Ep174: Heather’s (super-tough, amazing, life-changing) IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City

Michigan Runner Girl

The long-awaited IRONMAN 70.3 Traverse City race recap is here! After months of hard training and a summer filled with lots o’ life events -- first-ever MRG trail race! 19-year-old daughter heading off to college! First Olympic distance triathlon! -- Heather toed the start line of this summer’s inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 in her hometown of Traverse City, Mich.

This event, which brought more than 2,400 athletes and their families and friends to the Cherry Capital of the world, took place on Aug. 25. For many athletes, Heather included, this endurance event was the first time they’d tackled the 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, and 13.1-mile run. A smattering of pro athletes also signed on for this sold-out event.

Heather is joined by two friends -- Cassy Stone and Karen Norton -- to talk about this epic day. Cassy, who was on the last episode talking with Heather about her nerves during race week and leading up to race day, was there at the race start on West Grand Traverse Bay. She also cheered on Heather and other friends at various points near transition and on the bike and run courses. A cyclist and marathoner as well as a member of the team that helped bring the race to northern Michigan, Cassy shares her race-day observations and how the event proved even more inspiring than she could have ever imagined, particularly for spectators like herself. Karen offers an entirely unique perspective as someone who is new to endurance events. Karen and Heather met in 2017 through work—both are writers and worked for Munson Healthcare together until Karen’s retirement last summer—and Karen offers her thoughts as an avid hiker and enthusiastic supporter and spectator. Karen and her husband Mike cheered Heather on when she needed it the most: during the run and at the finish.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to take on an IRONMAN event, to train for months, to juggle swimming, biking and running workouts with work and life … this episode will answer all of your questions. It also just may inspire you to try something completely new and different and outside your comfort zone.