Joanna Perchaluk-Mandat, 35 young from Poland. Presently Joanna is the meteorologist and leader of the 42nd Polar Expedition of the Institute of Geophysics, the Polish Academy of Sciences. A tour guide, ski instructor, passionate photographer and water sports enthusiast. Her work can be found at: www.wiescizpolnocy.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/NanukFoto
This was our planning: (take advantage of technology...)
Susanne: Hello Joanna – I am very honored to have you on my podcast. We have an unusual guest joining us from Polish Polar Station on Spitsbergen.
J: Welcome at the end of the world
S: Tell me how did we meet? (Women for Tri, Facebook)
J: We met at the Women for Tri Facebook group. I posted there a couple of photos from my training here in the Arctic. Then I asked the group for sending me short movies from your places, that I could watch during my indoor training sessions. That’s when I got to know better some of the group members.
S: Joana – introduce yourself:
J: My name is Joanna Perchaluk-Mandat.
S: Who are you and where are you at the moment?
J: I’m a meteorologist and leader of the forty second polish polar expedition on Spitsbergen
S: What brings you to polar station ?
J: For the first time (because it’s already the third right now) it was curiosity and the need to experience something new and different. The second time around I wanted to do everything that I didn’t do the first time. And now I was just missing my second home.
S: How many marathon races have you done? Or triathlon races? Which one was the most memorable and why?
J: I didn’t dare to run a marathon just yet, but I have taken part in triathlons and duathlons. Short distances, for now. The most memorable was the first one, when I didn’t know what’s it like and what was waiting for me. I had a lot of adventures, before the start and then during the race. But the best, unforgettable feeling was when I crossed the finish line. It was then that I knew I wanted to do it again and again.
S: How did your get into this sport?
J: My triathlon story began by accident. Sport was always present in my life: swimming, skiing (since I’m a ski instructor during winter months), and sailing. A couple of years ago, when running started to become trendy, I was talking with my sister about how great it is that people are running, and that every healthy human being can easily run a 5 km distance. But a triathlon is a completely different thing. It requires conditioning, training and there’s no chance of succeeding if one is overweight. In a heartbeat I put down my coffee cup, found a race and signed up. I can’t do it??!! Watch me! I later came to the conclusion, that it wasn’t the smartest idea, since the ski season ends in March, what left me only six weeks to prepare, but… it was a short (one eighth) distance so anyone should do it, right?
S: Where do you train? I have seen very cool pictures – can you tell the audience how it looks like where you are? (and how cold is it?)
J: Currently I’m in the Arctic, since 8 months, here I live and train. Due to low temperatures and polar bears I do most of my training sessions indoors. In good weather I sometimes run outside, or take out my bicycle along with the trainer. But I need an armed bodyguard to watch over me while I focus on training and not on an approaching bear.
S: What is your next race? (Goal)
J: I have no idea, at least now, in the current situation. It’s difficult to tell how everything is going to look like when I’m back in my country. According to plan my first race is at the end of July, and then five more until September. Whatever may come, I’m training for races like they’re taking place normally and advise everyone to do the same.
S: And what is your other hobby (photography) – do you want to share that ? I think it is amazing what I can see on Facebook…
J: Yes, photography has a special place in my life and I often run around with my camera so that you can see the Arctic on my Facebook or Instagram. Another hobby of mine are water sports, sailing, diving, skiing, dogtrekking. I also crochet during long winter nights J