Sauce x Me. | Purpose, passion and periods with Eliza McCartney
In proud partnership with Me.
To celebrate the launch of Me., a period care brand designed by, and for, the modern-day womxn – Sauce speaks with the Me. Collective.
The Me. Collective is a genus of diverse, socially conscious, real womxn hailing from New Zealand.
Period care is intimate and integral, but so often it’s left unspoken and positioned on our shelves in a typically unsophisticated manner. Periods are personal, but they’re also universal. Blood is interconnection.
In partnering with Me., we aim to explore taboo conversations around period care, to touch on topics others have left unsaid. To connect on a level, we haven’t with you before, we hope you find something you are looking for here, Saucettes.
We understand not only womxn bleed, and not all womxn bleed. the Me. Collective members may use gendered terms in their storytelling that aligns with their personal experience or understanding.
Our first conversation is with Eliza McCartney, a New Zealand born Olympian Pole Vaulter. Eliza, at just 23, has conquered what many can only dream of. After winning bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics and inspiring track and field athletes nationwide to strive for more, it’s almost unfathomable that she also finds the time to study Environmental Science at Massey University part-time.
Eliza stands tall above the crowds, but from speaking with her, you can’t help but feel like she is just the girl next door, who dreamt big, jumped over every obstacle thrown her way and came out winning.
What attracted you to partner with Me.?
Over the past few years, sustainability has become hugely important to me. It has become my passion, and I’ve slowly started working more with brands and companies that are heading in the right direction for our planet. What stood out straight away was how transparent and willing Me. are to work in this space continually. At the moment, period products are unavoidable, so having the choice of a brand that is sustainable, and willing to evolve in this space is exciting.
How did you end up deciding on Environmental Science as your degree of choice? Is sustainability where your true passions lie?
I have always been a bit of a science nerd; in particular, the biological sciences have always interested me. At school, my dream in life was to study medicine, but that was quickly put on hold when my pole-vaulting career began to take off. Instead, I studied physiology, my second favourite option, which I loved. It was by chance that I took a marine science paper (the most science-y general education paper I was allowed to take), which introduced me to the world of environmental science. I was hooked, especially when I started learning how much harm was happening to our planet that I was completely unaware of. There came the point where studying physiology was no longer possible with the amount I was travelling, so I switched to studying environmental science as a distance student, and have never looked back since.
You’re studying Environmental Science at Massey University, how do you manage the workload and training full-time?
It can be a bit of a juggle at times, but I study very part-time at university, that it’s more like a hobby. I guess what makes it easier is that I love what I study. I’m fascinated by sustainability, and how we can change our behaviours to eventually be in a society that isn’t taking more than the earth can provide. I also study as a distance student, so no matter where I am in the world, I can keep it going. I do set fairly strict priorities at times which helps me stay on top of what’s essential. At the moment, being a professional athlete, and all that comes with that, is my priority, and uni has to fit in the gaps.
What does a day in the life of Eliza look like?
I love the fact that every day is different. The most important order of the day is always training, which either happens in the morning or afternoon, six days a week. In and around training, I usually catch up with people in my team; my coach, physio, doctor, nutritionist, psychologist, biomechanist, the list goes on. The rest of the day is filled with “work” which can mean so many different things; events, sponsors, meetings, speeches, emails, collaborations and media etc. That’s the fun part that changes every day. One day I might be doing a photoshoot for a sponsor, the next I might be handing out medals at the Weetbix TRYlathlon. When things are quieter, I have plenty of time to study as well, which I always enjoy.
How is your Olympic preparation going? Were you secretly stoked with the extra year to practice or did COVID-19 throw a hurdle in your preparation?
The timing was really interesting for us in New Zealand. The day after it was announced that New Zealand was going into a level four lockdown, the Olympics was postponed. The first feeling was one of relief, but only because we all knew that the Olympics couldn’t go ahead in a fair and just manner, where all athletes and countries have an equal opportunity to qualify for and attend the Games. Only 57% of the expected athletes to qualify for the Games had actually done so, and everywhere competitions were being cancelled, so the chances to qualify were disappearing. We knew it wasn’t right to hold the Games, so it was a relief when we were finally given an answer, which allowed us to adjust our plans and training. Since I’m not at the end of my career, having the Games postponed doesn’t cause as much disruption as it would for someone at the end of their career, who perhaps was holding on for one last effort. We were scheduled to have both our indoor and outdoor World Championships next year, so regardless you are always training for something. Once I got my head around the new situation, it was super exciting to think about the possible gains I could make from having a whole year of extra training ahead of the next Games.
When do you feel the most healthy?
Physical health has always been a defining factor for me, simply because I need a fit, healthy body to do my job and earn a living. When I have no niggles or injuries, and I’m entirely free to do anything I like without worrying about the consequences, that’s when I feel most healthy. Of course, my mental health is intricately related to that. Being physically fit means I can exercise, which boosts my mood, and gives me routine and purpose. That’s when I’m at my happiest.
A common menstruation issue female athletes suffer from is RED-S Syndrome, have you ever dealt with this?
Growing up as a female athlete, you are conscious of RED-S syndrome (relative energy deficiency in sport or previously known as Female Athlete Triad). Although it can affect males too, it is more common in young females who are not meeting the energy demands of their sport and can subsequently cause absent or irregular periods. It’s imperative to be aware of how it can affect bone density, hormone function, and fertility. I’ve been fortunate never to have RED-S, but it’s something I’m still mindful of with my nutrition and energy balance. I also count myself very lucky to not have had any significant issues with my menstrual cycle and training. I know for some women, feeling healthy and in control of their period isn’t easy. How regular, long, painful, or heavy your period is can tell you a lot about your general health and wellbeing. If you’re worried that it’s affecting you, I would strongly encourage you to see a medical professional, because so very often, any issues you are facing can be improved on or solved. Don’t be shy ladies; there is only one way to be rid of a taboo.
How do you best combat period pains?
It’s taken me a while to believe it, but I have found exercise to be the best medicine for period cramps and pains. The last thing I want to do when I have bad cramps is to exercise, it feels so counterintuitive, and I just want to stay curled up in bed. But I’m a professional athlete, I train every day for a living, so I get myself up and go anyway. And every time the cramps disappear, it’s fantastic. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m distracted or the exercise is having a physical effect, but it seems to work for me. I’m not sure if it’s the same for everyone, but it’s worth a shot.
When do you feel most empowered?
When I have a purpose, for a while, I felt like I had no choice but to be a professional athlete, as that’s where I found myself heading. But I wasn’t sure if that’s actually what I wanted to do. Once I started to work through my purpose – what I wanted to achieve and who I wanted to be – I suddenly felt in control and empowered. I decided to be an athlete, that is what I wanted to do, and I was going to put everything I had into it. Part of that purpose has been about playing a role in protecting our earth, and through sport, I have been allowed to follow that passion. Sport has given me purpose and empowered me to be who I want to be.
What is next for Eliza McCartney?
Hopefully the Olympics! I’ve really battled with injuries through the past couple years, and it was going to be a push to qualify for the Games, but I have more time now to get back on my feet. Nobody was sure if the Olympics would go ahead next year, but now everyone is a lot more confident with there being plans in place to hold a Games during a pandemic (opposed to hoping a vaccine arrives in time). I’m looking forward to the chance of being on the world stage again and representing Aotearoa. It never gets old. For now, that means working hard every day so that I can come out strong next year and qualify. You’re always working towards the next thing in sport, it’s never-ending, but always inspiring.
Photography – Lula Cucchiara
In proud partnership with Me.
