Pro Files: Solveig Løvseth on her Ironman World Championship Win and 70.3 World Championship Race

This week on Another Triathlon Podcast, we sit down with the woman who just turned the entire long course world upside down. Newly crowned Ironman World Champion Solveig Løvseth joins Jenna-Caer, Josh and Fede for a raw and thoughtful conversation about her rise through the Norwegian system, the reality behind her sudden long course success, and what it actually felt like to win Kona in her first attempt.

Solveig opens up about her beginnings as a young swimmer, the unexpected push into triathlon from a coach who saw something in her, and the surreal moment she found herself training alongside Kristian, Gustav and Casper long before she ever believed she belonged.

From identity shifts to breakthrough races, confidence struggles to calmness on the biggest stage in the world, this is Solveig like you have never heard her before.

Highlights
• From swimmer to triathlete
• Early days with the Norwegian national team
• Short course pressure and Olympic ambitions
• The decision to switch to long course
• Breakthrough performance in Hamburg
• Winning Kona and processing the moment
• Resetting for 70.3 Worlds
• Training with and without the national team
• Real race day nutrition stories
• Tackling the Marbella bike course
• Plans and possibilities for 2025
• Fun quickfire questions

Quickfire Q&A
• Brown cheese or jelly? Jelly before races, brown cheese for everything else.
• Is she part of the “Norwegian method”? She laughs that even she isn’t sure what it really is.
• Who she’d race an Ironman alongside? Kristian, Gustav or Casper as perfect pace keepers.
• Best advice she’s learned? Be patient, stay consistent, enjoy the work.
• Where’s the Kona umeke going? She hasn’t received it yet—still waiting for delivery.

Follow the show
📸 @anothertriathlonpodcast

Transcript

Another Triathlon Pod (00:00.852)
Welcome back to another Triathlon podcast brought to you by Mona Apparel. This week we've got an awesome interview, someone who has definitely shaken up the Triworld, especially in the last month, but we are joined this week by Salvik Loveseth. So we wanted to say welcome. Thank you so much for joining us. How are you doing?

Solveig (00:16.847)
Thank you, it's so nice to be here.

Another Triathlon Pod (00:19.904)
That's fantastic. then joined as always by Josh and Fed. And we're just going to kind of jump in and learn a little bit more about you and your career to this point. And then we'll dive into some of the fun that happened just this last weekend. But why don't you tell us first kind of a little bit about how you got into travel?

Solveig (00:38.67)
I started out actually with swimming. Just started swimming just to learn to swim basically. in first grade in school and I couldn't swim at that point. I think I just liked to swim and then I stuck with that and was training it quite seriously up until I was around 14, 15 and I didn't really feel...

that good at it to be honest. was training quite well but compared to the other swimmers in my same age I was just a bit behind and it was actually my swim coach then who suggested I should try triathlon instead and I was very, didn't really like that idea at first. Triathlon is...

still a really small sport in Norway and at that point I just I didn't know anything about triathlon or anyone who did it and I just for me triathlon was just Norsemen because that's like the only triathlon people have heard about here so and it's still like that now actually if I say to somebody that I do triathlon they're just like you do Norsemen but yeah I felt like it was just like weird people who did it and I it took a while for me to like get used to the thought and then I

Josh (01:45.006)
Yes.

Josh (01:52.62)
Ha ha ha

Fed (01:52.896)
you

Solveig (02:03.406)
I actually went on a camp with the national team and I saw that, it's actually at least some other people my age doing this. And yeah, I just really liked it.

Josh (02:15.544)
So you said like, even with the swim background, you still identify the swim as like the mentally toughest part of triathlon.

Solveig (02:24.639)
Yeah, for sure. But I think that's also part of it that I have always done swimming. So it was probably a bit mentally hard for me already back then. I think I started triathlon because I didn't really feel like I mastered the swim. And I think I sort of has taken that mentality with me a bit into triathlon. And it's actually something I'm working on now to just

It is a lot about mindset and confidence as well in the swim. So I think it definitely doesn't help if you talk yourself down as a swimmer. I think that has also just been something I've tried to reflect more about just the last years that it is about believing you can actually improve as a swimmer as well. So I'm optimistic now for my future swimming.

Josh (03:19.598)
So the short course world definitely forces you to learn how to swim at extreme paces. I like to say mostly, but what got you started in short course? said your swim coach said that let's move into triathlon and from there, how did the process work? I know we've talked to Gustaf and figured out the Norwegian way, but how did it work for you specifically?

Solveig (03:35.35)
Mm.

