Adina O'Neill: Real Fitness

After my 8-mile backstroke swim, you had questions. Here’s what you asked, but that may not help prepare your race.

Got your own swim or tri coming up?
Drop your questions below.

Swipe through for the full Q&A 👉

Be Prepared. Be REAL. Keep Moving Forward. 💛💙

🎉Congrats to these REAL athletes 🎉

Ashley started doing triathlons this summer and beat her first tri time by 25 minutes!

Kim blazed through another half marathon, winning the female masters division and placing 3rd female overall!

From beginner to seasoned athlete, the focus is the same: effort, personal achievement and fun!

Looking for a welcoming community where you can challenge yourself without judgement ? Comment BELONG to see what Team B*REAL is about.

Be Proud. Be REAL. Keep Moving Forward. 💛💙

Want to avoid feeling like you can’t catch your breath within the first 100 yards of your triathlon?

Practice the start by simulating race day. Here’s how:

1. Take a short warmup
2. Get out of the water
3. Walk or run in and start swimming

The key is to go in at a pace that you remain in control of your breath.

Our August Team Clinic will be a Mock Triathlon. You can join Team B*REAL at any time with a monthly membership. Comment BELONG for info.

Be Proud. Be REAL. Keep Moving Forward. 💛💙

Team B*REAL welcomes athletes of every size, pace, race, ability, age, gender identity and sexual orientation.

I was devastated when I found out about this injury. Weve been working together for over 2 years.

Her goals are my goals.

Hearing the despair in her voice crushed me. I knew she needed me and what I said in that moment was more important than any training plan.

It’s more fun to celebrate achievements, but I’m glad she knows she can count on me to support her through recovery.

Congrats to these REAL athletes!

Liz and Megan challenged themselves to a big goal at the Mackinac Bridge. Conditions were rough and the course got modified for safety. They persevered and swam what the day gave them.

Liz tackled a 5K swim at Waterman. She missed the cutoffs but was a allowed to finish, pushing her pace as she prepares for the Otillo SwimRun.

Kate cut her distance at Swim Across America due to windy conditions at Martha’s Vineyard. Thanks for swimming to fight Cancer!

I’m incredibly proud of each one for setting a goal, showing up with a good attitude and celebrating your efforts.

Perfect example of Ordinary People. Extraordinary Athletes. 💛💙


blueseventy

Knowing the date for my swim is set for Monday definitely has created a lot of chatter in my mind. I always say I love that first time feeling and here’s my chance. This first time is hitting differently. I don’t know how to explain it. When I started running and doing triathlons the disbelief was more about if my body was capable of doing it. After completing my first marathon and first 70.3 in the same year, I started believing I could do anything. When I found marathon swimming, a whole new world of possibilities opened. I could take my one steady pace and keep going for four hours, seven hours, 10 hours. In my mind, I believe I can go as far as I want given enough time. Each new swim distance didn’t feel like a new adventure, but a continuation of the last.

This one has so many new components: first official solo swim, longest backstroke distance, first marathon swim in open ocean, first time feeding off a boat and organizing a crew. And for the first time, I feel like completing the swim is not entirely in my control. My big concern is wind. I’m very aware of how challenging it is to swim into the wind. Realistically, I do not think I can complete 8 miles of backstroke swimming into the wind. Of course I can’t control the wind.

I find myself leaning on all the things I say to the athletes I coach. Trust in my training. Listen to people who have more experience who keep reassuring me that I am ready. Control what I can. Focus on preparing and planning. Give it my best shot. It all sounds different to me this time around, reminding me of what it truly feels like to be attempting something for the first time and how the athletes I coach feel each time I tell them those words.