Harriet Brown 

Surf Ironwoman, Ocean Swimmer, Exercise Physiologist and Pilates Instructor

www.facebook.com/harrietbrownathlete

http://www.harrietbrown.com.au

Instagram: @harrietbrown

If you were stranded on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would they be?

A knife to open coconuts

A swag

A pair of Jolyns

What's your favorite beach that you have been to:

My favourite beach is Ocean Grove in Victoria. This is where I first joined nippers, learnt to paddle a board and fell in love with Surf Life Saving and the ocean. I remember many challenging training sessions both in freezing cold weather and battling the crowds is summer.

What beach is on your list to go to:

I would love to go to Huntington beach in California or Ipanaema beach in Brazil 

Who is your favorite athlete?

Lakey Peterson, Naomi Flood, Kristyl Smith, Kelly Slater 

What are 3 things on your bucket list?

1. Backpack through South America

2. Learn sign language  

3. Go waterskiing 

If you were 60 years old, what would you tell your children?

Always embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Enjoy your sport and life and make the most of the friendships and good times that can be had when training, studying, and traveling. Even if you are have not met your goals, things can change. There have been many times when I have felt like giving up. I have felt like I will never get there or achieve what I had set out to do. It is important to remain persistent and set goals. If you work hard enough and want it badly enough, you will get there.

What is your favorite JOLYN colour?

My favorite Jolyn colour is asphalt, because it goes perfectly with all the other colours and exciting designs! I love to mix and match with my bikinis, one being bright and colourful and the other, a dark block colour like asphalt.  

What's your favourite JOLYN style and why?

When I’m swim training I like the one-piece tie-back because it is super comfortable and I can adjust the straps. When I’m in the in the surf, I like wearing the uniform top and euro bottoms as they are practical and comfortable, but still look great!

When I’m hanging out at the beach on the weekends you’ll see me in the triangle tie-back! It is all I could want in a bikini top because it looks good and stays on perfectly when out body surfing or surfing.   

What motivates you?

The people around me inspire me. Training with some of the best competitors in the world drives me and to train harder in pursuit of being my best. I also set goals and when I’m feeling less motivate, I revisit these goals to remind myself what I am training for. 

I am also motivated by the thrill and adrenaline of being in the ocean, the addictiveness of the endorphins and feelings I get after a hard session. 

If you had to be an animal, what would you be and why?

I would be a dolphin because they get to play in the surf and live in the ocean. 

What activities do you do in JOLYN?

I love being in my Jolyns. As there are so many different designs and cuts they are so versatile for different activities! 

I train in my Jolyns for Board, swimming, ski. I also run in my Jolyns and do gym. 

I love wearing them on the weekend when I’m relaxing at the beach or going surfing. 

In summer when it’s hot I also do random stuff in my Jolyns like wash my car and clean the house. 

What's the most inspiring race you've ever seen?

Kiran Perkins, Australian Swimmer at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He won the 1500m from lane 8.  

How do you like to cross train? or What is your favourite cross training activity?

The sport of ironwoman racing means that I need to train for a number of different disciplines including, swimming, ski, board, run and gym. This keeps training interesting but also means there is not a lot of time for cross training – I guess they all cross-train each other! But as most of my training is aerobic based, I try to fit in a Pilates or yoga session each week. I teach Pilates and find it really helps me relax, to focus on my body and to stretch. 

What book would you recommend to our readers?

I love reading autobiographies. I find it so interesting learning about the lives of others, especially those who have lived incredible lives. I especially like reading about athletes. Most recently I have read ‘Andre Aggassi ‘and ‘Occy’. They were a brilliant read. 

What is something that nobody knows about you?

One of my feet is a size and a half bigger than the other one. 

What would you spend your last $10 on?

Food! Maybe dark chocolate macadamia nuts, a mango and a loaf of good sourdough fruit bread.

What is your signature dish in the kitchen?

I can cook a good green chicken curry or Mexican burritos. For dessert I can’t go past baking an apple crumble. I also love to make a green smoothie. Lately I have been experimenting by adding lots of different healthy ingredients together. Some taste good, others not so good. 

What is the hardest thing you've ever experienced?

As an elite athlete, I rely on my body to be in optimal condition. Being injured is one of the toughest things I have had to deal with. I’ve had a few injuries that have resulted in time off training in the lead up to a major competition. I have also torn ligaments in my ankle and had to watch the Australian Championships in a moon boot. These tough experiences are both mentally and physically challenging. So I try to look after my body as best that I can to prevent injury. 

What is your favourite workout or gym exercise?

My favourite session would be when there is big surf, light off shore winds, blue sky and warm weather. I would be out in the ocean training with some of my best friends. It would be a Saturday so I have the whole weekend to look forward to! We would train hard, catch some good waves and then go out for breakfast after. 

What is your favourite holiday destination?

When I was 16 I went a place called Biarritz in the south of France to stay with a French family for two and a half months. I went to French school and then to the beach every afternoon to train. The whole experience was very daunting. At the beginning I didn’t know much French, but by the end of the trip I didn’t want to leave. Biarritz is such a beautiful town with old buildings, cliffs and good surf. I have been to many beautiful beaches but this place has a special spot in my heart because of my experience there.

What is your most embarrassing moment you're willing to admit?

I think I was about ten years old. I was competing at the state swimming championships in Melbourne. I was so nervous before the race, that when I was about to get up onto the blocks, I started to pee. I was so embarrassed. I still don’t know if anyone noticed.