Welcome back or welcome to the humans of triathlon or hot podcast where we bring you the ordinary but extraordinary world of triathlon one human one story at a time with the aim to inspire and to celebrate this life-changing Sport and it's humans to real authentic raw and enjoyable conversations with humans of triathlon from around the globe and from all walks of life.Welcome to today's episode of humans of triathlon brought to you by Charles hunk in the UK our creator. Swapnil show Han from Australia who unfortunately cannot be with us today and me geometry 11 currently at Iron Man trombe wall in Quebec Canada. We have an incredible show for you today. So sit back grab your snacks or turn up the volume on your car radio. We have an inspiring guest take it away Charles.Alright. So today we have a very special gift. She is a you can say recent trap on convert and to give you a little hint of what's to come. I think she's someone that you can easily spot from a mile away in a race, right? So she is what's called a covered athlete. I am not sure how many cover athletes in the world. But I'm sure this is very special and unique when I first read that line. I was like what? And then I thought you mean like special news coverage athlete or something, but it's no nothing like that. If you stick with us for the next hour, you'll find out what we mean. So today live from the land of Nelson, Mandela and Desmond Tutu. I was going to say the land of Simba and Mufasa, but actually it looks like they come from Kenya. So apologies in retrospective. Also the host of last year's Ironman 70.3 World Championships and land to the only full Ironman race on African soil, which I will personally attempt next year and this is not counting Armand Lanzarote which technically speaking in my honest opinion. I think it's in Africa as well and very importantly if you like steak as in proper steak and apologies in advance to my vegetarian vegan listeners cook the way. Want from the cut you want and the way you want forget about Argentina or anything else you may have heard. This is the place to go. So without further Ado. I think if I'm not mistaken, this is our first ever guest from Africa. So from South Africa, please welcome to the hot podcast none. Other than test name Patel height as me. Welcome to the show. Hi, so in traditional way of greeting from South Africa. I greet you work dumela for your muara that Wilber NE the lamb the mistake and the most common way of greeting. How is it? I'm so privileged and so happy to have been selected to be on your podcast as well as being featured on your Facebook page Human Torch, Ireland and on your Instagram page. So thank you for hosting me. I am a 38 year old mom. I'm a wife and I love in South Africa in a province called Urban which is in a jaded and I enjoy the triathlon field a little bit about me. I started off as a runner and from running. I actually used to do the Saturday parkrun and there was an event taking place the same day as the Pretty confident and we have to like sort of like Shuffle around to do a different starting point. So I went over to the event organizers and ask them their bodies all those you're going on and they said no they hosting a try exit and I didn't think too much of it for me. I didn't know what it was. And not long after that my husband was watching a documentary on TV and he called me and he said to me come and have a look at this and I said what what is it? He said look at these people here isn't a zit in they basically doing the thing folding. I in there it will just swim and how they about to cycle and how they treat you run not like what I'm like, how how is that possible? Like what kind of like endurance do you need to have to do all of that? When I sort of like put all of this together and I go to just give me until I click. No, you know what II need to know more about it. So coming back to these people that was hosting this try and learn on the same day as the parkrun. It's sort of like came up like quite often and I went and I hear a look at it and I thought that they offered a running option only. So I entered for it and after I did the run I settle down and I watched these people coming out from the ocean and now they're getting onto their bikes a shuffling and changing because of the the wasn't a transitioned into everything was open and the changing and they all like to know getting onto their bikes and then they like coming back and people are running so it's not like people all over and I needed to find out more like what is going on you just sort of Get this moving. You know that I won this I need to know how do you do this? And what you need to do? I went to one of the organizers and I said, you know, what is everyone doing here? So they said no we offer all these different categories. So there's a mini Triathlon is a Sprint Triathlon. And then there's the bigger distance which is the challenge distance which sort of most people will know as your Olympic distance. And this is the you should try it and you know, just as a beginner try them anyway. One and see how you do at the time. I didn't have a bike. I want them too much into swimming and that and I said, okay. Well, I'm going to try I went and bought me a secondhand mountain bike, which was really I didn't know no one told me anything about what you need to do in the tree has been filled. So I just went to the mountain bike and you know started swimming. I didn't swim in a 25 meter length pool. I swim in an indoor heated kiddies pool. So for me, I was I was thinking you know what I'm doing something like I'm like, you know, this is my training now two words a triathlon and couple of months down the line This Again came up to the hosted it like quite often. It's for the people to get into the whole triangle infield and I woke up one morning. I just grabbed my mountain bike swimming cap goggle towel. My khakis. I mean, I didn't have kids and all of that at the time and I just went for it. It was a hundred meters worm a five kilometer bike. Like and a 2.5 kilometres right? I know it doesn't seem like much but that's the one I said, you know what let's start off small. Let's not be too ambitious and go for the bigger one. I had promised you it did something to me. I was like, I can't believe how difficult it was, you know sort of like from the swimming in going into the ocean. So the swim 400 meters if anyone would know you basically yourself so we were just swimming through the waves and ways and we were getting nothing crash. I love my God so that I can get out and you know, it was like a washing machine sort of like feeling but I was just loving it for me. I had no thought on fear or you know time or anything like that. In fact, I didn't even have a proper chiasmus watch at the time. And then the next thing I knew we were all on our bike to we did the circuit loop again back and being a runner. I thought oh yours might charge, you know 2.5 k run. I'm going to like, you know get a A good time now on my run but if you're so hard and I was like, why was it so hard? I had no idea of this brick pick feeling, you know from a pipe to a run and I was like, no I need to get better data that I need to do more of this. So those CI happened roundabout in 2015, and I sort of had it on my cards or something that I really wanted to go into at the time. If you've read my story you would know that I come up from a background of fighting depression. Now what kind of you on medication and being a runner in the ultra medicine field? We have something in South Africa called your comedies running event. And your comedies medicine is basically an 89 to 90 kilometer run and that was where I had my Mind Set On You know, I'm going to be myself off this medication. I fought this battle with depression and I need to know that I am physically mentally a stronger. So I took two training for this medicine and that was really my goal was and you basically running medicines and you're running 21 kilometers and Ultra of medicines and I both up to it and I completed the 90 kilometer run and that was a magnificent achievement to me physically and mentally, but after that I was like, okay now, what do I do? You know, I conquered one of the biggest events within South Africa and now I need more And you know, I look into the science field and I was like, okay, we don't have a lot of