Page 27 - Inspire Health July/August 2016
P. 27
took me a while before I realized having to peak again a few months later in “Like a lot of people who compete
that being a windmill was not the right the Olympics, I have had less anxiety. I’ve in college athletics, I wanted the athletic
way to do the backstroke,” said Sarah had the time to strengthen my strengths challenge that extended beyond
my four years of being a collegiate
Groff True, recalling one of her first and work on weaknesses, changing the swimmer,” she explained. “Triathlons
were gaining popularity because of
athletic competitions. way I’ve trained mentally and physically.” the challenges involved and, although
I had done them for fun, I did not take
Today, that young swimmer is a “When I qualified for the London them seriously. However, I knew I could
swim, I knew I had to learn something
mature professional athlete heading to Olympics in 2012, I was elated about about biking and I knew that running
was straightforward.” For True, doing
the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She just being able to compete at such a high more triathlons was a good way to keep
competing at a higher level.
not only knows the right form for the level,” she continued. “Now I understand
It turned out that True was more
backstroke, but she is a world champion the stresses associated with competing than “pretty good” as a triathlete and
after a few years what had started
swimmer, runner and cyclist. Sarah True as an Olympian.” as a post‑college diversion became a
profession. “The mix of three sports
is a triathlete and a medal contender. For triathletes, cross training is daily. keeps the event dynamic and exciting,”
she said. “My love for the sport is just
One of only Although her as great or more today as it was when I
first started competing. Striking the right
a handful of focus may be on balance among all three activities while
being reactive to how others perform
female athletes running one day
really keeps me on my toes. It goes back
to qualify for and and biking the next, to balance and transition.” So much of
sport is psychological — the mindfulness
secure a position True incorporates and awareness of that each competitive
sport in the moment. Like many other
on the United swimming, biking areas of life, you have to balance the
present while also being prepared for
States Olympic and running into her what is ahead. “I am so lucky to be able
to do this. I’ve had an incredible run,” she
Team a year in three or four sessions continued. “To be an Olympian is to be
at the pinnacle of your sport.”
advance, True is each day, dedicating
True further explained that in a
ready to step up a minimum of five regular triathlon you have a fairly limited
audience, but at the Olympics your sport
to the podium hours to her sport. is in the global spotlight, especially for
triathletes. For example, at the London
for the medal “I change clothes Olympics, there were a few free events
that the public could attend. But when
ceremonies. Four at least three times it comes to road races, cycling and
triathlons, the public can always see a
years ago, she a day. I do a lot of part of the competition for free. “To run
through Hyde Park and hear 100,000
missed that climb laundry and take a lot screaming, cheering people is exciting
as you acknowledge both the global
by 10 seconds, of showers,” she said. presence and the pressure,” she said.
taking fourth Imagine the When you listen to the cheering crowds
in Rio this summer, you will hear the crowd
place. Although 10 As she heads out of the water, True is amount of calories pulling for True. Make sure to watch for
seconds may seem preparing her strategy for the cycling True burns in just her on the podium. She is ready.
like a fingertip loss portion of the competition. one training session.
in some races, Imagine how much
for triathletes 10 seconds is a long time. she needs to eat to maintain an elite
“We’re talking about a sport in which athletic body. “The caloric intake for
a winning difference comes down to most people in a regular meal is a snack
whether you put your bike helmet on in 2 for me,” she said smiling, noting that she
seconds or 1 second. Or take 2 seconds eats five to six mini‑meals a day while
to take off your wetsuit rather than 3,” training. Healthy meals, that is.
explained True, who is an expert in gliding True and her husband Ben, an elite
into already‑tied running shoes when she runner and Olympic contender as well,
moves into that final third of the triathlon. follow a diet based on whole foods with
Triathletes compete in a continuous an emphasis on seasonal offerings and not
race to the finish line beginning with a much meat. Refueling throughout the day
1500‑meter swim, followed by a 40K bike with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts
race and ending with a 10K run. The ability and healthy fats is essential to the Trues’
to finesse the transition from one sport to at‑home and on‑the‑road diet.
another is as important as maintaining the An All‑American swimmer, True has
stamina to perform in all three events. a stronger edge in the triathlon’s water
“It was a relief to qualify early as it has event. “If there is a breakaway opportunity
given me more time to structure my in swimming, I will be there,” she said. Not
training and do my best without the worry realizing her multi‑talents until after college
and pressure of qualifying,” True said. graduation, True described herself as
“Instead of peaking to qualify and then “pretty good” in all three triathlon sports.
