I Have Sponsors Now! (Cue the Confetti!!)

Yes attention please as I have an announcement to make!

I would like to introduce you to my new sponsors: AMO and Energia Sports.  (Cue confetti!*) I am so thankful to have these major triathlon brands on the support crew. Both have already been a major help for me and I'm excited to work with them. So I'll just give you some info on these amazing brands!

AMO or Advanced Multisport Optics 

" Made for Athletes That Sweat" 

Athletes that achieve are athletes that work hard through the pain, SWEAT and tears. AMO design the best multi-sport sunglasses on the market. Made by athletes, for athletes. They understand that we triathletes want sunglasses that not only look 10/10 amazing but are light, flexible, durable and adaptable. What's even better, that most of us just dismiss, is that the sunglasses block 100% of the UVA and UVB rays from the sun. Being based in Brisbane and absolutely dying from this blistering summer heat I find this an amazing feature. 
The AMO story is a personal journey that triathlete Tim Hallworth embarked on in 2012 to right a wrong in the choice of sports sunglasses that multi-sports athletes were faced with. He found that there was no single sports sunglasses product that met all of the needs of athletes and along with his lovely wife Fenny, they are set about correcting it. Go Team AMO!  

For more info on their story and fantastic sunglasses range move that mouse pointer to this link here: http://www.amosunglasses.com/shop/all-sunglasses
or to watch the secret to the sport sunglasses fit here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcMaWmL0gB4

Energia Sports 

Energia Sports is an online triathlon store with everything from tri-suits to compression socks and  from the latest Garmin watches to top of the range in sports nutrition.  Run by triathletes themselves, Energia sports understand the importance of all having all the accessories that come with triathlons. For example, there is a wide variety of compression socks and calf sleeves to choose from. I don't care that calf sleeves aren't yet 'fashionable,' I will still wear them in public because I actually want to be able to move the next day! Also there is a range of Shotz and TORQ gels, powders and bars so you can stay nourished during the long sessions. Easy to shop, easy to buy, super quick delivery and 100% guaranteed satisfaction. Swim, Bike and Run with Energia Sports!!

To check out their amazing range of triathlons necessities and accessories then click on the link below.... go click now!!
http://www.energiasports.com.au/main.sc

Kaitlyn's  9 Sponsor Tips because she couldn't think of 10!  

For anyone out there looking for sponsorship here is my advice:
1. write a resume and cover letter. (get your coach, parents and friends to check it)
2. get in contact with brands you know and trust. Email them, or do what I did and go down to race festivals and meet them face to face.
3. follow up. ALWAYS FOLLOW UP. don't let them forget you.
4. be unique and stand out postively. do you have a youtube channel? blog?
5. let them know what you can do for them. not the other way around!! google: ROI
6. stay in contact. easy: social media, email. race reports. duh!
7. only represent that brand. for example I'm now with AMO, therefore you will not see me with Oakley sunnies. #teamAMO #sorryOakley
8. sponsorship generally is a legal contract so read all the fine print and understand what you are required to do before you sign.
9. Don't slander the brand. Don't be stupid. simple.  


Now to clean up the confetti... 

Surviving Dentistry 101

Well that’s it, my first year of dental technology is finally done. I can't believe how much fun it was! I have many good memories with some truly amazing people and so many side-splittingly hilarious stories to tell. I have to admit although exams period was difficult, it was the period where all the laughter came from. Staying overnight in the library junked up on caffeine and kebabs did turn us into crazed dental techs.

We are crazy to begin with anyway. Dental technology is different to Dental Science. I learn to make the prosthetic appliances. So I make complete and partial dentures, crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, mouthguards, implants, and more. I work with the dentists to create an appliance for the patient to fix their smile and their overall wellbeing. Eventually I want go into the field of implant dentistry. So basically, I like teeth and I can handle blood. Just imagine creating a tooth implant where the dentist has to cut open the gums and place a titanium screw into the bone. Lots of blood. Cool aye!