Solveig (03:45.965)
Yeah, feel like I started in a really good time. Actually, felt really lucky about like sort of when I made that transition. I started in the beginning of 2015. yeah, think Gustav and Kristian and Kasper started more around 2010, 2011. So it was sort of already like an established group there. But at the same time, it was still a really new national team. So it wasn't really...

that much structure and it was still very few athletes. So basically I could just go on camp with the national team right away without any background in triathlon at all. My first camp was with that whole team, with Christian Gustav, everyone. I didn't even have a road bike or anything, I just borrowed one from the National Federation. So the first time I rode that bike was on this national team camp.

Another Triathlon Pod (04:42.688)
Crazy.

Solveig (04:42.764)
It was just really about, yeah, if you want to try triathlon, just join us basically. Which made me have good role models and good coaches and everything from the start. I think that's harder already now in Norway. And definitely if you're from bigger triathlon nations, you sort of need to prove yourself first and then you can maybe get some treatment like that.

They were just like, we need all the athletes we can get, so it doesn't matter if you're good or not. As long as you're willing to try, then we're willing to try to help you.

Fed (05:18.848)
That's amazing. I wanted to ask you, so you grew up a swimmer and when did you make the shift mentally of I'm a swimmer who does triathlon to I'm just a triathlete now or do you still consider yourself a swimmer that is pretty good at triathlon? And also when you go to the pool, do you swim with a watch or are you still a swimmer and eight people swimming with watches?

Solveig (05:42.812)
Mm-mm. I have enough.

yeah, it's a lot of good questions. I definitely don't identify myself as a swimmer anymore. Then I would be a bad swimmer, unfortunately. But it took some time actually still for me to identify myself as a triathlete and that goes back to what I said about I felt like it was a really weird sport and I was probably a bit insecure when I was 15 and I didn't know anybody else who did that so...

It took a while before I started to actually say I did triathlon. Even when I was really training for triathlons, I still said to people when I met them for the first time that I did swimming because I felt like that was like a more normal answer. I don't know, I think it took like a year or two before I just realized like, okay, you need to like own it. That's what you're actually doing. So just say you're doing triathlon. And now it's just fun to look back at.

Fed (06:35.296)
You

Another Triathlon Pod (06:35.904)
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And how did you find out? you started out more with the short course training with the Norwegian Federation. How did you find the short course racing?

Solveig (06:45.131)
Mm.

Solveig (06:49.739)
It's really fun. again, I feel really lucky for the group I was with, which made the training really fun. And we have been a lot of camps and I also just, I still think short cut is really cool to watch and just how like the margin counts. And obviously it's way more tactics and yeah, it's really cool to see how good the best are. But I was also always struggling a bit again with the swim and

I felt like it was always making me really nervous before races and it was always about if I had a good swim or not. Sometimes I could have a good swim for me and that would make the race so fun, but other times I would just be too far behind. Basically the rest of the race wasn't fun either because then you're just more by yourself and you feel like you already lost the race and then you need to continue for one and half hours even though you feel like you're sort of out of it.

That was also mentally challenging, think, to never give up in races when I felt like I wasn't really fighting for any good positions anyway.

Josh (07:59.786)
In the lead up to the Olympic builds and qualifying for the Olympics and all of that, is there a specific race or time in your training in the short course world where you remember, hey, I belong here. I am a triathlete or this is the race that where everything clicked.

Solveig (08:06.016)
Mm.

Solveig (08:20.355)
I feel like the beginning of 2023 was for me quite good actually and I was really proud of the races I did there. think my first race that season was I did a World Cup in New Zealand where I got my first podium. So that was really fun and that was when I maybe started to think a bit that I could qualify for Olympics and then I...

I had the European Games that summer where I won that race, which for me was probably the most fun race I've done ever in short course. And then we had the relay the same weekend where we also won the relay there. So for me, that was really cool, I think. But I didn't really have many races where I really felt like I was very competitive, especially not in the WTCS races. There I always felt like it was more like damage control.

Another Triathlon Pod (09:19.614)
Yeah, absolutely. And when did you, so obviously you made the transition to middle distance and long course shortly after that. What was the reasoning behind that? Where did it kind of click really like, I want to try this longer distance.

Solveig (09:34.898)
Yeah, I think like actually straight after Paris, I was very set on another Olympics and just focusing on that. think I really wanted like a redo because the race in the Olympics really didn't go well and I still felt like I hadn't sort of reached my potential in short course and I probably haven't but I was really set on that and I was also thinking like if

If it's going to be possible for me to have like a really good race in next Olympics, I can't really afford to focus on anything else than that because it's going to like need everything I have to be able to maybe get in a position where I could, for instance, podium. So that was definitely the plan. then later that year I did 70 with three worlds and just thought the training for that was really fun.

I was there with Casper, which was also, he was also planning to do it, but he crashed the day before the race, unfortunately. But we were living there together and he was a bit unsure what he wanted to do next year. He was also thinking about doing more long course and like Ironman. And before that, I hadn't even thought about doing a full distance. But something just switched a bit, I think, during that camp and when I got home from New Zealand.

I think was something like people has always told me that I will do better in long course. So especially like the people in the Norwegian team has always told me that. It was something that I was thinking like that I don't need to make it just like hard for myself with sticking to short course when I also sort of felt that maybe I would feel a bit more like I was matching a bit better if I actually tried.

Fed (11:09.321)
Yeah.

Solveig (11:32.275)
to focus more on the Ironman distance. So I decided to just give it a year and see what I thought after that. that's what I've been doing this year.

Josh (11:40.61)
Just a little bit. So when you talk about like your training camps and all of that, how has that looked since you've gone from the short course world into the 70.3 and full distance world? Are you training with the guys? How is your environment? like, what does that look like right now?

Solveig (11:42.227)
You

Solveig (12:01.467)
This year it has been a bit mixed. It's been a bit weird for me because I've always been a part of that national team maybe for 10 years, like ever since I started with Triathlon. the national team is like short-court focused, so if you do Ironman you can't really be a part of that. It doesn't really make sense for them to pay for my camps if I'm not doing the races and stuff like that.

It's been the first year where I've been a bit more on my own. But that being said, I've still done two altitude camps together with the national team. Which I think has been great. I really appreciate that they let me join the camps. The only difference is that I pay for it myself. But I can still join their sessions and of course adjust a little bit just because I'm doing other races.

The training is surprisingly similar. They do a lot of threshold, I still do a lot of threshold, so it's not really major changes. I change up some sessions if I'm going to have more arm and specific. But it's still just nice to have that group. I still have the same coach as when I was in the national team and he's coaching the whole national team, so it makes even more sense for me to join their camp sometimes if it fits my schedule because then I can also be with Mikael.

Yeah, train with the group. But the last camp leading into Kona now, I didn't really fit with the national team schedule. So then I actually just went by myself and had my boyfriend and one other friend that was joining us. So I had somebody to train with. But none of them are really professional athletes. They're in quite good shape and they're boys, so it works all right. So that was really fun to just...

For the first time, I of planned my own altitude camp. This year I haven't done any camps with Chris and Kasper Gustav. We were actually in Sierra Nevada at the same time earlier this year, so I did a little bit training with them there, but we haven't really planned camps that much together. It's also been a bit hard because the race schedule has been so different than with Nice and Köln and stuff like that. So maybe I hope I can get like do some more camps with them next year, but right now I don't really have any.

Solveig (14:23.225)
group so it's just what I feel like fit into my schedule. So I make the schedule first and then I try to get some people to join me.

Fed (14:31.88)
Amazing. So before we jump into all the details and altitude cams and all of that, I wanted to ask you when you made the jump from short chorus to long chorus, we know you're capable of doing anything really, but mentally you set a switch flicked in your head and

Another Triathlon Pod (14:33.208)
very,

Fed (14:52.404)
What was your like, why? Because we know you're perfectly capable of competing at short course and now long course, but it wasn't the training. It wasn't that, but what went through your head of, okay, I'm ready now to make the switch to the longer stuff. Because obviously you guys train a lot and the distance wasn't probably a problem, quote unquote, but it was more of an internal motivation that happened inside of you.

Solveig (15:20.871)
Yeah, think it's a bit both. think the long distance also like distance actually suits me better and not only the distance but back to like the swimming it suits me better that it's It's not the swimming is still important, but it's not make it or break it in the same way as in short course Which is also better for me right now at least maybe I'll be a swimmer one day but not yet but

I think it was also mainly about just trying something new and...

I think I was always thinking like to do Iron Man at one point. I was always thinking like I need to try that at some point in my career. But my plan was always to do LA first and then maybe go to Long Course. But I think I just at a point realized that the career isn't actually that long as I was. I was always thinking like I have plenty of time. But then I was thinking bit more about it like, no, not really. Like the year is

The years are flying by and I think I would have regretted it if I did short course four more years without trying to see if I liked the longer distances better. Four years is actually quite much in a career and especially if you... I don't know, you never know how long your body will hold up, right? So it's like you can't just plan like, I have a career until I'm 40 and this is how I will distribute it.

Every year is a blessing in a way as well. you... It's about just making them count. And yeah, I think I just would have regretted if I didn't try it now.

Another Triathlon Pod (17:06.944)
Absolutely. We've definitely seen that in a number of cases where maybe short course athletes stay in short course too long chasing that Olympic dream. And then they don't quite make that happen, but they also never really transition into the long distance or see what they're capable of there. So it was very cool to see you jump into that. And I wanted to ask, you've done a few interviews talking about your experience at Kona, but I wanted to see kind of how did it feel? How surreal was that winning the Ironman World Championships?