the Iron Age event. We're in South Africa. So I started looking for whichever other organizers were, you know, hosting events and then I came across the 5150 Ironman Olympic distance and I told my husband, you know, what look at this event. And we said it's exactly the same tag is our anniversary. It depicts. Let's create our self in its juices 5150 is a treat for both of us, you know, an anniversary present research started laughing and he said okay, you know what? Let's just let's go. Let's try into it. I we trained we went we cooked it was in a different problem that we booked a holiday accommodation and every time I did was still alive and he came so he knew he got the daughter of wood into sport, but he's never ever seen me. I participated in it. Then this was his first time to see me do an event and I mean out of all events. He saw be swimming it will be cycling. He saw me running. It was like so magnificent for him to watch this his daughter doing all of this a couple of months later my dad passed away. So I held on to this event. It's my first and only event that my dad was dead. So it holds like a special place to me in fact Until today, this event is taking place is infallible are in the Johannesburg area and I'm having all these foam or you know, like moments of like the whole event and the swim and cycle was an elevation like just you know, it just continued and it's a very altitude kind of place. So I'm I love in the coast. So when we travel up to altitude areas, it's like more difficult for the breathing and that but I conquered yet. I did it and it was just Just the biggest achievement. So now you're sitting with okay, you've done those Olympic distance, which was a 1.5 Case 140k by and a 10 kilometer run but you want war and I'm like I want the big one. I didn't even look at the 70.3. I had my eyes set on the big full Ironman distance. But with the thing you have to have it in moderation. You need to build up. I'm a runner. So for me cycling was like, ah, let's get on the bike and we like Pretty looking socks and look all trendy. So I didn't know I didn't know what for me, you know cycling was just never happy co5. So I had to learn how to build up in Japan into cycling and doing whatever and from day. I had this whole list of all these events I wanted to achieve so there was a specific Ultra medicine that hosted with in Cape Town, which is cool. The two oceans medicine is one of the most beautiful medicines to do in the world. It could recognize is that and I said, you know, what did we first achieve this thing here and then I'll go and do a 70.3 try under and I went on and I achieve this trifling and it started building up. I picked up an injury within a running. So it was a major setback, but I said, you know, what if running is not going to be there the moment let's let's go into something else. Um, I looked at everything within the triathlon field and I said, okay my hiking needs to get up to scratch as well as my swimming in the in the ocean. There's obviously that fear of swimming in the ocean, you know the serve and coming out of the surf we sort of have very snarks that at all. You know, what I'll actually tell you the story about all of that but my biggest fear of swimming in the ocean is actually the wave I used to get overwhelmed by this huge thing coming over me and I just used to freeze. That was what my fear was. So I said, you know what I need to get over this fear. I found a group of friends and we all got into this together. We found the guy and I don't know what it was that he did. He got this fear out of us. In fact, most triathletes start off with him and it's something that he gives you that it's just the confidence. It came to such a point. We used to something to travel 21 cases. To get to this group to swim with them. So, you know, I mean you like think to yourself W driving 21 case just a green worm like two kilometers in the ocean and then driving back to any one case, you know, because it is to be like so funny for me and often age to be late. So I used to find myself swimming alone in the ocean. But now I had to think we I can't run and there's enough for swimming Came Upon me it became such a thing way. I found myself actually. He's swimming alone. And for me, it was the most beautiful feeling to be in the Majestic Ocean or by myself and people thought I was crazy but I don't know why I just had no fear. Yes, they were things in the water. But we are we have shark net where we do sperm. But obviously you would have your reef sharks and we way we are designated to swim they use a reef. So you have your days and you have a whole lot of other Marine thing. But we don't need to feel with them and we've never had incidents with them traveling us. And yeah, they are there. You see the Sharks you see, you know it my mother's going to years of podcast you going to start freaking out but you know that your daughter swimming alone in a shark-infested Waters. Yeah, so I used to just go and swim alone and I just didn't have that fear and I just enjoyed this moment and we have within our summer. So beautiful because you have this welcoming with dolphins. I actually got to swim into a pod of dolphins and I thought to myself if I didn't take this chance of finding this natural swimming and leaving my running one side. I wouldn't have had this opportunity. So that's how I built up into the swim. And from there this year. I went into the 70.3 distance and we had one of the worst swimming conditions that day the swells took us over. So far out that the lifeguards actually told us that we swim over the shark Nets. So we had to be redirected back back to the vector the shore and you notice I'm still new ish at the at the whole swimming thing, but I've learned that if you have someone who knows they pacing and how to swim straight and if you follow them you going to go, you know, you won't go wrong. It wasn't about the time. It was just about having someone, you know, sort of direct you through the ocean, but the swell He was so terrible. I will boys were moved that we are one point nine kilometers work for me turned into 2.5. So most of the time was sort of like wasted and when I came out of the surf like I sort of got into a panic and then telling the Lifeguard I can't get out and I actually was like fearful and it's telling me you know, what just put your feet down and I put my feet down and not like, oh the ground is right here and he but the waves were so high. I just like sort of like broke into fear. So anyway, I got out of that. And onto the bike leg and I suppose we had happened to a lot of people or maybe it was just my last day. I just decided to leave my bike tubes and all my bike here at home and I had a puncture and I had a whole lot of glass stuck within my chain and I'm cycling on the 90k root and I can hear my tire is off and I'm like, I don't want to look and I'm just continuing but obviously, you know that something is wrong and my husband. That is the event at the day on the same day. And I said, you know why I can't call him now. I have no idea where on the road he eat. I didn't have the heart to stop other cyclists for help because you know, it's sort of like flashing into daytime and I just stood there and I cried and I was gutted. I mean any cycler any triathlete would know your first, you know, if they give are doing and I said, I you know, I just pull yourself together and just wait for you know, the event organizers to come with the assistant vehicle and You know just continued, you know, just just move along. So I decided to go back to the event. I was quite far out and I rode with the Splat all the way back to where the starting of this event was and along comes my husband and he's like what what happened to you and I just poured my heart out and I was crying and it's like no no just calm down and he told you it's not your fault. It is Ukraine you both are for this but you were dependent on a bike and it was the bike that sort of let you down not A self you have to you have to get up that like something to boost me up. What does event be organized other the marshals and you know, the guys sort of like keeping track with everything happening on the event. They approached us in the guy advisees is you know, what you're going to fix up your bike and you're going to continue on the cycle. A lot of your time has gone already and you're going to end up being cut off and he told me he says we will accommodate you just go back to the do your transition. Get yourself ready for your run. This is never mind. You didn't complete your full 90k and just go into your life. And I said, okay, you know what? It's long as I'm not going to have did not finish or you know at the qualifying and that's it. I said he's accommodating me in this way and I went back and I had one of the most beautiful 21 kilometer than you know, my time was good. My pacing was good and that sort of like just covered up for everything that happened. With the bike really nice and I just I I just took the whole experience and I said, you know that this was your first 70.3 that you do you doing and it didn't go as you planned, but I know that I have this mindset where I will go back into another one and I will I will come out stronger. I we have something in South Africa for the minimum mile, which is a mile swim across the stem. And the first time that I attempted it I I didn't I didn't complete it. I had the guys take me out at one point three kilometers. So I was right the I could see the finish line that I didn't have the strength to finish it. I was I was just fatigued and your mind is telling you but this the Finish Line you can't do it. You can't go but your body didn't have anything in it to you know, sort of push you and I said to myself I said day and I said, you know what you will come back stronger. That's that's what you need to do and All I came back stronger was when I did the 5150 Iron Man. I completed my swim in that 1.5 K kilometers one and I was like, this is how you do it. This is how you come back stronger. You do just one we do your cycle and you do your at so I you know, you have to have that mental sort of like I will be able to do it and this is way I'm starting now. Okay, we sort of like in our winter months at the moment. So I'm do not want to be in the ocean weight of a chilly and cold. Even though with the wetsuit but your ears and you know, your head gets cold and start training and I will build up to another 70.3 and I'm going to do it and I'm going to do it with a good time and I'm going to come back stronger. So yeah, so that's like my whole Triathlon story that's been getting on and you were telling me about being called the covered one. So when I started off with these try Evelyn I was Security in a field where I was the only person who has covered even sort of in the running field and when I think of it I'm like covered with my arms makes a head covering. It's sort of like my models dressing and I was very intimidated being in this field, but I sort of realized people coming up to me and they were like to ask him a question is do you not feel hot and your transition from your sperm and you know, you you basically Ali now waiting underneath your website your your your wetsuit I had all this long tight and a t-shirt underneath and then I kinda got comfortable but make no one actually quite comfortable because everything just gets sort of flipped on in quick and you know, I'm basically ready to go. So I thought of like stood out in the crowd being this one covered person and not only that but within our in the race, you know, what in South Africa I was like the only Indian and it was like like a foot, you know, like such a Fascination for people to see okay, they are other woman in the Indian field or you know, like dark skinned and or you know, just like participating and it actually brought in more of other people to feel you know, what we can't do that if you can participate in South Africa is a country where we are so friendly and so open and people are accommodating. So I sort of like got more people to to actually enter from my kids from my friends, you know to relatives as well and it sort of started growing upon people to see okay, you know what they watching you and social media doing this is something they will be like I want to do it is well, that's awesome. And can I just interrupt for a second because your story so it Seeing and you're going but you know what? I'm I'm also one of those curious people and I have all those same questions that when people come up to you and talk to you about like what you're wearing and how that affects you because I guess I'm assuming that you probably in the swims and says after you guys are always have a wet suit on it just depends on the water temperatures like within the if we swimming in the ocean and that sometimes we do here. Warmer conditions and then there's like a know where to look but most of the time they sometimes they give us the options. You want to submit it to a movie that you don't want to swim with it. It's up to you. Okay, but you know what, we all want that buoyancy and then there are gliding through the eternal spirit. So we like know put the wet suit on and I'm anemic so I feel cold very quickly. So for me to have that extra warmth of a wetsuit on me is just you know, really good. So yeah, we we allowed wetsuit at any time and that If it's very warm conditions than only they'll tell us nowhere. So if you don't have a wetsuit, so I'm just asking not just for me, but I'm sure there's lots of other people you might check your see if you don't have a wetsuit, what do you have like a special like a tighter covering or something like that that will that will go through the water. How how does this one work for you? And and this is a I feel silly asking but you still have like a head covering or as your bathing cap enough for this swim. How does that work? Yeah, so basically what I would wear is um, okay, so I would with my normal landing page that I would be using throughout the triathlete so there is obviously it will start up like this I have my running tights on and then I will have a all-in-one long-sleeve swimming costume, which is a quick drive Fabric and from there I would weigh my wet suit over that so the minute the Westwood comes off I've got the texture of like all-in-one a sort of look like this like black The job. Hey, did you fight all the time? Yeah, I've got all of that and it's quite comfortable to smelling like used for teaching. It's just, you know, like more comfortable for me and then over that I will weigh. My Twitter comes to the biking. Okay, you would normally have your try suit underneath and you take off your wet suit and you've got your ties with and you're ready to go. So I will end up putting over my running tights slip on if you Look at my picture on the humans of triathletes. It's a basically a cycling skirt. So I wear that and if it's over my tight and then I will put on my club t-shirt that you know for your cycling and and if you're ready to go and then when you come back from your transition, it's needs to change your techies because you've got all your yeah, my transitions do take a little bit longer. I allocate it a little bit of change of time. That but I realize from the swamp sometimes if you have this longest one that you transitioning you sort of feel a little bit woozy and that's it gives me that little bit time to change and I mean I'm not competing and I'm not in the Elite field. So, you know you allocating your time for each discipline. Once you're once you start your watch, so I take a little time to just change and hydrate and eat also and yeah, and then I get on with it and then coming back to you asked about the head covering so long. Only I'll wear like a puff. I'm sure you are familiar with the busting that they use. I wear one in the winter and then I'll have my swimming cap over that but people are so respectful like they don't really want to be in your business or stay at you and wonder why you have this on and that but I don't wait the full head covering because in previous times I found it to be sort of like comes over into your face and safety is more important. Within ten, you know, like having things blocking your way a bit. So I'll help the bottom line and I'll have my swimming cap over and everything is sort of like weekly. So once the swimming cap comes over it's not like my ears open and that but you know the and then I'll pray pain my my head covering and yeah, then I'm going to go to everything. I've like it's taken me time to work with like what's your big to work for me? What is comfortable for me and there tonight? Like now got like my sex clothing