This year we focussed mainly on producing complete dentures for edentulous (toothless) patients. Some technicians can do it in a couple of hours, me...a week. But it’s a deathly practice! I seriously don’t know how I survived lab! There are dangerous equipment around! The wax knifes and scalpels may be small but they cut pretty deep, as I found out on more than one occasion. I also discovered that molten wax burns and stains.  Also that if you use a flame torch to heat up a small piece of wire, then attempt to pick up that piece of wire. You WILL burn your fingers badly and have to sit under a running tap getting laughed at for 20mins. Experience is the best but most cruel teacher of all.

Eat Street Markets



Isabelle and I making dentures. #ebolasafe

I’m so happy with the amazing friends I’ve made this year. Being the youngest person in the whole of dentistry this year is pretty scary. All of my friends are 20+, in long term relationships, moved out and thinking of kids! Meanwhile I’m like: I wonder what I’ll have for breakfast tomorrow.  They were able to take me under their wing and teach me how to stand on my feet in uni. It’s different to highschool, teachers spoon feed you from a silver platter. Uni lecturers give you material. It’s up to you to make the effort. Together we made a lot of good memories. I participated in the Griffith Uni Dental Students Association (GUDSA) touch tournament where I got MVP and the wooden spoon. I was able to interact with the other dental students in all years and I made more friends.

We would occasionally do group study dates before exams- especially Oral Biology. Dental histology and anatomy made me want to hit my head against a wall...multiple times. The simple acronyms we cause up with for learning the cranial nerve branches actually saved me in the exams. I must say that having friends with such different nationalities is so much fun. I've tried jellyfish sushi, pho, curried fish balls, cronuts, afghan lollies and so much more! I went to a true Taiwanese food festival and I had a proper Vietnamese dinner at a friend's house. It feels so good to learn things from a different perspective; to learn different cultures and languages and political views from various people. I'm so pleased to have shared these wonderful experiences with such amazing people!    

The Mutliple Scoregasms!! We lost every game but won in team spirit!

Juggling uni with triathlons is not easy, especially with the path I’m going down. But for me education has always been one up from sport. I’ve seen many athletes amount to great things then retire to nothing, all because they chose sport over anything else. I finish this degree in 3 years so I’ll be 19. I’ll work for a year then I am able to begin my Masters which runs for 3 years part time. By the time I finish that I’ll be 23. The top female triathletes range between 25-35. Andrea Hewitt is 32, Gwen Jorgenson is 28, Emma Moffat is 30! I have so much time to develop my skills to get to the level I want to. Once I’ve done my degrees and have money under my belt then I can focus solely on triathlons. So by the time I’m ready to call it quits I’ll have a career to fall back to. Only a selected few can live off triathlon- I don’t advising on risking it.  

GUDSA Touch Tournament 2014 Got the Wooden Spoon!

I’m happy with what I am doing. It’s a struggle sometimes but that’s just life. Great things in life don’t come easily. I am so excited for this 3 month break. Not only do I have time for activities but I will be turning 18 in a month! (longest wait of my life). I can also improve on my swimming, catch up with old friends, read a book other than dental textbooks and SLEEP! I can actually take proper naps during the day and not have a single care in the world. #napsshouldbecomplusory  Bring on the holiday celebrations!!!!

Things I learnt in my first year of uni:

1.   Group study is awesome. Only if you are with the right people and in a group no more than 5 or 6.

2.   Nothing is ever straight forward. Question everything...

3.   Don’t fall asleep during lectures. People will take photos and post them online. Even if your friends say they won’t.

4.   Don’t study on bean bags- they are too comfortable and you will fall asleep and again people will take photos and post it online. Look up Sleeping @ Griffith on Facebook for more info.

5.   3 hour lectures at 8am are horrible. Pack a big lunch for those days.

