Triathlon (Andy’s Race; Greenville, SC)
I challenged myself with something I never thought I’d do—racing in a triathlon. The bigger goal? To work my way toward an Ironman within a year of completing my first race. I can’t say for sure if that’s sustainable yet, but I know I’ll give it everything I’ve got.
After college, I hadn’t found anything that truly pushed me. Then I realized triathlon was right up my alley. I already knew how to swim, and I’ve always loved biking—the real challenge was running. Ask any swimmer, and they’ll tell you: running is not our strong suit. But I trained for it anyway.
On May 25, I officially registered for my race, set for August 3. From that moment on, time was ticking.
Training for a sprint triathlon was a rollercoaster—chaotic, exhausting, fun, and exhilarating all at once. Some mornings were brutal. Waking up at 4:00 a.m. to squeeze in a run, swim, bike, or lift before work took everything I had. I even started using pre-workout again just to keep up with the demands of training and long days. I’ll admit—my training could have been better. But I stayed consistent, and that mattered most.
Here’s what my training days often looked like:
Bike/Gym
4:00 a.m. – Wake up
4:20 a.m. – On the trainer bike in the shed
5:15–5:30 a.m. – Change and head to the gym
5:30–6:15/6:30 a.m. – Strength training
6:30 a.m. – Shower and get ready for clients/work
Run/Bike/Gym
4:00 a.m. – Wake up
4:15 a.m. – On the trainer bike
5:30 a.m. – Run to the gym
5:30–6:15/6:30 a.m. – Strength training
7:00 a.m. – Run home, shower, work
Bike/Workout/Swim
4:00 a.m. – Wake up
4:15 a.m. – On the trainer bike
5:15–5:30 a.m. – Head to the gym
5:30–6:15/6:30 a.m. – Strength training
6:45 a.m. – Pool session
8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. – Work
Some days I had to shorten workouts or squeeze them in later at night if I had clients. I usually ran in the mornings since Charleston’s heat is no joke. My schedule was packed, and by the time I got home from work, I was completely spent. But I pushed through, because I knew one thing: I was going to cross that finish line.
Originally, my only goal was to finish. But once training got tough, I gave myself a time goal—under 1:45. That motivated me to push harder. On race day, my swim went better than expected, finishing in 7 minutes (I could have been closer to 6:45, but slow swimmers in the pool made passing tricky). The bike was rough—I underestimated the hills and struggled with my gears, then realized my back tire was partly flat. Stubborn as I am, I refused to stop and pump it, so I just pushed through. My time was 1:05, but I know I had more in me.
The run was the toughest part. My pace averaged 10:50, finishing in 32:31. Right off the bike, my legs cramped badly, and toward the end, both quads seized up. I was terrified that if I stopped, the cramps would only get worse. So I kept moving forward.
Final time: 1:51. Just six minutes shy of my goal.
Despite the struggles, the experience was worth every second. Racing alongside my best friend and their partner, with my partner cheering me on the whole way, made it even more special.
Crossing that finish line was surreal. I actually did it. I pushed myself harder than I thought I could, and I loved it. It reminded me of swimming days—when I dreaded doing 20×100 sets, but pushed through anyway. That’s what I’ve missed. The grind. The challenge. And yes, it sounds crazy, but that’s who I am.
Now, I’ve found my sport. Triathlon lit that fire again, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. Next stop: the Olympic distance. I’m not sure when yet—many of the races I’ve looked at overlap with travel—but I’ll announce my next location soon. And this time, I plan to share more of the journey and progress along the way.
