Our Journey

Phil and I met in June of 2010.  He was training for his first half marathon and I was a sedentary 30 pounds overweight smoker.  I was 41 and he was 49.

I supported his training and cheered him on as he crossed the finish line of the San Antonio Rock and Roll Half Marathon.  He asked me to run with him and I begrudgingly did.  I couldn’t even run 3 miles.  That was December 2010.

But running wasn’t as bad as I thought.  I felt good.  Those extra pounds started to melt away.  I ran my first half marathon in April of 2011 and was hooked.  But, only for that distance;  I could not imagine running any further.  We started signing up for half marathons in fun places.  We ran Chicago, Long Beach, Austin and Luckenbach.  He ran his first full in 2011, but I stuck with the half distance.

How did you get started in triathlons?

There is a really great triathlon in Kerrville, Texas near where we live.  We were intrigued by this event; we could swim and bike –right???  We signed up for the Sprint distance and had a blast.  We fretted over the transition bags, calmed the nerves and completed the event on bikes we bought at Sams Club.  Then we watched the Olympic and 70.3 athletes in awe.  Never could we do that.

We have done the Kerrville triathlon in various distances every year since, with the exception of when we were in Imperial Beach crossing the finish line at Superfrog.  But I am getting ahead of myself.

We continued to run half marathons until I decided I would do 1 marathon – bucket list – one and done.  We ran San Diego 26.2 in 2015.  I knew I would do that again and we did in December in San Antonio.  For Christmas, Phil gave me a wetsuit and I gave him biking shoes and a triathlete magazine.  We were looking towards Ironman – the full. Yikes – what were we thinking.  We decided on Texas in 2016.  That gave us over a year to prepare.

We bought tri-bikes in June and we were moronic on them.  I was scared to get in aero, we fell over a lot, and just kept trying.  I would do loops through the middle school near our house to practice getting in aero and maintaining control. We rode our first 50 miles sometime in July and signed up for Hotter Than Hell in Wichita Falls.  We also rode 55 on Phils 55th birthday in August.

We had joined a tri club – Brittons Tri Force – and they were supportive and friendly and soon became our tribe.  They supported us at our first 70.3 in Kerrville in September.  When my friend, Lisa, greeted me at the finish line, I said “that was hard,” with tears, wondering how I could ever double that distance.

We got a coach.  Two months later we did Austin Half IM and it was sooooooo much better. Coach Melissa Whan laughed when we met, told us we were not training smart and taught us about nutrition.  She saved us from ourselves and trained us successfully through IMTX 2016.  Yea – the one with the lightening and hail and wind and heat.  We did it together and even made the IM video of the race. Our tribe was there at the finish 15:42:08.

Since then, we have (5) 70.3, Superfrog I am most proud of because that race was so hard.  I think I was second from last in my age group but to cross that finish line and honor fallen soldiers is an honor.

We did IMTX again in 2018 and bettered our time.  We did not do it together and will likely never do a full separately again.  Phil is faster and a better athlete, but I have the endurance mind to remember to dial it back on the long course.  We are an amazing team and neither of us would have been able to take this journey alone.  We train together, motivate each other, sometimes make fun of each other.  It is not just what we do – it is who we are.  We love the challenge, we love all three disciplines, we love the triathlete life.

What benefits have you noticed?

Health is the obvious benefit, but the mental benefit is just as important.  Ironman builds confidence, analyzing and planning skills, perseverance, overcoming obstacles and facing fears. You truly find things in yourself you never knew were there.  My boss told me that part of the reason she hired me is because I am an Ironman.

Phil is much more intense in our training – he plans and looks at courses and elevations etc.  I am more a “take what comes” person.  This makes us a great pair for training/racing.  We are never going to place in an Ironman, but we are going to finish.  We have finished every race we have ever signed up for.

What challenges have you faced?

There are challenges at our age; the biggest one is probably recovery.  When you train for endurance, you feel like you are beat up A LOT.  The trick is to get the nutrition, effort, heart rate etc right, but that is for all ages. We have to be careful.  We did RAGNAR and would love to do Spartan or some other obstacle course, but do not want to risk injury.  So we limit exposure to situations that aren’t smart for us and that is frustrating because we sure don’t feel or act like 51 and 59.

What are your goals?

For Phil and I, we have to have a goal.  We do about 12 events a year if you include 13.1, bike rides etc.  Coach Whan still coaches us and regulates our schedule so we don’t overdo it.  Right now with the world as it is, our events through July have been cancelled.  But we are doing them anyway.  We ran our Luckenbach 13.1 on our own.  We did our Bluebonnet Express and Easter Hill Country Long Rides on our own.  This weekend we are supposed to be in Florida for Gulf Coast 70.3 – yes we are doing it on our own.  IMAZ in November is our A race but who knows – we just keep training.

We have friends and family that ask when are we going to stop all this and get our lives back.  This is our life – the life we choose.  Someone said “If you don’t do it, you can’t understand it and if you do do it you can’t explain it.”  It truly is a finish line you have to cross to understand.

Some day we won’t be able to do this BUT this ain’t that day!  I suspect we will keep doing triathlon until we can’t.  We love to travel to new places, race and then enjoy wherever we are.  We are looking to race in Germany one day.  We really are just regular people that work hard towards a goal.  When we share on social media – the hope is to inspire – to let people know that anyone can do an Ironman.  It takes a good training plan and the guts to stick to that plan no matter what – then you’ll finish the race.

Website: https://mirandagahrmann.com

Instagram: miranda_gahrmann

How old are you?: 36

Where do you live?: Egypt

What is your history with sports and athletics?: When I was growing up, my father was heavily into boxing and Pencak Silat, an Indonesian martial art. In fact, he later became a Pencak Silat Champion in Austria. Starting when I was 4, my father brought me with him to Pencak Silat five times a week. From then on, sports were an integral part of my life. After doing Pencak Silat for a couple of years, I moved on to horseback riding, but to get to the horse I needed to bike an hour each way. At the age of 16, I joined a gym, and I started teaching sports classes when I was 19. I did that for over 12 years until my digital marketing work became too heavy to fit in with sports and I had to make a choice. Because I like to travel and work from anywhere around the world, digital marketing was better to continue with, but nevertheless, I kept a very high interest in sports. This interest is currently expressing itself through the Ironmans I participate in together with my fiancé.

I met my fiancé at a wakeboarding class when we were both living in Dubai. He was also into sports, but more into Crossfit. Dubai has a race in at least one sport almost every weekend, and we started joining those races together. Every time, we would push ourselves to the next level—longer distances, tougher conditions. This was also the time we started with triathlons. We really liked the dynamics of triathlons and the variation of activities as compared to long-distance running. We did notice that we were often at the end of the results list, so we knew we had areas for improvement. We started taking classes in Total Immersion Swimming, and that made it much easier to swim long distances. We were now able to swim 2000 meters without getting too exhausted—something we never would have that possible before. With cycling and running, we’re making progress, but there’s still so much ahead. Inspired by all the top athletes, we’re pushing ourselves further.