and everything is good quick slip on slip off. Off, you know and you ready to go. Thank you for sharing that know. It's it's yeah, it is curious like how the clothing works when you're when you're covered in this. Yeah, and it's not only like with like my religion as a covering it that I did people from other race coming to me and asking me you know, what like, where did you get the head covering because we have really hot conditions in South Africa. And if you're participating in this time, it's real. You know, you feel that burn and we hit the quite high temperatures. So everyone wants to take into, you know, the the hole concentration of sun protection covering the arms covering their leg or maybe even like or the neck area, you know, and so it's like people would like us like what Fabrics you using or where did you buy your sleeve, you know your long sleeves to cover up in that so it's nice to have like other people also. Rested in wanting to be son son safe sort of to say hmm. For sure our question. That doesn't mean have you met any other covered athlete yourself in any race of Bin I had to Heaven neck any other Because I think you know actually I have but she's like in a whole different area that she loves quite far from it. I mean gave a damn it. She's in Cape Town and through social media. We sort of like came to know of each other. You know, we were like trying we are very small community of like woman who put ourselves out there. So when we do identify each other with like, oh you also like what the head covering and you also do all these thoughts and you sort of like become like friends. You don't know who But you just become friends like that and I did meet this one lady. And in fact, she did her full Ironman this year. So I told her I said she's like one of my biggest Inspirations and I watched her running and running down that red carpet and you know, just putting herself out there and it'll let you like one of my biggest Heroes and I do have another friend as well who covers up and she also saw me doing these try elements and she was curious and she says you No, like you giving me this hope that I also want to participate and I want to do all of this and it shouldn't be anything really we don't feel like anything holding us back. And like I said South Africa we are so open and so accommodating like nobody will tell you. Oh you're banned from dusted band from that. We did have rulings before about your arms being visible on the swim if the safety business some safety thing around it, but when we spoke to the race officials and you know, we said like look, We all cover up and like how are you going to accommodate that like even with the with some of the men they do not we you know, they they were longer trousers and they they said you know, what we will bypass the rules to accommodate you guys so they don't like make it difficult for us. Like that's my country. We did see, you know, they don't force the rules upon people. They are little bit more stricter with those that are competing on the elite level so I often I joke with them. And I'm like the product that make it one day to the a deep level. Are you going to give me like, you know, like the key issues about why I'm covering up and they just like giggle and laugh at the whole thought, you know, and I'm like, okay like if you take care of that little bit hope that one day I could make it day to the top. Yeah, so that's the whole thing about be covered and it's a comfort as well you feel comfortable in what you wear and how you dress it. Yeah. I guess it's very important. I mean always obviously when I first read out, All your story I thought well, maybe this is very easiest ethical nice is adding an extra layer of complexity about training right? But but definitely from what we hear like you say. No you feel comfortable is you can keep your your religious beliefs while at the same time doing a compel a very demanding competition like travel which is fantastic. No, and and also I'm very surprised knowing that what you said that there is a community right? So Of people who put themselves out there and do this porch is fantastic. I didn't know the it was yeah, I when I thought I would read about this. Oh my gosh, maybe she's the only one the world know it for maybe two or three but there's yeah this morning and you know what? It's like social media on Instagram if you're going to have to take so we sort of go as he jobby. My jobby is the word hijab. He means like it covering or your Muslim dressing and if you hashtag it in it People put off we keep up with a searching and from that day. I've come to learn of people in America who do triathlons and I rather than they are covered up and they are people from other like a I think it was in Dubai. There's quite a few women in Dubai. So you sort of like identify with these women and you watch them and you actually see what clothing works for them and how they trade as well. Well and you realize that you know, what sort of like all some early the same, you know, the dressing the Comfort there was a lady I think in from Iran as well and her country basically had to accommodate her with the special change thin because when they doing the transition it was quite I think the Ironman feel was open. So they are her country accommodated the dough with a failed changing 10 so that she's not visible to other people watching her. So yeah, it's nice to see how there's so many other women in the world who are covered and you know, we just be passionate about sports the same as anyone else and you just do what we want to do because it makes us you know, happy. Yeah, and and I you know what like learning about the try everything. I told you I don't I took my bike and I took my things and I had nobody to coach me to tell me I didn't know what the big training. The Run was I didn't know about you know, all these different different things and I thought of like learned and I enjoyed now. Mostly how people come to me and they look for advice from me and I tell them look at what I'm not a telescope. I'm not a professional but I will give you all the advice I have learned over time to make it easier for you. And I and I love the part that people come back to me and say you know what your advice was so good that it really helped in this way and that way so I feel like I benefited in a different way. We have shown this light about try at learned to to so many other people to want to participate. So that's my whole big achievement about the childhood field and and coming back to I did the ultra triathlete this year in ahead all this drama with Recycling and that it did put me off for a while. You know, I I felt like a little bit disheartened and I said, you know what maybe I should just take a break from it and When the Spalding's comes I will I will start off with it again. So last week they had a trifling event and I just tested looking and I said should I do it and I'm like I said, I haven't been training much and the entries had clothes and I said, you know what I want to do it. I'm going to do the smaller than the parenthesis and I didn't start off with us again. And I found myself owning organizers and friends and I'm like I wanted in together like but why so last minute so now take that feeling Of wanting to do a triathlon. It's growing on me and it's getting warmer again. So I'm going to start with it and I'm going to get my kids involved as well and maybe get them to do the smaller ones and just let it grow from there. So how many kids do you have? I've got two boys. The wine is aged 14 and the other one is going to be nine years old the 14 year old. He's done a few triathlons as well. I love the swimming. They love the cycling and a lot of that comes from learning it from me. You know, if I'm going to the pool to swim they want to swim with me and and I'm not all right, I love how they compete. You know, they say some healthy is because I'm a mom. They can sort of be the stronger, you know, the more competitive type and I and I often tell them. Yeah, you know what I let you guys win and I let you guys put into faster than either they know that I have this not for running, but they want to spin faster than me. You could with a cycling. It's like, you know, they enjoy it and I love that. I've given this to them that they have is enough for sports. So my 14 year old has