The Life Of Physician & Pro Triathlete Tamsin Lewis

SPEAKER_1 (0:03)

Welcome to the Ben Greenfield fitness.com podcast. We provide you with free exercise, nutrition, weight loss, triathlon, and wellness advice from the top fitness experts in the nation.

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Ben Greenfield (0:34)

Hey, folks, it's Ben Greenfield. And I gotta admit, it's actually not very often that I get professional triathletes onto the Ben Greenfield Fitness podcast.

There's not really a specific reason for that. It's just that we have so many medical experts and nutritionists and fitness gurus coming on that there's only so much time left. But it just so happens that I was able to stumble across somebody that's kind of all those things wrapped into one, a physician, a professional triathlete, somebody who's a real expert in the realm of fitness and diet and just a wealth of knowledge.

And we get the privilege of having her on today's podcast. Her name is Tamsin Lewis. And Tamsin, thanks for coming on the call today.

Tamsin Lewis (1:25)

Happy to be here. Great to talk to you all. Hope I can impart some knowledge along the way.

Ben Greenfield (1:30)

Now, you're right now getting ready to race. Like you're in France, right?

Tamsin Lewis (1:34)

I'm actually post-race. I raced in Alpe d'Huez Triathlon yesterday. How did that go?

It went really well, actually. It was sort of like a world-class field, rocked up with Caroline Steffen and Emma Jackson, the ITU athletes and some other ITU athletes. So I actually ended up second after a strong bike ride. So I was pretty happy.

Ben Greenfield (1:57)

That's not bad at all.

That's not bad at all. So folks, she backs it up. She's actually fast as well as knowledgeable. Who won that race?

Tamsin Lewis (2:08)

Yeah. Emma Jackson, the Australian ITU athlete.

I was a couple of minutes behind after a not so wonderful swim in the freezing cold water here.

Ben Greenfield (2:18)

Still, though, you look at like Caroline Steffen. She was leading the race for most of Ironman World Championships last year, right? And you beat her.

Tamsin Lewis (2:28)

Yes. I mean, it's not really her type of race. It's literally up the mountain.

But, you know, it's still nice to pass her on the bike.

Ben Greenfield (2:41)

She is a big girl. What do they call her? Xena?

Tamsin Lewis (2:43)

Yeah.

Ben Greenfield (2:45)

So what's your story? How did you get involved in the sport of triathlon and then throw becoming a doctor and a professional triathlete into the mix?

Tamsin Lewis (2:56)

It's kind of like I would say I stumbled upon it, but that wouldn't be quite true. I was a very sporty child. My dad was a professional cyclist, having competed in the Tour de France twice and national road race champion for Great Britain a few times. So I kind of grew up around that kind of sporting atmosphere, but my mom was very academic and sort of pushed me along the academic path.

So I competed as a swimmer, as a child, up until the age of about 13, and then I did some running, but nothing really to high level. And then I got into academia and kept fit, but nothing really extraordinary. And it wasn't until I was at medical school, I ran for the university a bit, and I was pretty good, but never really committed to any training. And I was too busy studying or drinking, unfortunately. So it was after my first year as a houseman, I think you call it your resident year in the States. I was just fed up of feeling kind of unfit. I was working all hours, God sends, and then drinking at the weekend, and my whole weekend was just spent in a blur.

So a friend of mine, who actually quite liked at the time, sort of like a boyfriend to be as it were, got me into a triathlon. He was a keen triathlete, and he said, come on Tamsin, you've got to just do one. And after putting it off for two years, I just finally got on the start line, did a few hours training all week, and did very well. I mean, it's classic sort of story. You know, you walk up on a half beaten up bike, and I did really well. I was on my age group for somehow, I don't know how. I think what carried me through is the fact that I have that ability to push, to push past limits and just kill myself in a race.

So that's how I got into it. The bug bit, as it were, and as with triathlon, you can always improve on some things, so that's what happened.