Don't Call it a Comeback

This Mom's Success Story After a Triathlon Hiatus

​Karyn Lewis is a wife, working mom with kids and has been doing triathlons since 2009 before taking some time off. She also has a great attitude and an infectious smile. We love her! After stepping away from triathlon for a few years, she decided to get back into the sport and challenge herself to go further than she ever had.

​It was in September of 2022, when she decided to prepare for her first Ironman 70.3. It was a big goal, but she was determined and gave herself plenty of time to prepare. She knew it was going to be tricky to balance work, family and training but with a little help and some accountability it would be possible. Time to get to work!
 
Below is a Q & A with Karen.
 
We hope this serves as inspiration to others as well as highlights her outstanding year.

Q & A

​How and Why did you get into triathlon?
 
Too many years ago, I was heading out to the gym on a Sunday morning, and I crossing 72nd street during the NYC Tri.  I saw all of these amazing athletes running towards Central Park, and I was in awe.  That is definitely what planted the seed for me.  

​Why did you decide to hire a coach and more specifically RTA to help prepare you for your races?
 
I knew that if I wanted to reach a goal of completing an Ironman 70.3, I was not going to get there on my own.  Just like any venture into new territory, I knew that I needed a teacher to help me show me what I didn't know and get me to my goal. 
 
There is a huge difference between following a sprint or olympic plan on paper for a few months versus dedicating a year to training for a long-distance race.   
 
I was looking for a subject matter expert that would also hold me accountable for my training sessions.  It's easy to skip a training session because life gets in the way, and the weekly check-ins were critical for me to keep me on my race path.
 
I specifically chose Elizabeth because she has small kids, works, and is a triathlete.  As with any coach, teacher, mentor, etc. that you are going to work with every week, I wanted someone who understood my lifestyle and could help me to weave in my training to all of my current work and family responsibilities. 

Coach E giving Karen a high five and encouragement as she begins the run.

​You recently completed your first full IRONMAN 70.3, what was that like?
 
It is, for me, indescribable. 
 
I have been doing triathlons since 2009, and I honestly thought that anything longer than an Olympic race was never in the cards for me.  I thought it was something that only superhumans could achieve. 
 
The closest that I can come to explaining it is feeling an overwhelming sense of pride. 
 
And that pride is only partly from crossing the finish line.  When I think of my Ironman 70.3 experience, I think of all of the training sessions and the level of commitment that I gave to it every single week.  It was amazing to have a focused goal and to give everything that I had to it.

Mission Accomplished! Ironman 70.3 Finisher!

What was the best part of the race at Atlantic City?
 
Flat, flat, flat!  I loved that the AC race was flat. I felt like it gave me that extra inch of confidence that I needed to be able to cross that finish line.
 
 
What was the worst/hardest part of the day and how did you overcome it?
 
I think that one of the most challenging parts for me was trying to fit in the training sessions during the day while working.  There's only so many hours in a day, and oftentimes, the math wasn't adding up for me.  Sometimes I had to be creative and listen into work calls while on the treadmill.  Other times, it meant that I had a late night of training to make sure I got in all of the sessions.
 

What will you do differently next time (if anything)?
 
For me, I skimped on stretching. I just flat out ran out of time each day, and I think that the lack of quality stretching really started to show when I increased my training volume.  For next time, I need to remind myself that stretching is as important as the actual training sessions.
 
 
What was going through your head when you crossed the finished line?
 
The only thing that I can recall thinking was, "Oh my gosh I actually did it!?!"  Followed by, "I really want to hug my family right now."
​

You just completed your first IRONMAN 70.3... was this something you had planned when getting started with triathlon? What would you say to other women thinking about doing IRONMAN 70.3?
 
Absolutely not.  Never in a million years did I ever think that I could physically or mentally complete an Ironman 70.3.  I think that my advice for other women considering doing a 70.3 is two things.  
 

1. Just sign up for it.  If you plan too much before even making the decision, you will find so many reasons not to do it.  If you sign up for it, you will find so many ways to make it happen.  
2. Trust in your team.  All too often as women, we put ourselves in the position of being in the critical path of our family, friends and work lives and their accomplishments. 

 
While supporting other's goals has its own rewards, it can leave very little time to focus on our own goals.  To reach my Ironman 70.3 goal, I had to stop and finally ask my family and friends for help such as needing time in the evenings to do my training or understanding why I'm missing out on group activities.  What I found when I finally asked for help was overwhelming support and a new set of cheerleaders pushing me all of the way across the finish line.  
 

Confident and ready to go at the Atlantic City 70.3 Race Start