A Balancing Act

Rachael’s path into construction wasn’t a direct one. “I did an undergraduate degree in pre-medicine, health, and science but was feeling unsatisfied and not sure about my next step,” she says. “I got a job working as a finance admin assistant with FDC, really enjoyed the company and the people, so I decided to stay on. I started my cadetship with FDC this year. I love the constant learning on the job and every project is different. I'm onsite now in Alexandria where we're building Sydney’s first inner city, multi-storey, distribution facility for Charter Hall. It’s an incredible 22,000sqm project targeting a 5-star green star rating and I’m very excited to be a part of it.”

Rachael says the FDC team has been extremely supportive of her training schedule, even putting up her race certificates in the site office. “Though I’m not sure of their thoughts on me showing up to site in the morning in lycra,” she laughs.

The Ironman Journey

Ironman 70.3, also known as a half Ironman, is one of the most gruelling endurance races in the world combining a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike ride and a 21.1km run. These events attract elite athletes who thrive on pushing their physical and mental limits. Rachael’s foray into the sport came during the pandemic, inspired by watching the Tokyo Olympics triathlon on TV.

“I did short distance triathlons when I was growing up and quite a bit of swimming and cross country. I was competitive, but never made it further than state level,” she explains. “During the Covid lockdown, I watched the Tokyo Olympics triathlon on TV and felt inspired to get back in shape and give it a go. My New Year's resolution became to compete in a half Ironman. In 2022 I completed the Melbourne Ironman 70.3 and it was to this day the hardest thing I've ever done. I finished it and thought that was it, one and done. But there’s something about it that just hooks you in and makes you want to keep improving.”

Since then, Rachael has gone from strength to strength. With the help of her coach and sponsor, Training House, she has qualified for her professional license and recently celebrated a career highlight, winning the overall female category at the Port Macquarie Half Ironman. “It was a special feeling,” she says. “It validated all the hard work I’d put in beforehand, which was exciting.”

Training and Time Management

Balancing her cadetship with an intense training schedule is no mean feat, given that Ironman 70.3 races demand extraordinary physical and mental endurance. Rachael trains twice a day, most days, clocking up to around 19 hours per week.

“Triathlon encompasses three sports, plus strength training, so there’s a lot to fit in. I usually do a swim or a ride in the morning—around a 40-50km ride on those days, and on the weekends, more like 80-120km. Then in the afternoons, I’ll go for a run—an easy one is 8 or 9kms, or a long run is up to 25km, and then a gym session. The distances have become normalised for me. I know it seems crazy,” she says.

“It’s a bit of a struggle to balance it all, but I do my best. I fit in training before and after work and sometimes at lunchtime. It takes a lot of time management and organisation, but my coach plans everything for me, so I know what I’ve got to do each week.”

Mental and Physical Endurance

Rachael knows firsthand that triathlons aren’t just about physical fitness but mental preparation too. “I’m constantly thinking about how I’m going to be executing the race and how I’ll react to different scenarios that pop up on race day,” she says. “Visualisation is huge, especially in the few weeks leading up to a race. Mentally, it gets tough in the last few kms. Your mind goes elsewhere, and you’re looking for every excuse to stop, so I like to be prepared for that. You get that devil on your shoulder, telling you to slow down, take it easy, this is good enough! But I know I’ll feel a hundred times better after the race if I push myself to the limit and leave it all out on the racecourse.”

Next year is set to be an exciting one for Rachael, serving up more career highlights including Huskisson Ultimate and 70.3 Sunshine Coast as she continues to develop her skills as a cadet, contributing to the sort of innovative projects that help shape the future of cities.

“2025 will be my second year as a cadet with FDC, so I’ll keep learning from the team while studying construction management,” she says. “And I’m very excited to start 2025 with my professional licence and start racing against the best girls in triathlon”.

For Rachael, working in construction and competing are more than just pursuits—they’re challenges that inspire her. “Both construction and triathlons require a lot of organisation, prioritisation, and focus,” she says. “I’m learning a lot about myself and what I’m capable of through triathlon, and that’s something I bring to my work and studies. I’m growing through the experience.”

Photo Credit: Toby Peet