Redemption, Marriage and Notes
TRIBEathlon Podcast
Episode 36: Beth Potter is a British long-distance runner and triathlete; she competed for Great Britain in athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but sadly that didn't go according to plan. However, in 2019 she won the gold medal at the European Triathlon Championships, cementing her position as a top triathlete.
In this conversation, I wanted to learn more about how she dealt with the disappointment of being ill at the Olympics, racing in the virtual world, lockdown training and the secrets to her success in transitioning from track to triathlon.
What I’ve Been Reading
Occasionally, you stumble across a story that is almost too good to be true; one that, if it were fiction, you brush over as being too unbelievable. ‘Redemption, From Iron Bars to Ironman’ is one such story.
Nephew of one of Britain’s notorious armed robbers, as featured in the movie Fools Gold, John McAvoy grew up surrounded by some of the most wanted criminals of the time. So, it wasn’t surprising that he was in jail before he was 20, and again with 2 life sentences for armed robbery by 24 - this time in our most secure prison with Abu Hamza and the 7/11 bombers. What is surprising is that he went on to set 3 world records and 8 British records for indoor rowing whilst inside and then become a professional Ironman on his release.
The story sounds farfetched, but the reformed John McAvoy now spends his time racing and helping young people avoid crime. One of the best books I’ve ever read, and I’m looking forward to interviewing him in a few weeks’ time.
TED Talk I’ve Found Interesting
In the very funny ‘What you don’t know about marriages’ talk from TEDx, writer Jenna McCarthy shares surprising research on how marriages (especially happy marriages) really work. One tip: do not try to win an Oscar for best actress!
App I’ve Found Useful
Since buying an Apple Pencil, I am loving the GoodNotes app. I’ve always preferred writing notes to typing, but hate the paper it wastes and the random notebooks it creates. I recently invested in an Apple Pencil and have switched to journaling on the iPad, as well as all other notes I take. I love having a multitude of notebooks at my fingertips, being able to create colourful mindmaps and charts, and also to be able to move them around retrospectively. It’s like normal notes on steroids!
Quote of the Week
“If you don’t make time for exercise, you’ll probably have to make time for illness.”
- Robin Sharma
Finance Theme I’ve Been Considering
As we sail towards the end of the tax year, don’t forget to make the most of the few allowances we are given to save tax. If you keep more of what you earn or the growth you achieve and give less to the taxman, you can reach your financial goals so much quicker. Make the most of things like your pensions, ISAs, Capital Gains Tax allowances and gift allowances and you will achieve financial freedom much more quickly. Don’t pay the ‘lazy tax’ by doing nothing, it is entirely optional!
