About me


Back in 2017 I made the decision to complete my first Ironman. With a background in running and 1 marathon under my belt, I sought after the title of “Ironman”. I had no experience swimming, and I rode a BMX bike to get me to school. After 8 months of training, Mike Reilly announced me as an Ironman at Madison with a time of 11:38:36. My plan was to be a 1 and done, but I was hooked and completed my 2nd Ironman 5 weeks later. Fast forward 5 years and I crossed the finish line in Kona, Hawaii in 2022. Moving forward, my goal is to inspire and empower other athletes as I work towards my professional racing license.

Monday, March 9, 2020

Why Race Ironman


Many times, I am asked why I spend so much time, energy and money training for Ironman. Simply put, I set a goal and I will not stop until I achieve it. And even after that, I doubt I’ll slow down. I know that’s a pretty weak answer, so that’s what this post is about.
I’m taking a deeper dive into WHY I do what I do by answering the following questions:

“Why race Ironman?”
“What gets you out the door when you don’t feel like training?”
“What Actually drives you?”

I originally wanted to complete an Ironman to test my limits and join a rare company with the title Ironman. Now, I compete to chase a far less attainable dream. Training for and completing my first Ironman was lifechanging on its own. But now, I have set an even higher goal, to reach the pinnacle of Triathlon at Kona. To qualify, I must earn a slot by coming in 1st or 2nd in my age group (unless a slot is rolled down). On this journey, I am determined to inspire and show everyone that Anything is Possible. I also believe fitness is essential in getting the most out of life: better health, stress coping, improved sleep, etc… 
Most days I get out that door simply because it’s become habitual. I determine my workout for the day ahead of time and just go do it. When I really don’t feel like training, I remember my goal and all the people following my journey. My competitive nature fuels me because I know that when I’m not out training, someone else is.
The hardest question for me is what Actually drives me. Exercise in it of itself “feels” good, especially after completing a hard-earned workout. For me, there is something deep inside that wants to see improvement. I love the idea of progressing forward, and I get to watch my body get stronger and faster first hand. So for me, a timed race is one of the simplest ways to track both progression and improvement, and watching that time drop keeps me motivated.

There is Nothing like running down that finish chute

If there is anything I should go deeper into or other questions you want answered, please let me know and I will include it in my next post.
I will also call on a few friends to share their whys as well.
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