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We know, we know—the heyday of “Sh*t XXXs Say” videos was months ago. But in honor of race season (unofficially) starting with California 70.3, Texas 70.3 and the Nautica South Beach Triathlon this weekend, we wanted to remind you not to take yourself too seriously and to have fun out on that race course.
Perhaps no pro is better at not taking herself too seriously than reigning Xterra world champion Lesley Paterson (featured in the video above). Paterson, who will be racing in Oceanside this weekend, placed second here two years ago. “It was probably one of my best races, so it will be nice to be back on the course that I know and to see the home crowd,” Paterson says.
Paterson is taking a bit of a “have fun and see what happens” approach to her first big race this season because of all the other plates she’s been juggling. In addition to coaching about 20 athletes through her business Braveheart Coaching, the Scottish multi-tasker is knee deep in meetings for a reality TV/web project with big-time producers Bunim-Murray Productions (the team behind “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” “The Real World” and “Project Runway.”) She’s been bouncing back and forth to Los Angeles, constantly pitching her idea of taking six teenage girls from all around the nation and training them for their first triathlon. “It’s really exciting because it’s my chance to really give back to the sport,” Paterson says. (More to come on this endeavor as it unfolds.)
Despite her crazy schedule, Paterson still plans to race a full Xterra season and do enough 70.3 races to qualify for the 70.3 World Championships.