Ironman California (Part 1)

In October of 2022, I completed my first Ironman triathlon in Sacramento, California in Ironman California. This was the culmination of years of commitment not only to a singular goal of completing this daunting race (2.4 mile swim - 112 mile bike - 26.4 mile run) but also to reimagining my relationship with exercise and physical health. I learned so much about myself during the journey, and I want to share some of my biggest takeaways and life lessons.

Move Your Body

One of the most important insights I gleaned through this process was how essential physical activity is to not only my physical health but also my mental and emotional well-being. When I first moved Northeast, I was hyper-fixated on the swim team as its new Head Coach. In my first two years the stress of the role, along with the immediate needs I perceived the program to have, caused me to put my health and fitness on the back burner. Fortunately, I had dealt with this same issue over the years in previous roles, and knew I would eventually draw my attention back to prioritizing my health. Still, what I had failed to recognize until this period in my life was that exercise was about more than just physical health. By being more mindful of what my body was experiencing, I realized that I was more energized and less anxious after workout sessions. I slept better on the days I worked out, and was more patient and understanding with colleagues and athletes I interacted with during the day. Additionally, exercise (particularly endurance training) served as a form of meditation. When riding a bike at 20+ mph, for example, if you don’t focus on what you are doing you’ll crash! I quickly found that in those moments I wasn’t ruminating on the stresses of the week. In that sense, it turns out a workout is a mental and physical reprieve from the day’s challenges.

In framing it like this, I began to view exercise for the first time in my life as a hobby I enjoyed, rather than a responsibility. Now despite how much I enjoy it, of course there are many days I lack the motivation to take myself to the gym, outside for a run or ride, or to the yoga mat. That’s where skills like goal-setting and self-talk come in handy (a topic for another day). Big picture, as a former competitive athlete, it was through triathlon training (and yoga) I was able to move past the sense of obligation I once had, feeling like exercise is a job, into a more sustainable relationship with physical activity. It has since evolved into a passion for movement that extends beyond taking care of my physical body and overall health.

I think this is a common challenge for former athletes, and I hope resources like this, as well as mental skills training, can help those people also have a more positive, enjoyable relationship with exercise and sports.