It’s called the world’s most difficult athletic event: the Ironman Triathlon. The course consists of a 2.1 mile swim, a 140 mile bike ride, and a marathon. Those who finish the event in the allotted time are called Ironman.
I spoke to one of the coaches at Yellow Rose Fitness and got her take on the event after completing five previous Ironman Texas events.
She said the swim is by far the hardest leg and the most difficult to train for since she doesn’t have easy access to a lake or lap pool. She has come a LONG way since her first event, but still feels there is a lot of room for improvement. She knows a lot of fast swimmers that she compares herself to. She has no problem swimming long distances, but is not as fast as she wants to be.
Her charity of choice is the IRONMAN Foundation. The charity raises funds for IRONMAN events around the world to directly support the communities hosting events. Nonprofits in the communities that align with the IMF’s vision can apply for grants from the available funds raised. Most of the grant money goes toward facilitating aid stations and volunteer activities to make an event successful
One of the organizations near and dead to the coach’s heart that has received funds is a non-profit for athletes with disabilities. “I have volunteered in the past by guiding blind athletes and those with amputations in local races. They provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants for amputee athletes to get running legs/blades, blind athletes to get bus passes to get to Memorial Park to train, race entries, running gear, tandem bikes, and the list goes on. At the end of the day, it’s a community of athletes supporting like-minded efforts in the community,” she said in an email interview.
“The swim presents many challenges, but it also is a production because I have to work with the available lap swim times at the pools available and/or a Masters swim schedule that also can be quite a drive in Houston traffic. My skin and hair also are not fans of the chlorine, so I have to shower after or I end up super itchy. One day I’ll be able to wake up and go for an open water swim in my backyard. It might not be until I retire, but mark my word, it will happen,” she said.
“Crossing the finish line is always special, but each is also slightly different. I’ve also developed a routine of cartwheeling across the finish line (after I stop my Garmin of course). On April 23, it was even more special because my husband volunteered and was able to give me the medal for the first time and that came with a giant hug for beating my previous record.” She doesn’t think there were any tears this time. “I’m pretty emotional and I’ve shed my fair share of happy (and sad) tears across finish lines over the years. I was happy with my finish, but not ecstatic, if that makes sense. Once you’ve done a few of these, you’re either out there to tally up the finishes for some personal goal or you’re out there to crush your previous performances at the distance, and I set some pretty high goals for myself. I was able to walk away with a PR, and I’m not mad about that.”
Having shaved three minutes off the run from her previous record on a pretty hot and windy day was no easy task. “I’m happy with that, but hungry for more. I’m also more thrilled to finally land in the top 10 in my age group in a full IRONMAN out of 75 starters. I was 27th out of the water and came in 8th off the bike with a bike split in the top 5. I held on to 8th for most of the marathon, but finished in 9th. The bike is clearly my strong suit and also where I feel I can make the most gains, but I also know I’m capable of a faster run. Getting faster on the swim can save me a few minutes, but it all adds up.”
Will she set a new record, or will this year's record stand? Only next year's event will tell.
