Ironman

Finding the sport of triathlon has forced me out of my comfort zone more times than I can count, has allowed me to still feel like an athlete and has given me the chance to meet so many amazing and inspiring people.

Training for an Ironman triathlon is about the rally of the human spirit. It’s conquering the challenge ahead of you. It’s saying yes when everyone else is saying no. It’s proving that you can start and finish something bigger than yourself. It’s getting the chance when others don’t have it and knowing what a gift that is. It’s about chasing a dream that few people understand.

Ironman is all about living life fearlessly and taking risks.

And I hope you’ll be inspired to live your life like that too.

Endurance career: The making of an Iron-WO-man

After high school I started running regularly, but it was a slow and painful process. I remember the first time I ran four miles straight one afternoon in college and felt invincible. But I had NO CLUE how I was going to ever run anything over four miles since it damn near killed me.

Slowly I began to do 5Ks. Then I moved up and completed a few 10Ks. Finally I conquered my first half marathon. I built up my endurance slowly and wisely. Each time ticking off a check mark and wondering…what’s next?

From there I only became more competitive. I loved getting lost in the struggles and triumphs of a training plan. I loved mapping out the weeks leading up to a race and long training runs. In 2013 I ran my first full marathon and since then have ran four more.

In 2014 I began to venture into the world of triathlon. I was a good runner and decent cyclist, but knew nothing whatsoever about swimming. (Still don’t if I’m being honest!)

I started off small with attempting triathlons. I tried to learn everything I could about the sport. I spent hours researching online and ordered books off Amazon. I joined the local triathlon club and was amazed to find a community so much like myself. These people were looking to push themselves and were chasing a dream and challenge that sounded crazy to everyone else on the outside. I had found my tribe.

In 2014 I did an indoor triathlon and a sprint distance for the first time. I remember being absolutely panicked about the swim, practically hyperventilating on the beach waiting to enter the cold, murky water. But I survived. In 2015 I raced my first Olympic distance triathlon. Again, panicking the entire time leading up to the swim. And once again – I survived.

There’s something so incredible about conquering your fears and proving to yourself that you can do something. It’s a rush like no other. It leaves you grasping for more.

I knew after the Olympic distance that I wanted to do a Half Ironman. I knew I was ready and I made the jump into long course triathlon in the summer of 2016. (But ultimately I knew what the bigger picture was – I had my eye on Ironman. )

All roads lead to Ironman

I did my first Half Ironman in August of 2016 and was forever changed. Once again I felt that rush, proving to myself that I could do something that scared me so much.

Read my 2016 Ironman 70.3 Ohio race review.

With shaking hands and the urge to throw up, I registered for Ironman Lake Placid 2017. For almost seven months I trained for the 140.6-mile race. If I thought Half Ironman training changed my life, it was nothing compared to full Ironman training…

My life transformed.

Training was a roller coaster of emotions that made me feel so alive and present. It forced me out of my comfort zone, made me make new friends and made me feel so damn lucky and happy to be alive.

Training for an Ironman is truly a life-changing journey. You learn so much about yourself. It’s not even about the journey to the finish line. It’s the journey to the starting line where the real magic happens.

On July 23, 2017 I became an Ironman. [Time: 14:43.]

Lake Placid is a place where dreams come true and it was everything I had imagined the moment and day would be. (Next to our wedding day it was my second favorite day of all time.)

Read my 2017 Ironman Lake Placid race report.

Full Ironman training plan

For full Ironman training I followed the Intermediate Plan from Be Iron Fit.

If you’re looking for all of the dirty details about my actual training, see the blog posts below:

Post Ironman

Read about my experience after the Ironman: