Fawn Whiting is a Canadian triathlete and member of #TeamInfinit. Fawn splits her time between Vancouver, BC and Mooloolaba, Australia. Before she fell in love with triathlon, Fawn competed in gymnastics and figure skating, before transitioning to distance running when she began University.
Throughout her University career at UBC, Fawn completed her masters in physiotherapy while also racing for the Thunderbirds in track and field (marathon) and cross country. After graduation, Fawn began to train in swimming and cycling, as was soon signed up for her first long distance triathlon in 2012, at Ironman Canada in Penticton, BC. After finishing as the 9th female in the race, Fawn was hooked and the rest is history. Learn a little more about Fawn through the questions below, including her favourite cheat meal, the most valuable piece of advice she has learnt, and what a typical day in her life looks like.
What/Who is your favourite:
Throughout her University career at UBC, Fawn completed her masters in physiotherapy while also racing for the Thunderbirds in track and field (marathon) and cross country. After graduation, Fawn began to train in swimming and cycling, as was soon signed up for her first long distance triathlon in 2012, at Ironman Canada in Penticton, BC. After finishing as the 9th female in the race, Fawn was hooked and the rest is history. Learn a little more about Fawn through the questions below, including her favourite cheat meal, the most valuable piece of advice she has learnt, and what a typical day in her life looks like.What/Who is your favourite:
Athlete: My
favourite athlete is Bo Horvat. I like that he was a rookie, but blew everyone
away in his first year as a Canuck.
TV Show: Suits
Movie: Ocean’s Eleven
Song: “Free”-
Rudmental
Food: Peanut butter
Cheat Meal: Still
peanut butter
Author: Mitch Albom
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew
up?
A gymnast
or a veterinarian
What is your favourite/most memorable moment as an athlete?
Placing 3rd
in my age group at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii in 2016
What is your greatest accomplishment?
In sport my
greatest accomplishment is my most recent race. I finished 5th Female Pro in
Ironman Canada in 9:46:07. It was my
first time breaking 10 hours in an Ironman and it was a challenging course and
windy day.
Who is your hero and why?
My mom,
because of her strength, patience and selflessness.
What does being an athlete mean to you?
Dedication
to sport and striving for improvement in the good times and in the more
difficult times.
What one or two things do you currently do in your training
that are keys to your success?
1) Consistency: I don’t believe in major breakthroughs in
ability or at least this has never happened to me. My improvements have come
slowly from training day after day, week after week, and year after year.
2) Putting in the effort and not giving up in my workouts. Some workouts may not be as speedy as others,
but I’m always giving my best effort.
What would be your ultimate achievement in life?
To always
keep striving for improvement…. Keep the possibilities open.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
When I was on the track team at UBC and was running my first
marathon, my coach told me that there would be highs and lows in the race and
to expect them. This is even more true in Ironman racing so I don’t worry too
much if I am having a low, because chances are it won’t last.
Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
“Why not?”
Do you have any pre-race/competition rituals?
Trying on my race suit at least a few times during the week
before the race
Eating the same dinner the night before the race- rice and
tuna
If you could train with any athlete, dead or alive, who
would it be and why?
Heather Jackson – I am so impressed by her strength and
modesty
What’s something interesting about you that most people
don’t know?
I broke my elbow a month after I did my first Ironman in
2012 and ended up having 2 surgeries to fix it. Now I have a metal piece about
2 inches long in my elbow called a radial head replacement. I still don’t have
full range of motion and likely never will but I don’t let that stop me.
What is your training schedule like?
I swim 5-6 days a week, bike 4-5 days a week and run 4-5
days a week. I still work as a physiotherapist 2 days a week. My training is variable based on where I am
at in my Ironman build but typically Mondays and Tuesdays are my easier days,
Wednesdays includes a hard bike and Thursdays, a hard run. Friday is a lighter
day and Saturday includes a long ride with a run off the bike, and Sunday is a
swim and a long run.
What does a typical “Day in the Life” look like for you?
I love to train in the morning so I’m typically up early for
my first workout, usually a swim. I enjoy my second breakfast and coffee after
my first workout and then typically I’m out for my second workout of the
day. Several days a week, I go to work
in the afternoons and see patients until the evening. On the days I don’t work,
I try to relax and rest and prepare for the next day’s workouts. When I can fit
it in, I practice Pilates or yoga. I’m lucky that my partner does Ironman
events as well so we can train together on the weekends.
Favourite Infinit blend:
Repair in Chocolate Flavour (InfinitTip: Just leave us a note a checkout asking to try it in Chocolate!), but I’m excited to try the new
Infinit Cold Brew!