found a few triathlons the smaller distances and he enjoys it he and I tell him you know, what you do this you do it for yourself. You don't worry about the other kids that are taking part in a time that you know that they spending or fast or swimming faster. I said, you just do it to enjoy it and and that's what that's what he enjoys, you know that he's taking part and you get those lovely medal and goodie bags and whatever else that the kids are given and I feel I've done them good in giving them the whole love for sports now, that's that's a great lesson, you know, it's fantastic for kids to see their parents out there doing stuff and it sounds like your husband is active as well. So it's a great family and from her. Put all the blame on him. I mean if anybody knows the triangle and feel these quite expensive when we knew like wetsuit and trying to offend you need you goggles, you need goggles for your swimming pool. You need goggles for the ocean you need, you know, all these different things and then he'll be like, oh you were you shopping again online for like things and you're going and buying running stuff in you know, new fitness gear and I said, but you did this to me you showed it to me on the TV and you put it into a 16 point. You just laughed at the whole thing. And in fact, he was the one who kept on saying I want to do Iron Man Iron it and I never really knew what he was talking about the user cyclist. So if what what I've learned is your cycling is basically where most of your childhood comes out from and he he had the cycling and he says I just need to get my Landing right in my psyche in my swimming right? And I'm going to do this Iron Man Iron Man and you know if I didn't sort of Take a chance and do this mini Triathlon with the big mountain bike of 9 and he wouldn't have taken this risk. He often tells me I wouldn't have taken this risk to you know get into it. So I'm happy that I've like helped him to sort of also achieve this this thing that he fell in love what you know watching the sky as well. And yeah, so he's also doing the cycling and running is got a little bit of issues here and there but With the you known eagles with the newly girls and that but it doesn't put him off you he still go to it and he still tries it's nice to hear, you know, your your your your husband side-by-side doing these things with you and I think it makes it more meaningful when you have your family around to support you also. Hmm. So that's yeah, that's basically the triethylamine life of his name and the picture that you have. that they was basically quality Mandela try after you started off speaking about, you know, the country of Mandela and then was to be actors August month is sort of like in memory of him and you know the history around the whole thing with Mandela and that's why Evelyn was basically taken was hosted at a place called The Mandela capture site because like where you want to taken and you know all of that so it's nice that fact Specific picture that was you know, just do everything like my like my country and and I can't begin to explain to you that the humans of triethylene post that went on Instagram. It went viral. It was like all over it why it went to people asking me for a newspaper interview that they wanted to publish it. I got called into a radio interview message swap deal and I told him I said you have no idea what this post is done. I think I'm like everywhere. I said not only about the covered part but about being South African as well as it it's just gone viral in those tiny little country based in the bottom of Africa, you know, he giggles. I'm so happy I gave you that and it didn't just stop there from there. It went into a we are in August which is Woman format as well. So there was a campaign being taken place in you know in celebrating women but month and I got asked to be part of the campaign and campaign is being now on this on this on the store windows on their website, you know sharing my story about my fight against the passion how I got into running and fitness and Firelands and everything. So I go back to the humans of China. Evelyn post and it basically went from one thing to another to me now giving group talks to people. So this is what humans are tires when he's done for me. It's opened up a whole new different light about choosing number one about my be covered in any Renault sport is for everyone and number two about people fighting depression and you know, like opening up and taking help. So thank you for All of those that you've given me, you know, like to expose my my love for triathlons and especially coming from South Africa to show you what what you know tires lilies in our country. No, no, thank you for sharing your story. I think I think the good thing about about what's up Neil has created here is that sort of the reach not like that. The channel has had and been able to dispel so many myths know about what you you can and you cannot do is incredible now in all the stories that we've had from people novembe ceases or accidents or religious constraints, like none of that is a proof. No other none of that has a Regal boundaries on doing whatever you want. And I think traveling is a very good example of something I wouldn't say your typical mom and pop it's not exactly what they do, but it is something that I like. Like impressive know like even though with all these constraints you can actually go and do whatever you want pretty much that's I think that's a message that I've seen that seems to be. Yeah, so I think that's very nice. Okay, I'd like people ask me. Okay. So you've done this 90 kilometer run and you you gone into triathlons and what what you find is like War harder to do and I'll be like, you know what that 90k run was still easier compared to being in The tires with feel and like that mental and the physical every muscle everybody. Like if you're running it's just you know, like a one-way track thing that you're doing like continuously run walk at that and I said, but with the dialing thing you you you basically using everything your mind is sort of like, you know, like like in different places you you trying to you know, like psych yourself up. You know, what just keep going. Just keep going. We're just like it. What being a little bit more in that I did you using everything just to achieve a trial if I did, you know, it's something if you want to do something you really amazing for yourself. It's to do a trial of it. And yeah, so I love the stories on humans of times when I read so many of them everybody's got a story to tell and it's so amazing, you know, like really started off from and how they've achieved and yeah, that's good. Yeah, and I think after well, I think the story also has helped me to understand also the little bit of and to see not even the covered woman with a strong maybe religious beliefs, you know, she can do whatever she wants. I think that's a very from message. I leave in a in a Muslim neighborhood in London and I would say half of my neighbors are covered women and I've always wondered how like I do they feel like trapped or is it normal? They have a life where they can do things and but then I see your story and I'm like wow, so it's just do this dispel a myth just like that. No, it's just you can do anything you want thing is that I have the option where I don't have to be covered up. So it's not like it's like was like forced upon me. I sort of like took it upon myself to want to be covered and it sort of was like I felt like shielded a lot of if you if you speak to a lot of Other women it's sort of like you feel like you and like, you know, it's like a comfort and a protective covering, you know, and I it's nothing that tells me back like even like with the swimming I if I don't want to you know, like we're whatever it is. I'm waiting for swimming. I don't have to but I feel like because I do what I feel is comfortable for me and yes, I'm sure was like a lot of other women as Value set of like it better choice and the comfort is as you would say, you know like to to be how ever you know, they want to dress them. Yeah, and I say I've had like people from other woman who will come and ask questions with regards to you know, like was it forced upon me and take your husband did you do? Others that you don't have like a home with nothing like that. And yeah, so