What The Ironman Finish Line Really Meant To Me

Earlier this week, we shared Sara’s story – a phenomenal performance at Ironman Poznan 70.3. Today, I want to share a slightly different view of the Ironman finish line and a different approach to Ironman training. This excerpt from an athletes race report is beautiful I think.

What The Ironman Finish Line Really Meant To Me

Despite everything that happened in the race, I’m absolutely thrilled that I finished.

Probably more importantly, after two years of working towards this race and the failed attempt last year (bike mechanical), I’m incredibly proud that I persevered and eventually crossed that finish line.

It wasn’t the perfect Ironman.

The swim was cancelled. My nutrition didn’t work. The run turned into survival rather than racing.

But I think I’ve come to realise that perfection isn’t really the point.

When I think about what I’m proudest of, it actually isn’t crossing the finish line itself. It’s the two years of work that allowed me to get there.

It’s getting up early to train when I didn’t particularly want to. It’s fitting sessions around everything else going on in life. It’s coming back after last year rather than deciding Ironman wasn’t for me. It’s continuing to move forward when the race itself started falling apart.

The main reason I wanted to do an Ironman in the first place was because of the mental and physical challenge. In that respect, Leeds probably gave me exactly what I signed up for, just not necessarily in the way I imagined it would.

A huge thank you.

As one of your athletes, I’d hazard a guess that I’m probably one of the least communicative members of the team, which, to be fair, is a recurring theme across most areas of my life 😅

But I do want you to know how grateful I am for all of your training, support and guidance over the last 2 years.

I genuinely don’t think I would have achieved what I have without it.

I also know I’m probably never going to be the athlete whose goal is to become the absolute best triathlete they can possibly be.

I deliberately fit a lot into a fairly limited amount of capacity: a full-time job, writing a book, two side businesses, two dogs and Ironman training amongst everything else.

I understand that comes with trade-offs.

For me, though, as long as I’m continuing to make progress, learning and getting that little bit better over time, I’m very content with that balance.

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This is why we coach.

Not every finish line comes with the race you hoped for. Sometimes it comes after years of work, setbacks, compromises, and the decision to keep showing up anyway.

Sara’s story earlier this week was one version of what’s possible. This is another – and it’s every bit as meaningful.

Progress doesn’t require a perfect training block, unlimited time, or a single-minded pursuit of performance. It requires consistency, perspective, and the willingness to keep moving forward in a way that works alongside the rest of your life.

That’s something worth celebrating.