The San Diego WTS provides an opportunity at the highest level for the United States to show the world the birthplace of triathlon. USA Triathlon goes to great lengths to secure a historic course and promote their homegrown heroes. While the men’s field was filled with bona fide stars and America’s hottest crop of newcomers, the women’s field lacked the headlines one would expect at such a high profile race. USA Triathlon had set the stage now they just needed their stars. Enter Julie Ertel.
The 2008 Olympian and California local hasn’t competed much since her 19th place finish at the Beijing Games. Shortly after the 2008 Olympiad she added twins to her family but she has not given up on the lifestyle. Ertel has stayed close to home competing in nearby small-purse races and taking on all comers that step onto her turf. She didn’t hesitate to jump back into top tier competition when she learned she was accepted into the 2013 edition of the San Diego WTS. It would be Ertel’s first WTS/WCS race since Beijing and she wasted no time getting back in to her 2008 groove.
Slowtwitch: What was your racing status after the 2008 Olympics?
Julie: I was retired. My husband wanted to get pregnant the night I got home from the Olympics, but it doesn’t necessarily always happen that way. We got pregnant the following spring. I had kids about 13 months after I got back from the Olympics. Obviously I was not competing that season. I did sign up for the first ITU race in 2009 but withdrew when I learned I was pregnant.
ST: So did you come out of retirement for this race?
Julie Ertel: Well, a lot of racers told me it was great to have me back and I said ‘no no no, I’m not back, it’s the local race.’ There aren’t that many local races. If you want to stay in Southern California and race as a pro especially where there’s a prize purse, you’re very limited. There only about 3 races I can think of. So this was just a local race for me.
ST: Did USAT contact you to see if you were interested?
Julie: No, I went to them. About 5 weeks before a WTS race all registered pros get an email reminding those interested to register. I don’t actually remember if I got one for San Diego but I knew it was coming up. I’m a competitor at heart and the Olympic Trials at San Diego last year was very exciting and I enjoyed commentating the race on TV. But there was a part of me that felt like I could still be competitive at that level. My coach Sue Davis was in San Diego watching the race with me and I said to her, 'next year I’m going to put my name on the list.’ I figured I’ll put my name on the list and if there wasn't much interest or if someone pulled out, I could have a shot. So this year I told them ‘I would love to do the race but do not give a spot to me instead of someone who is young, up-and-coming and deserves it, but if you don’t have anyone to fill a spot I would love to do it’. I guess enough people didn’t enter. I’m sure I was the last person, I was the last number. But I didn't care. I've been ranked last before and there is only one direction to go.
ST: Did you have any points on the ITU points list?
Julie: You know that’s funny I thought about that only at the race meeting. I have no idea. The only ITU race that I did in the last Quadrenium was the San Francisco Pan-Am Cup. I’ve done that race twice.
ST: How did you specifically prepare for the race?
Julie: I called up all of my training partners that I used in 2008 and prior. I already had a run race on the calendar and I had done a few before that. I entered a couple races in the end of February/ beginning of March to get myself in running fitness. I called up my coach and one of my training partners because I knew I needed to do some draft riding. We did one of our old routes. I had not ridden in a pace line for so long. I needed to recognize that it’s OK to get close up on a wheel. I did a few rides with them in the four weeks leading into the race. I did weekly track workouts and bumped my swim up from once a week to 3 times a week. I know it doesn’t sound like much but that’s a 300% increase. One of my favorite workouts is the transition workouts. We do a 12 minute triathlon. It’s about a 4 minute swim, 4 minute bike, 4 minute run. We take a break and then do it again. I hand select some really fast people so I have some people to chase. It teaches me to have some really fast transitions and to have the mind set of transition and then go hard.
ST: What did you think of your competitors?
Julie: This is a great time to compete because it’s right after the Olympics. If anyone is going to take time off in the 4 years, this is the time. No one was in fantastic shape. Everyone was a little rusty from the winter. There were people that were behind me that would win World Series races in the previous year. The great thing is I’ve commentated the last 3 years so I know all the backgrounds on my competitors, much more so when I ever raced. Gwen Jorgensen, I was so proud of her, performed out of her mind. She was probably in the best shape out there. I was probably old enough to be the mother of a third of the field.
ST: How does the competition differ from 2008?
Julie: The swim definitely was slower and the bike was also slower. The run was faster. I can tell based on my times and effort in the races.
ST: I saw you at times at the front of the chase group. Were you actively trying to pull back the break that contained Sarah Groff?
Julie: First and foremost I was looking out for my own safety. There were times where it was a little sketchy in the back and I noticed going through transition I was sliding out a little bit on the carpet going through the final turn so I just through I’d rather go through there first and take it at my own speed. Gwen Jorgensen was in my group and for a good amount of time they left Gwen out in front. Halfway through I thought ‘does it matter if I get 18th or 23rd’? Knowing that I got a good workout while someone was watching my kids was more important to me. So I told Gwen to get off the front because I knew what the group was doing. These girls were trying to push Gwen to the limit while they rested their legs because they knew she’s a good runner. Gwen was doing all the work, they wouldn’t pull through for her. She was out there for three or four minutes and that just wasn’t right. I was torn because Sarah was in front and Gwen was in my group. I didn’t want to pull the group up to Sarah but I didn’t want Gwen to get spent and not have a good run.
ST: The live feed made a couple references to your age and the fact that you are a mother. Do you ever get tired of constantly being associated that way?
Julie: It’s funny that you say that. Barrie apologized after the race. He said ‘I’m sorry. You are going to kill me for how many times I called you an old mommy.’ It doesn’t bother me. The reality is that’s what I am. There were a couple moms on the course that came up to me afterwards and told me I was an inspiration to being doing this with two kids. Maybe some people will see that or hear that and think they could do that. I think too many times people think they’re 40, they’ve got kids, they’re stuck in a routine, they can’t do it. But they really can, you just have to prioritize it. With me I have to get my swim workout in before 8am. After that I’m on kid duty, I’ve got a job, I’ve got preschool, I‘ve got to drive to swim lessons. It’s just a matter of making it a priority. My husband knows that- that a happy athlete is a happy mom. If I don’t get my workout in the morning I am not the best mom that day.
ST: After San Diego is it back to normal?
Julie: Yes. One of the agreements I made with my husband is that I won’t fly with my bike. What that basically means is that I won’t make a career out of it on the international circuit. Unfortunately San Diego is the only World Triathlon Series race in the US. I’m going to do the San Diego International Triathlon in June. The Pacific Grove Tri is the only other sort-of local race. It’s draft legal which I love.
The last triathlon I did was in March. It was a small reverse sprint triathlon that ended with a swim in the pool and Michellie Jones showed up. It was so fun. We were neck and neck the whole way. I ended up screwing up the swim. It was a fun race with no prize money - just something to get you in shape. I would have picked losing to her opposed to having no one to race.
ST: Thanks for the words. Best of Luck!
