The Cherry on Top
Stepping up to the 70.3 distance fresh off my latest injury earlier this year, I faced many unknowns. How would I fare against the best triathletes in the world at a completely new distance? Would I be able to get through the year injury free? And most importantly: Would I accomplish enough to justify continuing to pursue a professional triathlon career after two years of injury and disappointment? My podium finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Memphis in early October, as well as other solid results earlier in the season, answered most of these questions loud and clear. Thus, going into IRONMAN 70.3 Indian Wells on December 5, I had very little left to prove to myself (or anyone else, for that matter). Before 2021, my racing resume featured a whopping six ITU starts. This year alone, I started six races before Indian Wells - something I never would have thought possible coming off two years of injury. I had never raced this much or this late in the season, and after a season that had already excee