it's interesting to see how people are curious and I always say you know what it's nice to hear people ask gracious than it because you sort of like open the light to what they you know, sort of like have concluded in their mind to sort of, you know, showing them that this does use the real way. Yeah, I think I mean obviously when you have a cover that sort of puts a summer barrier if you want to say With the someone who is not covered and they may feel scared even to ask also approach and you've had in France, for example, I think couple years ago. We had this huge Rao over girls being able to go cover. They're not because he did it was not the norm know. It was very dramatic case, I guess but please great. No to hear that people actually approached you and they ask you questions and so we're sort Out of breaking down those barriers and you see so often like in America and like I said in France and a lot of other countries with the sort of like the Muslim population of White war and they have all these issues where they cannot test the way they want to and they have to you know, take off the head coverings and a lot of us women with in South Africa. We actually we say we are so lucky that we don't have these beings put on us like if you Just one they you know, they not to say that people will say, oh you can't get into the pool because you have you know, all this bling type of clothing on you. So we are so fortunate in so many ways that we have this privilege to participate in Fair. However, we want to and it's not only about like my religion. I mean, they are ladies that are like the Hindu ladies a they can where they Saudis they are other Ladies from the Jewish ladies, they have their different dressing attire. So in three one is allowed to wear whatever you want to wear and feel comfortable. However, you want to feel comfortable and and I always like used to firstly feel like I was like being judged at people worded. But when I saw people walking up to me and talking to me, I realized you know what so we will not have country where people were like Dad you and make fun of you and that they it's especially in the sporting field. People are it's like you're enjoying what you're doing and that in everyone's on their own. So nobody's there to you know, pick on you and places where does it don't do that as a so. It's yeah, but we got lucky. I must say was in South Africa, but we have this big big privilege. Hmm. That's great. Okay, I am going to ask the South Africa question though just from the perception of the West sometimes the perception of going over there so world And chips were last year and I knew there were a few I know of a few people are quite a few people that had decided to turn down the spot because of fear of their safety. So you're someone who's out there you riding bikes here you're involved in sport. It's your community and over here. We're thinking it's not a safe place necessarily to visit but everybody wants to go because it's such a you know, it's such a wonderful place. What's What's actually the what's reality in terms of your safety while you're in South Africa or when you're out riding or just in general? So what we gots to safety you need to be very cautious, you know, like you need to know where you Landing firstly you need to be a we do have a problem with crying or that but like it's certain certain. Areas that you know that it's there, but obviously we just need to have this like don't don't go and do things alone. Don't win cycle like an isolated places or run it quiet places because you're putting yourself at first so but it's not like it's like, you know, you just going to be walking in someone's in the come in like my view and that bit but like when you doing sport the net it's always advisable to do it within groups. Don't just go wandering and doing stuff on your own or do it like at times where you are visible and People can see you. So the the sort of safety is like whipping all of us, you know, safety comes number especially for women, you know, like make sure that you don't go with now run on some beach quietly alone that but I suppose it would be in like any country as well, you know don't go into places where you got to put yourself at says get that out of there. It's like yeah in terms of tightly. We've had we've had some what two incidents you're in the unicyclist getting knocked in. So we try to accommodate, you know, what the with our main roads and that's for safety and stuff and we're quite lucky to have a lot of cycling clubs. So they offer, you know backup vehicles and that is the day he's ways of being safe and when it comes to doing events, there is a big amount of safety that goes into it, you know with the Ironman events or whether it's the hosted by the ultra events or whoever is hosting a Get that data, no closures. The safety of the athlete is, you know first and most important. So you said like other are you Ted fear of coming out if I'm not mistaken if it was in PE because it was the irony in PE the Champs. I think it's hosted the and PE is a beautiful beautiful country or Province. It's like it's really really like one of the nicest, you know courses that you can do. Boy died in bed. So they they eat a lot that goes in with in safety for the athlete when it comes to doing an event and it's coming in as a tourist you obviously you have to be cautious. You know, what they they are people that going to try and like take advantage of like they can identify you or your tattoo artist in our country and you know, they might just want to try and scam you or you know pickpocket your day and that but so we tell anyone who liked visiting in there from other places you Just need to be cautious, you know, don't just take it for granted like your yo-yos your belongings, you know to delete it out, but it's not like somebody's just going to like come in attacked you and that the yeah, thank you because like it's true. It's perceptions on everything. So if you're not there you're far away, you know, and you hear all you hear is news a news on the TV and of course our news only tells us bad things. They never tell us for Yeah, it's only in certain areas. But if a country has that like your certain areas will have your you know, the bad that like the and then you'll have the good areas where you know, like things are not is be it. So I think it's worth in every country that has like all these issues in that day that gives like we would say. Oh, we don't want to go to people because it just seems like people are out there to like Maga said, you know, and then because like when it was the World Cup, and they had all these issues. Shoes going on about people just like, you know having all their belongings left from the minute yet others within the countries that you know, what it so be certain areas that have them and and and people were like no. Okay. There's a whole group of tourists, you know, I mean with criminals they they quite clever they know okay this whole group of tourists are coming in so they like going to be like easy targets of it. So with every country the I think you just have to have that extra stuff. You know, that mindset that don't just take things for granted, you know, look after yourself and your business. Agreed agreed and and we don't have lions and giraffes free roaming people have this thing that always Africa and we have like you said Mayan King comes from Africa and you know the whole if you're just think we just have these animals at all be free and no it's not like that. They all nice and happy in there, you know game farms or whatever in the wildest they are so we don't have them know me. And I'll be tackling. Good point good point. Yeah, but we had one incident now recently where there was a guy who was bleeding cheetahs and one of them it was a little cup and got free and ended up in someone's yard. And we said, oh there's did now people from overseas are going to say we have cheetahs are only going to be you know, they did manage to catch it and release it into the wild. But yeah. Suppose you you like you said with the news, you know people just believe things that they see there and it's only like once you have inside from other people. Do you actually know like, okay don't go here. Don't go there. Don't do this. Don't do that. Hmm. Exactly and and yet you did you say that you're coming to