What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?: Sports always give energy, excitement, and the good feeling that comes from working out. When we stepped into the world of Ironman, we were so proud to actually finish such an extremely long and difficult race that we wanted to do it more. I used to travel to salsa festivals around the world, but now that’s given way to sports events. We’ve done the Ironman 70.3 in Bahrain and Oman and signed up for Cartagena and Austria, and we can’t wait until the races start opening again.

Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles?: I tore my hamstring three times when going into a split while dancing. This makes my hamstring especially sensitive. After gyms closed down, I also got injuries from a hip flexor strain and pelvis tilt. These are caused by repetitive movements, such as those in cycling and running, that lead to muscle imbalance. To help me recover from these injuries and get back on the playing field, a trainer in Dubai is guiding me through some strength exercises. This COVID-19 phase is actually a good time to work on my hamstring; it’s limited me over the last few years, and hopefully, when I get back to the next race, I’ll be able to set a better performance.

What is your “why?”: What we love about sports and races is the feeling of excitement and fulfillment. Especially during the Ironman races, we love how everyone is so supportive of each other as we all compete in these extreme distances. It’s super inspiring to see people joining from different age classes and from all around the world.

What’s next?: For the short term, I’m planning on doing more half Ironmans, but we’re aiming to steadily increase our distances to prepare for the ultimate goal, which would be the full one. We had signed up for a full marathon to see how my body would handle that, but that race got postponed. I do think it’s a realistic goal, and this year I’ll be working on my injuries and finding a better work-life balance that allows me to train more. Also, we would like to focus more on nutrition to improve our performance. In 2021, we’re planning to do our first full Ironman.

Instagram: meltri789

How old are you?: 47

Where do you live?: North Carolina

Instagram: meltri789

What is your history with sports and athletics?  I was never an “athlete”. I always told people, I will never be a runner or a singer. One night, while talking to my husband, he “challenged” me to run a Turkey Trot in 2008. I had 6 weeks to train for it. I showed up in yoga pants, sweatshirt and a scarf. I ran/walked it and cried when I finished it, I was so happy! I never stopped running after that. In 2014, I wanted to learn how to swim, I was 40 and didn’t know how to swim and was scared to even sit on the bottom of the pool. I could stand in a pool just fine! So I signed up for a Super Spring Triathlon to force myself to learn how to swim. That first tri was ugly, but again, I was hooked. I joined a team, followed training plans and have done six 70.3 triathlons to date.

What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?  After leaving work and staying home with the kids, triathlon has given me a daily purpose, if you will. I love being a wife and mom, but you need more. I have met many new people and have the best girlfriends through triathlon and our team. You can meet anyone affiliated with this sport and become instant friends. I have pushed myself physically, and still doing it, more than I ever have. My first 70.3 was the biggest challenge mentally, but I know now I can mentally push myself through the wall to get to the other side in all aspects of life. My proudest accomplishment to date, is winning my AG last August at a race where my alarm didn’t go off. I was behind getting my stuff in transition and felt out of sorts the whole race, but pushed to do my best and focus, and boom, won my AG.

Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles?  I got injured last year and I’m still working on healing and getting better, but not running or biking for 8 weeks was torture! It made me appreciate being able to run and bike while healthy now. I am blessed that I have a supportive family for my sport, it makes it that much better to be able to train and race.

What is your “why?” I am driven by still seeing how far I can push myself in this sport. I want to keep going until I know that’s it. I have a group of ladies and coach who we all push together and are super supportive of one another. Knowing my husband is supporting me, I want to make him proud (so that all this time away and money I spend is worth it- lol)

What’s next?  Still on the road to recovery, but getting back to where I was fitness wise. Long term goal is to win a race (local) and to get faster at the 70.3 distance.

Any fun facts about yourself? I am an identical twin (no she doesn’t do this crazy sport). I am currently the president of our local tri team, Triad Tri Team in Greensbooro, NC.

Any other comments or stories you’d like to share?  I love the tri community, online, in person, at races. Most everyone is so kind, generous and supportive. I try to encourage more people to get out of their comfort zones and just “tri” it. The sense of accomplishment is very rewarding!

Instagram: daltonjacket

How old are you?: 47

Where do you live?: Georgia

What is your history with sports and athletics? I got into short course triathlon in college because my boyfriend at the time and his brothers all did it. I loved it, except for running. I believed you should run when chased.

After college, fast forward 20 years. I was newly divorced and trying to find my passion. I remembered how much I loved triathlon and set the goal to do an Ironman. This meant I had to learn to run. When I started, I couldn’t run more than 15 seconds at a time. I would increase my run time by five seconds every week. It took about a year, but I completed my first 70.3. Two years after I made the decision, and forty pounds lighter, I finished Ironman Texas in 2014.

Michael got into triathlon when Ironman came to Chattanooga in 2014. It sounded like a great idea so he signed up despite the fact he had never done a single triathlon. He then realized that he should probably learn to swim. At 51 years old, he learned to swim by reading the Total Immersion book and watching Youtube videos. He also got into running and fell in love with how he felt when he ran. He joined the local biking group Dalton Area Cyclists, and the wonderful people in the group taught him how to ride effectively. For training, he did three Sprint distances and a Half Ironman. He turned 52 ten days before his first Ironman.

What do you enjoy most about being an athlete? By complete luck, I had also gotten into Ironman Florida the same year. I started joining Ironman groups on Facebook since there were only about three women in my area that were doing Ironman distances. In one of those groups, I met Michael. He was training for Ironman Chattanooga in 2014, and we started talking a few weeks before. We didn’t tell each other, but after our first phone call which was four hours long, we both knew we would get married. At the time I lived in Texas and he lived in Georgia. We talked on the phone, video-chatted and met for the first time in person at Ironman Florida. He had already signed up to volunteer since he had friends competing, and it would be my second. We had joked about being catfished and I had joked I was a cartoon cow. He laughed like crazy when I came off the plane wearing cow antlers.

Meeting Michael in person was like coming home. We knew we belonged together, so I made the decision to move to Georgia when my daughter graduated high school and would go off to college in 2015. In July of 2015, Michael proposed to me where the finish line of Ironman Chattanooga would be. We were both members of Ironman Singles on Facebook and we were the first couple in the group to get married. It was only fitting that I would walk down the aisle wearing, you guessed it, my cow antlers instead of a veil. Michael surprised me by asking the voice of Ironman, Mike Reilly to record a special message to be played at the end of our ceremony. We were honored to have such an icon to officially pronounce us as an Ironcouple. Everything at our wedding was triathlon themed, including dancing our first dance under the finish line inflatable archway a race director friend of ours let us use.

Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles? During Ironman Texas, I twisted to save a bottle that I had knocked out of a volunteer’s hand at mile 30 of the bike. I had felt something go in my back but kept riding. Breathing on the run became very difficult, and the medics warned me that they would pull me if I didn’t start walking. It turns out my SI joint had folded back behind my pelvis, and I had dislocated ribs (it is now my mantra to let falling things fall). I went through PT but in December of 2014 I went to bed with a cold and woke up being unable to walk without extreme pain. Being the “I can work through it myself” kind of person, I kept training until February of 2015 until I couldn’t anymore. My SI joint was still displaced, my ribs kept popping out of place, and I had a herniated L4 and bulging L2 and 3. As I began treatment, which included decompression, graston, ART release therapy and laser there came a point where I was told the treatment had a 50/50 chance of working. If it didn’t, I was going to be in a wheelchair. I went from being an Ironman to having to learn to walk properly again and being in pain 24/7. The recovery was long and there are still days I am in pain but since 2015 I have done two more 70.3 and Ironman distances and in March of 2020, Michael and I completed the Double Anvil in Florida (4.8 miles swimming, 224 miles biking, 52 miles running). He finished before me but waited so we could pound our Anvils together.

Michael has scoliosis and one of his lungs is compressed. Despite that, he continues to get faster and stronger.

What is your “why?” My father was not supportive of me trying to complete an Ironman. He did not believe I could do it. He was not there for my first in Texas, but was in Florida. The day after, he kept repeating over and over that he couldn’t believe I had biked 112 miles in one day. He no longer tells me I can’t do it, he just shakes his head and tells me I’m crazy.

Most of the training in the beginning was driven by proving him wrong. I also wanted to show my daughter that if she set her mind to something, she could do anything. Now I share this life with Michael, and it’s a lifestyle we love as individuals and as a couple. I firmly believe that anyone can do what they set their mind to, no matter what anyone else believes. As a teacher, I hope my pursuit of finding how far I can reach helps to inspire my students to follow their dreams.

Michael jokes he got into triathlons to pick up girls. Since that worked out for him by marrying me, he says he is now motivated by the idea that we do not know when will be our last moment, so he wants to push himself for as long as he can.

What’s next? Last year I came across the Deca – ten times the Ironman distance. It appealed to me, but Michael asked as the voice of reason for us to try the Double first. Now that we have done that, my next goal is to complete the Triple Anvil in October of 2021 as a step towards the Deca in 2022 or 2023. Michael has said he has no interest in going past the Double distance, so he will continue his path toward qualifying to go to Kona.

Any fun facts about yourself? I was electrocuted when I was 13 and should have died. Instead, I tend to make anything electronic behave erratically. I fried three heart rate straps in one weekend, so it was a relief when they came out with an optical Garmin. I have to train old school since we are scared what would happen if I tried to use a power meter or a smart trainer. People never believe me until they spend some time around me. Oh, and I’m allergic to cabbage.

Instagram: oso2kona2021

How old are you? 49 years old

Where are you from? El Salvador (originally from Colombia)

Please tell us about your history with sports:

As a child I always practiced swimming and soccer, then in college I continued with soccer and squash, but I never did any endurance sports. I am from Colombia and in 2006 I moved to El Salvador for work, here I started running distances like 5k, 10k and then I trained for 21k, managing to finish the Miami Half Marathon in 2008. That year in El Salvador was announced a triathlon of distance 70.3, and decided to do it. I managed to finish it, I arrived the finish line last. That day I fell in love with that demanding sport and a childhood memory came to my mind.

At my parents’ house, they bought the Reader’s Digest magazine every month, and I remember reading an article in the year 84 or 85 about the most difficult day race in the world, which was done in Hawaii and that it was swimming an absurd distance of almost 4 kilometers, then pedaling 180 km with hurricane force winds and ended running on a lava street. Can you imagine my imagination of such race at age 13 … and it was also called Ironman. You really had to be a superhero to accomplish such a feat.

So, at that moment I promised myself, that someday I will do that race…..many years later……

Did you meet your promise?

Well, that memory returned to my mind and I decided that by the time I turned 40, I would be an Ironman.

My 40th birthday was in October 2010 and I managed to finish my first Ironman in November of that year in Panama City, Florida. The long distance triathlon fly had bitten me and after that Ironman, I went on to complete another 12 in the North American continent. Then, I managed to qualify for the Ironman World Cup in Kona for October 2021, through the Legacy program. YES!!! My childhood dream is getting closer.

How has it impacted my family?

Along the way I have made great friends in the sport. I have inspired many people, including my wife, who has already finished two Ironman. The example at home has been followed by my daughters, who are very good athletes. My oldest daughter plays on the basketball team at her school and my youngest daughter has already done her first triathlon competition.

What do you enjoy most about competing in Ironman?

What I enjoy most being an Ironman athlete, is the lifestyle that it entails and that I can share it with my wife. She is just as disciplined or more, and she is just as competitive. This sport has strengthened us as a couple and has allowed us to set a great example for our daughters.

Have you experienced any obstacles or challenges?

I have had two accidents in my sports life. The first was a day before competing in the Ironman 70.3 in Panama. I fell off the bike and cracked my elbow. The doctor still does believe that I was able to tolerate the pain and finish the race.

The other accident I had was 14 weeks before the Texas Ironman in 2015. I off my bicycle and broke my other elbow in two parts. As a result, I only had 7 weeks to prepare for that competition and managed to finish it with a pretty decent time.

What keeps you motivated?

This sport is like no other. Every day it challenges me, not only physically, but mentally and that is what I like the most. The adrenaline when competing, the self-motivation every day to be better in each of the sports. That’s what keeps me motivated all the time.

Do you have any short or long term goals?

My medium term goal is to make a very good preparation for Kona, compete in the World Championship and enjoy it. Then I want to manage to qualify for a 70.3 distance World Cup and suddenly do an Ultraman … who knows … hahahaha

Personal Website: www.livinghealthylife.com

Instagram: @health.byanne

Please tell us about yourself:

I was born and raised in France. At 23, I left never to come back with my boyfriend – my dear hubby now. We worked in England and Ireland, juggling work and 2 children. Then in 2007, we arrived in Florida, which is when I totally changed my career from accounting to personal training. The reason behind this was my “back issues.”

Back pain sufferers, I hear you, I’ve been there!  In fact, it’s the reason that I became a personal trainer and a Holistic Health and Wellness Coach.

When did the back problems begin?

I used to suffer on and off with my back for as long as I can remember. After doing all kinds of reeducation programs as a child, and reading all the books on the planet on the subject as an adult, I decided that enough was enough and I took action. As I became stronger physically, and developed my core, my back pains were less frequent, until they disappeared altogether or were at a very manageable level of pain. I realized that I was stronger mentally too, and much less stressed.

How did it impact your ability to exercise?

I went from not being able to run at all after my two pregnancies, to progressively running marathons, long trails, and mud runs. Then, my husband challenged us to start doing triathlons in 2013. Just one problem, we didn’t know how to swim, and never rode bikes either. Then came the grueling and painful process to learn how to swim and not throw up (I used to have severe motion sickness, even in the pool).

