Courtney Home: The Chicago-Born Chocolate-Loving Triathlete with Kona in Sight

Every so often there comes along an athlete who will click with anybody, in any situation. They are bubbly, enthusiastic, intelligent, and just plain fun to be around. Talk to any of Courtney Home’s friends and they’ll tell you that exact same thing. The young lady, hailing from Chicago and now living in sunny Brisbane, is a Chicago Cubs diehard fan. Between racing two Ironman events in the space of eight weeks, working in a chocolate-shop with no self-control, and studying at University, Courtney Home is a busy body with her sights set on the bright lava fields of Kona. 

What is your story Courtney?

My story is fairly short considering I’m only 21 years old, but so far it’s been a page turning, whirlwind adventure that I’ve been embracing, learning and enjoying so far.

You’re originally from the USA. Were you involved in triathlon over there, or it became a hobby for you in Australia?

I am from the US of A but I’m very happy to say that beautiful Brisbane is now home for me. I never got the chance to do triathlons in the states and when I moved to Australia I actually played netball, hockey, and did a lot of running and rowing. When I left high school I wanted to keep fit and stay strong and I wasn’t too sure what sport I wanted to play and what would work in with my University schedule. My brothers always rowed at school and college and my father rows for the US masters crew in the States, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon and follow in their footsteps. After a couple of years out of school, rowing wasn’t enough so I decided to join the University gym and started doing weights. I was very lucky to meet a PT there who is actually an ex-pro triathlete from the States. Our first consultation he physically threw me in the pool (I almost drowned trying to swim 50m). He made me ride a spin bike (still drenched from the pool), and then made me run on the treadmill and that was my first introduction into triathlons.

What has been your racing highlight in recent years?

There are so many highlights that I take away from each race. I guess my favourite race this year would have to be Kingscliff Olympic distance. It was my first Olympic Distance race and I was so excited to share the podium with two other amazing athletes. Tweed Coast Enduro was a lot of fun too. It was the first time this race was held and boy did it deliver. My favourite thing about racing is having the opportunity to be out there with everyone else, working for the same goals, testing our limits and of course doing something we love! As much as I love being in the hurt locker out there I also love being able to chat with others on the run course and give a pat on the back or a big high five! We’re all out there in the same amount of pain as each other so sometimes a pat or smile can really block out the pain!

What do you do for work? How do you fit your training around this?

I’m actually very luck to work at a Handmade Chocolate store in Brisbane City! Yes I eat plenty of chocolate. No I have no self-control. And yes I train for Ironman. On top of work and training I am studying a Double Degree in Business and Nutrition. My boss is actually Paralympic Marathon Runner Gerrard Gossens, so when it comes to work and training, him and his wife are very supportive and very flexible with me fitting in my training and study and work.

You raced the 30^th anniversary of Ironman Australia, which was your first IM distance event. How were your nerves?

Port Macquarie was my first full Ironman and to be honest the nerves weren’t too bad. I’m went into Port with no pressure of sticking to a time or racing for podium, I really just wanted to go in an have an absolute ball! I have a feeling the biggest nerves will start to kick in before Cairns full next month!

Describe the journey and the sacrifices you’ve had to make in order to get to these races?

My journey into Ironman hasn’t been the smoothest or easiest and it’s had plenty of hurdles along the way. But as they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! When you say sacrifices its sounds as if I’m giving up a lot of things to do what I do but that’s defiantly not the case. I wouldn’t say that Ironman has made me sacrifice anything but it’s really taught me that I should always focus on what make me happy. Apart from working, studying and training I still find plenty of time to see friends and family, go to the beach, go cafe hunting and of course plenty of R&R time. I surround myself with things that make me happy and I always find the positives in every negative. So the Ironman journey definitely hasn’t made me sacrifice anything but it has taught me how to balance everything and to find out what’s really important to me.

You’ve set a lofty goal of earning a spot to the Ironman World Championships in Kona. What do you think it will take to get to that level?

You bet I have. I know it’ll take a lot of training, being consistent, eating well, pushing myself and testing my limits and of course making sure I recover and rest my body properly. Although it sounds like a lot of work and seems really daunting I’ve been so lucky to have amazing amounts of support from friends, family, other athletes and of course my sponsors. I’m more motivated and excited to really see what I can do and hopefully grab a spot to Kona this year up at Cairns in June!

What is your racing schedule looking like for the next six months?

On June 14^th I’ll be racing at Cairns Ironman. July I’ll be running the Gold Coast Marathon with my housemate. August 22^nd I will be racing the Straddie Salute triathlon. September I’ll be up at Sunshine Coast 70.3 and hopefully (fingers crossed) in October I will be racing at Kona Ironman World Championships. Then I’ll have to see what happens after all of that!

You’ve got an excellent following through social media channels including Instagram and Facebook. What is it that separates you from others out there? What advice would you give to anyone else who wants to raise his or her profile like you have?

Surprisingly enough I was so against getting Instagram and only had Facebook to talk to family. I never wanted to get Instagram because I didn’t see the point in posting photos of one thing but I of course gave in and just started mucking around on it. I was very much into cooking at the start so most of my posts were of things I cooked, and when I started training for triathlons I decided to just post pictures from my training. I’ve always just posted photos of my every day life, my training sessions, things which make me happy and I’ve always just been myself through it all. I wouldn’t say there’s anything that separates me from anyone else, I’ve always just been me sharing my triathlon journey though pictures and I think that’s why a lot of other triathletes follow me. I always get asked how I got so many followers and how do they get that many. My honest and best advice is be yourself. Don’t go chasing for followers and at the end of the day the most important thing is to be you, enjoy what you do and share your journey with others and those who are on the same journey as you will follow you.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given by a coach/friend/family member?

I’ve been given a lot of advice from a lot of different friends, coaches and family. Here are some that have stuck!

Bluntest advice from a Professional Wrestler friend – “Don’t be sh*t!”

My parents – ‘you’ve got ‘Home’ genes and long legs, you’re tough, strong and you better run fast’ – as my Mum always says – ‘run lolly legs run!’

My coach – Every session, every race, every step is just another brick in the wall, no one judges you on that individual brick, they judge you on the wall.

Dave Scott once told me to visualise what the most graceful swimmer looks like swimming and to pretend that I look that graceful. He told me to visualise what the strongest rider looks like and to ride with strength and pretend I look that strong. He told me to visualise what the most graceful runner looks like and to relax and turn myself into that graceful runner. Visualising, whether you look graceful or not, plays a huge part of how you mentally and physically race, so visualise how you want to race and you will race that way.

Are you superstitious? Any quirky traits?

No I’m not superstitious but I have a habit of always taking four sips from my bottle every time I take a drink. I always wear socks on the bike and they have to be outrageous, colourful and wild! When I’m ‘in the zone’ my tongue usually pokes out. And my favourite thing to do is take selfies especially while racing. My biggest craving, especially while running, is doughnuts! It’s a shame Krispy Kreme don’t have a “Doughnut-aid” Station!