Professional long distance triathlete Ruth Astle and Olympian Beth Potter join us in conversation this week. The pair got to know each other during lockdown. Both of them train in Leeds, alongside the Brownlee brothers. It's a brilliant conversation between two athletes who have had very different experiences to get where they are today. But more than athletes, it's a chat with two fantastic female role models about the ups and downs of life and why making a massive change can be emotionally horrible, but it can make you grow and flourish.

You'll hear

06:16 Ruth and Beth talk about now they met for the first time and how Ruth helped Beth with the riding and Beth helped Ruth with her running.

10:05 Talking about joining the Leeds Triathlon Centre. Beth says "I think I cried nearly every single day of my first year here. I found it really hard. There were so many unknowns. I'm not afraid of taking risks but there were so many unknowns. I did question myself a lot of the time and it's always hard coming into a training environment when you are on the newbie."

13:45 Beth Potter explains how finally being on British Triathlon's World Class funding programme will help her. 'I never felt like I was good enough, so it makes me feel like I belong and I can tap into other areas I haven't been able to tap into before.'

16:15 Ruth and Beth explain how their lives have changed since January 2016. Beth was working full time as a teacher in London thinking of the Rio Olympic trials, Ruth was working full time for Lloyds Bank and starting to get into training.

19:15 We head to the topic of food... Ruth and Beth both like spending time in the kitchen. Why Beth has more will power and what's on the post-race menu and Friday post-swim trips to Greggs.

24:15 Beth and Ruth talk about what it's like training with each other. 'We will always get each other out of the door. If we need to be chatty we can. I think seeing that grit and determination of just plugging away has been really good.'

29:15 The frustrations of swimming - they have both experienced it and Ruth thinks that time in the water is making a difference for her.

31:30 Beth talks about being selected for Team Scotland her third Commonwealth Games. This time she will only be doing triathlon at the Games in Birmingham. The pair also discuss the all important battle braids.

39:35 Ruth talks about why she is so excited about the Ironman World Championships heading to St George for the first time. 'It will be interesting to see if people will target both or one over the other'.

41:45 We talk about DNFs, getting back on it after a bad race and the idea of a perfect race. "I don't think there is such thing as a perfect race which is why you always have to have contingency plans" says Beth. "I do wish I could enjoy the good ones a bit more, but I try to dwell not too much on the good or bad."

47:35 Beth explains why she has her eyes on a standalone marathon but why she would continue to use cross training for it, rather than purely do run training.

Find out more about this week's guests

Ruth Astle Instagram

Beth Potter Instagram

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