the latest goings on with charlie paul

Hi everyone

Where has the time gone?

I can’t believe I’m now the proud Mum of a 15 month old boy, Mack Paul Manietta. He’s an absolute handful, full of beans, breaks my heart and gives me so much pleasure. I honestly didn’t know I could or would love someone this much.

My first year of motherhood was probably the most challenging year of my life. And yet at the same time the most rewarding. It was also from labour onwards, incredibly humbling.

Starting with the birth- I thought if I can race an Ironman 23 times, not exactly a common feat, then surely I can do something that all women do. I have confidence in my body, or rather physical ability- its the one thing I do have confidence in. I wanted a natural birth right down to birthing my baby myself. But for several reasons it didn’t work out that way, and after 22 hours of labour Mack was born via C-Section. I was quite devastated to have gone through major surgery and to feel like my body had let me down. But I had a healthy beautiful baby boy, and if only I’d realized the challenges that were all about to begin!- The birth was a mere blip!

On a side note – I’ve since been told that athletes birth incredibly badly- muscles are too tight to let go of the baby! And I do know several Ironman athletes who’ve had bad experiences. But not all.

I’ve had experience as a Mother’s help…I’ve been around relative’s babies…I knew they were full time…, but this is full time and then some! Motherhood is 24/7. I thought they were supposed to sleep in their prams and I could stroll around the neighborhood proudly pushing my bundle of joy?? I thought “we” were having a baby, not “me”! I thought they’d wake in the night but every 1.5 hours! Really?? I knew they liked their Mums- but surely Daddy can be substitute every now and then?

Such a big shock to the system and has taken a long time to adjust to. No super-Mum back into training for me. It took me a few months to start running again and consistency has taken even longer- I still struggle. I’ve always been a big fan of sleep and sleep deprivation for me is akin to torture.

So after months of torture our little Mister is becoming a better sleeper and I do get enough sleep these days, and hence the running has begun again. I have my run mojo back and am really enjoying the freedom of the open road! Actually the “open treadmill”:) So handy to jump on the treadmill in the garage once the little Mister is asleep in the evening.

So I’m going to sign off for now- fearing this may not be posted otherwise:)

As always thanks for reading.

Charlotte

Hello everyone.

All my awesome intentions to keep you all up to date with what it’s like to go from full time athlete to spectator and soon-to-be Mum, have fallen by the way-side…

I’ve done as much traveling over the last 6 months as I did last year as an athlete- but harder work! Trigger Point Performance Therapy Australia (my husband and my business) has really taken off. It’s been perfect timing with my lack of training and racing commitments. But alas I have neglected this blog…

For those who subscribed to my newsletter “Charlie Talks” I’m sorry to say it died a very quick death. It took too much time, that I just didn’t have. I encourage you to instead sign up to the TriSpecific newsletter which I also write for. My husband Kristian Manietta is TriSpecific’s Head Coach and founder. It is everything triathlon, and an absolutely fantastic source of “not your typical” information! You can sign up here… www.trispecific.com .

So with all that out of the way…

I am days away from becoming a Mum. I’m very excited! It’s a wierd situation- I’m prepping for an event with a shifting start date! My “kit” bag is packed- just like race morning, and I’m just waiting for the signal to start! Hopefully I’ll be able to post some good news soon…

What have I been doing exercise- wise? It’s been in fits and starts with all the traveling. When I’ve been in the one spot I’ve managed to get into a good routine. I’ve thought of doing something every day, even if just for 30 mins, but after the 5th day I’ve fallen in a heap and needed the day off. So I honestly haven’t.

Swimming has felt fantastic the whole way through my pregnancy. Even in the first trimester when I was totally exhausted and nauseous- swimming made me feel much much better. I feel the most “normal” when I swim. I’ve probably swum up to 2kms at a time, and I could have done this more regularly. What stopped me was the traveling and the inconsistency.

Before I was pregnant I had a chest infection that was quite nasty and was doing a lot of travelling. So when I found out I was pregnant I’d already skipped a month of riding. So I just never got back on the bike- literally. Riding solo or on the CompuTrainer lost it’s appeal without a goal… So I’ve had 10 months of no riding whatsoever. Oh hang on! I did ride Kristian’s mountain bike to support him on a couple of his runs!!