Solveig (17:23.526)
you

Solveig (17:34.245)
Thank

Yeah, it was very surreal. think I was talking to Mikael about that as well. he was saying like, I know you're because the thing is, I've always had Chris and Augusta around and Casper as well now with Nies. And in one way, has all most been normalized to me. okay, they just win these big races. And I've always been thinking it's really cool. Yeah, but it's sort of made it

Another Triathlon Pod (17:55.265)
It's crazy. Yeah. I'll use my fry.

Solveig (18:06.51)
a bit more doable in one way that I've seen they do it. But at the same time, think I've always also been, I've never really believed that like, I could do the same. I don't know why, but I've never really imagined myself winning anything like that. So like leading off the race, was starting to, I felt really confident. So I did even say in some interviews, like, I think I can podium a really good day.

And I don't know where that confidence came from, leading it to the race, started to be like, yeah, this can be really good. But I definitely didn't believe I would win it. It was like way too many people that I was thinking like, you are good, you are good, you are good. So I was thinking like, if some people have a really rough day, I can maybe beat them and then I might end up like third. That was like my sort of dream day. So I just really hadn't seen it coming. I felt like...

just really unprepared. I was only there with my boyfriend and we were just after the there was just like so much going on and I was just I couldn't keep up with anything. felt like it was really, really weird and it took a lot of time for me to just process that race.

Josh (19:22.018)
Before you got to Kona, you had a pretty shocking race in Hamburg that really opened a lot of people's eyes. I don't think it was shocking probably for you and your camp, but how much of a change did that make to the rest of your season and really your mentality going forward and how you did approach going into Kona?

Solveig (19:45.252)
It didn't really change much, I think. was...

Before the race I had a plan what I thought I could hold, like what's on the bike and what pace I thought I could run. And actually in the race I was spot on that. So I was happy with the performance, but I was not super surprised myself. I did what I sort thought I could do in that race, but I was at the same time... Yeah, that wasn't part of the plan, but the rest was basically my plan. But I was really like...

Josh (20:12.543)
Even with the bars down?

Josh (20:18.51)
Yeah.

Solveig (20:22.564)
I thought it was so cool to get out to the swim together with Laura and Kat. That was quite, also felt a bit surreal to me in a way to just be riding around with them from the start. And I was thinking like, this is really cool. And I also, as I said, the run, I ran what I had planned to run and it felt quite good. But of course I didn't know if I was able to do it. I just had like a feeling like if I run around four minutes per K.

should be able to do that. I said that to Mikala as well, my coach, he was like, yeah, but it feels easier in training. You probably can't do that, but in race I did that. And I was just like, yeah, that was what I thought I could do. So I wasn't really surprised, but I was still thinking, yeah, this is fun. And I was really happy with that race. So even though I was still very far back from Kat and Laura though, so I also saw the level is...

really high when I saw the times they were running that race.

Josh (21:26.786)
Did you change your mindset in Kona or even now that Kona is over and going into 70.3 worlds with how that all played out? Obviously we all know Kona, the dynamics, the weather, the humidity, everything really factors in. But was that part of your strategy on that marathon run? Like, Hey, I'm in third. I know I'm going to podium here if I hold true to myself. Or was there a time there where you were trying to push up to.

Another Triathlon Pod (21:26.858)
Yeah, definitely.

Solveig (21:42.883)
Mm.

Josh (21:56.033)
Lucy and Taylor and overdoing it a little bit or is it just steady and now you've got a different mindset going into some of these bigger races going forward.

Solveig (22:04.077)
You

Solveig (22:07.529)
I think I was running quite steady. I was really happy to just stay in third. I tried to just run as even as possible the whole way. I think it's easier to do that as well when you start by yourself. And it was like a big gap both ways really when I started running. So it was nobody. I think I was at least it was like four or six minutes or something up to Taylor and Lucy. So it wasn't like a gap I could just

close really fast either. And I didn't really think about closing it. was also worried about Kat from behind. I think Kat and Laura really, because I think Laura ran six minutes, no, eight minutes faster than me in Hamburg. And I started out eight minutes before them in that race. So I felt like I couldn't just relax with that eight minutes gap either.

And also I just really respected the heat there. I had never been doing a race in such conditions or not any races longer than a sprint distance at least. I was very like uncertain how I would react to that. And I felt right away when I started to run, I just felt so hot. So I just felt really bad from the beginning when I was running. I was thinking like, this is going to be really hard. Because actually in the both of the other

this since I've done, I felt really good coming off the bike and like the first half marathon I've just been feeling so easy but in Kona it felt just super hard from the start. I was really scared of how the body would, if the body would even continue to work. So I just tried to hold the pace that I hoped that I would be able to hold, like I didn't, it didn't feel comfortable so I didn't know if it was.

good pace to start in. I think I ran a bit slower the last half, but it wasn't like a crazy positive split. It was just a little positive.

Another Triathlon Pod (24:09.792)
That is still very impressive in its own in Kona in that heat and humidity, especially this year. It was so crazy humid. But I want to ask kind of, obviously there were some big changes after Kona having a lot more attention and media obligations. How did it go in that time between Kona and then trying to get ready to race another world championships just a few weeks later?

