Triathlon, at any level, isn’t an easy endeavor. It requires dedication, sacrifice, a willingness to be
challenged and face failure and investments mentally, physically and financially. With that comes any
pressures we inevitably place on ourselves and may also feel from coaches, family and friends. Usually
we have big goals we are chasing and when we don’t accomplish them or face hiccups along the way,
it is very easy to feel frustrated, discouraged and lose sight of the reason we decided to pursue this
sport in the first place.
‍
The world of professional racing is very hyped up on social media - earlier start times, less crowded
courses, press conferences, sponsorships, prize purses. It is easy to get sucked into the excitement
and forget about how you got to that point and where you want to go now that you are there. In the
summer of 2023, I earned my elite license and made the jump to race professionally at the end of that
season. I will openly admit that when I initially found out, I was so stuck on what it would be like to get
all of those hyped up perks that I failed to realize the bigger picture: I was choosing to make a jump to a
higher level that would require a lot of sacrifice in order to really hone in on the small details that make
a good athlete a great athlete and help you successfully race with the big dogs.
‍
Through the conversations that would unfold about whether or not I should take the leap, my coach,
who is a retired pro triathlete, helped me to work through the road map of what having a pro card would
look like. We talked about the sacrifices I would have to make in day to day life and the dedication I
would need to give to little details like recovery and nutrition. But something else we talked about (and
in hindsight the most important thing) was coming up with my “why”: the real reason I wanted to move
up to racing at an elite level and what I hoped to get out of it. All of the boujee things we see on social
media weren’t sufficient reasons; it needed to be something that would keep the fire lit in me when
things inevitably got tough. Which is a fact of both life and sports - we can do everything right, but
things won’t always go as planned.
‍
Ahead of my first pro start in April of 2024, after a winter spent locked into the process, I crashed my
bike on a course recon ride and took a nasty hit to my head and shoulder. The damage sustained to my
shoulder ended up requiring season ending surgery to fix.
‍
The mental battle that followed this was tough. But I had my “why(s)” written on a piece of paper that
was taped to the inside of my bathroom vanity cabinet door, a place I look at everyday when I reach for
my toothpaste or deodorant. They got me through the tough moments, forced me to reflect on what I
had accomplished and where I wanted to go after I was healthy enough to race again. Most importantly,
they kept me hopeful and in a positive headspace when I wanted to quit and give up on getting back to
where I was pre-surgery.
‍
As the 2025 race season begins to unravel for many of us, I encourage you to find time - it doesn’t have
to be a lot - to sit down with a pencil and piece of paper or the notes app on your phone and jot down
the reasons why you do this sport. Everyone’s “why” will be different and there isn’t a right or wrong,
but challenge yourself to find reasons that go beyond earning finisher medals and standing on a
podium. Because when things get tough, it can be a lot easier to keep the faith and dig into the mental
toughness if you have a reason to keep showing up that is meaningful.
‍
Happy journaling!

‍

‍

‍

‍