Running…I ran up until I was about 6 and a half months pregnant. What stopped me again was travel and then it seemed too hard to start up again. After that I kept walking- 30 mins to a max of an hour and a half. Up to 6.5 months the belly was very solid and running felt comfortable. In the last 2 months it seemed like an awful lot of pressure to be putting on my knees! Plus the biomechanics were totally thrown out and I didn’t feel like I was doing myself any good. Walking seemed “easier” on the body. Once you get really big, it does take quite some effort to walk on some days, and I think this is plenty. Just to keep moving seems like an achievement!

I did think I was going to be “super- woman” whilst pregnant and that I’d be doing a lot lot more than I actually did. But you know priorities changed. I’m no longer so driven by my own goals, and really started thinking maternally. When that switch flicked I’m not sure?

Take care and thanks as always for reading.

Charlotte

I was recently interviewed by Herbert Krabel for www.slowtwitch.com

You can check it out here…

http://www.slowtwitch.com/Interview/A_change_for_Charlotte_Paul_1583.html

It has been far too long since I last wrote on my blog…

There has been A LOT going on and it’s all been quite far removed from my life as a Professional Triathlete!

I’m now 18 weeks pregnant with our first child. It was the plan for this year, and we’re both really happy and excited to be parents-to-be!

This is my first scan at 10 weeks…

Me with the first signs of a bump at 14 weeks…

And just this week at 18 weeks…Practicing the areo position!!

It’s such a big adventure and so “different” to be carrying a baby…Priorities change…perspective changes…For the first time in a really long time I’ve properly slowed down. I’m much more relaxed and in not such a big hurry anymore. Except when the hormones kick in!:)

The first trimester wasn’t all that different to being a Pro athlete- always tired- pretty grumpy- nana naps- voracious appetite and cravings for junk! Doing any kind of training was hard, but made me feel a whole lot better.

The 2nd trimester has been fantastic in comparison. I’m more at home with the idea of someone growing in my belly…and energy has come back. “Training” I feel its more like exercise, is much more regular- 30-45 mins a day. If I do too much I feel absolutely whacked! The thought of a long drawn-out labor is motivating me to keep fit! Plus the thought of turning into a beached whale:)

Hopefully this is the start of my blogging again.

Thanks for reading!

Charlotte

May 15 was the North Face 100. A 100km “trail” run in the Blue Mountains of NSW. Trails meant A LOT of stairs, up and down and boulders. Gagey had wanted to do something different for his 40th birthday- and this seemed to fit!

Kristian and Gagey did all of their weekend runs together, and were planning to run it together. This was more about the experience of doing something they’d neither of them ever done before than the finish time and place. Who knew how they would feel after the first 50kms?…going into the next. This was going to be something entirely new. I admit I was a little bit jealous. At first I thought they were crazy, but as their training progressed and the event drew nearer, it didn’t seem so crazy after all. It became more acceptable? I mean an Ironman is pretty crazy to anyone outside of the Ironman!

Kristian’s chosen footwear- his Nike Free 5.0s with his Injinji toe socks- that he says were awesome- no blisters.

Once they started, we had hours to kill. The first checkpoint at which friends and family could see the runners was at 54kms.

So we head off to check out the Three Sisters.- Probably the most famous landmark in the Blue Mountains.

this turned out to be part of the course…

A pretty awesome looking aid station! I was waiting there with Danielle and Stef Gage. We were there in time to see the first runners come in- flying. And then played the waiting game to see our boys. What was amazing was that they had their mobile phones with them and were able to let us know their ETA. It was fantastic, since their original predications blew out of the water. Best case scenario was around 5 and a half hours into 54kms, and they turned up at 7.

I like this shot- It was taken just as K arrived at 54kms. Kristian and Gagey were running together, but Kristian was suffering- badly cramping. He told Gagey to go on without him- and eventually he did.

Kristian decided he couldn’t carry on, and his day ended at 54kms. It was so disappointing for him after all the training he’d put in. But with his quads seizing up it just wasn’t going to be possible to carry on sensibly.

Stef gives Kristian a massage

Stef “but why did I touch your disgusting sweaty back if you’re not going to carry on?”

Scott Milson with Jo and Michelle- another casualty at the 54km mark.

The Blue Mountains truly have a blue glow- it’s the Eucalyptus I believe.

Gagey reaches 67kms, not looking quite so happy, finding it hard to eat anything.

Gagey double parked and looking serious

Check point at 89kms

K with Stef

Gagey arrives into the last transition at 89kms

It was absolutely freezing, and they were running in the pitch black.

The toughest part of the race...

Pretty cruel that in the last 11kms was some of the toughest terrain of the day, to be negotiated in the dark.

Gagey finishes in 14:55 A Champion.

I don’t have a finishing shot, he was so exhausted I thought the last thing he’d appreciate was a camera in his face:)

The following day we spent cruising round the shops in Leura. It was a beautiful sunny day. Just like Ironman the town was spotted with competitor shirts, and funny looking hobbling. After acknowledging it was the toughest thing he’s ever done, Gagey then committed to coming back next year…and Kristian too. For Kristian it’s unfinished business. And for Gagey I think he’s learnt a lot from this one, and would like to break 14 next year. Danielle Gage is in too.

For myself, I’m tempted, but it’s not on my schedule yet…

What was pretty cool was that two men crossed the finish line together in first place- arm in arm. They had broken the course record by a staggering 26 minutes in 9 hours 54 mins! They were both desperate to break the 10 hour barrier, and pushed each other all the way. Once they realised neither was going to break they settled into a rhythm together- pushing each other to the line.

Make you wanna enter?? Read more on the event website here.

Charlotte

This bike belongs to my husband, and he loves it. So much so that he’s now on the 2010 Airfoil! He rode in the 4.40s in Ironman several times on this machine…

09 Kestrel Airfoil SLSE 50cm 650c

I got this bike in January 2009 and used it up to the Ironman World Champs in October 2009. I am selling it as I now have the 2010 model. The Airfoil Pro SLSE is arguably one of the most aerodynamic bikes in the sport of triathlon. This bike is light, comfortable and fast.

All the parts are listed below, however there are some brand new items on it such as the Zipp Vuka bars, both chain rings and an FSA Carbon stem. The reason is that I use 3T bars and I took the chain rings off when I first got it and put Rotor Q-Rings on it instead.

The bike will come with all cables, housing, ferrels and bar tape, but you will need to get it built up as I do not want to cut down the extensions on the Zuka bars.

• 51cm 650c Frame — proprietary 800k carbon fiber. New lay-up provides 20% more power to the pedals while reducing weight
• Fully adjustable carbon aero seat post — provides up to 80 degree seat tube angle
• Fork — Airfoil Pro EMS SL Carbon steerer
• Group Set: SRAM RED — Includes brand new chain rings 53/39 — SRAM chain – brand new for Ironman WC, so only had ~ 300km on it — 23/11 Cassette was new with the chain, so again – it only has minimal use — 172.5 cranks
• FSA 90mm carbon stem – brand new
• Wheels – Bontrager Race X lite Aero with DT Swiss Hubs and Conti GP4000 tyres (the rear is brand new and the front is nearly brand new – has been ridden a few times but in great condition
• Brand NEW Zipp Vuka integrated aerobars (no box as they came with my other bike, they have all the parts and the extensions are not cut)

The frame is in really good condition and has some of the usual stone chips and some chain slapping/wearing marks on the rear stays (all this is shown in the pictures below) and a tiny bit of surface rust on the hollow section (outside) of the crank, the bike ha been well looked after and will provide tons of enjoyment to the person who gets it.

If you have any questions what so ever, ask away. The bike as built would retail around $7,500 USD

Please contact me if you are interested through my contact form.

These bars have never been used.

... how good does it look with race wheels on...??

Thanks

Charlotte

There has been so much talk on the new WTC rules for Professionals that I feel obligated to voice my opinion.

Before I start, for anyone who has managed to avoid hearing about this, all the new rules can be found here on the Ironman USA website.

I think there are pros and cons of the new rules. I think change needed to happen. But I think there are many holes in the new rules. I’m not anti-change. But I think change needs to have a goal, and proper communication of that goal.

I honestly have quite negative feelings towards WTC. I wish I didn’t, but I do. I don’t feel respectfully treated by them because they don’t communicate with us properly. Why can’t they email all Professional athletes directly and inform us of the new rules? Why do I hear it first on twitter?  Why can they not tell us what they are trying to achieve by changing the rules? They have made significant changes, that I expect aren’t the final changes, that have a huge impact on some athletes career decisions. Surely we deserve to hear where the future is heading for us.

Why are WTC claiming the $750 is for cracking down on drug-taking when clearly the biggest problem in our sport is drafting? What are the details of their enhanced anti-doping program? It was business as usual at Ironman Malaysia- no testing whatsoever. With no publication of what their drug-testing plan actually is- they make athletes reluctant to part with $750USD. And then we are charged another, not sure what it is this year, $650USD to compete at the World Championships. Tell us where the money is going, and give us the chance to support it.

The rules have totally different impacts depending on where you are in your triathlon career- someone starting out, at their peak or at the end…For me I’ve looked at it from where I stand and tried to understand the impact for others by looking back at my career. From just my viewpoint, the rules are ok for me as the athlete I am now. In all my MDot races last year I would have been paid and qualified for Kona. I’ve been a Professional for nearly 5 years, and if after 5 years if I wasn’t able to reach those percentages then I’m really not making it.

When I started as a Professional it was because in my last AG race I finished under 10 hours in 9th and would have been paid as a Pro. I saw 10 hours as the invisible standard needed to race Professionally back then. I didn’t ever think I would make money in Ironman racing, I was just following my heart. I hated my job at the time and Ironman was something I loved and was a way out. I’m not sure whether if these rules were in place back then that my decision would have been different? I think I might have waited longer before taking the leap, but i think I would have still done it. I wasn’t leaving a highly paid job and I was much less sensible about money than I am now!

In my first years as a Professional I was losing money. My credit card took a hammering. When the results did start to come in- the money I earned only paid for my debt. I’m sure I’d be financially better off in the short term working in the local supermarket as a check-out chick! But… money isn’t everything… Some might say that I was of no value and wasn’t “earning” the money. I admit I had no idea about marketing myself, and was painfully shy and lacking confidence in that respect.

But those middle years, when I showed potential, but wasn’t quite there, I made some errors… to be not paid anything would have been harsh. I was finishing in 5th, 6th and 7th place. The prize money was going towards some of my expenses. I was learning, but in Ironman you don’t always just keep improving- it sometimes is one step forward and two back! Perhaps I would have given it all up? I like to think I was pretty determined and fired up by all my frustrations to continue, but who knows?

For newcomers I’m not sure how they will feel. Perhaps prospective professionals will just stay working and racing age group for longer until they think they can earn $? Maybe we will have fewer athletes testing the waters as a Pro. Or they will just avoid MDot races? Or avoid MDot races where fast girls are racing? We will see what happens this year. But I do think we need more women, not less.

I’ve heard people comment that Chrissie Wellington will be laughing all the way to the bank. Will she really? I don’t think it’ll be much fun for her if no-one turns up to race against her because they might not get paid or get the Kona spot that they may want. From what I know about Chrissie she’s an advocate for women in sport, and wouldn’t be so heartless to be thinking of only herself.

I know and fully understand that WTC are a business and they need to make money, but they can do that whilst supporting the sport at the same time. I don’t think they are acting wisely when races like AbuDhabi, Rev3 and the Challenge Series are doing all the right things to attract Professionals. Historically Challenge Roth attracts the biggest pro field outside of Kona. The prize money is excellent, we’re treated well and it’s a “feel good” experience- we want to support a race that supports us! The Challenge CEO and race director Felix Walchshofer truly values us.

I honestly could go on and on- there are so many tangents to this whole discussion. I’m going to leave it there. I just want to be communicated with in a timely manner- before it appears on social media. I want to “want” to race MDot races and not feel like they are treating us with so little care, and trying to get rid of us. I honestly don’t know what the answers are to all the current problems in the Pro field, but I want to feel part of the solution.

Thanks

Charlotte

I wanted to share with you how we have changed our bike/run power interval brick for the better.

There are plenty of different types of bike/run bricks, all with different objectives. I wanted to share with you 2 very different ways of approaching the same training goal.