Being 45 and doing things I could not in my twenties is so rewarding and satisfying, but I don’t take anything for granted and religiously apply these facts for me and my family.

What is your philosophy on health and wellbeing?

I believe in a holistic approach to get results with your health and fitness: nutrition/cooking, doing more than one sport to avoid injuries. I also believe that recovery time and self care are essential, too.

Work as much on your mind as your body, especially for endurance distance: you need to work on your sources of motivation, feeding your mind with positive thoughts, managing stress, being organized and having a detailed plan to achieve your goals. All of these things are interlaced and necessary for success!

“Consistency trumps intensity” especially as you age. Your work with the body you have, not against it.

Please tell us about your race experiences:

My hubby and I are race junkies! He is an 11 time Ironman. I admire him so much for his determination and finding the time to train with a demanding job.

I reached the red carpet 5 times and didn’t succeed 3 times, but I learned so much from each race, whether I finished or not. I always study what went wrong and go again.

For us, a race is an adventure together and we love to travel for it. We feel so lucky to be in the US with so many areas and states to discover. It’s our quality time together (except when I reach a low level of sugar and become unbearable LOL).

That’s why we try different formats and types of races: Ragnars, 24h Tough Mudder, Ironman, Superfrog, Trail Triathlon, Trail runs, Wings for Life,  marathons, swim/run.

What are your current plans?

Our races for this year are: the Yeti 100km in Washington (with 2 miles in a tunnel),  Ironman Maryland, *Boulderthon (the very first marathon and half in Boulder finishing on Pearl Street).

*If you are interested in doing the Boulderthon, here is some information! The website is www.boulderthon.org/‎. My hubby is one of the race directors. If you think this race is for you, PM me for a $20 off discount!

In addition, our first swim/run was so fun that we decided to go again to beat our time of 5 hours.  (https://www.trisignup.com/Race/NC/Danbury/SwimRunNC). Please check it out, it is so different and wild and the race directors are awesome!

And because the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, our daughter is preparing her first 70.3 Ironman in Lubbock, Texas and she will race with dad all the way.

You will find the races we have done on my website www.livinghealthylife.com and my Instagram @health.byanne. I am posting regularly new recipes, inspirational quotes and soon workouts.

I love talking about new adventures and talking to other runners and triathletes! Let me know if you have other races that you recommend!

Do you have any advice for someone looking to get started?

Life is a roller coaster of events, during good or bad times you need to go with the flow and find a way to go through or even reinvent yourself.

The resilience you get from endurance sport is such an asset to see LIFE through a better lense. It transforms you for a better version of you.

Be well athletes,

Anne

How old are you?: 44

Where do you live?: United Kingdom

Website: https://www.britishtriathlon.org/clubs/comrades-triathlon-club_2793

Instagram: Comradesincoaching

What is your history with sports and athletics?

I was born in South Africa. My mom and dad were both marathon and ultra marathon runners when I was young. My mom used to compete but my dad was a “back of the pack” runner. I loved sport from a very young age and tried everything from cross country running, badminton, swimming, hockey, synchronised swimming and ballet. I was never the best in any sport but I was competitive and always tried my best. My parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams and sport should never be dreaded, more enjoyed. Even to the extent my mom would never buy me a stop watch to time my runs or she wouldn’t buy me Nike air running shoes as they were the best in her day. Nope I had to run in Sauconys. I made loads of friends through sport and it’s clear to see still to this day sport is my life. Today I’m a Personal Trainer and a Triathlon coach.

When I was 21 I left South Africa and started my new life in the UK. The weather was miserable and I started focusing more on my career than sport. I had my first son when I was 30 and then my second son when I was 33. I woke up one morning and realized that I was unhappy. Something was missing. I was over weight and had hit a low in my life.

I started searching the web and came across triathlon. I decided to get in touch with the closest Tri club to me which was Greenwich Tritons. My first training session with them was on a Thursday night. I was incredibly nervous but I really shouldn’t have been. I kept thinking I’m going to be this fat girl amongst slim super fit triathletes in a swimming costume. As soon as I arrived I was made to feel very welcomed. The swim coach was just so lovely and kind. That was the start of what was yet to become an incredible friendship and wonderful mentor and coach. It’s clear to say after that one session I was hooked and wanted more.

I went and bought a £299 road bike that weekend. I couldn’t believe how much a road bike cost. Never have I ever dreamt about spending such a large amount on a bike. I had a lot to learn. I booked an open water swim and my first triathlon – Hever Castle Sprint. Somebody mentioned I would need a wetsuit for the swim. No idea about wet suits I made a few phone calls and was guided into buying something that I can only describe as wetsuit made out of Lycra. I looked like such an idiot but what did I know?!

I did my first open water swim at lakeside and thought I was going to die. I jumped in like everybody else who I noticed had proper rubber looking wetsuits. The coldness was just something I had never experienced before. I couldn’t breathe. I had such a panic. Thank goodness we had about 5 minutes to get used to it. Finally calming myself down I managed to get going when the gun went off. I didn’t break any records I just completed the swim. First thing I did after that race was buy a wetsuit.

Hever Castle Triathlon fast approached but I developed a pain in my foot. I did go to the doctor but wasn’t happy with his diagnosis so I still did the race. On arrival some lovely experienced triathlete helped me set up my transition area and still to this day I always help out the newbies as I remember how kind that man was. The swim was ok but running up to transition I felt the pain in my foot. It was excruciating. On to my very expensive bike and couldn’t believe how far 20kms was on the bike. It went on forever. The run through the forest was gorgeous but my foot was very sore. I hobbled over the finish line and I remember that feeling of happiness and I felt exhilarated. Off to A&E to find I had broken my 4th metatarsal.

My journey continued with Greenwich Tritons. My journey changed after a club night out. I was sitting opposite two Great Britain age group ladies and they were telling me all about representing our country in triathlon. They said I should try it. I couldn’t believe it. These two ladies believed I, little old me could represent Great Britain. They must be mad. I spoke to my Tri club coach and he said with the right sort of training I could possibly do it. So I put my heart and soul into it. I booked myself into the three qualifier races and I managed to scrape into the top 20 qualifying spots for the World Championship in New Zealand. When I got back from New Zealand I was ready for more of that. I then qualified for the Europeans in Turkey where I placed 2nd in my age group. Then on to London for the World Championship and I placed 3rd.

I continued with Triathlon but became more focussed on cycling. I started competing in Time Trials and became focused on local events in and around Kent. I managed to break a few course records and my first year won the Ladies Kent BAR over 10, 25 and 50 mile.