6.   Don’t eat before going into an anatomy lab to look at cadavers.

7.   Sushi is hands down amazing! It’s cheap and healthy- what a bonus!

8.   Iced Macha lattes- iced green tea lattes on almond milk are just to die for. And it’s healthy caffeine! #goorganic

9.   Uni students drink a lot of alcohol – especially at toga parties.

10. Learn to save because you will be poor. Ask yourself: do you really need that shirt? Can you buy it online? Can you wear it multiple times in a row?  

11. If a lecturer mentions something than 3 times then you will most likely be tested on it.    

12.  Pjs, sweatpants, no bra and onesies are totally acceptable at uni. Rock it girlfraand!

13. If you can’t pronounce it- make it up. #sphenoid boing

14.  The cops on the M1 southbound are at Logan (under the bridge after Beenleigh exit), Coomera (just before and just after Dreamworld) and coming off Smith Street motorway on M1 Northbound. Drive safe kiddies.

15.    If you don’t know what to write in an exam long answer question- grossly elaborate on what you do know and curse yourself for skipping it because you thought ‘he won’t put this on the exam.’ Expect the unexpected!

16.  Do whatever you want to do, be whatever you want to be- just don’t be an asshole. (Life lessons from my good friend Isabelle)

 

Volunteering at the colour run is better than running it.

This one time I partied too hard with school friends at another uni. QUT #togaparty 2014. ready for round 2 2015!

Photography skills level: expert. Denture made before trim and polish 

Our entertainment during our 1 hour lunch breaks.

Injection method when processing a denture

 

Australian National and Oceania Duathlon Championship

Racing is pain. That's why you do it. To challenge yourself and the limits of your physical and mental barriers. You don't experience that in an arm chair watching TV.          - Mark Allen (6 time Ironman Champion)

Speaking of pain, I am feeling it's never ending burning ache right now as I write to you the events of the past weekend. On Sunday I competed in the Australian National duathlon champs in Adelaide. Which is the host city for the World Duathlon Champs in 2015! In a last minute decision I was brought up from the 16-19 age group into the ITU junior elite category. This was a huge leap for me! My first ever ITU race run by Triathlon Australia!! That leap couldn't have gone any smoother. 

Pfft, (insert chuckle), I was lucky enough to be allowed to race let alone come away with a 2nd in Australia, 3rd Oceania for junior elites and 5th overall. Even got some chocolates and prize money! 

I had to overcome a series of small problems in order to achieve that result. Firstly, coming from age group to elites I should have read the rules a little better. I did not have an ITU compliant suit. (It's currently in the works and won't arrive until December). The technical officials didn't have a blank suit for me to use. So thankfully, after some lengthy discussions between my coach Cath and the TO's and nervous pacing on my behalf, they allowed me to race in my club suit which is mostly compliant! It is just missing the ITU logo. (They wouldn't let me draw it on). 

Secondly, I had a slight problem with the brakes and my race wheels on my bike. So as soon as I got to the apartment I was lucky enough to find an Avanti Bike Store less than 200m down the road. 

* if your down in Unley, Adelaide, check them out! They found the time to slot me in and do a quick service. They helped me out so much for a great price! * 

Thirdly, my bike still wasn't completely ITU compliant as the seat was a few centimetres forward, similar to a time trial bike. Once again, thankfully Tyler (training partner and Yellow jersey bike mechanic) was able to quickly adjust the seat. 

Fourthly and lastly, I had to deal with the heat. The race was set to start at 12pm. The heat of the day!! Adelaide turned up the furnace with blistering 31degree dry and windy conditions! 

Although there were hiccups, I'm glad they happened. I'm also glad they happened without my coach present. She would have helped me but being so far away I had to learn to control my emotions, think positively and get the job done. I drew encouragement from it. I could have easily broken down in tears and pulled out. But this race is something I really wanted to do. I want to go to Worlds for elites so I knew I had to suck it up and get moving! You can only control what can be controlled. I couldn't control the weather or my competitors. But I could control how much effort I put in and how I was going to perform on the day. 

About the race. 

