On September 7, I completed my first Ironman 70.3 in Santa Cruz: a 1-mile swim, a 56-mile bike, and a 13.1-mile run. I’d done triathlons before but never at this distance. When I signed up a year ago, it felt out of reach. I had never run more than 5–6 miles, and while I biked often, my rides were usually 25–40 miles. I grew up swimming competitively but hadn’t been in the water for over a year. So why sign up?

For years I poured myself into work. I take pride in my practice and the attention I bring to it every day. But I wanted a different kind of challenge. Something meaningful outside the office. Something I had full control over. Something that would push me to my limits and test my discipline. Physical activity has always been therapeutic for me. At work I’m an extrovert, but at home I recharge by training alone. Preparing for a 70.3 gave me exactly what I needed: a way to push myself mentally and physically while doing something I love.

Race day was brutal. I was out for 6 hours and 10 minutes without rest. Headwinds hit me through more than half the bike. Heat made the half marathon a grind. The next day my body hurt in ways I didn’t know were possible. Even my nose and upper teeth were sore from the breathing effort. But none of that was harder than the discipline of training for five straight months. Week after week, this was my routine (distances varied as training progressed):

Monday: 4:30 AM – Rest day [stretch + mobility, hydrate, eat]
Tuesday: 4:30 AM – Short run [3–5 mi]
Wednesday: 4:30 AM – Short bike [15–20 mi]
Thursday: 4:30 AM – Short bike [15–20 mi] + Short run [3–5 mi]
Friday: 4:30 AM – Ocean swim [30–40 min]
Saturday: 4:30 AM – Long bike [40–50 mi]
Sunday: 4:30 AM – Long run [8–12 mi]

I think that's the biggest thing I learned about accomplishing a lofty goal. You can't achieve anything meaningful without putting in the work. That might sound obvious but this concept becomes extremely tangible when you're trying to achieve a physical goal because you feel the pain along the way. In training for a 70.3 there's an illusion of having options. You think you have options but you really don't. You either opt to put in the work or you get left behind.