It was during this time that I was invited on a 100 mile social group ride in Essex that I met my other half. It has become a bit of a joke that we were in the front of the group and kept dropping all the others and we didn’t realize. We were so engrossed in each other’s stories we were blind as to what was going on behind us. Paul came from a running background but was hoping to get into triathlon. I guess this was a turning point for me going back into triathlon. I helped Paul learn to swim. I watched him grow as a triathlete and it wasn’t long before he was starting to catch me and I realized it wouldn’t be long before he was no longer being chicked.

Paul encouraged me to take the step up from the Olympic distance to middle distance. He encouraged me to book my first middle distance Ironman distance event in Barcelona, Spain – this event was the European/African and Middle East Tri Club Championship. I was nowhere run ready for this event but my swim and bike were quite strong so I was happy with a 2nd place. I then went on and did Holkham which is an Outlaw event. My time was enough to qualify me for the European Championship in Ibiza. After all the time I spent coaching Paul in the pool and lake it was his turn to get me to the finish line in Ibiza in the best place possible.

There were times during my training sessions that I questioned why was I doing this, am I still enjoying it? The pain and hours of commitment certainly pay off when you cross that finish line knowing you gave it your best shot, you put the hard work in and you get the result you were hoping for. It was a brutal race as the weather conditions were horrendous. Paul was there to support me every step of the way. He had supported me right up to the point of race day. The race went well. I came out of the water in second place, managed to overtake the first lady in transition, and managed to stay in first place on the bike. Off the bike I was leading my age group by 5 minutes and all age groups by 2 minutes. I finished with the gold medal, was first Great Britain representation and beat four pro triathletes. That has and will always be such a huge accomplishment for me as an athlete. It felt so good. To think when I started I was just looking to lose a bit of weight and find more meaning to my boring life.

Since the middle distance European Championship both Paul and I have become Level 2 triathlon coaches helping newbies get into the sport and giving guidance around training plans for the more experienced triathlete. Paul and I have also started our own Triathlon Club named after the ultra marathon in South Africa that meant everything to my mom who sadly passed away in June 2019. She was very much a part of my journey in triathlon. She looked after my kids so I could train, she financially supported me so I could get to the starting line and was my role model as an athlete. Comrades Triathlon Club was born in January 2020.

What do you enjoy most about being an athlete?

I love being active and feeling healthy. I’ve met and made some truly wonderful friends. I found my soul mate on my bike in the Essex countryside. We do triathlon together. We support and encourage each other. I was In a very dark place when I started out and now I’m a much happier person and feel free.

Proudest accomplishment for me was knowing I made my mom proud. She loved what I was doing. She was living all her past racing days through me. She understood what I had to do to get to where I wanted to go. She was always so incredibly proud of my achievements.

Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles?

I’m a huge believer that cross training is a great way to prevent injuries. I’ve had to deal with the guilt that triathlon was time that I was taking away from being with my children. It’s a very difficult balancing game.

What is your “why?”

Training with my club mates is what keeps me going. Triathlon is all about having fun and pushing yourself. I can’t deny the fact I love competing and doing well. Most of my races my mom was always there with her clip board making notes and analyzing my data. She was very old school and always made us laugh when she came out with statements such as, “last year at this exact race you were 10 seconds faster coming out of transition- what went wrong?” She really was my inspiration and I loved making her proud.

What’s next?

At the moment I am enjoying my coaching and inspiring others. I’ve started to do Insta live HIIT and S & C sessions on our @comradesincoaching Instagram account. I’m not charging for these sessions and really enjoying the positive feedback. Come and join me this weekend at 5pm Saturday and Sunday. They’re tough but brilliant.

My partner is integral in my triathlon journey as he motivates me to get out and do the hard stuff. I have watched him progress from an absolute beginner to a competitive age grouper in major events. He recently qualified for a Great Britain age group middle distance.

Any fun facts about yourself?

I bought a dog to encourage me to run as I hate running on my own. I’m a qualified skydiver and scuba diver. I only like training with friends – have very little personal motivation to train on my own. My training buddies say I never stop talking and believe I have the ability to talk under water whilst swimming.

Name: Leona Foxworth

How old are you?: 38

Where do you live?: NYC

Website: http://www.theathenaathlete.com

Instagram: TheAthenaAthlete

When and why did you get started? Was there a specific moment in your life?

When my niece was 2 years old (she is now 11) I was close to 400 pounds and realized that I would not be alive to see her graduate high school if I did not make changes. I knew that I had to figure out a way to lose weight and become healthier. She was my initial reason.

What do you enjoy most about it? Do you have an accomplishment that you’re most proud of?

I started working out before I started running. However, I started running about 8 years ago. Running has brought the most amazing relationships in my life. I have developed friendships that have saved my life.

Running has also helped me battle depression and anxiety over the years. Running has made me a stronger person, it has helped me to believe in myself. It has made me realize I can do hard things.

I have a few things I have never been more proud of. The first time I ever ran a single mile without a walk break, it was so hard and when I first started I could barely run 10 seconds. The day that my coach pushed me to run a mile without a walk break I did not think it was something that I would be able to do, and yet with the help and encouragement of my coach I did.

The next thing I accomplished was in 2014 when I ran my first half marathon. When I first started running this was a goal of mine and it took me close to 5 years to accomplish. I finished it in 3:36 and was so very proud of myself that day and I still am.

Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles?

I have experienced several injuries. I am prone to stress fractures and I have a bulging disc in my back from a car accident I was in about 10 years ago. I have had to push through injuries with all running being done on the Alter G (Anti-Gravity Treadmill) and pool running. I purchased a bike and rode that for a while off and on until I moved to NYC.

Moving to NYC also has been really hard for me with my workouts and running. In Florida I had an amazing running community fully supportive of all paces and abilities. I have really struggled in NYC not knowing anyone and not having that same foundation and running friends. Since I am always working out alone it is also harder to push myself and get myself going when I just do not want to do the workouts

What is your “why?” What drives you? What keeps you going?

Why do I desire to be a stronger person today than I was yesterday? The most common answer I have given in the past as to why I decided to make the changes in my life to become a healthier person was to be a role model for my nieces. I love those girls more than anything or anyone else in the world, however, they can not be my why. They can still be a part of my why but they can not be my whole reason. My why needs to be even more than they are it needs to be me. My why, my reason for pushing myself in a workout, or a race needs to be because I need to prove to myself that I can do anything I set my mind to. I have been thinking a lot about this over the last few months. I have been trying to figure out where how to find that fire inside me again. I have discovered that when I stopped believing in myself, my motivation left. My nieces, my family and my friends have never (nor will the ever) stop believing in me, but that by itself was not enough. My why, my motivation for getting myself to the gym it has got to come from within. I am slowly learning how to believe in myself again. Not only do I know that I CAN be stronger than I was yesterday, but I deserve to be stronger than I was yesterday. I think that is the hardest part of being your own why is not just believing that you can but believing that you deserve to be strong and do hard things.

What’s next? Do you have any short term or long term goals?

As long as the NYC Marathon happens in 2020 I will be running through the 5 boroughs of NYC on Nov 1!

Name: Cheryl Palen

How old are you?: 66

Where do you live?: Green Valley, Az

Instagram Handle: theyearofbeing66

When did you get started in sports?

I started a girls track/cross country team (with a few of my friends) in 1971 when we were in High School. Recreational running led to 10ks, marathons, ultras and then triathlons (training for number 143 right now!)

What do you enjoy most about it? Do you have an accomplishment that you’re most proud of?

Mastering mountain biking at age 50 and recently qualifying for Xterra Off Road World Championships in Maui this year….if it happens. Lately I feel accomplished if I can still, after almost 49 years of running, get my butt out of bed at 4 a.m. and get in a good tempo 6 miler!

Have you experienced any challenges or obstacles as an older athlete? 

No…I still love every minute of training and racing.

What drives you? What keeps you going?

That feeling of being out there watching the sun come up, catching an owl’s hoot at dawn, being serenaded by coyotes as they chase down a rabbit, and that feeling of strong after a good, hilly 30 miles on the mountain or road bike.

What’s next? Do you have any short term or long term goals?

I will continue to race if they happen. Keeping World Championships (Xterra) in the back of my mind and hitting those training goals week by week as if it was gonna happen. Then maybe it will! 🙂

Any other comments?

As much as I love triathlon and mountain biking, nothing compares to raising a competent, strong daughter who is currently on the “front lines” helping throw away children with behavioral issues and their adult counterparts with strategies to employ. Also loving my own career as a speech and language therapist, working with children on the autism spectrum, for the last 41 years.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Am I resilient, relentless and strong because of my endurance sports, or did raising a daughter by myself and having a challenging career make my endurance sports seem like child’s play? You make the call.

Background

Triathlon…that wasn’t a word in vocabulary until I was 31 years old. I came from Northern Ontario Canada where we played hockey, lacrosse and High School football. It was a Pulp and Paper Mill town. Would you believe, this mill, supplied the paper for the New York Times…..Lol….

As a kid, I always was active, either cycling or jogging around our small town. As for swimming, it was just for recreation.

Fast forward to 1985, I got a job in Kingston, Ontario, close to the border of Watertown, NY and Syracuse, NY. I always stayed active. As a Correctional Officer, I wanted to stay in fairly good shape. It wasn’t until the summer of 1990 – I was in the city and there was a race going on. I was living there for 5 years and never heard of this race. It was the Kingston Triathlon. I had to ask, “ What’s a triathlon?” I told my friend about it and we said, we can swim, bike and run, but, not sure one after another. We each did our own training. In the fall of 1990, I was watching “ Wide World of Sports “ on ABC station and I said, “someday, I would love to do that.” I found out later that you had to qualify. There was no way that I would ever qualify.

How did you get started?

The following year, I did my first long-distance triathlon. At 31, I did a 2 kms ( 1.2 miles ) swim, bike 56 kms ( 33 miles ) and 15 kms ( 9 miles ) run. It was exciting and fun. Not for my wife, though. She was worried about the swim. Most of the participants had come and gone on their bikes when I finally arrived waving at everyone and having fun. The rest of that day was better.

I got hooked. The following year, I signed up for more races and I stayed in pretty good shape. Then, in 1993, only two years into the sport, I decided to sign up for the Montreal Esprit. It was an Iron Distance race. It was the toughest sport I’d ever done in my life. It didn’t compare to the competitive hockey and lacrosse I played in my youth. Over the years, I continued doing triathlons until I met my older friend – he was old enough to be my father. I signed up for Ironman Canada in Penticton, BC, in 1999. I had such an awesome day that, next morning, we lined up to register, for 2000. That’s when I got hooked on Ironman. Every year, I would sign up for a couple of them. Since 2001, I’ve been participating at Ironman Florida. Also, in 2001 , I participated at Ironman Lake Placid and did that one for 15 years.

In addition to those two, I did some races in Europe. They included Ironman Frankfurt, Ironman Austria x2, because the first time I wasn’t able to complete it, Ironman Sweden and Ironman Hamburg. I need to go back and finish what I started in Hamburg. Ironman brought me to Germany because I was also able to make a holiday out of these with my wife. All of her relatives are in Germany. She’s from German descent, as her father was a survivor of the famous German battleship, the Bismarck….that’s another story…..

Going back to Ironman Florida, since I’ve been going there for many years, I have made friends with athletes from all over. Swedish, Slovenians, Danish, Germans……and USA, also.

What do you enjoy about the sport?

This is why I enjoy this sport, meeting other athletes, going to their country and doing their Ironman. This brings me back to when I first saw the Ironman on TV. Back then, you had to qualify. In 2012, Ironman developed this program called the Legacy to give the athletes who have completed 12 or more Ironmans, the chance to participate in the World Championship, in Kona, Hawaii. When I heard about this program, I had already done 24 or so Ironman so I qualified for it. All I had to do was register and wait to see if I was chosen. In April 2012, they published the finalists and my name was on it. It was a dream that came true from 1991. Like they say, “Anything is Possible,” I guess they are right. That event, I will never forget it. I was just like a kid in a candy store the whole time I was there.

You’ve accomplished so much! Do you have anything else you’d like to do?

Even though I accomplished my goal, I continue to push to the limit. Even though I am now 60 and have two bad knees. Life throws curve balls at you, but, you still go up to bat. I have met so many nice people along this journey that I don’t want to end yet. I figure, I still have lots of miles left to keep me motivated. I now have 40 completed out of 44 and I always said that I would love to finish 50 of them. Since I’m retired, I have a bit more time to exercise because I don’t call it training. I never followed any training formats and never had a coach to tell me what to do. I have a wife though, that asks me every day “ What kind of training are you doing tomorrow?“ That’s either helpful or she just wants to get rid of me…..lol…

Background

I got started in endurance sports in 2012.  At the time, I was in my mid-50s, had raised my two daughters, watched my oldest graduate from college and who now was overseas chasing her dreams of being a professional volleyball player in Europe and actually accomplishing that life long goal! My youngest daughter had also graduated from high school and received a basketball scholarship and was in the midst of her career in the restaurant industry managing two restaurants, and she was in her 20s.  So I had done my job as a mother. I had raised two very successful young women who were now pursuing their passions.

How did you get started in endurance sports?

So what’s a mom to do now that her daughters are out of the house?  I had been a lifelong athlete playing volleyball since the age of 10, but when my daughters entered high school and had both announced they wanted to try to go to college on athletic scholarships, my volleyball came to a screeching halt in order to take them to club practices and attend tournaments.  In that time, I had also packed on the weight again.  I had managed to drop 20 pounds on my own, but had come to that plateau, so I decided to do the only thing that had ever taken the weight off before and that is run.  Now, I am not a long distance runner. . .not by any stretch of the means.  In high school and college, I was a sprinter doing 100s, 200s, 400s at most, and relays.  But here was in my 50s trying to make myself do something that I really didn’t like doing.  But I have always been someone who could do something for someone else so I sought out and found a race in town that had charity bibs.  I signed up for my first ever half marathon through Team in Training.  They provided coaches, training plans, a weekly working out together, and all I had to do was raise a few thousand dollars for Team in Training.  Piece of cake!

