The 2012 London Triathlon over, Pallant was hooked – so much so that she used savings from her running career to quit her job as a physiotherapist, and go full time – moving to Australia to stay with [Coach and Olympic Athlete] Michelle Dillon and husband [Olympic Athlete] Stuart Hayes. Training was full on – she tells us: “I did 3 months that were probably the toughest 3 months of my life. But I loved it. I came back and the first race I did was Blenheim – I had a sprint finish with [Olympic Triathlete and former Commonwealth Gold Medallist] Vicky Holland.”

“My first couple of rides I went out with people with food in their back pockets – I thought they were just really greedy!”

Pallant was clearly talented and had a lot to give to the sport, and she was fully invested in it. Moving sports was quite a culture shock – at first the middle distance runner thought this cycling lark was all a bit odd – she says: “My first couple of rides I went out with people with food in their back pockets – I thought they were just really greedy! Then I realised that when you’re biking for four hours it’s different to a 90 minute run. Cycling is a whole different mentality.

“There’s so much training that you need the steady stuff or you can’t push the limits the next day. I think that social side [was hard at first] – I wasn’t that chatty to begin with and I’d be thinking ‘Why’s someone pulling up next to me and starting a conversation?! We should be hustling with each other!’ It took a bit of time for me to relax, and actually enjoy the training as well.”

You’d be forgiven for expecting that with the added cycling and running, Pallant might have lost some of her running speed. Not so – she’s running PBs. She says: “I never thought I’d be doing PBs whilst doing triathlon – I’d accepted that I wouldn’t ever run as fast again. But actually if you cycle properly, you have the right cadence, have the right fitness, you don’t bulk up in the quads and you can do so much more training. Swim sessions are great too, you can train your heart and lungs without stressing your legs to let them recover.”

Swimming was just as eye opening as running in the early days – Pallant says: “With the bike and the run, the more I put in – the more effort, the more I hurt myself, the faster I go. With the swim, it’s so much more about technique. I did find that a bit frustrating.”

With 2016 now in full swing, Pallant has her goals clearly set out. She hopes to defend her World Duathlon title, but also to collect points on the Ironman 70.3 scene [1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run].

The Rio Olympics, run over a spint distance, might have been a target, but Pallant’s determination to work with her coach seems to clash with the wants of the British Triathlon Federation. They prefer sponsored athletes to train with them in Loughborough or Leeds. She says: “I believe that you need a strong team [to succeed] – you are where you are not just because of what you’ve done, but who got you there. All the years I ran I never left my coach, we built up a strong relationship and the same with Michelle. She took me from nothing… [to World Duathlon Champion and more!]”

“I’m never going to write off the Olympics – it’s definitely a massive goal of mine and I’d like to believe in four years time I’ll race at Tokyo. You just look at it and remember that these people won’t be in power forever, there will be another Olympic cycle, then hopefully someone fresh and new will come in and we can build a good relationship.”

Aside from the funding and Olympic selection battle with the British Triathlon Federation, Pallant also enjoys the long courses and training required, preferring the rewards reaped by hard work over tactics. We have to ask if she ever finds herself losing concentration over what is a 113 mile course – she says: “Mental strength is important on longer distances. Paula Radcliffe always said if you ever find your mind slipping, you’re thinking about something else or you’re not keeping pace, always start counting in your head. I do find that helpful.

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“I trained with Rachel Joyce [Twice Silver Medallist at Ironman World Champs] last year, and what she said was the trick is to be almost mindless – without being unfocused. You don’t want any other thoughts – almost in a zone where you’re numb, you’re just driving your legs, but you just keep that pattern. You don’t want to be thinking about ‘this is a long time’/’how much further have I got’, you just have to get into that zone… where not a lot goes through your brain but you’re keeping that rhythm. You’ve got to train for it – do those sessions where you just have to get into that zone and hold it.”

Pallant is clearly in the zone – and we look forward to watching her progress over the next year. Find out more about Team Dillon Coaching here, and keep track of Emma via Twitter. 

More triathlon advice: 

Essential Gear for Your First Triathlon

Winter Off Season Training for Triathlete’s