Solveig (24:34.658)
Yeah, it was some weird weeks and I'm definitely not used to that sort of attention as you said. It sort of also makes me a bit happy that I haven't really had it earlier in my career. It feels a lot like it gets maybe it gets a bit better and you get more used to it. it's been for me a bit hard to know how to handle it. I'm already terrible.

at Responding to Messages. I think when I won the first national championship back in 2016, I felt like I got way too many messages from that race. this was maybe hundred times more. So it's been, for sure, hard to get used to. I think it was also hard to refocus on a new race.

I feel like I'm not somebody who needs to win all the time. if I compare myself with for instance Christian, I feel like he has a mentality, he's always hungry to win something. But for me after Coneight, I was just so happy with the season and just felt like really satisfied with the season. And I didn't really feel any of that hunger to like race more or to have another good result. was just, yeah, felt a bit...

I just want to enjoy the season so far. When I came home I did the training I was supposed to do but I wasn't really thinking about Marbella that much. I wasn't really feeling very excited to do that race. I think when I got there I was still at really good place and I was at least able to...

think that, okay, I'm just going to really enjoy this race, which was really fun. And out in course as well, I wasn't maybe at my best mentally, but I was still at the place where I was thinking, this is fun and maybe more able to enjoy it than I normally am because I wasn't, the result wasn't really that important to me. So I was of course still trying to push, but it's some days you're able to dig even deeper just because you really want to do well and some other days you're more like.

Solveig (26:53.951)
I'm finding where I am in the race. So I had more that day where it's just like, every time I think I started running like eight or something and I was just thinking, eight is great. And then I actually passed the one, she's like, seven is really great. And then when I was six, I was just like, yeah, this is a really good day. I was, yeah, didn't expect anything more of myself that day. I don't think I'm that hard on myself. So probably should work on that a bit to just.

be able to push themselves a bit more. it's also nice to just enjoy it.

Fed (27:28.352)
Yeah, it's really refreshing to hear that, especially after a big win in Kona.

And obviously a lot of athletes that that would be very seasoned and then to top it up with a sixth place, it's an amazing performance. And I also believe that mentally for longevity of athletes, it's really important to know when you can push and how you can push. Because if you're constantly pushing yourself and making yourself hurt every single race, then mentally, maybe you could go to a very dark place. So that's

really good on you and it shows a lot of emotional intelligence on your part. going back to Kona, you mentioned you were feeling really good on the lead up. don't want to get into the specifics, you know, as triathletes, we have these sessions when we do them and we're like, yes, I feel ready. Not that those sessions are key sessions, but after completing them, we're like, yeah, give me the race.

Solveig (28:16.233)
Mm.

Fed (28:32.604)
What were those sections when you felt like that? you were like, yeah, Solvee is ready to perform.

Solveig (28:32.968)
Hehe.

Solveig (28:40.671)
I actually had a really long sessions two weeks out where I did, I think I did two times two hours race pace on the bike. And then I did two times 14 K run at like race pace, but it was actually way faster in race pace or what the race pace ended up being. But it was also much cooler. So it was completely different conditions from Kona. So think I ran like three 50 or something on that session, but I ran.

for, I don't know, 4.05 or 10 maybe in the race. So it was actually quite far from race phase, but I did that session and it felt so comfortable the whole way. even after running, I did like 30K running in total and it just felt so easy after doing that bike right before. So I was thinking like, okay, if the race has been today, it would have been a really good race. So I was thinking like, then I'm hopefully ready. I just hope I as good in two weeks.

Fed (29:38.399)
Thanks.

Josh (29:39.809)
In that race, mean, we all, and Jenna had asked the question on the carbs and all that in Marbella. We love the nutrition aspect of it all and your sponsor, Precision, and you are very good at sharing what your plan is for the race. How do you go about actually executing your plan on the bike? And is there a set reminder that you have on when to intake or is it dictated a lot by the course and with all the climbing in Marbella, how did that actually play out for you and how do you plan?

to get all the carbs in that you need.

Solveig (30:12.646)
I'm still really bad at planning actually. I always sit the night before the race, like maybe 10pm and try to plan where I should take my carbs and should I have it in gels or sports drinks and so I'm terrible at that aspect. But I think I'm quite lucky in a way that I feel like I tolerate a lot so I never really struggle with stomach issues or at least I haven't so far. It's always scary to say stuff like that.

But I usually don't have any problems with it. For instance, Maribé, I think I probably took more carbs than I needed to. I haven't ever tested how much I actually absorb, for instance. So that would have been really interesting to do. But I think, especially since I don't really have much problems, I just played safe by just taking what I know is enough for that race.

