Natália Guilherme

At a sporting level, have you always seen yourself in this position as a triathlete? Or was it something that emerged suddenly?

Never! When I was a teenager I remember watching some triathlon races in Brazil and Fernanda Keller is the name that stayed in my memory. I thought it was too hard, I didn't understand how they could swim, cycle and then run, all in a row. And look now, here I am doing the same thing.

What is your daily routine like?

Waking up early and starting the day with a workout. I usually have two or three workouts in a day, swimming and running, or biking and running and muscle strengthening. I usually try to do everything in a row if my work allows it. If not, I divide it up in the moments I have free. And on the weekends the mornings are for longer training sessions.

What about nutrition? Do you follow any plan?

I don't follow any plan. I learned to eat well. Triathletes have to eat, otherwise the body can't take so much punishment. I have done diets and tried to cut food, but that doesn't work for me. I eat whatever I feel like, but with a conscience. I don't crave anything, but I love eating healthy, real food. The mood we get when we eat well is a different thing.

Do you do anything special?

I don't do anything special. I like to eat well, healthy, real food. But I also love a bit of junk food, I'm voracious like an ant. However, when it comes to sports nutrition and supplementation I'm more careful and give preference to more natural products.

Do you have any pre and post training routine?

It depends on the training. Usually my pre workout is my breakfast, which I adapt to my training, and in the post workout I like to make smoothies with proteins and fruits.

What is the hardest part for you? The running, swimming or cycling?

There is no easy part! If we want to progress we have to work hard and give our best in all three disciplines. But the hardest part is swimming as I am not a swimmer. Those who didn't start swimming in childhood usually find it difficult to learn as an adult. I swim well, I just don't swim fast. But I make up for it on the bike and in running, I usually say that I do the races from back to front. It is a special pleasure to gain positions during a race.

Have you always done a lot of sport?

Always. At school I was on futsal, handball and volleyball teams. The latter was my childhood sport. I only didn't progress much because I am short, but I was mad, I trained many hours every day, and I think this helped me a lot to have the discipline to fulfil my workouts.

Do you think it is important that food products associated to sport are cleaner, without chemicals?

Of course! Nowadays everything is full of simple sugars, colourings and preservatives, and most people don't know and don't even read the nutritional composition of the products. They get caught up in marketing and low prices, but forget to think about their own health and sports performance.

What is your favourite product at Super Vegan Fitness and why?

It's hard to choose, but I'm a huge fan of the Coconut Water Powder (SV Hydrate). I always leave a bottle ready in the fridge and take it throughout the day and I also take it in the jug when I go cycling. And of course, I'm a mega ultra fan of Crunchy Almond Butter.

In your day to day life, is there any SVF product you carry with you at all times?

Super Vegan Trail Mix. I love the blend of roasted almonds, white mulberries and goji berries. I always keep a small packet in my handbag.

What do you usually do before a race?

I don't do anything different from what I do in my daily life. There are many theories about food, but I think you have to eat the usual, without inventing anything. Usually it is a toast with an egg, coffee, juice. On the way to the race if I'm hungry I eat a bar and half an hour before the start I take sips of water mixed with gel.

What do you like to eat the night before?

I used to be a "carbo-load" person, but I don't do that anymore. I eat what I feel like and usually what I always eat: rice, a protein, salad.

What do you do to recover after a race? Does food play a role in this?

Of course, food plays a very important role in recovery. In fact, recovery is as important as training. Right after the training I make a smoothie or a protein juice.

For you, what is the best part of competing?

Beating myself! Of course I love it when I get good results, but I love studying the race, organising my food during the hours of effort and preparing myself mentally. During a race, managing pain and effort is crazy. So when I cross a finish line I always get emotional, because to get there is always a lot of struggle, organisation, overcoming. And there is nothing better than being proud of yourself. This is addictive!

Do you have any heroes in the world of sport?

My answer may sound narcissistic, but my biggest hero in sport is myself! Of course there are many athletes from various generations and sports that I look up to and I quote: Fernanda Keller, Michael Phelps, Lucy Charles, Ayrton Senna, Michael Jordan, Guga, Thiago Vinhal among many others.

Three words that describe you

Strength, resilience, charisma.

The race that you liked the most until now

Setubal Triathlon 2020. It was a year with many races cancelled and I managed to get a last minute entry for this race. The race itself is already difficult, but in this edition it was cold, raining and very windy. However, I managed to do my best race ever. I was consistent from the start to the finish and did a spectacular race (for me of course haha!). This race was all made for me and I was really proud, I won my age group, I got 6th place overall in a race with superwomen. That gave me a power and I realized that I can go much further than I ever dreamed of going.