Meet Karen – Triathlete, Remuneration Guru and Boggle Queen
When you’re managing global expats by day and chasing PBs by weekend, life gets interesting. Our latest Bayside spotlight is on someone who juggles swim squad, sub-90 half-maras and Flemington fashions with equal finesse. Just don’t ask her to dismount a bike gracefully…
Hey, Karen – thanks for joining me!
Let's get straight into it...what sporting achievements are you most proud of?
Running my first marathon in New York (photo attached!), finally cracking a sub-1.30 half marathon (after many attempts!), and qualifying for the World Champs in Wollongong!
Amazing! Any future race aspirations?
I’d love to complete a 70.3 one day.
You know you have to ride past Franga for that, right?
Ha ha – I’m working myself up to it 😊 So far I've only needed to train for Sprint and Standard distances...
What are your PBs for Sprint and Standard?
Not sure on Sprint. My best Standard time is 2:17:26 – although the course was a bit short, which is mildly infuriating!
Makes you sound faster though 😉
Ha ha, yea maybe we should delete that part 😊
So what made you join Bayside Tri Club originally?
I joined during Covid. Fiona was with Bayside at the time and working from home gave me the opportunity to join the swim squad at GESAC…which kickstarted my triathlon journey.
What do you like about the club?
The people, of course. Everyone is so friendly and supportive. It’s incredibly motivating to be around people who share similar goals and values.
True that. Which age group are you in for triathlon?
50-55 (which is shocking, given I’m only 35).
Ha ha – same! Why do they keep putting us in the old ladies group?
Who’s your greatest rival?
Fiona. Even though she isn’t in my age group, I’m always checking where she is.
Nothing like a bit of sisterly rivalry to keep things interesting!
Can I ask what impact your horrible bike accident had on you?
I felt extremely lucky, especially as I began to understand how close I came to a much more serious injury. That realisation has stayed with me – it certainly made me realise how quickly life can change.
Once I got past the first few weeks of healing my recovery has been great. Saying that, I have worked hard at it. I’m very grateful for the support I have received from family and friends (and of course, my physio and sports doctor!).
On a more light-hearted note, have you ever stuffed up in a race?
OMG, where do I start? I’ve lost my bike in transition, dropped it running out (which knocked the chain off), fallen trying to dismount, and dropped my energy blocks mid-ride. The common denominator: the bike! Probably my worst stuff-up was under-hydrating on a hot day, which led to stomach issues and cramps during the run. Fiona could probably list many more – she spends a lot of time laughing or rolling her eyes at my misfortune.
Ha ha – yet somehow you won ‘Outstanding Female Performance’ at the BTC annual awards this year. What did you make of that?
As I said on the night, I’m just genuinely happy to be back training and competing again. Of course, receiving the award was a real honour, especially knowing how many strong female athletes there are across BTC. There’s so much drive and determination in this group and I’m really glad to be part of it.
Your ultimate post-race indulgence?
After a few gulps of water – coffee!
If your bike could talk, what would it say to you during a race?
In the recent Wollongong race where it was bucketing down, it would have said, “just stay upright”.
If you could ban one thing from triathlon, what would it be?
I wouldn't ban anything, but I’d reduce the bike leg and increase the swim. Make it more fair for all disciplines.
Says the swimmer! 😉
What’s something triathlon has taught you that school or study didn’t?
I've learnt a lot about my body and nutrition. Triathlon has shown me how far I can push myself, both physically and mentally.
If triathlon were your dating profile, what would it say?
Challenging but mostly fun 😊
Ha ha – I think Fi would say the same about you!
What else do you do for fun?
I love going to the races – I’m a member at Flemington. The Spring Racing Carnival is my favourite time of year. I also love socialising with family and friends. Some of my friends are foodies so I enjoy trying new restaurants with them. And I do love a vino or two 😊
What work do you do?
I work in the Remuneration team at BlueScope. I manage the expats across our global businesses/operations. We are in 15 countries, so there are always decisions to make around employee relocations.
Who’s your greatest supporter?
Fiona. She understands the sport, knows the training involved, and always checks in. Even when she couldn’t train herself, she was very supportive. I’m so grateful for that. It’s even more special that we both qualified for Wollongong and get to experience it together.
Aww. I hope you two (and the rest of the BTC team) have an awesome experience.
Best advice you’ve received?
Recently it has been “trust your body”. That has been a good mantra for me as I have got myself back to training and racing.
What’s your hidden talent?
Boggle! When I go away with friends, we play it and so far, I am undefeated. Whoo hoo! 😊
Who knew?! A woman of many talents 😉
Thanks so much for the interview, congrats on your season and club award, and we look forward to supporting you at the World Champs!
