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Road to Rio: Olympic marathon runner Jessica Trengove

12th May, 2016
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Olympic marathon runner Jess Trengove (photo: Marathon Photos)
Roar Guru
12th May, 2016
3
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Australian marathon runner and 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jessica Trengove has just been selected for her second Olympic Games.

Born and raised in Naracoorte in South Australia, 28-year-old Jess has a personal best time of 2:27:45 for the marathon. She will be one of three Australian female marathon runners in Rio, along with Lisa Weightman and Milly Clark.

She kindly took time out from her intensive Rio preparation to answer a few questions for us.

How did you become a marathon runner?
I grew up enjoying cross-country and Little Athletics. On sports day, I seemed to have most success in the longer races (800m and 1500m). Given that I felt more comfortable the longer the running distance was, 10km and half marathon distances seemed to be the natural progression. By 2011 my coach, Adam Didyk and I had a strong feeling that the marathon distance would become my pet event and we decided to set our sights on the London 2012 Olympic qualifying standard of 2.32.00.

You competed at the London Olympics. What are your fondest memories of that experience?
The celebrations in London with my family and friends after the race. My body was extremely fatigued but my mind was buzzing with excitement and happiness in the hours and days following. The race itself had such an incredible atmosphere with banners, flags, noise and people filling the streets of London.

I loved the Australian Olympic team spirit throughout the pre-Olympic camp and during the Games. Experiencing the Olympic Village for the first time and taking my Mum on a tour through it was another highlight.

What did winning the 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medal mean to you?
It was the result of a lot belief, patience and support from my family, coach, training group (Team Tempo), friends and my entire support team. A couple of set-backs in the lead up meant that my preparation was quite different to my other marathons, and I was a little apprehensive about how I would feel in the race.

The support from the Australians and locals out on course was unbelievable and fortunately it was one of those races where everything came together. It was a surreal feeling to run down the home straight with the realisation that I was about to win a medal for Australia.

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What would a typical week’s training be for you?
2-3 key running sessions involving fartlek, repetition, threshold or interval work. I tend to have a light jog at the opposite end of session days. On two days of the week I go for a longer run, which can be up to 2.5 hours in marathon preparation phase. Fridays and Mondays are jog days followed by the gym to work on specific strength and movement control.

What do you enjoy most about training?
I enjoy the sense of satisfaction from feeling stronger and fitter than the week before and knowing that I am getting closer to my goals. I also love spending time outdoors among nature, which is why I prefer running to indoor exercise.

What do you enjoy least about training?
I don’t enjoy training in the cold. Numb fingers and toes and a freezing nose don’t bring out the best in me and it’s a situation that I try to avoid if I can!

Do you train in a group, individually, or a combination of both?
I prefer to do my sessions and at least one of my long runs with a group. A lot of my other jogs are done solo. I love company but it is also nice sometimes to relax and let the mind go wandering.

How long before a marathon do you start tapering your training?
My coach, Adam, tends to start winding back my training volume 2-3 weeks before.

What do you think about during training and in a race?
I tend to focus on the task at hand in training sessions and shorter (5-10km) races. I take each repetition or kilometre as a separate challenge within the overall session, so as to not get too overwhelmed by the total distance.

In half and full marathons, I allow my mind to venture elsewhere for short periods, once I find my rhythm. However it is important to be able to quickly switch on again when necessary.

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How many pairs of running shoes do you go through?
3-4 pairs every couple of months, depending on my training volume. I rotate between two pairs of heavier shoes for jogging and two pairs of race flats for my sessions at any one time.

Are there any particular runners that you think will be especially tough competition in Rio?
I think my Aussie teammates will be tough competition, but I also think the three of us will all be able to help each other and bring out the best in ourselves on race day.

I haven’t looked too much into the other competitors at this stage but I would expect the Kenyan and Ethiopian runners to be strong competitors based on the history of the Olympic marathon.

“The wall”. Are there ways to get through it?
I recommend being smart with pacing, nutrition and hydration on race day. It is important to practice all three in training, to determine a strategy that works well and can be executed with confidence on race day. The physical training and preparation in the months leading up to a marathon also plays a big part in how you feel during the later stages of the race.

How long does it take your body to recover from a marathon?
After my first few marathons I had trouble jogging in the two weeks following, and I struggled to run at pace for up to six weeks. These days I tend to pull up a bit better and am generally able to start jogging after about a week. I believe that some time off is very important to allow the body and mind to recover.

How much of a marathon do you think is physical, and how much is mental?
In my opinion they are equally important. Without physical fitness, even the strongest mind would struggle to allow the body to cover 42.195km effectively. The fittest person would equally have trouble completing a marathon without the focus and discipline to conduct appropriate pacing, fuelling and hydration strategies.

