I just returned from the 2025 World Triathlon Championships in Wollongong, Australia, where both my races — the Sprint and the Mixed Relay — couldn’t have gone any better. My goal at every race is simple: to finish knowing I left it all out on the course. Mission accomplished!
The Races
Sprint Race:
I finished 7th (goal: top 10) in an incredibly close field — just 1:33 off 1st and 51 seconds off 2nd. I had the fastest T1 and T2 and the second-fastest run in my age group. Though I would have loved a podium, I truly couldn’t have gone any faster given my current speed across all three legs.
Mixed Relay:
Our team — Tracy Kellner, Bill Bender, Christel Kippenhan, and me — came in 2nd out of 22 teams, earning the silver medal and missing gold by just 34 seconds. A small wetsuit issue by one of my teammates in T1 cost us the gold, but that’s triathlon! Still, standing on the podium representing Team USA was an unforgettable thrill.
Across both events, what I’m most proud of was my ability to execute my race plan flawlessly — no mistakes, no regrets.
2025 Season Highlights
- Won my age group in 4 of 5 local races (2nd in the other) and placed in the top-10 overall against competitors decades younger
- Captured three National Championship titles at USAT Multisport Nationals in Omaha — bringing my career total to five
- Earned my fourth World Championship medal (and first silver)
- Only disappointment: the Sprint at USAT Nationals in Milwaukee was canceled due to extreme weather — the final event in what might have been a clean sweep of national titles
Lessons from a Season of Growth
This season taught me more than any results sheet ever could.
1. Believe Anything Is Possible
Age, limits, and doubts are often self-imposed. The moment you stop believing in constraints, you open the door to performance breakthroughs. I learned that if I prepare well, stay focused, and race with courage, there’s no reason I can’t compete with — and beat — athletes half my age.
2. Trust What Works — but Keep Evolving
I’ve raced long enough to know the fundamentals that make me successful: consistent training, disciplined nutrition, mental preparation, and execution. But experience can’t become complacency. I keep finding new ways to get stronger, faster, and smarter — tweaking my training, embracing new technology, and seeking marginal gains in every area.
3. The Committed Taper
In the final weeks before my biggest races, I trusted the taper. I resisted the urge to squeeze in “just one more” hard workout. Instead, I focused on sharpening, not adding. The result was a body that felt light, rested, and ready to perform — and it showed on race day.
Gratitude
None of this happens alone. A huge thank-you to my coach, Duane Franks of Trifiniti, whose guidance, structure, and belief in my potential have made all the difference. His blend of science, experience, and intuition has helped me bring my best to every race.
It’s been a remarkable season — one defined not just by medals and finishes, but by the continual pursuit of excellence. As I look ahead to 2026, I’ll carry forward these lessons and the same commitment that’s driven me since day one: to give everything I have, every time I race.