Next Up, World Champs

Learn from a former steeplechase runner, turned Ironman World Champ Qualifier

Jun 02, 2023

What do you think you can learn from a World Championship Qualifier? Turns out, a lot.

I spoke with my dear friend Andrea about her performance at Ironman Tulsa and her journey from Kentucky Wildcat to World Championship qualifier in the triathlon. Have a read, share it on social, and be sure to follow Andrea as she trains for her upcoming races.

MP: You just finished an Ironman…how do you think the day went?

AR: It was great! Great weather, great courses in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Ironman events are always well organized and all athletes are well taken care of. As far as my performance, I couldn't be happier to complete such a challenging event. The swim was in a beautiful lake, the bike was on some super steep hills, and the marathon ran along the river through shaded parks. It was amazing!

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MP: If you could, would you do anything different?

AR: Eat more! Drink more! That is always the key to a good performance in a full Ironman. In a 10 hour race you have to be very intentional about your nutrition or your body will work against you during the marathon.

MP: What did you take from that day that you’d like to replicate the World Championships in October?

AR: Positive self talk. We had a delayed start due to fog on the lake, the hills were far steeper than expected, and I kept catching the half ironman athletes on the course - this was a lot of unforeseen challenges that were completely out of my control. I just kept thinking positively and did everything I could to not let it bother me. Telling myself repeatedly that I could do it and reminding myself of my fitness and training the entire day greatly helped my overall performance. And it is way more fun to have a positive mindset while racing!

MP: You haven’t always been into triathlons… can you tell me about your T1 and T2 (transitions) at Ironman Tulsa? How did they go?

Transition 1 is going from the swim to the bike. There are volunteers waiting outside the lake to help pull the wetsuit off. I am always a little disoriented from swimming so I am grateful for the help. After I have my wetsuit, goggles, and swim cap off I jog into the changing tent and get my bike shoes (and socks) on along with my helmet, and adding gels and bars to the pockets of my tri suit. This transition was 3min 44 seconds for me, I was very happy with this.

Transition 2 is after the 112 mile bike. I hop off the bike and a volunteer, "a bike catcher" immediately takes my bike from me so I can continue straight to the changing tent. This is pretty hilarious trying to "jog" after getting off the bike. My legs never work right and I nearly fall over in those first few steps. I switch out my bike shoes for running shoes (HOKA Rocket X2 to be exact) and trade my helmet for hat and shade (Alter Ego Running Hat and sunnies of course). In triathlon you replace your shoelaces for elastic "no tie" straps for a quick tighten. This transition was 2min 25seconds, I was also very happy about this time.

MP: How did you go from runner to triathlete? What was that evolution like?

AR: I went to Ironman Florida to watch John race in Nov 2021. I had never witnessed an Ironman and it was so incredibly inspiring. Tears were running down my face watching every single person finish. I could tell it was so challenging for all of them and what an accomplishment to reach the finish line!! I knew that day I wanted to do one. I already had a run background and I bought a bike the next morning. I completed an Ironman Chattanooga about nine months later. It has been so fun cross-training and doing three sports rather than just running.

MP: As long as I’ve known you, I always thought of you as a steeplechaser. How has training for that event in college helped you now?

AR: Collegiate training helped me learn to be tough, push myself out of my comfort zone, and showed me that I am capable of far more than I realized. Training at a high level teaches you so much about workouts and getting physically ready to run fast, but also about being mentally prepared to withstand pain and still keep going.

a group of people swimming in the ocean — Photo by Mario La Pergola on Unsplash

MP: When we talked recently, you said the longer the race the more comfortable you got… is there any distance you’re interested in pursuing?

AR: I didn't realize how much I loved endurance events until I did an Ironman! I don't know that I will do anything longer (but never say never) but have thrived in training the long hours and racing over the 140 mile course. I actually PRed my marathon time in January 2023 on all triathlon training, so less than 35 miles running a week.

MP: What’s next for you, besides World Champs…?

AR: I'm definitely most excited about Kona in October! I will also do a 5K swim race in the Atlantic Ocean as well in August. I am looking into some 70.3 (half Ironman distance) for next year. I haven't committed to any yet, but Atlantic City, NJ has one that I would love to compete in!

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MP: I had asked John what he has done differently since turning to triathlons, but what do you do differently? What makes you able to show up every day and crank out massive distances?

AR: The people I train with! I rarely run, swim, or bike outside alone. I love the group of girls I train with and they keep it fun, it's a positive social time, and they help me get out the door at 5 am every morning. I also bike outside with John which is our idea of a fun date! :) I bike inside often on a bike trainer with the Zwift program (similar to a peloton that tracks progress and increases intensity to coincide with a workout). I can read, listen to podcasts, and even work some while doing this and I don't even have to leave the house!

Ultimately, why I keep going is because I love it. I love to run and bike and I'm even coming around to loving swimming. I enjoy working hard and challenging myself. Even more, I love accomplishing something really, really hard. It is an amazing feeling to cross the finish line at an Ironman. Tears and laughter and relief and joy all wrapped up when you run across the red carpet. Hard things are good things and the hardest things are the best!