In saying that, a lot of mental toughness is required to achieve peak physical conditioning, so it is unlikely that a fit person would not have a strong mind.
You are a physiotherapist by occupation. What motivated you to choose that line of work?

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I love learning about how the body works and also love working with people. These factors, along with my interest in motivating people to lead healthy and active lifestyles, has meant that physiotherapy is a great fit for me.

The knowledge I have gained in my profession certainly helps me to understand the principles of training and injuries, and to get more out of myself in my athletic pursuits.

Who is your favourite ever marathon runner?
I admire all marathon runners but have particularly been inspired by Kerryn McCann’s Melbourne Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2006, Benita Willis’ Australian marathon record (2:22:36), and the careers of Steve Moneghetti and Rob De Castella.

I find Australia’s marathon history fascinating and am inspired to be the best I can be for my country.

For the average runner who may be contemplating doing their first ever marathon, what advice would you give them?
I recommend having a plan (i.e. an online marathon training program or personal coach). Building up slowly is key and I suggest setting short term goals in the lead-up to the major goal.

What other sports did you play growing up?
I particularly loved netball throughout my childhood and played until I was 21 years old. Naracoorte is a very sporting community and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play a number of sports, including basketball and tennis, as well as Little Athletics and swimming.

Your brother Jack plays for the Melbourne Demons AFL team and your sister Abbie has represented South Australia in rowing. Where do you think the family talent comes from?
I think it comes from a hard work ethic and a love for sport, which was instilled in the three of us from the day we were born!

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What is your favourite “non athletics” sport to watch?
AFL football – supporting my brother Jack and the Melbourne Demons. I also love watching athletics (naturally), basketball and tennis.

Who is your favourite “non athletics” sportsperson and why?
Amy Cure – she was raised in the town of Penguin (Tasmania) but has lived with my parents since 2012 and trains with the Australian Track Cycling team. I find her determination, positive attitude, generosity, kindness and thoughtful character very inspiring and I love the way she puts a smile on the face of anyone she meets.

What is your favourite food?
Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day. Banana pancakes or warm porridge with berries and yoghurt feature very regularly on my morning menu. Poached eggs with toasted sourdough and field mushrooms is another favourite. I also love almost any meal involving seafood, sweet potato or mango.

What is your favourite drink?
I am a big fan of quality cappuccinos and Mojo Kombucha. I also enjoy a good red wine.

What is your favourite TV show?
I don’t really follow any TV shows but I do enjoy watching sport on TV – particularly during the winter when rugged up on the couch.

What is your favourite movie?
My all-time favourite would have to be Notting Hill. I recently enjoyed watching Eddie the Eagle at the cinema. I also love the Disney movies from my childhood and enjoy pulling out The Lion King or the like every now and again to reminisce.

What is the best book you have ever read?
I have read a lot of great books. Open by Andre Agassi is a bit of a stand-out. I also found Jessica Ennis-Hill and Cathy Freeman’s autobiographies very inspiring. The Lost Boys of Sudan by Lopez Lomong and Running: Through the Looking Glass were other recent great reads.

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What type of music do you like to listen to and do you have any favourite artists/bands?
I am pretty happy listening to any tune that has a good beat or that reminds me of good times. Avicii, Ellie Goulding and Taylor Swift have some great songs. I am also a bit of an 80’s music fan.

What do like to do to relax?
I love hitting up a good café or restaurant with friends. Painting, drawing and spending time outdoors are other ways I like to spend my spare time.

What is your favourite holiday destination?
This is a very tough question. I have loved exploring Europe and there is still so much that I hope to see. The Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre and Tuscany in Italy, as well as Germany and Switzerland were very spectacular. I also enjoy the relaxed lifestyle and climate in Thailand and northern Bali.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank for getting you to this point in your career?
My family have given me their whole-hearted support and have inspired me to chase my dreams from the day I was born. My coach Adam Didyk encouraged me to pursue running and to keep raising the bar. He has played a huge role in my running career to date, as have my training partners at Team Tempo. My partner, Dylan Stenson is a huge support to me in every aspect of life. He makes me laugh, inspires me to dream big and helps me to get the most out of every day and situation.

I also have a lot to thank my friends for and love the time we spend together. The team of health professionals who help to keep me on track, ASICS, Athletics Australia, the South Australian Sports Institute, the McGregor family, Bupa, Mojo Kombucha, the Adelaide Eye and Laser Centre, Naracoorte Toyota, Walter Brooke Architects, Garmin and Oakley have all provided support in one way or another for which I am also very grateful.

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