I admit, I was NERVOUS leading up to the start. The girls around me looked fast and fierce. We started off at a hot pace, but our mouth quickly went dry and our breathing turned laboured and coarse. I drank and poured water on myself at both stations. It was a 2 lap run. After a lap I wasn't able to hang onto the top girls and was left on my own in 6th place heading into the 4 lap bike. 

After a lap I was caught by 7th female and we worked together. The bike course was bumpy and there was one massive hill. But what goes up must come down and I definitely enjoyed drafting down that hill. 5th female dropped out and we caught 4th female on the last lap. She was cramping bad and as I was heading up that hill for the last time I began cramping in my calves. I tried to drink and stretch while I was on the back of the pack leading into transition. 

The last run was between myself and a competitor from WA. It was only 1 lap so I knew I had to try break away early. I tried but she hung on. I tried to surge again and this time my hamstrings started to cramp. I could feel the vomit at the back of my throat. Now was not the time to blow pasta chunks everywhere! I was in medal position for junior elites and I wanted 2nd not 3rd! Unfortunately, she got the gap on me and I finished with 3rd. But don't get me wrong, I am estatic with that result!! 3rd in Australia... (@&#! *Insert happy dance).

This weekend was a valuable experience. Not only did I learn a lot of lessons but it is the first time travelling without family. I am so glad I had my friend Clare to support me. It was a great bonding experience. She competed as well and did amazing!! 4th in the very competitive 25-29 age group for standard distance. 10km run/40km bike/5km run to do that distance is insane! So proud of her! I am also happy for Tyler who worked so hard in the junior elite men. He never gave up and fought on strong. It was a tough field and he did very well. Thankyou Tyler also for helping me out. He is experienced in ITU regulated races so he was patiently able to answer my continuous roll of questions. 

A huge thank you to the technical officials who did an amazing job! I got to know them all fairly well while waiting to hear confirmation on my race status. 

Also thanks to Cath, Greg and the whole Vision Crew for their wonderful support! 

A special thank you to Kelly and Mike Allan who kept a watchful eye over me and their words of encouragement during the tough times. Your support was greatly appreciated! 

It just goes to show that if you stay calm, control the controllable and trust in your abilities, then the results will show. I will now get back to ridding my body of this never ending burning ache. 

Foam Roller, where you hiding at?? 

Enjoy the photos! 

 



Beautiful morning in Elder Park, Adelaide

Photo Cred: Clare White Photography

Small tapering ride the day before. Practiced my mounts and dismount and no hand skills. I can now successfully take a selfie whilst riding a bike.

Clare finishing her race. Looking good as always!

Talent ID Sprint and Moreton Bay Tri

All of our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them

- Walt Disney.

One day I want to be a professional triathlete. But to do that I have to overcome my insane fear of jellyfish. Over the weekend I competed in the Triathlon QLD Talent ID Sprint and the Moreton Bay Sprint distance triathlon. The Talent ID is for ITU junior athletes for selection into the Talent Squad. It is two races, 30mins apart- 300m swim, 6km bike, 1.5km run. Short and sweet. Or so I originally thought.. That Saturday I was mentally pushed to the limits.
As I walked down the beach to the race briefing I spotted over 20 jellyfish washed ashore. Jellyfish are my worst nightmare.

A quick backstory..

I competed in a small Gatorade Tri Series race at Raby Bay a few years ago. It was just after king tides flooded the harbour. As I was swimming suddenly a blue jellyfish covered the right side of my face and slid down my neck. I had never been stung by a jellyfish before. It felt like a thousand hot knives piercing my skin!! I started to panic but kept swimming. Then again I swam through another pod of jellyfish! I was stung again! I began freaking out even more and eventually was pulled out of the swim, puffy and numb.

Everyone gets stung but I had created an intense fear of jellyfish over the years that I started to panic before the race briefing even started! I was so glad my coach was there to calm me down. She made it clear that if I want to get to where I want to go, I must overcome my fears.