JULY | AUGUST 2016 INSPIRE HEALTH 27
that being a windmill was not the right the Olympics, I have had less anxiety. I’ve in college athletics, I wanted the athletic
way to do the backstroke,” said Sarah had the time to strengthen my strengths challenge that extended beyond
my four years of being a collegiate
Groff True, recalling one of her first and work on weaknesses, changing the swimmer,” she explained. “Triathlons
were gaining popularity because of
athletic competitions. way I’ve trained mentally and physically.” the challenges involved and, although
I had done them for fun, I did not take
Today, that young swimmer is a “When I qualified for the London them seriously. However, I knew I could
swim, I knew I had to learn something
mature professional athlete heading to Olympics in 2012, I was elated about about biking and I knew that running
was straightforward.” For True, doing
the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She just being able to compete at such a high more triathlons was a good way to keep
competing at a higher level.
not only knows the right form for the level,” she continued. “Now I understand
It turned out that True was more
backstroke, but she is a world champion the stresses associated with competing than “pretty good” as a triathlete and
after a few years what had started
swimmer, runner and cyclist. Sarah True as an Olympian.” as a post‑college diversion became a
profession. “The mix of three sports
is a triathlete and a medal contender. For triathletes, cross training is daily. keeps the event dynamic and exciting,”
she said. “My love for the sport is just
One of only Although her as great or more today as it was when I
first started competing. Striking the right
a handful of focus may be on balance among all three activities while
being reactive to how others perform
female athletes running one day
really keeps me on my toes. It goes back
to qualify for and and biking the next, to balance and transition.” So much of
sport is psychological — the mindfulness
secure a position True incorporates and awareness of that each competitive
sport in the moment. Like many other
on the United swimming, biking areas of life, you have to balance the
present while also being prepared for
States Olympic and running into her what is ahead. “I am so lucky to be able
to do this. I’ve had an incredible run,” she
Team a year in three or four sessions continued. “To be an Olympian is to be
at the pinnacle of your sport.”
advance, True is each day, dedicating
True further explained that in a
ready to step up a minimum of five regular triathlon you have a fairly limited
audience, but at the Olympics your sport
to the podium hours to her sport. is in the global spotlight, especially for
triathletes. For example, at the London
for the medal “I change clothes Olympics, there were a few free events
that the public could attend. But when
ceremonies. Four at least three times it comes to road races, cycling and
triathlons, the public can always see a
years ago, she a day. I do a lot of part of the competition for free. “To run
through Hyde Park and hear 100,000
missed that climb laundry and take a lot screaming, cheering people is exciting
as you acknowledge both the global
by 10 seconds, of showers,” she said. presence and the pressure,” she said.
taking fourth Imagine the When you listen to the cheering crowds
in Rio this summer, you will hear the crowd
place. Although 10 As she heads out of the water, True is amount of calories pulling for True. Make sure to watch for
seconds may seem preparing her strategy for the cycling True burns in just her on the podium. She is ready.
like a fingertip loss portion of the competition. one training session.
in some races, Imagine how much
for triathletes 10 seconds is a long time. she needs to eat to maintain an elite
“We’re talking about a sport in which athletic body. “The caloric intake for
a winning difference comes down to most people in a regular meal is a snack
whether you put your bike helmet on in 2 for me,” she said smiling, noting that she
seconds or 1 second. Or take 2 seconds eats five to six mini‑meals a day while
to take off your wetsuit rather than 3,” training. Healthy meals, that is.
explained True, who is an expert in gliding True and her husband Ben, an elite
into already‑tied running shoes when she runner and Olympic contender as well,
moves into that final third of the triathlon. follow a diet based on whole foods with
Triathletes compete in a continuous an emphasis on seasonal offerings and not
race to the finish line beginning with a much meat. Refueling throughout the day
1500‑meter swim, followed by a 40K bike with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts
race and ending with a 10K run. The ability and healthy fats is essential to the Trues’
to finesse the transition from one sport to at‑home and on‑the‑road diet.
another is as important as maintaining the An All‑American swimmer, True has
stamina to perform in all three events. a stronger edge in the triathlon’s water
“It was a relief to qualify early as it has event. “If there is a breakaway opportunity
given me more time to structure my in swimming, I will be there,” she said. Not
training and do my best without the worry realizing her multi‑talents until after college
and pressure of qualifying,” True said. graduation, True described herself as
“Instead of peaking to qualify and then “pretty good” in all three triathlon sports.
JULY | AUGUST 2016 INSPIRE HEALTH 27
