Opening Season: Fire, Wind, and the Lessons in Between

Some races teach you. Some races test you. Some… most, do both . This past weekend I raced 70.3 Dallas. Podium. Third place. Fastest bike split. A penalty. And more joy than I expected to feel.

Race morning, the swim was shortened to 350 meters due to unsafe conditions. The buoys couldn't hold position, the safety kayakers couldn't navigate the water. Our head referee explained it all before the start. No traditional start-  instead, a time trial: five seconds apart, sprinting down the beach and launching into the water.

I could have tensed up. Disrupted plans have a way of doing that. Instead, I embraced it. Leaned into the chaos of it. I had so much fire coming out of that water- four other women running into transition alongside me, wind howling at 30 mph with gusts pushing 50. I was alive!

Knowing the wind was at our backs for the first half of the bike, I came out of T1 with everything I had. I averaged just under 30 mph for the first hour. Flying is the only word for it!! That's what it feels like to stop fighting conditions and just ride with them-  to embrace what the day is giving you and go.

With 20 miles to go, I found myself at the front of the race. Then the course turned. Straight headwind. Nowhere to hide, nothing to do but embrace it-  grit, joy, absolute laser focus.

And then, a drafting penalty.

I disagreed with the call so I will spare the details. I'll say this-  in that moment, I had a choice about what to do with the feeling. Reject it and spiral, or accept it and move. I chose to accept it. I told myself: this is going to serve me, not hold me back. I'm so grateful my Coach, Siri has drilled this into me because that is what I did. That's the only way through the hard moments- see it as an opportunity. Take advantage of the time. Shake out the legs. Take in nutrition. Loosen the shoes. Get ready to blast off into transition.

I held onto the lead for the first 4K of the run. Then I settled into third. I saw myself on those podium steps and I wasn't letting that go. I ran for it. Every step, every breath, racing my race. Third place. Just getting started.

I'm grateful. Deeply, genuinely grateful. For the conditions that humbled and tested us. For my competitors who made me fight for every position. To everyone who follows this journey- thank you. You are part of it more than you know. None of this happens alone.

Lesson: Embrace more than you reject. Accept more than you've denied inside of yourself.The race is never just the race. It's a mirror. And what you choose to see in it changes everything.

Next up: Ironman Texas, April 18.

The work continues. 🔥