So probably I saw actually a precision, they post what everyone takes in the race and I hadn't really like usually before the race I also discussed it with some of their nutritionists and like make a plan together. But before that race I hadn't really done that. So I just sort of put together something in like before. And when I saw they post like what I took and what all the other precision athletes took, was like, I had taken so much more carbs. So I was just thinking, oh, maybe, maybe I didn't really need that. Like I think Jelle had.

Fed (31:24.416)
Yeah.

Josh (31:34.656)
you

Solveig (31:39.327)
less than 100 grams per hour and he won the race and I had like 140 per hour and he obviously pushed much higher power on me as well. But yeah, I didn't have any stomach problems actually in the race and that this also just shows the same that I'm good at planning. had two soft flats that I was going to check in to that pro fluid station. So you can take one flat per lap and I had a lot of gels, gels in one of them, sports chicken the other.

So I was going to have one per lap. And then when I came to the profil station, I didn't see my flask anywhere. And then I actually ran through the whole station and I didn't see it. So I turned around and ran back and tried to ask the volunteers like, where are my flask? And they were just saying, you didn't check in any flask. And I was about to be like, yes, I did. But then I was just like thinking and...

Fed (32:27.325)
Hahaha

Another Triathlon Pod (32:27.904)
I love you.

Solveig (32:33.534)
like the wheel was spinning in my head and then I realised, oh no, I didn't check in any flask. So then I felt so stupid for like running around there and I just hadn't checked in any. then I just needed to take some gels from the course and luckily as the precision people are really handsome, so when I came there the next lap they had put out a flask for me. So they had checked in one for me. But that's like, I did not only forget to check them in, I also forgot that I forgot to check them in.

Another Triathlon Pod (32:37.436)
Thank

Another Triathlon Pod (32:45.824)
Yeah.

Solveig (32:58.991)
That also altered my race nutrition strategy a little bit, but apparently I still managed to get a lot of carbs in there.

Fed (33:05.792)
Hey guys, this sounds like me. Everybody knows.

Another Triathlon Pod (33:05.972)
Yeah, it sounds like it.

Josh (33:10.318)
Nothing new on race day, Fed.

Another Triathlon Pod (33:10.464)
Absolutely. Now, a lot of talk with this race was about the bike course and just the amount of climbing on it. Can you tell us a little bit about like your experience within not only tackling the bike course, but the race dynamics on top of a challenging bike course?

Solveig (33:30.557)
It was a really fun bike course I think. It was especially challenging with the wind. I thought it was bit scary at some points but I think I'm still more comfortable in wind than a lot of others I think because I have been training a lot in winds. I also think it helps that I'm in the wind and in the downhills. It helps that I'm probably, or I am bit heavier than most of other girls. But obviously in the uphills that doesn't really help me that much.

I did lose a lot of time in the uphill and looking back now, I think I have never actually ridden a course like that with a lot of elevation. So looking back at it now, I think the next time I'll do a similar course, I will try to be a bit more aggressive on the bike. I felt like I was playing it really safe. I was really afraid to like blow up. like my watts wasn't really that high in the end because I was afraid to like push too much in the sections, like in the hills, but you do also get a lot of

recovery from that because of the downhill section. that's also learning for me to like try to go for it a bit more. feel like that's and that's also something Mikael says that I'm usually a bit like too careful maybe more than being too aggressive and more like playing it a bit too safe sometimes. But yeah, I think it was really cool course and it was especially in the women's field like really spread out because of that. So

It's interesting, I think it's a good thing that the courses are, or at least in the 74 year olds, are switching year from year. It makes it more exciting.

Josh (35:10.144)
And right back to Nice, which you're, mean, that'll be a more, some more climbing next year at 70.3 Worlds too.

Solveig (35:16.858)
Yeah, that's also a really fun course, or it looks really fun. And it's a bit more technical as well, I think, in the descent, so that'll be fun.

Josh (35:24.408)
Speaking of next year, how is your season's done for this year? How are you planning to attack next year? Is, and you mentioned this earlier, is LA 28 still in the cards or are we now long distance where we're a Kona Queen?

Solveig (35:28.518)
Yes.

Solveig (35:40.668)
I don't think so, but I haven't officially written it up either. I think the plan for next year is most likely to still focus on the pro series. I actually haven't planned next year yet. I will use some time in the season break now to actually make a plan. I know a lot of people are racing in New Zealand. I feel like at one side I really want to race there, at the other side

I feel like it's a bit too soon. I would like to have an even longer training period and it's also really long travel. We'll see. But probably the pro series at least. Kona and 70.3 worlds will be the main focus or Kona will be the main focus.

Josh (36:31.0)
We did have a few questions that we asked the audience and thank you for sharing that post. I think one of them triggered is Jorgan, your brother. I had a feeling he wanted to know, brown cheese or jelly on a slice of bread.

