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Slowtwitch: Thank you for the chat Jodie.
Jodie Stimpson: Thank you for chatting to me.
ST: How are the preparations going for the 2014 season?
Jodie: At the minute I am at a very testing phase for me, changing a lot of things technically in my swimming and running which is taking some time for me to get.
ST: Are there specific things you are working on that you can mention?
Jodie: I am really working hard on my swim technique at the minute and trying to get a better catch in the water and also my core is quite weak so I am working on trying to make this stronger and this will help me control things with my run and my ‘squiffy feet.’
Jodie Stimpson: Thank you for chatting to me.
ST: How are the preparations going for the 2014 season?
Jodie: At the minute I am at a very testing phase for me, changing a lot of things technically in my swimming and running which is taking some time for me to get.
ST: Are there specific things you are working on that you can mention?
Jodie: I am really working hard on my swim technique at the minute and trying to get a better catch in the water and also my core is quite weak so I am working on trying to make this stronger and this will help me control things with my run and my ‘squiffy feet.’
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ST: You came to San Diego in early January but is this the first time that you did an early season camp in the USA?
Jodie: Yes, it’s the first time I have been in San Diego, Chula Vista in January and I am loving the training out here to be honest. I do love the US anyway, but Chula Vista and a cool place to train.
ST: No complaints about the weather we assume.
Jodie: Not at all and apparently it’s the hottest January Chula Vista has had in a while and I am not complaining at all.
ST: There are a few new faces in the D Squad. Did you know everybody decently well?
Jodie: Not at all, there are 2 American girls Linsey and Jess and a NZ girl Anneka, who are the newbies to the group and they are all cool chicks and I am enjoying training with them.
ST: So how big is the crew right now?
Jodie: At the minute there are - I think 10 athletes. I am not going to name them all just in case I forget someone.
ST: It also looks like you recovered from that big pre-Christmas shiner.
Jodie: Yes thankfully, I wasn’t to keen on having a black eye over Christmas.
Jodie: Yes, it’s the first time I have been in San Diego, Chula Vista in January and I am loving the training out here to be honest. I do love the US anyway, but Chula Vista and a cool place to train.
ST: No complaints about the weather we assume.
Jodie: Not at all and apparently it’s the hottest January Chula Vista has had in a while and I am not complaining at all.
ST: There are a few new faces in the D Squad. Did you know everybody decently well?
Jodie: Not at all, there are 2 American girls Linsey and Jess and a NZ girl Anneka, who are the newbies to the group and they are all cool chicks and I am enjoying training with them.
ST: So how big is the crew right now?
Jodie: At the minute there are - I think 10 athletes. I am not going to name them all just in case I forget someone.
ST: It also looks like you recovered from that big pre-Christmas shiner.
Jodie: Yes thankfully, I wasn’t to keen on having a black eye over Christmas.
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ST: How long did you look like a boxer after a fight?
Jodie: To be honest not for that long, I was looking like a boxer for about 2 weeks but I still have the little scar on top of my eye brow which I think will remain for a while.
ST: What exactly happened to you? I think you had both a bike crash and a car crash in December.
Jodie: And then I had some medical issues. I am still trying to sort out, I wrote a blog about it recently if any one is interested but I am on the mend, but I may still try to get some issues sorted.
ST: Word has it that in general you were glad to see that month of December go by.
Jodie: My god yes, I know how important consistent training is and December most definitely was not, it was a really hard time for me with a lot of tests and accidents. Not the best of months but it ended well with having a fantastic family Christmas.
ST: Looking back at the 2013 season however I would think you would be happy. And I assume the season highlight was Kitzbuehel.
Jodie: Yes you would be right, I couldn’t have dreamed of 2013 and to have that year was fantastic and finishing in London was amazing and I wont forget that in a while.
ST: Had you been checking out that new course prior and were you at all surprised by the difficulty?
Jodie: We had been training in Morzine in France, so were well prepared for the hill but I was still a little shocked by the climb once I drove up it with Darren. I hadn’t cycled up the climb I just left that for race day.
Jodie: To be honest not for that long, I was looking like a boxer for about 2 weeks but I still have the little scar on top of my eye brow which I think will remain for a while.
ST: What exactly happened to you? I think you had both a bike crash and a car crash in December.
Jodie: And then I had some medical issues. I am still trying to sort out, I wrote a blog about it recently if any one is interested but I am on the mend, but I may still try to get some issues sorted.
ST: Word has it that in general you were glad to see that month of December go by.
Jodie: My god yes, I know how important consistent training is and December most definitely was not, it was a really hard time for me with a lot of tests and accidents. Not the best of months but it ended well with having a fantastic family Christmas.
ST: Looking back at the 2013 season however I would think you would be happy. And I assume the season highlight was Kitzbuehel.
Jodie: Yes you would be right, I couldn’t have dreamed of 2013 and to have that year was fantastic and finishing in London was amazing and I wont forget that in a while.
ST: Had you been checking out that new course prior and were you at all surprised by the difficulty?
Jodie: We had been training in Morzine in France, so were well prepared for the hill but I was still a little shocked by the climb once I drove up it with Darren. I hadn’t cycled up the climb I just left that for race day.
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ST: Would you like to see more unique races like that one?
Jodie: Yes of course, but I think the ITU are doing a good job in moving this forward, NZ has everything in the course, hilly, technically some flat and the other races have a mixture but more course like Kitzbuehel would be cool.
ST: You ended up second in the final 2013 World Triathlon Series ranking and that meant a sweep of the top two spots by Great Britain. Was that something you envisioned going into the season?
Jodie: No way! The season was a learning year for me and working with Darren and to be honest there was no way I was thinking I would end up 2nd in the year. I still have so much more to learn which is what I am trying to do know which is the most challenging for me instead of just not thinking and just swim cycling running and actually thinking about doing things right.
ST: With 5 races now counting towards the total points, how will that impact your 2014 season?
Jodie: My main goal this year will be the Commonwealth games and of course I would love to do well in the series as well, so its just going to be a balancing act this year to make sure I do things right and the best I can do.
ST: Your first race is?
Jodie: Devonport.
Jodie: Yes of course, but I think the ITU are doing a good job in moving this forward, NZ has everything in the course, hilly, technically some flat and the other races have a mixture but more course like Kitzbuehel would be cool.
ST: You ended up second in the final 2013 World Triathlon Series ranking and that meant a sweep of the top two spots by Great Britain. Was that something you envisioned going into the season?
Jodie: No way! The season was a learning year for me and working with Darren and to be honest there was no way I was thinking I would end up 2nd in the year. I still have so much more to learn which is what I am trying to do know which is the most challenging for me instead of just not thinking and just swim cycling running and actually thinking about doing things right.
ST: With 5 races now counting towards the total points, how will that impact your 2014 season?
Jodie: My main goal this year will be the Commonwealth games and of course I would love to do well in the series as well, so its just going to be a balancing act this year to make sure I do things right and the best I can do.
ST: Your first race is?
Jodie: Devonport.
