The last 3 years, I have done 6 full distances. While that may not be a crazy amount (some people do a lot more), my timing between each of them has not been great. The most time I had between two races was about 3.5 months between Roth and IM AZ in 2024. I thought I had handled things well, but as I ramped up training late this spring, things started to change. My numbers started dropping, HR started spiking, paces got slower, sleep became shit, and my weight starting inexplicably creeping up (likely due to increased cortisol levels). My moods and anxiety started cycling again and I was generally fatigued all the time. It wasn’t until after Norseman during a local cycling TT race, that the alarm bells started going off. During the race I couldn’t get out of my aerobic power zones, but my HR was at threshold levels. Houston we have a problem. I got sick 3 times between Norseman and Kona. Training continued to take a nose dive and the weight was still creeping on. About a month out, I was just so generally fatigued and emotionally drained, that I was seriously considering just not going to Kona. With Norseman being the “A” race this season and Kona more an “afterthought,” I really had just stopped caring about it.
I really think the only thing that kept me going for Kona was that there was absolutely no pressure to do well and that I would regret not going. So I persevered and counted down the days until this season was freaking over.
I know, I sound like I’m whining and I should be grateful. I am grateful, but the overtraining was/is real. And the mental/physical buildup/comedown from Norseman was hard to go right into another brutal race. I wasn’t just fatigued, I was weary. I changed how I was approaching this mentally and physically - I knew for me to get through it, that I was going to need toss out expectations. So I focused on doing what I needed to do to finish, rid myself of any performance goals, accepted that my body was not 100%, and focused on enjoying the moment. I was determined not to be disappointed no matter the outcome. Too often, I see people disappointed with their Kona performance when they shouldn’t be. Kona is Kona, it’s not a normal Ironman, just finishing this one is huge. This seemed to work, so with two weeks to go to race day, I finally was able to be a little excited.
Getting to Kona was pretty uneventful. We stayed a bit further from Kona proper, mostly because I don’t particularly like crowds and chaos and race week Kona is the definition of crowds and chaos 😆 The weather was very hot and humid, so I tried to balance doing some race week things with getting rest. This was pretty easy for me since like I said, I don’t like crowds. I got to hang out with my Coeur Sports teammates, met up with a lot friends that I’ve made over the years, and enjoyed some downtime doing some Hawaii things. With Kona being the main event for Ironman racing, it’s a big reunion of sorts! The race week vibe helped me get excited and having a women only race was the best. Spoiler alert: I am fairly certain that if I get lucky and qualify again, I’m not sure I’d race it again. Ironman is returning to a mixed-gender race in 2026, and I do not particularly want to race that course with men. Especially since they are planning on 3000 athletes next year. For reference, we only had about 1700 racers this year. No offense dudes, but men change the race dynamics and there is never equal attention on both races. Finally, while Kona is incredibly special, it is also incredibly expensive. There are a lot of other races out there that offer something challenging, an amazing atmosphere, and breathe taking courses. *coughs in xtri* The Kona course isn’t that exciting (minus the swim), so luckily the brutal battle with the elements makes it worth it! As a side note, because conditions in Kona are incredibly extreme, I actually approached this with more of an xtri mentality.
Race day crept up fast - emotions were high! I knew I would cry coming through the body marking tent and right on cue I started crying as soon as I heard the applause and cheers for athletes coming though. I had come over with my friend Sara so we made quick work of getting our bikes loaded for the day and it was off to wait for our swim waves. Since I aged up this year to 40-44, my wave didn’t go until 710. Which meant a bit of a wait lol. Vibes were high - ladies were excited and I just let myself soak in the atmosphere. I’ve waited a long time for this and overcome a lot (see blog history), so finally being there for all the ceremony that was the Kona start was incredible. Once the pros started, it was time for the waves of age groupers to finally make their way into the water. I knew this swim would be chaotic with rougher conditions and catching up to the slower swimmers in earlier waves, so I actually swam to the far side of the start line to get some clean water out the gate. This was perfect strategically because I was able to put separation quickly to the rest of the 40-44 field and found myself in the lead pack of 4 of us. Remember how I said men change the race dynamic? This was the first swim since starting the sport that I could just focus on the ladies in my AG. I actually could tell where I was at in the race for once. I settled in on their feet, focused on the free draft, and conserved energy though the swells and current. I did have a moment in the last 100 m or so where I thought I should put in a surge, and I am kinda kicking myself now for not doing it since it would be really cool to say I was first in AG at Kona out of the swim, but 4th is pretty good 😂 I made my way up the stairs, made use of the fresh water hoses, and grabbed my gear bag. I had come in with the plan to take my time in transition because I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed. Ok perhaps not “take my time,” but definitely do everything with purpose in transition. The day was going to be long and brutal - I needed to make sure I set myself up well.
Bike Check! Sara looks very un-amused 😂
Off to go boil in the lava fields
I had decided before the race that I would bike conservatively. Not only due to the conditions expected for the day, but because my body has not been ok for a while. I love going fast on my bike, so this was so much easier said than done, but I stuck to my plan. I had a little chain drop on Palani, and I did stop to give a fellow racer a tire lever on the Queen K since she was desperately in need of help. I sincerely hope she finished - I forgot to get her number to check. The day was already heating up, so I went into fuel, hydrate, stay cool mode. I was basing effort on my HR rather than power, since my power numbers are a bit higher at sea level than where we live at altitude. I managed to keep my HR in high Z1 out to the climb at Hawi, even with the winds, which I was super happy with. While I’ve never ridden at that low of an effort in an Ironman before and I don’t particularly like to, my body felt pretty fresh at Hawi and the halfway turnaound. I also did another first - I stopped at special needs to pick another high carb drink since I wanted make sure I was still getting calories in with the heat. After the Hawi descent, the fury of the Queen K started. It was HOT. The higher than normal humidity, the black tarmac, and the lava field created the perfect conditions to roast some triathletes. My HR crept into Z2, but I started passing a stupid amount of ladies coming back. I was told by many friends that it is so easy to over ride that first half and you pass a bunch of people if you are patient. And that is exactly what happened. I continued to focus on the fuel, hydrate, cooldown and before I knew it, I was making my way back to transition and getting ready to go roast some more. Was it my best bike ever? Not even close, but I did what I needed to do to get my body ready to run and keep my overtrained self from breaking down completely.
Calling this my “angry marshmallow” face in Energy Lab (I’m not real happy with my current body composition, so angry marshmallow makes light of it and makes me giggle. It’s also much kinder than what I called myself before)
Much like T1, I went through T2 with purpose. I sat down, regrouped, got my run gear on, filled up my ice bandana (this thing was the greatest purchase I have ever made), and covered myself in enough sunscreen to look like Casper. Also much like the bike, the plan on the run was to be conservative, ignore every one else, and keep the HR in check. I don’t think I actually looked at my pace once the entire marathon - I just played the aid station to aid station game. Once again, I knew people haul on Ali’i with the crowds and ocean breeze, so it was head down and ignoring everyone else and focusing on my own thing. It wasn’t fast or pretty, but I kept my HR in check and kept as cool as I could. I walked every aid station making sure I was getting water, ice, gels, and salt. I also walked up Palani because there was no point in burning matches at mile 7.5. In fact, several ladies that passed me on Palani while I was walking, were walking much later in the marathon. I knew the race wouldn’t really start until we were back on the Queen K. I stuck to my plan as the heat hit us in full force. And it was damn hot and humid out there. Couple that with the radiant heat coming off the pavement and the lava fields, and it was a literal oven. I am secretly glad we got a Kona year with the “true” Kona conditions - like I said, I’m not real keen on doing Kona again, so I wanted to experience Kona at it’s harshest. I ticked the miles by looking forward to the beautiful oasis’s that were the aid stations and before I knew it, I was making a left turn into Energy Lab. I can’t tell you how much I was hoping the sun would be setting when I was in Energy Lab, but no such luck lol. I got to experience Energy Lab in it’s fiery finest! Much like the rest of my day, I just focused on being controlled, eating, drinking, and staying cool. The climb out was tough, but not as bad as my mind had made it out to be on the way down. It was back to the Queen K and into the final 7 miles of the marathon.
The sunset seen from Energy Lab. I got to witness this at mile 22.
I’ve always said that this sport is spiritual to me and I had a moment in those closing miles. The sun finally set when I was at mile 22 and it was one of the most spectacular things I have ever experienced. It finally dawned on me that I am actually doing this amazing thing that so many triathletes chase. I chased this dream for so long and here I was, in Kona, on the Queen K, late into the marathon of the Ironman World Championships with one of the most beautiful sunsets ever. I actually started shedding some tears at this point. It was a full circle moment for me. I knew I needed to soak in these last miles. Finally, I hit the final climb before the Palani descent and saw #andscott !! I actually started walking when I saw him for a little chat, but he made me start running again 😅 Shuffle, shuffle to the top and back to the screaming crowds down Palani. I was crying the entire last mile. Much like Norseman, I am not sure I can put into words how much that moment meant for me. You all know I race with a little picture of dad with me and I pulled it out and held it in my hand for the last mile. This was the closing of a chapter and I needed everyone to see my why. He is always in my heart and many times when I wanted to quit over the years, his memory has kept me going. And finally I saw the finish, I slowed and was high-fiving everyone (I even high-fived Sara and didn’t realize it was her hahahah), crying my eyes out, and celebrating! When I crossed the finish line, I held his picture high up and like at Norseman, another little piece of me came back to life.
Me and dad at one of the most iconic triathlon finish lines.
There are so many people to thank and I’m sorry if I skip anyone. You can’t ever do this sport alone. My family first and foremost. We’ve been through the wringer yeah? But look at us - maybe the cards didn’t play in our favor, but we are still living life and living it well. Logan of course for all the support, but especially for this year and flying across two different oceans within two months for me to live this selfish dream. Liz, for the last 12 years you have been a rock of support and guidance as I navigated through all of the craziness. I can’t wait to see what you do at IM CA this weekend. There were so many of you that cheered in Kona for me and from afar. The messages and support were felt. My local training crew in Santa Fe - you all are amazing. I’m sorry I haven’t been myself mentally or physically since Norseman, but sharing the miles with you all this summer has been wonderful! Coeur Sports - so much love for all of you! Obviously, there are many more of you, but my brain is still fried from Saturday and I’m down to about two brain cells, but know that you are appreciated and I don’t take the love for granted ❤
The theme of this year’s Kona was Ho’oikaika, or resilience. I cried when I saw that on my bib after I checked in. If there is one word I would use to define myself, it’s resilient. Thank you Kona, for another dream realized and for giving me a reason to keep going during the toughest times.
Screen shot from the Ironman recap video. I love these words.
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