you've just done another few Ks You're closer to the finish and that gives you a little boost and then you go I'm back I go or there's like a little downhill or something to kind of trigger you out of the bad patch Yeah, so I just remind myself that it is just a passion. It's it's not gonna be like this till the end of the race Yeah And what about before the race?
So you said, do you get nervous before the race, you know, really, even after years of doing it? Yeah, I get really nervous. Like the night before, I think is the worst time for me. Uh, just cause I know there's a whole night's sleep that I really want to get. And I know I very rarely sleep well the night before the race, but, um, at that stage, I'm just trying to like, even if I don't sleep, I just want to rest and make sure I'm not getting agitated.
I've kind of, like, made myself okay with not sleeping the night before the race. As long as I sleep well in the week in, it doesn't really make that much of a difference. Um, and then the morning of, I'm like, okay, that's the worst part over. Now it's like, get ready, make sure I eat, get to the start line, you're busy, you're doing things, yeah, warm up, and then you're, then you're there.
And once I start, uh, the nerves kind of go, and I, I'm in race mode, but Do you have any like things that you tell yourself before the race or that you kind of really like intentionally think of? Um, generally it's reminding myself like training has gone really well. You know, you haven't just suddenly become someone who can't run anymore. You can't, who can't run fast anymore because you always think, Oh my God, what if I, all of a sudden I can't I can't run 320s anymore.
But like, of course you can. And I just think back on training and take confidence from that really. Yeah. And what will you be thinking about, um, like the night before the morning of the Olympic marathon? Yeah, see that one's a whole other level of like pressure and expectation. So I'm gonna like have to be really mindful to enjoy the experience as well. And remember that I'm incredibly privileged to be in this position and I need to lap it up, enjoy it and get the best out of myself.
Life is no point. and getting stressed and worried and, you know, almost, um, setting yourself up for failure if you're going to let that consume you. So I'll have my family there and friends. So I know that they'll help me out. And like having Jen and Jess there as well, we're all in the same boat. Like we get on really well. So we'd be able to support each other. That'd be amazing. So when you look back at your career so far, uh, what are you most proud of?
Um, it would have to be, um, my last Olympics. So getting top 10, um, you know, it's always really nice to go fast and breaking the Australian record is really special, but top 10 at the Olympics, um, like nobody can kind of take that away from me. Somebody else can go and break the Australian record and go faster, but in a head to head race against the best women in the world, I came 10th and I'm like, that's probably the most special moment for me.
Um, a little bit of a random one, but if, what's your like number one running recommendation or like running hack just for like every or everyday runners? Uh, well, this might be a bit controversial, but I actually love listening to music. Yeah. And I've been told that that's really unprofessional. But if I forget my AirPods or I have like a little iPod that I listen to and listen to the radio and stuff, Which is really old fashioned. I've seen you around the lake.
Because it doesn't have Bluetooth, that's how old it is. But if I go for a run without it, I'm like, oh, it's actually kind of boring. If I don't have someone to talk to, um, I just need some other kind of entertainment. Unless it's a hard one, like, unless it's a training session or a threshold where I have to concentrate. But if I'm just going out for a run around the lake, I love to have something in my ears and listen. And you listen to the radio? Yeah, I'll just generally for music.
Yeah. So I'm kind of, uh, if I have my, uh, playlist set up on my watch, I'll listen to them and bring my AirPods, but I get fed up with the playlist that I have. So then I just need something new. Yeah. What, what kind of music's in your ears? Oh, like pop music. Yeah. And 80s, probably. Um, how has your relationship with writing changed over the course of your life? Um, I guess when I started, um, my goals were a lot different.
So I started out just for running, just for a way to keep fit and to meet people. Um, I just had my first baby and I was on maternity leave from work. Um, I was kind of on my own in the house. I wanted to go out and meet people. So that was the main reason I went and joined running club. Um, and then over the years, like three It's become more of a job, more serious, not that I love it any less, it's just a bit different. There's a lot more pressure now and a lot more expectation.
It's really nice to, um, be like up and coming and have no expectation. And people go, that was a great role. And then you're like, oh yeah, great. Whereas now it's like, oh, that was a shit role. Why didn't you, you know, and you, like, you have bad days and sometimes I feel like I have to justify and explain, you know, Why that is, whereas I would never have had that when I started out.
So, um, there's that added pressure, but then at the same time, I get all the benefits of like, I'm going to the Olympics or I'm going to world champs and you know, there's all these other benefits. So it's changed in that sense, I guess it's gone from something like a fun hobby to more of, well, this is kind of my job now. And yeah.
It's nice that you have those roots to come back to in terms of why you start, like, where do you go when you notice in your head that you're starting to like put that additional pressure on yourself and those expectations? Do you have something that you come back to in terms of like why you run?
Well, yeah, like I think of the alternative, like if I'm not going to do this, like, I'd be so sad that I wasn't going for a run because I even get nervous sometimes for training, like a hard training session, but I'm like, Oh, what do you want to like not go and stay at home? Yeah. It's like, no, like go enjoy it. And I always feel great afterwards. And it's kind of like a little bit of pain for them. A lot of gain after.
Yeah. Was there like a specific moment or like, what was the catalyst to sort of you thinking like, Oh, I could actually. Going from transitioning from a recreational runner and was there a moment where you were like actually I could Like pursue this professionally. Um, I think For me, it was probably when I ran Melbourne Marathon in 2018 and I broke the course record and on that day. It was like shocking day I was gonna say, wasn't it awful? Super windy.
Super windy and it was like warm and sticky and stuff. It was weird. So I ran 225 and I was like, all right, that's up there. And I know how they run Berlin or something. I could have run like 222 or 223. So I was like, all right, that's really, that's competitive. So I can do this. You could say that's competitive. So then I was like, all right, I need to knuckle down.
And then I was like, I need to like change groups and, you know, learn from other runners, elite runners who, and see what they do and just make little changes and make it more of a focus in my life rather than something I do on the side. Yeah. Yeah. I was going to say, how did that transition work? Because obviously you still, like you still have the family, I assume you still maybe were like working full time.
Yeah. So, um, yeah, when I started running, um, so I was working full time and like two young kids. Um, so that was really tough, but I was so keen and eager at the time. Like I didn't care getting up like at four or five in the morning, I was like, I'm going to get my training in. Um, and that, but the longer that went, it did become really difficult, but at the time I only trained once a day. So rather than, uh, with twice a day, I'm doing 180K.
Back then I was like once a day maybe doing 80 to 100k so it's like I'm doing a lot more now but I have a lot more, it's a lot more manageable now because the boys are older like Dara is 10 and Eddie's 14 so Eddie is like super independent now. Um, but also work are really flexible with me so after getting to the Olympics they're like oh we'd love to help you and I was like flexibility, I need flexibility and they're like yeah really. really good on that.
Um, so like I work part time now rather than full time. So, and I get to work from home. So it's just much more manageable. Yeah. Yeah. I do enjoy having something else that's like, I know obviously you have your family, but do you enjoy having like your work that you can sort of like get away from thinking about running in a sense? Definitely. Like, um, I think if I had too much time on my hands, I'd obsess over running too much.
Um, but So it's good to have work because I really need to focus on it. And it's good to have the boys because I need to focus on them and not be obsessing about my splits and training and not be stressing out over it. So that's actually really good. Having said that, it is really nice to have like time off from work. So, but I think it is good to have something outside of running, otherwise you get really obsessed or you can get really obsessive about it and that's not good.
Yeah, um, thank you so much. Yeah, thank you. Great chat. Thank you.
All right, let's get into some predictions for the marathon. we're going to do a prediction of the winner and we are also going to do, which Aussie we think will come first out of the Australians and maybe where we think they'll, they'll place.
Yeah, so who do you reckon is going to win?
Um, I feel like I can't not say Taigst. I just think she. Um, and she was so far ahead of the rest of the crew, I think what might, make it harder for her compared to some more experienced marathon runners is, as we've already said, it's going to be quite a strategic race. You're going to need to pace yourself, not go out too hard, and you need to be incredibly strong. And I think some marathon runners who have done dozens of marathons might be better placed to do that.
do that. However, she's
She's just so clearly the favorite in my mind.
Yeah. Yeah. Well, she's minutes ahead on paper ahead of everyone else. Yeah.
Who would you be going for? I'm
I'm going to go a bit rogue. I'm going to say Helen O'Berry from Kenya. she's got, her PB is a lot slower than the other girls. So, I mean, it's still, Ridiculously fast, but her PB is 221. 38, um, and she ran that at Boston marathon, which is a really hilly course. So, and she also won that race. So I reckon she's obviously, she's clearly really good at hills. so yeah, I'm going to back her in.
Love it. And
Aussie? I couldn't see it! to think you
it
I'm
I'm gonna say Jess. Yeah, and the reason I'm going to
The reason I think Jess is because I think her traject trajectory post childbirth has just been insane and I feel like she's really good at heels. She's also really good at running her own race. I feel like when some people may get caught up and like potentially go to fast, I feel like she's got like great self-awareness and she'll hold back and I feel like over the last 10 Ks she'll be picking up girls left, right, and center.
I can so see that.
Um, what about you? Huge.
I'm gonna go Jen. Huge. Yeah, huge. Well, I think, I mean, obviously we've said Sinead's the favourite. Her time is minutes faster.
Yeah.
However, to your point about trajectory, I feel like Jen's, I just don't know where her ceiling is. Like I, I think she's got so much more that she's capable of. To me, it sounded like hearing her talk about Valencia, it sounded like she could have gone faster, but she knew she was so comfortable within that time that she just, you know, played it safe. I think she's going to run really well in the heat and I think she's going to compete. I think she's going to get out there and.
In those final 10 K's where it's such a mind game. I just feel like she's so mentally tough.
just feel like she's so mentally tough. Um, so
so yeah, we are absolutely pumped for this race. If it's not, uh, obvious, Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Cheeky Olympic Armchair Experts series. Hope you now feel ready to go when it comes to supporting our Aussies in the marathon.
so exciting.
all. Woo! Woo!