The goals for the bike

• To recruit more muscle fibres
• To make me stronger and better able to push bigger gears for longer

The goals for the run

• To teach me to run fast on tired legs at a high stride rate
• Increase aerobic capacity

The first brick I used at the end of 2007 to prepare for Ironman Western Australia.
The second brick I used at the end of 2008 also to prepare for Ironman Western Australia.

So the results are slightly comparable…

The 2007 Brick

15 mins warm up- spinning the legs

3 sets of

20 mins low cadence big gear, pushing at a moderate effort. I was given a HR zone to be in.

7 x 800ms on 3mins 10 seconds. Easy Jog 200m. (1st set 3:10, 2nd set 3:00, 3rd set sub 3:00s)

10 min spin warm down.

Total duration 3 hours.

The 2008 Brick

15 mins warm up spinning the legs

2 sets of

10 x 1 min, cadence of 40rpm, push as hard as you can, max effort. 1 min easy spin no effort.

2 x 2km max sustainable run. High cadence. 1 min recovery- (reduced as session repeated each week.)

10 min warm down spin.

Total duration, 2 hours.

My Brick comparison 2007/2008

I think the 2 results I achieved are pretty similar. I actually put the 6 minutes down to lack of rest in race week and poor pacing on the run. Kristian’s race times for those 2 years were 8:57 and 8:58!

Perhaps more significant is the fact that less than a month post IMWA in 07 I became sick, I was totally run down and on empty- and looking back now I think I was pretty burnt out. It took more than 6 months to get healthy again. The training got me the result, but it wasn’t a sustainable approach.

Post IMWA in 08, I took December off as usual, then was able to resume training and race IMNZ placing 3rd on March 7th, and then feel good enough to back up and race IM China in April and win…The training was sustainable.

The 2 brick sessions I chose as examples indicative of the entire training approach from one year to the next. Likewise the impact of the sessions- the pros and  cons are also indicative of the entire training approach and not just these sessions in isolation. 2007 was much higher volume with intensity. 2008 was a much lower volume approach with intensity.

I think too many athletes believe that they have to complete large volumes to race well at Ironman and it just isn’t true. There is glory and chest beating from completing mind-bending sessions. I admit they were addictive in that sense. There is a time and place for challenging sessions, but it isn’t year round. There are too many excellent short course athletes killing it at long course racing to prove that the volume approach just isn’t necessary, efficient or effective.

These brick sessions were a part of the puzzle- not the entire puzzle. There are many other important factors, to name a few; the timing of the session within each week, within each block, the rest of your training plan, sleep, nutrition, stresses, circumstance…etc. etc.

I just wanted to demonstrate that the same goals can be achieved by training more efficiently, with better long term consequences. None of us want to be out there training longer than we need to- we want to spend time with our families!

To read more about my training approach now, please click here.

Some of you may know or have heard of Bradley Hoskings. He was the first age grouper, and 8th overall at Ironman Western Australia in December in 8.52. He gave so much on race day that he ended up on crutches the following day! He’s represented Australia 5 times on the Big Island. He is one of Australia’s best age group athletes…

Brad is also a father and a firefighter, an asset and an outstanding role model in his local community. Brad has been selected to take part in the “Tour of Duty” a team run from LA to New York! The aim?

• To honour the 411 emergency workers who gave their lives on Sept 11th 2001.
• To raise awareness of the role emergency workers play within our society
• To raise funds in Brad’s case – The Princess Margaret Children’s Burns unit.

As a firefighter Brad has seen first hand the life altering impact of fire. For this reason he has chosen The Princess Margaret Children’s Burn Unit as the recipient for his fundraising…

“As human beings we can either relate first hand or at least empathise with the intense pain and ongoing suffering associated with burns injuries; pain you wouldn’t wish on your enemy let alone a child.

With this simple humanitarian understanding I implore you to get behind the TOD run; know what it is we firefighters do and support our efforts to ease the suffering of these child burns victims by giving whatever you are able, no matter how small or large.” Bradley Hosking

Read more about Brad’s Tour of Duty run.

Support Brad by donating $s time or services, items for auction or simply by spreading the word.
Further details here

Help Brad reach his $50,000 target!!

I know we all get asked for donations from charities all the time. But this is one of our triathlon community members doing something exceptional …

Thanks

Charlotte