The Launceston 31-year-old won the George Town Triathlon on Sunday, remarkably less than 24 hours after going head to head with Birtwhistle.

“Jake came home and he invited me for a hard running session,” Foot said.

“He may have put me to the sword a bit when I got dropped in the last little bit.

“But it’s good to be training with one of the world’s best triathletes and getting some feedback on where you are just on pure time.

“How long you can hold them is always a good benchmark on where you will go nationally, so I have an idea.”

Foot has decided to step up his transition to triathlon since cutting all ties with Rowing Australia after being snubbed for the 2016 Olympics in a row over unrealistic qualification times.

The 2012 Olympic lightweight reserve has instead been training with Riverside Aquatic Centre coach Trent Hadley alongside an elite crop of triathletes including Birtwhistle.

Foot’s mentors have also extended onto the bike with Richie Porte, who started in triathlons before famously making the switch to cycling.

Foot has swayed between sprint triathlons and marathons since winning the 2016 Ross Marathon at his first attempt over 42.2 kilometres. 

Running last month at the Sydney Marathon, he clocked a personal best of two hours, 44 minutes and 11 seconds to finish 33rd overall.

“I must admit I was very happy with that,” he said.

But Foot, a lightweight eight world champion in 2011, said his attention will turn solely to triathlons beginning with the iconic Noosa event on November 4.

He will swim 1.5km, ride 40km and run 10km – twice the distance of George Town.

“I’d like to take triathlons seriously now,” he said.

“My next aim over the summer ahead is to have a real good crack at it.

“I’m coaching rowing at Scotch Oakburn, which is another element that will cut into my morning training. But if I can break into the triathlon higher ranks in the national series, it’ll be good.”