RACING IS BACK BABY

Oh that IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 finish lines!

You work so hard for months and years for that red carpet and it doesn’t matter how many times you cross that finish line, the same immense explosion of emotions erupts as you cross it and makes you want more!

The finish line of IRONMAN 70.3 St. George was everything I had dreamed off and more!

The day started with a 3AM alarm to catch the 4:30AM athletes bus to T1 (swim start and swim-to-bike transition), but who em I kidding, I was already awake and ready. As I was getting my bike gear ready, we were rewarded with this stunning red sunrise over the red rocks glittering over our swim start.

The swim was not my fastest at Sand Hallow reservoir. I paced it calmly as lots of people were freaking out with the cold water at 59F so I swam on the outside to find my own rhythm which added to my swim distance. Regardless, I am happy I did that as I had a very calm warmup to the rest of the day.

Something you may not know about me, I started doing triathlons 6 years ago because I love biking and I needed a new challenge. One of the challenges was learning how to freestyle and to swim open water swimming. Still learning. It is a never ending process. But let me tell you what I am most proud about with my triathlon learning curve, it has been with my transition from road cycling to TT bike.

I started biking on a Tri-Bike, end of 2016. I did my first 2 IM 70.3s and all my training for my first full on my road bike and since riding a TT bike, each year I keep dialing in my Tri-Bike fit position in order to increase my aerodynamic. Last bike fit was earlier this year, with the most drastic and rewarding update..... going from a 170 to a 155 crank arm! Game changer for this triathlete. Not only was I able to drop my handle bars a bit lower and have my hip feel more open (and no more hip pains), it also made my run transition feel like I had "fresher" running legs AND way faster with same FTP!

This bike course was tough and you had to pace your race or you would fuck the run. The 56 miles one loop bike course had a couple of rollers hills in the beginning and then the iconic Snow Canyon mountain at mile 40 of the race. For a half IRONMAN or full, St. George is known for being one of the toughest course in North America and I feel like I totally crushed it. I fueled correctly. I kept my eye on my normalized power and paced my race. I tucked myself on my aerobars most of the course minus uphills. I pedaled each descent unless I was going over 30 miles per hour. I even tucked myself on my aerobars going down some 40+ miles per hour downhills, that was a first for me as I am pretty light, a little wind with my deep wheels... and my bike and me get blown over. I did all that and baby, I am fucking proud of my ride.

Then came the brutal run. Everybody talks about the challenge bike course with 3,162 ft elevation gain but let me tell you, that half marathon, is one of the hardest half’s (stand alone or with an HIM) that I have ever done. Brutal hills... in brutal sun... coming from a demanding bike course. Total run elevation for this half marathon is 1267 ft. I felt each feet especially when running at 3,000+ ft. above sea level.

But then comes the finish line... and while at mile 11 of the run you told yourself, this is my last IRONMAN race ever... somehow when you cross the finish line, you simply forget how much pain you where a few minutes ago and you are ready to sign up for the next race.

My main goal to race St. George was to qualify for IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship. St. George was my A race for 2021 and I was certain I would qualify. When I crossed the finish line, I asked Jimmie for my ranking, and tears started to roll down behind my facemask. I’ve never been so thankful to wear a mask to hide my disappointment.

Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely proud of my race performance with the elevation gain on both bike and run, the altitude, the heat, and the relentless demands of this course. St. George brought an impressive field of athletes. This race was stacked like an IM 70.3 World Champs with fast racing and I did my best. This race allowed me to measure up and show me where I need to improve. I am persistent as fuck, and I am already strategizing my next race.

Like my mother just told me, the achievement is not the result but to dare to try.

If you’ve had a recent disappointment, guess what? 2021 is just getting started. Get back up and fight like a mother fucker for your dreams.

Triathlon racing is back baby!