Real athletes never give up. Not even when everything seems to be going wrong. Not even after an injury. That's what you learn after a chat with one of our most determined ambassadors, triathlete Nadezhda Pavlova . Oh, and one more thing: never call her a “pussy,” or you'll regret it! Here's what Nadezhda - who is always determined to push herself further, just like us at NRC - told us in an exclusive interview.
What inspired you to become a triathlete?
It happened by chance, because of a back injury. Twelve years ago, the doctor told me to forget about running for the rest of my life, because I had injured my spine while snowboarding. But I have always loved running: I took part in competitions at school and university and I couldn't imagine my life without it. I didn't want to believe the doctor, so I started to strengthen my back muscles, I swam a lot, and I ended up finishing an Ironman, where you don't just run a marathon, but you do it after swimming 3.8 km and cycling 180 km. The first time I saw a triathlon competition was by chance, in 2014, on the island of Mallorca. I had just woken up, finished my morning run and went to the beach. There I witnessed the transition between water and land and I saw how happy the participants were as they came out of the water and started running. The next step was to buy a carbon fiber bike and equipment and find a coach. “Look, Vlad, I bought myself a wetsuit!” And my coach started training me for my first half Ironman . I was immediately won over – there’s something amazing about combining all three sports: swimming, biking and running. Since then, I’ve taken part in numerous triathlons around the world, including the World Championship in Australia and the Full Ironman.
How do you train daily?
I train six days a week. During my preparation for the Ironman, I train 10-12 hours a week, with one day of rest. Every day I train with a different sport (the great thing about triathlon is that you never get bored!): swimming, cycling and doing combinations, like cycling-running or swimming-cycling. And, of course, I focus on diet and concentration.
Do you change your routine just before a race?
Yes, the turning point is a couple of weeks before the race, depending on the distance you have to compete. During this time I keep the same intensity, but reduce the duration. And, of course, a week before I go all out with the carbs.
What drives you to take on exceptional challenges like the Ironman?
It all started three years ago in October, during Ironman 70.3 in Turkey. A friend of mine said he could beat me because I wasn’t fast enough and because he thought I was “just as hot as all the girls he knew”. I decided to kick his ass mercilessly! The idea of the challenge was to find out who would be the first to toast with Champagne at the finish line, after a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride and a full marathon (42 km run). The bet was that if one of us got injured during training, we would be considered a loser. The only exception was pregnancy. We each wrote down a wish that the other would have to grant if we won and put the notes in an envelope that was given to another friend. I knew very well that Nikita was a formidable opponent, a strong cyclist with a powerful pedal stroke. Her running skills were also impressive and she had made tremendous progress throughout the year. But her progress and skills gave me the motivation to train even harder than usual. Three weeks before day X, I injured my leg after the World Championships in Australia. I couldn't run, but I still wanted to honor the bet as much as possible. I thought about my wish and that pushed me even further and made me even faster than I thought possible. The total time was nine and three-quarter hours. Plus, I placed second in my age group, and I was chosen to participate in the 2017 World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. So I didn't lose, but unfortunately I couldn't fulfill my wish to visit the North Pole, so my friend simply gave me money.
What was the most difficult moment in your career as an athlete?
When I was training for the Ironman and I broke a bone in my foot. All the training of the previous months was wasted and I couldn't participate in the race. But I swam a lot and with good results. The following year I came in second at Ironman Barcelona and qualified for Ironman Kona in Hawaii. Every athlete faces injuries during their career, but the important thing is to accept it and come back stronger than before.
What is the most important feature in the sunglasses you use in competition?
They need to have anti-fog holes to keep your vision clear when you hop on your bike after swimming, be light and comfortable because every gram counts during a marathon, fit well so you don’t slip when the road gets bumpy, and have a wide lens. Oh yeah, and the look obviously matters too!
Your favorite NRC glasses?
I love them all! The P-RIDE.HOCO ( buy now ) - the ones with the WOW Effect - have such a cool design! Everyone asks me where I bought them.