Solveig (36:40.302)
really? That's fun.

Another Triathlon Pod (36:40.871)
Thank

Solveig (36:51.746)
Josh (36:51.788)
I had to look up what brown cheese was because apparently it's a big thing in Norway.

Fed (36:56.595)
Yeah

Solveig (36:56.663)
It's really good actually. I feel like before a race I would go for jelly because it's so safe. brown cheese in general, that is really good.

Josh (37:10.882)
Can you explain brown cheese to the audience? For most of us, I don't know.

Solveig (37:15.811)
It tastes like a bit caramel-ish, but a bit more... I'm really bad at describing it. It tastes a bit more sour than caramel, if that makes sense. So it's... Yeah, you should try it. I can bring some to next race.

Another Triathlon Pod (37:22.218)
Thank you.

Another Triathlon Pod (37:30.109)
Okay.

Josh (37:34.35)
Hey!

Another Triathlon Pod (37:36.298)
Perfect. That'd be excellent. We had another question there from our audience just asking, do you feel like you're a part of that Norwegian method or would you say you came up from the Norwegian method? Because it's been such a talked about point with obviously the success from the boys on the other side. Do you count yourself like that?

Solveig (37:37.591)
you

Solveig (37:53.627)
Mmm.

Solveig (37:57.564)
I that can the audience decide. I still really don't understand exactly what the Norwegian method is to be honest. I feel like I've of course done a lot similar training to the boys. We've been training a lot together over the years and I feel like a lot of just that is I am and I feel like I've learned a lot just from the coaches we had.

Another Triathlon Pod (38:04.243)
Hahaha

Solveig (38:26.563)
Also from the other athletes, and especially of course from Kristian Gustav Kaspbeir, lot of the athletes who have been a part of the team from the start.

I know, I think it's cool when people look at me like in the same category as the boys and when I was in Kona it was a lot of questions like everyone's just asking me about are you gonna do the same as the boys did in EES and it was just so much focus on the boys when people were interviewing me in Kona and some people were just like aren't you like tired of that but for me I was thinking like I think it's nice that they sort of look at us as one group like I think apparently people can tell that we

are getting along really well and that it's... I've not been training with them that much this year, but I feel like we still have a really good relation, all of us. So I think that's a really good thing.

Another Triathlon Pod (39:19.422)
Yeah, and I was kind of curious if, because obviously there's been so much talk about those guys, each of them, their first time at their Ironman World Championships, that they're putting, did that feel like any extra pressure to you at all, or how did you kind of handle that?

Solveig (39:33.967)
don't know. As I said, didn't expect to win and it didn't feel... It was weird, but I think it was, as I said, I felt really good before Kona and also just I was a good place mentally. I was generally not feeling any pressure, like at least not external pressure. And I thought it was weird myself that I was feeling so calm. like, if I looked at it only from the outside, I...

always felt way more pressure to perform in the short course races. But actually before Kona it was way more media attention and way more people who actually was putting pressure on me if I looked at it from the outside. There was more expectations there than it had been in any other race. Still I sort of felt less expectations. So I don't know why, but I think it's just been...

My mentality has just been different this year and I don't know why it's been different either. I haven't really done anything to work on it, but this year it's been really nice at least.

Josh (40:43.5)
Well, you're the last Norwegian to actually win. So maybe the boys want to be like you now going into next year. So.

Fed (40:43.744)
That's amazing.

Another Triathlon Pod (40:48.298)
There we go. We have a couple quick prior questions that we like to ask the pros that we have come on the podcast. The first one, this might be kind of, you might have answered already. What's the weirdest thing you've kind of eaten in training or racing? Like you've stopped at a gas station and you just need to get something in.

Solveig (40:48.62)
I mean

Fed (40:50.09)
Absolutely.

Solveig (40:57.495)
yeah.

Solveig (41:11.337)
I'm really bad at this quick fire thing. I don't think I've really eaten anything weird. It's mainly just candy or ice cream or gels or some bread with something.

Another Triathlon Pod (41:13.966)
Okay.

Fed (41:14.816)
Yeah.

Another Triathlon Pod (41:19.71)
Yeah.

Another Triathlon Pod (41:28.712)
There you go, all the sugar and carbs, that's what we love. If you had to race an Ironman with another pro, who would it be? And this could either be someone who's faster that encourages you to go faster or just someone that you want to spend the eight hours of an Ironman spending time with.

Solveig (41:31.052)
Yeah.

Solveig (41:46.595)
But I should stay with my fastest, right? is it?

Another Triathlon Pod (41:50.618)
It could be either way. It could be either someone who would just be fun to race alongside or someone who could push you to go faster.

Fed (41:50.634)
No.

Solveig (41:58.495)
I think I need to take either Chris Angustav or Casper. They're a good company and they can also just be in front the whole way on the bike and push me on the run and I can have a really good pace holder.

