15/07/2026
IRONMAN VITORIA RACE REVIEW 🏊🚴🏃
The struggle behind the scenes and why I didn’t hit my target of Sub-13 hours.
✅Pre-Race
The race was already challenging before it even started.
Two days before race day, I barely slept because the hotel AC was defective. The night before the race, I managed only 3 hours of sleep as the AC issue was still not fixed.
To make things worse, I realized I had left my bike shoes in Dubai. I had to buy a new pair and only managed a 1-hour test ride the day before the race.
✅Race Day
One small decision turned out to be costly. Instead of buying bottled distilled water like I usually do, I drank water from the faucet.
My stomach immediately disagreed.
I ended up making multiple emergency bush-toilet stops during the race 😂.
On top of that, I was already dealing with a cough and flu. My stomach continued to upset throughout the day, forcing more toilet stops and breaking my rhythm.
At around 35km into the run, I could feel my body shutting down. My shoulders dropped, my energy faded, and from that point to the finish line it became a battle of alternating between running and walking.
Swim 🏊
The usually calm waters of Lake Landa had other plans. The wind picked up and the course became choppy with strong waves.
As a right-side breather, I swallowed more water than I wanted because the waves kept hitting from that direction. I also had to stop several times just to sight properly and regain my rhythm.
Bike 🚴
The wind was exceptional.
Thankfully, the heat was manageable because of all the training I do in Dubai. But the stomach issues followed me onto the bike course. Two bush-toilet attempts, one successful mission 😂. What a relief.
Run 🏃
The crowd support was incredible. The energy from the spectators kept me moving.
But this was the moment I made a decision: listen to my body.
It was no longer about chasing a time goal. It was about getting to the finish line. Finishing slower is always better than a DNF.
✅The Lesson
This race reminded me that success isn't always measured by how fast you finish.
Sometimes it's about survival, mental strength, courage, and resilience.
Race day doesn't always go as planned. The real victory is finding a way to keep moving forward when everything is telling you to stop.
"The true measure of an athlete is not how fast they race when everything goes right, but how they keep moving forward when everything goes wrong."
Not the race I planned, but definitely a race I'll never forget. An Ironman is not just a test of fitness—it's a test of character.
✅Team Appreciation
I am incredibly proud of my 3F teammates, especially our first-time Ironman finishers Lourds Adalia-Evertse, Lea Regina Antiporda, and Ali Alhebsi. You all did an amazing job—raced smart, stayed focused, and earned every step to that finish line.
A huge thank you to everyone who tracked, monitored, supported, and cheered for us throughout the day. Special mention to the 3F Striders family 3F Striders Global and friends for the nonstop support.
Not the race I planned, but definitely a race I'll never forget.
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