What was the transition like to triathlon?

About a month before the half marathon, the coaches of Team in Training said that there was another event coming up if we were interested.  A triathlon!  Oh, my gosh!  I had always wanted to do a triathlon when I watched one over 30 years ago on NBC’s Wide World of Sports.  I was hooked when I saw it and now here was my opportunity.  But I had never swam competitively; hadn’t ridden a bike since high school; and really couldn’t stand running anything over 100 yards, but I was about to compete in my first 13.1 and this triathlon only had a 10K run on the end.  I could do that.  Or at least that’s what I was telling myself  I thought for sure, I’d be a one and done.  I just wanted to do a triathlon so I could say I did one.  The training was great!  And before I knew it, I had surpassed my weight loss goal and was down to a weight I had not seen in years.

The triathlon was an Olympic Distance in San Diego.  And while I could barely feel my legs when I came across the finish line, I felt an exhilaration I had not felt in years, and knew I’d be looking to do another one.

And then just two months after that, competed in my first century ride (100 miles cycling), again, with Team in Training.  It was awesome.  I met even more people, raised more money for Team in Training, was getting coaching, and having a wonderful time, all by pushing myself beyond what I ever thought possible.

It all started with stepping outside my comfort zone.  And thinking back on it now, had it not been for doing it for a charity, I don’t know that I would have done it if it was just for me.

How did you progress to longer distance events?

Well, fast forward a couple years, and I’ve had some minor success with Sprints and Olys, when a friend who was also a coach talks me into doing a 70.3.  I did not have enough training, but knew I’d be good in the water because as it turns out, swim at the time was my strongest of the three disciplines.  But I was ill prepared for the bike, and the run was my Achilles heel.  That race was in NM, and the day was horrible.  But with that being said, I learned a tremendous amount that day.  I walked across the finish line almost 9 hours after I started.  It was embarrassing I was defeated.  And I almost never stepped back on a triathlon course after.

I said almost.  After I cried in my beer and had a very long conversation with myself, I knew I did not want to finish on that note.  I started scouring the internet for other 70.3 races.  This was going to be a soul-searching race.  Either I was going to make this happen or not.  I had also volunteered at Ironman Arizona 140.6 in 2015 just two months after my disastrous performance at Toughman NM.  IMAZ was cold, rainy, and I was at the run aid station under the Mill Street bridge from the first pros that went through until about 10:30 p.m., when I finally called it a day.  It was incredible what I witnessed that day.  From Lionel Sanders and all of the other pros blowing through the aid station all the way through the age groupers cold, shivering, looking for chicken broth and the strength to make it the last several miles to cross the finish line.  The human spirit soared that day and I wanted to be a part of it.  So I went home that night and after a long search, I found my race.  Ironman New Orleans 70.3, which was just five months later.  I loved Louisiana as my daughter had attended Louisiana Tech, and my husband and I had ventured down to New Orleans for a surprise birthday party for his high school classmate in 2011 and had an incredible time.

So for the next few months, I trained by myself off of training plans in the back of a book, and made my travel plans.  It was a long drive, but it gave me plenty of time to think about what it was I was about to embark on, and I told myself that no matter what, I was going to cross that finish line.  And I did!  An hour faster than I had just a few months before.  And when I got home, one of my friends talked me into meeting with an ambassador with Smile Train to race under one of their charity bibs at the 2016 Ironman Arizona.  Prior to this, anytime anyone had mentioned Ironman or 140.6, my answer had always been an absolute NO, no way that was happening.  But here we were again with another charity and my friend was doing it, too, so what the heck.  Might as well.  And the minute I signed the paperwork and began fundraising, I had butterflies in my stomach right up until Mike Reilly patted me on the shoulder as I entered the water that day.  And yep, I did get to hear him announce, “Christine Clayton from Tucson, Arizona, you are an Ironman!”

Can you please describe any challenges you’ve faced?

Major setbacks I have encountered, other than my own brain telling me I’m not good enough on bad days was a severe ankle injury I suffered two months after completing my first Ironman when I was in a volleyball tournament and come down on someone’s foot under the net rolling it and ultimately requiring major reconstructive surgery.  I’m still not back to where I was athletically or emotionally before that accident, and that was three years ago.  But I have never stopped.  Stalled several times, but never stopped.  Although there are some days I wonder if I will ever get there and wondering if my triathlon days are over, but even as I’m writing this and reflecting on the ups and downs along with the life lessons I have learned stemming from this incredible sport, the people I’ve met (pros, elites, and even celebrities including the Iron Nun herself, Sister Madonna Bruder, Mike Reilly, Heather Jackson, Lesley Paterson and Simon Marshal, etc.) and thinking about the lofty goals I have set for myself, I am feeling an excitement building in me and maybe even the fire I needed to get myself moving and pushing myself harder than I have ever done before.

Any advice for others?

Whether it is triathlon, duathlon, aquabike, ultra running, a marathon, half marathon, century bike ride, or simply stepping outside your comfort zone to go on a hike on a trail for the first time, this is our time.  Explore.  Experiment.  Do something you’ve never done before.  Do not sit on the couch wondering what will become of your life but letting it pass you by.  Go live it.

How did you get started?

I was an all-league athlete in high school. When personal problems and injuries arose during those years it deleted any possibilities of a college sports scholarship. Fast forward during the years I gained 40- 50 pounds and became very out of shape. At 49 years of age I decided it was time to do something about it. I happened to run into a friend who had lost a 100 pounds cycling and he inspired me into cycling. I immediately was hooked. I lost the weight and ended up completing the Death Ride (139 mile ride with 15,000 feet of elevation gain) three times within the first four years of cycling and numerous century rides. When I turned 53 I decided to take swim lessons at the gym I was attending. When I was feeling comfortable somewhat after a few months, I registered for a local mini triathlon and immediately became addicted to the sport. The rest is history! Since then I’m a 11× Ironman finisher 8× 70.3 finisher and numerous sprint and olympic distances. Also a few Marathons and half marathons. I will be 62 this month.

What do you enjoy most about the sport?

The thing I like most about the sport besides how exercising makes me feel, is the camaraderie I have with the other athletes. I have met a lot of wonderful people and have made a lot of great friends.

Did you experience any challenges getting started at an older age?

There were no challenges sort of speak starting back up at a older age. From not being active and literally a couch potato for 30 years I was pretty much injury free. The first thing I noticed at an older age is how much longer it takes to recover from a long workout or race. Now I know why professional athletes retire at a fairly young age. I also noticed how much slower I run than when I was in high school. You definitely lose a few steps. But that’s alright. I enjoy what I’m doing and I race against myself. My goal now is to PR every race.

What benefits have you noticed?

The benefits that I have noticed are incredible! I feel 100% better physically and mentally. Ironman has giving me my life back. I feel like I’ve started back up from where I left off in high school. This second have of my life is much more exciting!

What are your goals?

When I first started competing in Ironmans I had only one goal in mind and that was to say I did an Ironman. I fell too much in love with the sport to stop there. I had seen pictures of Kona and watching the world Championships and it instantly gave me a desire to hopefully be able to do the Ironman there one day. Well thankfully through the legacy program I saw my chance to go to Kona one day if I could not qualify. Kona is now on my bucket list and has given me the strong drive and desire to continue training and doing Ironmans until my dream comes true competing in Kona!

Background

When Betsy Tootell isn’t babysitting one of her 10 grandsons, you’ll probably find her swimming, biking or running. After teaching for 34 years and raising her kids, Betsy did her first marathon at the age of 50. In 2013, at the age of 60, she completed her first full Ironman triathlon in Florida, finishing in 14 hours and 47 minutes, and placing third in her age group. To date, she’s completed 4 full Ironman and 18 half-Ironman competitions. Most recently, she qualified for the Boston Marathon for the first time at the age of 64 and the 70.3 Ironman World Championship in New Zealand at the age of 65.

How did you get started in triathlon?

I was a school teacher for 34 years and I always wanted to be an athlete. My sons started doing triathlons and I followed them all over the country and the world, watching them compete at the elite level.

I always enjoyed working out, but I didn’t start running until I was 50 years old and I did my first full Ironman when I was 60 years old.

I finally fulfilled my dream of being an athlete.

What are your goals?

I have goals, but I try not to share them because it puts too much pressure on me. I want to beat my last time, but I am there for fun. I am pretty competitive in my age group of 65-69, which is small, but those ladies are fast. We all check each others calves out before the race.

What is your race morning breakfast?

I wake up at 3:30 am. In my head I have a lot to do, but every race is different. Sometimes you have to catch a bus, sometimes you have to walk. I am not that hungry, but I know I need fuel for the race. I usually eat oatmeal, protein powder and applesauce. Sometimes I’ll have a bagel with peanut butter – it depends on my appetite. Lately I’ve been drinking a bottle of ensure, which fills me up. I’ve had stomach issues in the past between nerves and everything else, but I think I’ve finally found out what works for me.

What does your training look like?

I feel very lucky because I live at the beach. I live in Lewes, Delaware so every day I can swim in the bay or in the ocean. When I did my first Ironman in Florida the water in the gulf was very rough, but I have so much open water experience. I can swim forever, but I’m slow. It took me a couple of years to get used to a wetsuit.

(As an example of her dedication, when her youngest son got married in Virginia, she brought her bike to train before the celebration. )

Have you had any setbacks?

I was at the World Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee and I missed the bike cutoff by 30 seconds. I was really bummed at first, but then realized that I made a choice to be there and I was happy for the opportunity.

What was a memorable moment for you?

I will never forget when Mike Reilly called out my name. All of my sons flew down to Florida to watch me during my first Ironman. One of my sons said to me, “Mom this is your moment, enjoy every second of it.” That was 2013 and I’m still crying about it. I’ve had many blessing in my life but that was a highlight. It validated that I was an athlete. Eight months of grueling hard work that I never thought I could do. Doubting myself all along the way and I did it. The aha moment was wow I did it I did it. You can do it. It’s never too late.

Do you have any tips?

1. It’s never too late to start something new

   After watching her sons compete in triathlons from the sideline for years, she never imagined that one day she’d be the one crossing the finish line, she states, “I don’t care how old you are. People have to keep moving.”

2. Think Positive

   She’s always very nervous before the start of the race, but says, “You just think: It’s a 14-hour training day.”

3. Get creative with your routine

   She knew the heat would be searing at her half-Ironman in Raleigh, North Carolina, so she prepared by keeping the air conditioner off in her home and tried running outside as much as possible. When her son got married in Virginia? “I took my bike to Williamsburg,” she says.

4. Take care of your body

   She always hydrates during activities and tries to schedule meals in advance, eating lots of vegetables, home-cooking and ditching processed foods. “I’ve been in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” she says.

5. Set your own pace

   During her first Ironman she spent most of her time at the back of the pack. She says it’s easy to get intimidated, but that you have to do things at your own pace and “just keep showing up.”

Background

Heidi is a mother of two boys and wife to a retired Air Force Officer. She works full time homeschooling her kids and helping people with their health and fitness through 90/10 Nutrition and other ventures.

How did you get into sports?

I was a high school athlete, competing in varsity gymnastics and diving. I had frequent headaches, so much so that my teammates called me “Heidiprofen”. After high school, I went on to a collegiate diving team, where I injured my back and ended my competitive athletic career.

From there, I lived with chronic back pain AND frequent headaches. Back pain that wouldn’t allow much fun or freedom, and headaches that made me vomit. That was my life; that was just “me”.

Was there a specific moment in your life that changed your trajectory?

One day, I woke up. My youngest child was 3 years old and I weighed the same as I weighed when I checked into the hospital to have him. I said, “This isn’t baby weight anymore, Heidi. It’s time to do something.”

I lost 30 pounds by doing Curves and cooking from Cooking Light magazine, but I was still 30 lbs overweight, I still had backaches, and I still had debilitating headaches.

At the end of 2011, I was introduced to 90/10 Nutrition. At that time, it was an 8 week challenge group. I joined with every intent of doing it for 8 weeks and then going back to “how I like to eat.”

Fast forward 8 weeks. I had lost 12 pounds in the challenge, broken through a 2 year long plateau, and had learned a lot about food. But the challenge was over, so I went back to Cooking Light. I was shocked at the difference. I guess I didn’t realize how good I felt on 90/10 until I went back to how it was before. I felt AWFUL for a full week, and then I said, “That’s it! I’m doing 90/10 from now on.”

How did you get started in triathlons?

I did my first ironman in Coeur d’Alene, ID in 2015. (That was the year it was super hot on race day!) My training partner and I were training for a 70.3, and on a long ride day we started talking about doing a full one day. The next day, I kind of decided that I wasn’t getting any younger (I was 42) and that that distance was only going to get harder. So, if I was going to do it, I ought to do it sooner than later. I was really only planning to do the one, you know, bucket list ironman. One and done, ironman forever. We decided on IMCDA because “it might be hilly, but at least it won’t be hot.” At least that’s what we told ourselves. Oh, how we were wrong.

Last year I was training with another friend, and she wanted to do a full, but didn’t want to do it alone. And somehow, I’m not really sure how, I was signed up for Ironman Arizona 2019. (I was 46).

Now, I had planned on being really really done this time, but my 16-year-old son has decided he wants to do a full ironman with his mom (!) when he turns 18. So, I might be doing one more in 2022.