Fed (42:07.86)
success.

Another Triathlon Pod (42:13.96)
Yeah, well, it seems like the perfect intersection. They have a good time too. And actually, we've already got your answer on this one if you're to add a fourth discipline to triathlon, what it would be. Sounds like the computer coding technical side would be something you'd add in there.

Solveig (42:17.076)
Hahaha

Solveig (42:23.63)
Yeah.

Solveig (42:29.547)
Yeah, it's been really like little focus on studying the last years. I was better at it before. think the last year has been more about triathlon and less about studying, but I do really enjoy it and I sort of wish I had more time for it.

Another Triathlon Pod (42:35.488)
Go ahead.

Another Triathlon Pod (42:47.456)
Fair enough. And then one final question for the quickfire. What's a piece of advice you've been given over the years that's really just resonated with you?

Fed (42:47.744)
All right.

Solveig (42:59.513)
I think just be patient and I feel like it's what everyone says but like just if you train consistent then ideally also enjoy it. You will improve over the years so I feel like that's what I've been doing. I've just been doing triathlon for so long and this year it has clicked together so that's just don't expect to be good right away I guess.

Fed (43:30.462)
I wanted to ask you, where are-

Josh (43:30.764)
Make sure everyone hears that patience.

Fed (43:34.218)
Right. Where do you keep your kona umeke?

Solveig (43:40.216)
I haven't gotten it yet, it's getting shipped, so I don't know, I don't have any place for it yet.

Fed (43:42.665)
Fed (43:49.438)
Make sure you don't put anything in it because energy needs to flow around it.

Josh (43:54.99)
Ha ha ha ha.

Solveig (43:55.768)
okay. Good thing you said that. I'd probably put something in it if you didn't.

Fed (43:57.63)
Yeah. Yeah.

Another Triathlon Pod (44:00.961)
Well, we want to see you back in Kona and have another great year and back it up. So make sure that Madame Pele is happy and you're getting all the good in it.

Fed (44:01.792)
Yeah

Solveig (44:09.44)
I will.

Another Triathlon Pod (44:13.344)
Well, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us. It was really great to learn a little bit more about you and hear about, yeah, a crazy epic last month, especially, but a whole year that has definitely put you on the forefront of all the triathletes following along with the sport. So we sure appreciate that. And yeah, what's up next for you? Just kind of resting up and deciding what you'll do next year.

Solveig (44:36.374)
Yeah, that's the plan. Just have some chill time at home. I always think it's so nice coming back home after I've been traveling. So last time I was here, it was so beautiful with just all the colors everywhere, like red, yellow, orange, like all the leaves. And when I was running today, it was just snowing the whole time. So it's just, it feels like a completely different city than two weeks ago. But I really enjoy that we have those different.

Josh (44:56.75)
Yeah.

Another Triathlon Pod (44:57.472)
you

Solveig (45:05.611)
those changes during the seasons.

Another Triathlon Pod (45:05.701)
This is it. Yeah. And where's the best place for people to you?

Josh (45:09.422)
Keep doing on Instagram. Is the best place to follow you on Instagram.

Solveig (45:17.687)
Yeah, you could follow me on Strava as well, but I'm a bit lazy there. Earlier I posted everything and now I think I post one session a month, but it's sometimes something there. I posted my run today, so now it's something there. Instagram is probably the place I update the most.

Fed (45:26.727)
Yeah.

Another Triathlon Pod (45:30.506)
Okay.

Josh (45:37.57)
Well, keep doing what you're doing. know you're inspiring others and I happen to be with a friend of my upbringing and her daughters were watching Kona through my phone on a car ride home. And they went from not knowing what triathlon was to signing up for a kids race and doing their first triathlon next year. So you're doing something well and it's getting more people into the sport. So I appreciate it. I'll send you the picture of them too after we're done here.

Another Triathlon Pod (45:37.802)
Fantastic.

Solveig (45:51.755)
Hahaha.

Solveig (46:05.591)
But yeah, that's brilliant to hear. That's so cool.

Another Triathlon Pod (46:08.82)
Fantastic. Well, we will follow along and all the best until we see you at your next race. Have a great, I guess, evening here.

Solveig (46:17.366)
Yeah, thank you so much. I'm going to watch a movie now, actually. Premiere on this movie of a really famous Norwegian cross-country skier. So that's my plan for the evening. For sure. Yeah. Thank you so much for having me.

Another Triathlon Pod (46:21.588)
Perfect.

Fed (46:21.834)
Nice.

Another Triathlon Pod (46:27.968)
Cool. You definitely have to check that out.

Fed (46:29.088)
There we go. Enjoy.

Josh (46:30.463)
The beginning of the Norwegian method.

Thanks, Alvie.

Another Triathlon Pod (46:36.469)
Have a good one.

Fed (46:38.507)
Thank you.