South Africa next year to participate in our or whatever. Oh, no you are right. So I'm going yeah, I'm doing a Port Elizabeth Ironman in March next year. That's exciting. Yeah, you've been there before. Is that it? The country are taking off your box the Box were no I've been there actually a now that testing was talking about the safety and whatnot. I just remind remember that I did a road trip by myself in South Africa 10 years ago. No like myself with a car from Cape Town to an important debate to East London to Durban to joburg and it was fine honestly, and it's actually beautiful. If you did the guy from Cape Town to to East London and that helps That's basically our Garden Route and is one of the most beautiful you you're basically coming down to the most southern tip of Africa. That's like the end of Africa so that you basically covered all of that that whole Cape Coast little area is one of the most beautiful breathtaking areas within South Africa the oceans and the two oceans need and they're to you you've done quite quite a nice root of traveling was very nice. I mean, I did it I did it so many times. Things in so little time and all from obviously from drinking the very nice South African wine to having as I said before amazing steak everywhere you go. I did this super high bungee jump in a bridge in the middle of nowhere, which was like super frightening, but I was not going to do it. But once I saw a 14 year old kid asking his mom for permission. I said, I cannot allow this this thing to happen if I need to do it, so Then I did it out of Pride. Yeah, and I saw I saw sharks in in a cage super frightening. You uniquely be you see this super huge black eye swimming next to you. I mean, there's so many things I cannot explain the amount of stuff that I did in South Africa is just incredible and I felt safe at all times. Yes, there's a lot we have so much going on like you said the shark diving and that Those are you probably did the one in Cape Town with the great whites. I'm sure yeah, those are yeah, we stay we don't have great ways. We've got the smaller more friendlier looking one. So we don't have the big great whites in our oceans. I don't think any of us would want to swim if we knew we had them there. So yeah, that's that's quite Brave that you did dive what them and yeah, there is a lot a lot. Got to tour in a lot to see with it. And they and by the way, they said African government. If you hear this, we are happy to take any contributions for just promoting a country's. All right, I mean anything you want. There's no there's no amount that you need to give it's just a corporation. Yeah, could it be a huge influx of tourists coming in and triathletes coming your way? So exactly. Yeah. Yeah. It's at The Wedding, March 5th. That's our full Ironman. You hosted in the Deep one. That's it ready for you to or maybe who knows a guy just take a chance at decide over the D will be Adventure doesn't go inside. So I just need to build up on this. I keep thinking maybe in another year or two and hopefully, you know, that was like that was actually my next question. So you just named Patel the cover athlete from South Africa. What is next for you? You like so much. So I was actually telling my husband I would like and what I can man thing you told me it was cheapest full Ironman distance, but I want to First achieve the 70.3 and maybe do one or two more of it, you know, just sort of a two fold up into that, you know bigger distances. My mind tells me already that you know what I can do it and I can't achieve the big eye in there. So that's already like confidence, you know if you have that. I recognized it. It's basically physically you will feel like you can achieve it and then Stephen jarrow the we have that Mount Kilimanjaro time in real so that's also has been sort of like appealing and we have such beautiful tail running events as well that come about in South Africa. So that is also like catching my eye and I said, you know what we are so fortunate there's so much in the fitness field to be offered. And it's like, you know, you just you need to know what you want to do and when you want to do it and how to get to know each achieve in separately. So, yeah, so definitely the Ironman 70.3. I'm going back to finish my 90k bike thing. What did you know each one full distances, you know if we have that OCD as every athlete who won that one point nine and you want that 92 show all on your timesheet. So that's why I'm going for now. And yeah, after that they'll see so I like I said, you know, we have this comedy event, which is the 90k run and they hosted basically either it will start from it starts from pietermaritzburg to the urban or they will have the turbine to pick tomatoes book. So it's either called the upper hand or the down run the I've done the doubt and now I still need to go back and Achieve that up. So that's also on my to do list of events. So yeah slowly slowly getting picked up and left and definitely the triumphant field is the first I think things I need to achieve very nice to hear good. It's good. You know what everybody needs to have gold everybody needs to have something to work for especially if you're passionate like FDA did it and you know what? I am growing up as a kid. I was never the sporty type I was there. Shy girl, you know when they were like picking teams, I did that last one that they would choose because I had Butterfingers, you know participating in whatever sport it was so I didn't I always say if I knew I had that in me, you know to be that passionate Sports loving person. I you know, I would have like, you know done all the sport I could wear as a kid. I used to walk I used to swim but I didn't know I had some snuff or all of these other things. And everyone it's never too late, you know you it grows on you and it just becomes a part of your life. And I said I'll always be the old lady that will still be taking part in all these running and cycling available. You know, it's so yeah, it's good to have these goals that carry us through exactly. All right, so I think unfortunately we're running out of time. I'm being the bad cop here and it's been such a The pool check with all of you is I think I just focus focus focus. So no actually we actually have to say that in 55 episode or 56. I think this is 56. Usually, you know, we the host conduct people with questions, but I think this is maybe the second place a second time that I hear someone just start and go very structured one by one sign all the story without having to To do to inquires I was I was amazed have to say super eloquent die just like answered all your questions were like, okay, we won't ask her the questions. She's just going through with it. You know, she's just answering all our questions. I think you yes Sheila. You said you taking part in this Iron Man tomorrow? What? What is your surname? I have to go and check up in T. And what is the whole Ironman thing about a bit? Oh, it's true 11, so Tre L. EA ve n and I don't know do you have the Ironman app on your phone? Yes. Yes. Yeah. So if you look up the Ironman Mont-Tremblant, I'm number 49 wedding at all. Okay, that's so it's super I'm gonna go check it out the dead you have but good luck for your race tomorrow and we just don't like getting to all of you. Yeah. Yeah, it's been amazing, but we're not going to let you go until you answer our for mandatory question we quickly. I have to say something. Okay, so I think you go ahead. I've been in contact with us now basically nastya. Sometimes he asked me to share my story about how I got it to try it. And anyway, I sent him the story and it was just not happening for us to do this podcast and you know, eventually I just did ask, you know, I don't don't worry about it. It's fine. Don't worry about my story and everything and when this humans of triathletes story I'd went onto Instagram and Facebook. I didn't know about it. I had no idea that you know, my story is being out there and the next thing I knew I got people messaging me and I had my picture all over and I was like what is going on? I didn't know all of this was happening. People were like telling me my husband you about it first. So I just have to I found it. So amazing everybody knew about it, except me. So yeah, that's just like a huge huge surprise for me. Well, I'm glad it worked. There to be a great prize and I Sawyer, you're the picture of your big giant poster of you and your that campaign you were speaking about and it's oh, yeah. Thank you so much. Yes. Yeah, that's it was just like also such a big 3/8 and they were so nice to be part of this whole campaign also. Hmm. Okay, so you were about to ask me like one last question. All right. I'm sorry for oh no, hold on. Yeah. You want to start off show you that with a question? Sure. So the beginning of our four questions, this is question. Number one. What message do you want people listening to the show today to take away from your story? Okay. So the first thing is a lot of time a lot of people begin to put the own needs aside, especially with women begin to have the same way. We don't allocate time for ourselves and I think with men also the you know sort of get hooked up in work and stuff and we neglect ourselves. So my message is you know, what take that little bit of me time and energy to yourself. You you owe it to yourself to just find something passionate and just go for it and work for you. And if you are in the sporting field, it is something that you know, you say I want to do it then you can just cook it and you know commit to the training and we have that mindset that I'm going to achieve this and just go for whatever it is that you want to go for the right method is to review as women kind of forget about ourselves sometimes. Yeah, and and you know, what coming from being a mum and I work as well and that I've learned the importance of allocating this V time and and I always say I still tight, you know to to get that to them in order to get that run in order to get that jump time in it's like you're trying to like Shepherd it in between all your busy errands that you are doing and I say, you know, what if I don't make this be time for myself, I think I'll just be like a one-way track, you know, just continuously doing everything and not worrying about myself and and especially when I realized this was when I got sick and you know that I just basically neglected myself. There is why I have this thing for sports where you know, it's for me and my big It's Challenge and I have to like achieve anything that either I put my mind to. All right. Well, so question number two numero dos are there any people or brands that you like to give a shout-out to I have to give a big shout-out to Auto style Motorsport, that is my running club it my place of employment and my Cycling Club as well. And it's the people within the that sort of motivated. We also more into the sport and got me more into running and they're so big shout out to them for, you know, giving me this like and seeing that I had this passion for for sports and direct. We need more into it. So definitely a big shelter to APA style. All right. Oh before we ask our very last question. Can you tell everybody listening today where they can find you online? Okay. So I am on Instagram. My Instagram name is T is underscore n ee em and it's my full name is to steam dock, right? Okay, so to sleep Patel is my marriage, Saline. And the other stunning that's my maiden surname so and Facebook as well. You can find me on it just means doctorate and I think everyone will be able to identify the picture like the same picture all over. Yeah, so that's basically how you can get hold of me. I'm more active on Instagram. Then I am on Facebook. So yeah, and I'm you know what? I'm open to any any people asking questions any advice like I said, you know, like my story came from a battle of fighting depression and I can't begin to explain the amount of messages. I receive from people like with only with in South Africa, but other countries like looking for advice asking for you know, like people trying to seek help into getting better. So I'm like an open book if you want any question or any advice and willing to help or you know, Try and see what I can do for other people as well. All right, and our last very last question the most important question ever in this podcast. Why do you try I try because I gave up on myself. I I was fighting this depression and I said I give up and when I found trifling I said You know what you gave up on yourself, but now you are going to try to be better. So that was my little my little mind that thing that I used to have in the back you are going to try to be better. That's where the whole childhood thinking it. So trifling for me is huge. It's physically and it's meant to be you know, but someone to fight a mental illness and to see that you know, what you can come out mentally strong to achieve whatever you want to achieve. That's what dry Upland is Hope. Woogie all right. Thank you. Very very very much for coming on today. That's name is been very awesome, too. Yeah, absolutely. And and then I look forward to seeing you with in South Africa that that would be nice. You have to tell me when you are around and it would be good to you know to meet you people in person. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. I think I'm thinking about being I'm not sure where exactly your base, but I'm thinking maybe In a few days in joburg and then head out head down to to PE maybe spend a couple more days in Cape Town and then go back home but peanuts. I'm in the quad Zulu the towel. So that's like your we if you've heard of like King Shaka and you know all the Muslim guy and all those kind of areas. It's more like the warmer coastal areas of Cape Town has Mordecai schools warm Waters and we have the warm. One side of the ocean. So yeah. Definitely we most of we have all the Keystone in people coming to Durban to come and enjoy a warmer water. Oh, yeah, you definitely need to come and visit our our provinces. Well, yeah, definitely definitely sounds nice. Okay will do will do. Yes a good luck Sheila for your wrist, but I'm definitely going to go and check up on you. Thank you so much. I can use all the chairs and I could get so it'd be awesome. Yes. All right. Thank you so much and have a have a wonderful day. And yeah shame she liked you but up at 5 a.m. So now you can go and catch a smooth again after a little bit and then I have to go and bring in my bike and all my gear bags and check them in today. So getting that ready to all right, thank you so much. Thank you so much. Destiny manned you all listeners. Thank you very much for listening whether you are in a car driving commute to work or in the tube in the subway in the beach or if you use this for training for motivation and you are right now punching through the pedals in front of Swift and sweating like a pig in your in your credit score the pain cave then thank you very much and I will see you very soon. Ciao. Ciao. Thanks for listening everyone. Thanks for being a part of this humans of triathlon Community. Hope you're enjoying the show and I love the content make sure to join us again next week. You're on the hot podcast where we'll bring you another amazing guest and story from this Audrey, but extra Audrey world of triathlon until then everyone keep trying.
This week we have our first guest from South Africa - Tasneem Patel. She's a fully covered athlete who has been called as "The Covered One". Tasneem was never the athletic type, but a vicious cycle of mental illness began her journey to be active. In 2016, she ran her first Comrades Ultra; a 89km run within SA. By late-2017, she did her first Olympic-distance. 2018 was the year to achieve a 70.3, but life had unexpected turns. With the loss of her dad, she lost her way in training. However, in late 2018, her love, mindset & passion returned - and she's determined to complete an Ironman. Tune in as we talk about all things South Africa and how Tasneem's story is yet another example that anyone can be a triathlete, regardless of religious beliefs...or anything else. - TASNEEMS SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram | Facebook  - SUBSCRIBE, RATE & REVIEW: if you enjoy the show and haven't left a review yet, it would mean a lot to us if you could leave the podcast a positive review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes. - H.O.T SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram | Facebook | Strava | Website  - HOSTS: Swapneel Chouhan, Sheila Treleaven, & Carlos (Charles) Galan  - INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC: produced by Vasil Zguri at SoundPulse 