By Dr. Mayes (Doctor of Physical Therapy & Owner of Iron Physical Therapy)

What started out as “no way would I ever do a full Ironman,” turned into “I think I wanna do this” to a “hell yeah, I’m registering!” Here’s how it all happened…

I’ve run marathons and half marathons sporadically over the years, but I’ve primarily been a strength focused athlete in the CrossFit world. However, over the last 10 years I’ve enjoyed being a seasonal triathlete as a way to get outside with a great group of folks and mix things up. Most of my races have been short (sprint distance) that consisted of a .5 mile swim, 12 mile bike and 5k run to finish. 

In 2018 and 2023, I did my two longest triathlons which were the half IRONMAN distance of 70.3 total miles. Of course entering the IRONMAN world put the thought of a full distance race in the back of my mind, but it stayed there for a while. 

Well, at the start of 2024 I was looking for an athletic mission to challenge my body, mind and spirit…or maybe it was just a bit of a midlife moment.  Either way, I hungered for a goal that scared me. So, this past March I pulled the trigger and signed up for my first full IRONMAN in September, giving me 6 months to prepare…yikes!

I was excited to have such a huge goal to chase but being mostly removed from endurance training, I knew I would need to push myself well beyond efforts in the past AND take things slow. The program I followed was conservative in nature with a focus on injury prevention. 

Over the last few years, I had been plagued with calf issues during endurance training but those never surfaced during this cycle as I really focused on good running mechanics, consistent tissue work and physical therapy sessions as needed.

My only goal for Ironman Wisconsin was to have a fun, healthy training cycle free of preventable injury so I could be well prepared and finish the race with a smile.

Fast forward to race day where I took on 140.6 miles (2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike & 26.2 mile marathon)…

The 2.4 mile Swim

It was an absolute stunner of a morning in Madison, WI with blue skies and morning air temperature in the high 40’s (no winds) that would climb to 73 later in the day. Lake Monona is a big, beautiful lake earning its bragging rights of being the 3rd best swim globally across all IRONMAN events.

I entered the 70.8 degree water at 7:22am surrounded by the high energy of 1500 fellow athletes. Open water swimming is a different beast. You have to be able to calm your mind, body and breath while swimming and bumping into aggressive athletes, all while being unable to see the bottom. My practice over the months and prayer from many (yes, I asked my family and friends for prayer), allowed me to make the 2.4 mile journey without any moments of panic. I actually enjoyed myself most of the time out there. When I exited the lake, you would’ve thought I won the race! I was yelling and cheering with excitement to have completed the swim leg without duress! As someone who struggled to swim two laps when I first started triathlon training years ago, this leg was my biggest source of pride – anything is possible!

the 112 Mile Bike

The bike was a beautiful journey out into the cornfields of Wisconsin. It was a hilly course, but all my rides back home in NJ had served me well for the terrain in front of me. Since I flew my bike to Madison (and it had to be put back together when I got there), I was a little nervous about having mechanical issues, but the ride was amazing! 

All the fans and volunteers were so enthusiastic, encouraging and helpful. But it was extra special to have 8 members of my family there…stopping at mile 55 to give them hugs, kisses and taking pictures all along the way was my highlight! I had never ridden more than 78 miles before this race, so 112 with a big PR. The warm sun, great people and having my bike serve me well made for a great 2nd leg.

the 26.2 Mile Marathon

I’ve never been more excited to do a marathon in my life! It sounds weird, but if you make it to the run leg it means you survived the swim and didn’t have any issues on the bike…putting 2 of 3 events behind you! The run took us through the quaint town of Madison and then through the University of Wisconsin. It even included two trips through the college stadium which was super cool, especially during the second loop when it was dark and all the lights were on. 

I kept a conservative pace during the run which turned into more of a methodical run/walk during the late miles. The fans continued to be absolutely incredible to the very end. The music, cheers, and clapping was memorable. I made it a point to have a smile on my face the entire race as I was grateful to have a body that would serve me to complete such an endeavor.

I had a little extra motivation during the run as my family had written little notes for each of the 26 miles. I would pull a new card out at each mile and read it several times…letting the messages sink in. They ranged from tear-provoking encouragement, to spiritual insight to sheer comedy making me laugh. 

The last 0.2 miles were exhilarating! I saw the lights and heard the fans going nuts. The stands along the finish line were filled with cheering, excited spectators pushing us to the end. IRONMAN finishes are truly extra special.

As a first time finisher, I got to ring the bell and did a little victory spin just before crossing the finish line after racing for 14 hours and 38 minutes. It felt so good and was truly an EPIC experience!

This was my toughest (and healthiest) training cycle this side of 40, so you can click below to see my best takeaways for a successful race finish: