Infections laid me low for a year and now I’m racing six Ironmans on six continents

I’m chasing a world record in Ironman triathlons. Six Ironmans on six continents over 12 months, trying to become the fastest female in the world to do it.

The time I’m trying to break is a cumulative 84 hours and after four races I’m on track to break it by over 12 hours. 

I started with Ironman California last October and then 30 days later I did Ironman Western Australia, four months later I did Ironman South Africa and six weeks after that, Ironman Brazil. 

I’ve two more and then I’m going to the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii as well for a seventh Ironman. 

Because why not?! I started competing in triathlon at seven years old, so this sport feels like home, but like a lot of people, I stopped as I got older. 

As such, before my first full Ironman, I had never run a marathon or completed a half-Ironman. 

The first time I put the distances together was the first event in my record attempt. The world record is much more complex than swim, bike, run. 

Jet-lag is something I’ve had to figure out how to combat, it almost ruined by race in Australia. 

But I found a product called Flykitt that is science- backed with supplements, blue light glasses and compression socks. 

You input your flights into the app and it schedules your plan so you’re immediately on the time zone you need to be. 

The reason why I’m attempting this runs pretty deep.

Double setback

In my senior year in college, all my friends were applying for jobs they didn’t really care to do in cities they didn’t care to live in. 

Then two of the closest people in my life passed away: my best friend in a plane crash, and my grandma, who helped raise me. 

I was hit square in the face with the life-is-short mentality.

Six months after moving to Australia to pursue a PHD in food science, I became sick with fever, chills, nausea and vomiting. 

I returned to the States to see my doctor to try to figure it out, but it became a year-long journey of being sick in bed, seeing specialists and trying medications. 

I’ve never received a positive test but given I’d travelled, we believe it was a parasite infection coupled with bacterial and viral secondary infections. 

My inspiration

My inspiration to recover was to do something big and crazy. 

I’m from Texas, where it’s Go Big Or Go Home! I Googled world records in triathlon and said I was going to shatter this one. 

My family said: Are you kidding, you can barely walk down the stairs? 

In January 2024, I also Googled ‘best Ironman triathlon coaches in the world.’ I’m now coached by Jason Lentzke from Arizona. 

I asked the same question to each of them. Do you believe I can break this world record after a year of being sick? 

Jason was the only person who responded by saying: ‘If I’m your coach you’re going to shatter this record.’

It was important that I was working with somebody who was so confident in his own abilities. 

Every time I step on to the start line I know I’m going to meet a new version of myself at the finish. 

I treat Ironman not as a race but a becoming, and I pick a mantra and write myself a letter to read on race day morning. 

My advice? If you’re thinking about doing triathlon get ready for the journey of a lifetime. 

You’re going to meet versions of yourself you didn’t even know existed. 

The sport will break you, build you and show you what you’re made of.