South African Robyn Owen is a world’s best women’s multisport athlete 2018. Robyn finished the legendary Kathmandu Coast to Coast World Championship 243km race course as a winner 2018 with the time of 12.44 h.
I had the opportunity to see Robyn’s great finish and her running through the cheering people holding a flag of South Africa above her head. Warm congratulations for an absolutely strong and awesome performance!
Robyn was the fastest on the running stage of the race last year placing second in overall race and came back in 2018 to win the whole race.
Robyn looks very humble with kind smile of her face. After reading a few articles about her, I feel that she is one of those genuine people. Which is why I really wanted to do this interview, but also she is amazing adventure athlete.
She has incredible achievements during past years in trail running, kayaking, adventure racing and multisport all over the world.
To Robyn’s homepages from HERE.
Let's find out the secrets, strengths and hard work behind the incredible Robyn Owen.
I had the opportunity to see Robyn’s great finish and her running through the cheering people holding a flag of South Africa above her head. Warm congratulations for an absolutely strong and awesome performance!
Robyn was the fastest on the running stage of the race last year placing second in overall race and came back in 2018 to win the whole race.
Robyn looks very humble with kind smile of her face. After reading a few articles about her, I feel that she is one of those genuine people. Which is why I really wanted to do this interview, but also she is amazing adventure athlete.
She has incredible achievements during past years in trail running, kayaking, adventure racing and multisport all over the world.
To Robyn’s homepages from HERE.
Let's find out the secrets, strengths and hard work behind the incredible Robyn Owen.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your multisport background?
It started with family camping weekends, hikes, and mountain bike rides. I’ve always loved the outdoors and being active. When I was a young teenager there was a fun multisport series in my area and I did a few small races. Then I fell in love with river kayaking and that became my sport for a few years. Later I moved to the other side of South Africa where the rivers are boring but I have beautiful mountains on my doorstep; so I became a trail runner. Next I got invited onto an Adventure Racing team, and through that I heard about the Coast to Coast.
How far ahead of the race did you come to NZ for training?
2 weeks
What things did you train for once you arrived in New Zealand?
2 weeks before the race is too late for any real “training”. It was just getting familiar with the course, getting comfortable in the boat, double checking and testing out bike set-up, practicing transitions, fiddling with drink-systems, etc.
I did the Goat Pass run twice – quite slowly taking time to look at all the route options. I paddled the full 70 km river section once and then the braids from Woodstock to the finish a second time; and I did a few short rides along the course. Apart from that just a few short sightseeing run/hikes and paddles: trying to rest as much as possible without going crazy from sitting still.
Did you have especially tough training sessions for Kathmandu Coast to coast back home? What kind?
Quite a few! One stand-out day was when we set the fastest known time (FKT) for the Jonkershoek Marathon – a traverse of the spectacular and rugged horseshoe ridgeline which forms the skyline around the valley where I live (8h09 for approximately 31 km with my brother Lance Kime and a friend David Krone). It’s been a popular challenge for the hardcore local mountain enthusiasts since the 1960’s and in recent years a few of South Africa’s most acclaimed trail runners have held the record (although the terrain does not allow for much actual running). It is a tough but stunningly beautiful route and a wonderful challenge!
What would you say to foreigners wanting to participate abroad in this race or any other race?
Do it! Racing these kinds of events is a wonderful way to see the world; it’s a great way to experience new landscapes, and meet different people. It is tough to race in a foreign environment but the whole experience is all the more rewarding because of it! Do your research, chat to as many people as you can for advice, devise creative ways to train at home, travel out early if you can. Getting fully immersed in the opportunity for learning, experiencing different environments and connecting with people is what it’s all about!
What does your normal training week look like? Do you train equally all 3 sports (trailrun, bike and kayaking)?
[This is always the question I dread…] I have a phobia of “routine” and despite frequent resolutions and occasional earnest efforts; I am really bad at keeping a log of what I do, never mind sticking to a program!
In my biggest weeks leading up to Coast to Coast I probably did between 30 and 40 hours of training (a lot of it is very slow). This year I probably did about 45% running (because I like it most), 45 % biking (because I needed to most) and 10% kayaking (where I live now it’s not the most inspiring activity to do)..
What are you strengths in multisport and adventure racing?
A strong kayaking background, a love for rough terrain on running / trekking legs, and some general insanity :)
What is your favorite training session when preparing for adventure race?
Exploring somewhere beautiful I’ve never been before.
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What are your secrets for mental toughness?
If I tell you they’ll no longer be secrets ;) (Or maybe I just don’t know…)
Do you practice mental training?
Not that I particularly think of as such but I guess I do.
I mentally go through the race, visualizing each of the legs, the transitions, the prominent landmarks and critical points. Partly it’s just to make sure all my logistics and kit are sorted out but the exercise is also mental preparation. Travelling for a race forces me to do my packing and mental preparation further in advance and a few times over – I think there may be some benefit to that?
I’ve also recently started trying some meditation. Improved general mental health and happiness is the goal rather than athletic performance but I think some of the techniques can be useful in a race.
It is said that nutrition is one of the most important elements of training to achieve excellent results. Do you have special nutrition? Race food?
Mostly I eat what I think is quite a normal healthy diet with lots of vegetables. I don’t exclude anything. I try continuously focus on eating more good stuff rather than less bad stuff.
For the race I’ve copied below the list I’ve just sent to someone else who asked:
Drink for run and bike: Best4Sports Race Fuel (half strength or 1 bottle juice, 1 bottle water)
Drink for Kayak: Best4Sports Race Recovery (as a meal replacement - 2 litres mixed half-strength) + river water.
Additional nutrition: Best4Sports Supagels and CrampNots, Racefood nougat "Fast bars" & buttery date "Far bars", Baked baby potatoes, bananas. I aim for at least 1 good big mouthful of whichever food I feel like most every hour (estimated very roughly as I don't actually wear a watch.)
Do you have a coach? Tell us little bit how you work together.
No, I don’t have a coach.
How do you ensure your livelihood?
Racing related sponsorship (my primary sponsor is Best4Sports), along with private tutoring and mountain guiding work (For the Love of Adventure is a small guiding business I own with my husband who also works as a University lecturer)
What would be the best race you have ever done and why?
Tough question! Maybe the Coast to Coast, just because it’s so fresh in my memory?
The course is spectacular, presents a unique complex array of challenges and is surrounded by an awesome atmosphere. My whole journey from first hearing about the event; choosing it as a goal; making all the arrangements and coming out to race on my own last year; loving the experience; going home and training harder; bringing my brother and friends out with me this year; getting to race against so many amazing women. It has all been a wonderful journey and to win at the end was very special for me!
What is your favorite leisure time activity?
Does rock climbing count as leisure? Or paragliding? Or slacklining? Or yoga?
What would you like say to a person who is wanting to start participating multisport or adventure races – how to get started?
If you’re a fit healthy person, you can ride a bike, and you can kayak; then just go enter a race! Give it a try. You’ll make new friends who can help you, and you’ll learn very quickly!
(First you do need to be able to run, cycle and kayak – Your closest run/cycle/kayak club or store are the best starting points.)
What is your next race?
Probably Expedition Africa.
I wish you best of the luck in the future and warm congratulations for earning the title of World Champion of Multisport 2018!
PS. Reader - here is TIP from Krisse:
In case you visit South Africa (Stellenbosch and the Western Cape) - you'll might want to contact Robyn and Mike for your hiking/trail run etc...adventure dream come true in South Africa!
I would - contacts HERE
At the amazing finishline of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast: