I am not in Kona, and that's OK.

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I am not in Kona, and that's OK.

The social media feeds of triathletes everywhere are being inundated with pictures of six-pack abs, lava fields, and the crystal blue waters of Kailua Bay. It can feel like watching ESPN around the holidays with the endless commercials for luxury cars and diamond jewelry that leave you thinking to yourself, “Haven’t I seen this a million times already?”  With new episodes of Breakfast with Bob coming out every single day and those scenic Korupt Vison photos and videos, for those of us who are not actually there it is easy to feel a little bit of jealousy and FOMO.

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Heart over Head

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Heart over Head

Warning: this post will be filled with some heart-felt sentiments that may lack rationality and factual backing. If you are the type of person who lives their life on the basis of proofs and actualities, you may find this post nauseating. I also must disclose my conflict of interest:  I am a female pro triathlete. Now, this post is not intended to persuade you to believe in or support the movement of #50WomentoKona, rather I wanted to share why I feel, in the most emotional of senses, there should be an equal allocation of spots for professional triathletes at the 70.3 and Ironman World Championships.

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Hot Off The Press: A Look Back On Ironman Hawaii

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Hot Off The Press: A Look Back On Ironman Hawaii

One of my hometown papers ran a wonderful story about my season and my race at the Ironman World Championships. It is quite an honor to have made the front-page of the Hopewell Express. Since hitting the news stands I have gotten many messages from family and friends, many of whom I have not seen or heard from in years. I am very moved hearing from old high school friends how my story has been an inspiration. 

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Ironman World Championships-Shoot for the Moon, Podium at Kona

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Ironman World Championships-Shoot for the Moon, Podium at Kona

After a decent night of sleep, I awoke 15 minutes before my alarm was set to go off race morning. I sat at the table with the lights dimmed and ate what would be my last meal of real food for the day. It was still pitch black outside, not even a hint of dawn, as I listened to the waves crashing against the lava wall through the darkness. I picked at my bowl of oatmeal and Nutella; my appetite dissipated as my nervousness swelled up deep inside me. I powered through and finished eating before my parents arrived to pick me up.

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Kona Race Week Highlights

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Kona Race Week Highlights

Monday October 6

We had an early flight that departed Philadelphia at 6am. I had set my alarm for 3:30am, but awoke almost an hour before and didn’t even bother going back to sleep, I was too excited! It was still a scramble to get out of the door given the fact that it is impossible to pack light for any race, let alone an Ironman. Checking the bikes was no easy feat given confusion over the fees and I ended up being the last person on the plane to SFO. Looking around I did not see any other triathlete, but that all changed on the second leg. Even from halfway down the terminal in SFO I could spot the compression socks and M-dot paraphernalia. I knew I was in the right place!

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