Namita Nayyar:
On a heavy training day (e.g., 5-hour ride + run), what does your meal timing look like around family life? How do you fuel without making every meal a separate production?
Jocelyn McCauley:
When you have a heavy training day 8+ hours of training, it is inevitable you’ll train through a meal. Fortunately during those long days my family is self-sufficient and doesn’t need me to make food. In my training, I’ll focus on getting in 120g of carbs through Precision Fuel Hydration drink mix, gels, and chews. I find if I get in that much fuel I am able perform better, and recover a lot faster.
Namita Nayyar:
What is your “emergency fuel” when you are exhausted from a sleepless night with a child but still have a key session to complete?
Jocelyn McCauley:
My emergency fuel is always a caffeinated Precision Fue l& Hydration gel. I get caffeine and carbs (energy) in. I usually feel pretty invincible after taking one in.
Namita Nayyar:
You train in Boise (dry climate) and Texas (humid heat) at different times. How does your hair care routine adapt to protect against chlorine, sweat, sun, and two very different climates?
Jocelyn McCauley:
I’m pretty simple in my routine. I get my hair wet before getting in the pool so it absorbs less chlorine. In Boise because it’s dry, I wash my hair less frequently and in Texas I wash it more often.
Namita Nayyar:
Skin care for a pro triathlete mum: You are outside for hours, then indoors with kids. What are your three non-negotiable products for sun protection, post-swim repair, and post-workout cleansing?
Jocelyn McCauley:
I use a tinted sunscreen daily, a Vitamin C lotion in the morning, and retinol cream at night. I have disposable face washcloths I use after a training session.
Namita Nayyar:
Do you have a “3-minute face” routine for when you go from a morning trainer ride straight to a school drop-off or sponsor Zoom call?
Jocelyn McCauley:
I’ll use a disposable face wash cloth cleanser, some lotion, then just a quick application of mascara.
Namita Nayyar:
You have been honest about funding challenges as a mother in elite sport. What is the most frustrating conversation you have had with a sponsor about pregnancy, and what do you wish you had said?
Jocelyn McCauley:
I try not to carry frustration from specific conversations. I find that if I do I play the victim and stay stagnated rather than try to move on and progress. I’ve learned to say what I mean in the moment and stand behind it. What I like to enforce during these conversations is that I’m not asking for special treatment, I’m asking to be evaluated with the same long term lens and belief that is given to any athlete navigating a transition. Careers aren’t linear for anyone.
Namita Nayyar:
If you could design a “mother-friendly” professional triathlon contract today, what three clauses would be mandatory?
Jocelyn McCauley:
- Guaranteed contract protection through pregnancy and postpartum. That means no automatic reductions or terminations based on pregnancy, and a defined window of support that allows for both recovery and a realistic return to performance.
- Flexible performance and deliverable expectations. Pregnancy and postpartum aren’t linear, so contracts shouldn’t be either.
- Formal commitment to continued investment, not quiet disengagement. A mother-friendly contract should require the same intentional partnership and belief during that season as any other instead of a wait-and-see attitude.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
