Q&A with Jaryd Clifford, Paralympian and Great Whitehaven Beach Runner!

Jaryd: G'day guys, Paralympian Jaryd Clifford here. I can't wait to come to Hamilton Island to be a part of the race and to meet you all. I'm just about to take part in a quick Q&A.

Interviewer: You're marooned on Whitehaven Beach with three people, which three would make it fun?

Jaryd: Marooned on Whitehaven Beach, I'd have to take my girlfriend Charlotte and my housemates Tim and Deon. I reckon that'd be a good time.

Interviewer: What's your fondest running memory so far?

Jaryd: Fondest running memory... World Champs 2019, won my first World Title in Dubai over 1500 meters by 0.1 of a second. So that was quite exhilarating, amazing feeling, lifelong dream. A week later, I also won a World Title over the 5,000 meters guided by my coach Philo and best mate, Tim. And yeah, when you work so hard with two of your best mates and yeah, that feeling crossing the line is, you know, it's very hard to describe.

Interviewer: What training session lets you know that you're race ready?

Jaryd: I try not to have a session that I have to nail before a big race, because then if you're, you know, for some reason you're off that day and you don't nail it, like, you know, that might get in your head. So I try to avoid stuff like that. There is one session that we do before major championships that, um, you know, it's probably the last one we do - 2 by 400m, 3 by 300m, 4 by 200m at race pace. And uh, basically the aim of that is to feel good.

Interviewer: Running can test you mentally. Any tips for getting through those tough patches?

Jaryd: Yeah, running's quite difficult. Obviously we can push ourselves to places of great pain and to do that I think you need to have a reason why, if you don't really have a reason why you run or why you love to run, why you love to push your body, you know, find those limits, then you'll find it quite difficult to get through those tough patches. But I think we also know how powerful running is, uh, what it does for us. And I think therefore, that those tough moments are completely outweighed by the great moments that we get and um, the positives from running, so I think, you know, if we think about it that way, then it's quite easy to get through the tough moments.

Interviewer: 10 weeks until the Paralympics kick off in Tokyo. What are you doing to fine tune your preparation?

Jaryd: Yeah, 10 weeks until the Paralympics it's getting close. It's hard to believe in a lot of ways, it's been a tough year, but um, honestly right now we'll spend a lot of time in Queensland where the weather is warmer. A bit of heat acclimation, a bit of Altitude House back in Canberra as well. Uh, we'll be getting into Tokyo a week before the race and I guess the aim there is, um, don't get COVID, cause we're in the fittest... I'm the fittest I've ever been so honestly it's about getting to the start line and surviving and not getting injured. So that's where I'm at, at the moment.

Interviewer: Food is fuel when you're an elite athlete, what will you be eating the night before a big race?

Jaryd: I think a pre-race meal for me is quite standard. I usually go for pasta pre-race, I think most people do. Morning of a race is a banana, honey on toast, coffee, pretty simple as well.

Interviewer: Alright. Fast five. What's your footy team?

Jaryd: Footy team. It's an AFL one. Uh, Carlton.

Interviewer: Favourite drink?

Jaryd: Favourite drink? Uh, kombucha. My housemate Deon used to own a company that created a pretty, pretty outstanding product. So I'll go for that.

Interviewer: Biggest fear?

Jaryd: Biggest fear? Heights, um, I think being visually impaired heights freak me out a bit cause it's pretty hard to comprehend sometimes.

Interviewer: Favourite book?

Jaryd: A big Harry Potter fan for favourite book.

Interviewer: Can't resist?

Jaryd: Can't resist? Running.

Interviewer: Finally - what are you looking forward to most about your visit to Hamilton Island?

Jaryd: Yeah, I'm really looking forward to my visit to Hamilton island. I've heard great things about this race. Great things about the people and the island. Lots to do, I've heard as well. Can't wait to get stuck into some of those activities. Also the warm weather, I'm in Canberra at the moment and it's currently freezing cold. So I think it would be a great escape, uh, during the winter and a great kind of place to relax before we, you know, get stuck into the final stage before Tokyo. So yeah, really looking forward to it. Uh, thanks guys for listening and I'll see you up there!