I pulled myself together, got in the water and swam my little heart out! Ironically, I managed to avoid all jellyfish! I think closing my eyes and only opening to sight helped a little.. Unfortunately for me, that time I spent panicking, drained me physically. I got onto the bike exhausted. After a small break, some energy boosters and a cup of concerte I got back out to the start line again for race 2.

There was a competitive field in the junior women with plenty of young talent and also a couple of great triathletes. Emma Jackson, Gillian Backhause and Youth Olympic Games Gold Medallist Brittany Dutton. It is a good indicator to see how you stack up against the big leagues (or see how far off you are). 10th overall so I'm happy with my first hit out of the season. More to come!

 

Sunday was the day I was pushed physically. After two high intensity races I had to prove myself and back up for a full sprint distance race. The night before I spent a few hours massaging and rolling out my muscles. (My roller has become my new best friend). I then cooked myself my usual pasta with vegetables and drank a good 2L of water. In the morning I felt fired up and ready to race!

Most of the Vision crew were in teams going head to head. They started 3mins after my wave! I could not have the coaches' team catch me, or any of the Vision crew for that matter! That was definitely a good motivator for me. Greg, (annoyingly) caught me in the last turn around on the bike, but I made sure he didn't get far. I went onto the run with Cath two seconds ahead. I refused to let her beat me so I surged past, (ok.. it was more like a full sprint past), put a few other competitors inbetween us and held a consistent pace over the 5km. Luckily, I held them all out.

Overall I was a fantastic weekend of racing. Thanks to Cath and Greg for helping me overcome my fear of jellies. Thanks to all the Vision teams for pushing me through the race and all the support from the crew. Now it's time to prepare for the National Duathlon Champs in Adelaide.

KAITLYN     1       JELLYFISH    0

Triathlon Queensland State Development Camp

The TQ Development Squad. Where's Wally?

Over the past weekend I was lucky enough to attend the Triathlon Queensland State Development Camp and what a weekend it was! Action packed with mini races, skill work, inspirational speeches from incredible professional athletes and the occasional game of cards.

 

The camp was held at Runaway Bay Sports Centre, Gold Coast and there were approximately 100 athletes (13-18yo) attending. This camp for me was a good indicator to see how I am progressing and where I stand in comparison to my competition. It was great to be commended by other coaches on how well I did the bike and run legs and I soon built a good reputation in the camp as 'that fast chick on the bike, according to the youth athletes.

 

However, the parts that I took away most were from listening to the professional athletes such as Sam Betten (Ironman and Triathlon Long Course Champion), Steve Rooney (Time Trial champion), John Wayne Parr (10 time Thai Boxing World Champion) and (World U23 Duathlon Champion and former Vision Tri Club athlete) Gillian Backhause. They spoke passionately about education, what it means to be a professional athlete, overcoming disappointments and how to get sponsors. The thing I learnt most was that you need to create a good support network. Luckily, I already have the fantastic coaches at Vision Tri Club behind me 100%, but this camp helped me to extend my network and connect with other athletes and coaches. I built a good reputation which hopefully will help me later in life with sponsors and ambassadorships.

 

I loved the amazing support I got from my fellow junior Vision athletes. We worked together, supported each other, and motivated each other to do better. I think it really showed to whoever was watching and my coaches were very pleased with the way we displayed such professionalism and maturity.

 

I am so motivated now, race season is just around the corner! In two weeks I will be competing in the ITU Junior Moreton Bay Sprint Weekend and then a week after that I will be travelling to Adelaide to compete in the Australian National Duathlon Championship. So pumped to get out and show my skills. The hard work and long hours are starting to pay off.

 

I would like to thank Triathlon QLD for organising that fantastic camp. I will definitely be attending next year! Also thankyou to all the technical officials, coaches and the Vision Tri Club. Lastly, an extended thankyou to Steve Rooney, Gillian Backhause and Sam Betten for taking the time to talk to me afterwards, your words of wisdom were much appreciated!        

The Vision Crew with World U23 Champion Gillian Backhause. Me on the left kneeling.