Awaken Through Adversity
Why We Race—From 70.3 to 200 Miles
It was a big weekend of racing for the Forge Performance team!
Jenny and Joe completed Ironman 70.3 Boulder in our home state of Colorado, while Tia finished the legendary Tahoe 200 Endurance Run.
But let’s rewind.
I started working with Jenny in the summer of 2024 and since then, I’ve admired her consistency. New to the world of triathlon, she dove in headfirst and became a student of the sport.
We prioritized frequency to give her more reps in each discipline, gradually increased session durations to build her base, and sprinkled in race-specific intensity once she proved she had the durability to tolerate the load and training stress. In the words of Gordo Byrn, “To succeed in endurance sports, you need to focus on ‘Work before work rate.’”
Jenny genuinely wanted to improve, took a proactive approach to her prep, and recognized that the coach-athlete relationship is nonhierarchical and needed to be a two-way street. We did a private in-person swim lesson to improve her technique. She took advantage of the swims at the Boulder Reservoir to get comfortable in open water, practice sighting, and rehearse her transitions. She rode the 70.3 course multiple times ahead of the big day and was scientific about her fueling strategy.
A sponge, she only missed one team call and office hours, wanting to learn and absorb as much as she could. Curious, teachable athletes like Jenny are the athletes that tend to have the most success. What you put in is what you get out.
While endurance sport can feel like a consuming hobby, Jenny continued to rock climb, ski with her friends, and hike with her dogs. She got married and took vacations, and we fit training into her already-busy life, not the other way around.
On Saturday, I rode alongside her as she headed out on lap two of the run course. She had a smile on her face and was in good spirits. When I asked her how she was feeling, she enthusiastically said, “we GET to do this, right?!” I grinned from ear to ear as she repeated a mindset shift I took from my buddy Chris and encourage my athletes to think about.
An hour later, she ran down the iconic red carpet and became a first-time 70.3 finisher. She was greeted by her husband, sister, parents who flew in from New York, and me, the proud coach. It was heartwarming to witness her loved ones bask in her accomplishment and share the experience.
Joe and I were connected through a mutual friend whom I met at a running event in 2023. Joe was a college football player and, before we started working together, lifted weights six days per week.
A big guy, standing 6’3” and 215 lbs, maintaining his muscular physique was important to him. “Keep the main thing the main thing” is something I often say to my athletes. I like feeling and being strong too, but having bulging biceps and a burly chest won’t lead to a faster swim split or make you more aerodynamic on the bike. While we incorporated strength work into his plan, we reduced the volume and focused on both compound and functional movements for endurance athletes.
A medical sales rep, he was on the road often. If he wasn’t traveling for work, he was on vacation or weekend trips with his buddies—to New Zealand, Florida, and Tennessee—continuing to prioritize his relationships, personal life, and mental health, which in turn made him a better athlete.
Joe threw down a blazing 2:28 bike split, averaging 22.5 mph for the 56 miles—impressive for any age-grouper, especially one on a road bike. He rode hard, too hard, and paid for it on the run, crossing the line in 5:09, just minutes over his sub-5 goal. But he, like Jenny, was all smiles—at peace and proud, knowing that the process and journey were more important than the result and destination.
Joe was surrounded by his loving mother, his two older brothers, and close friends who came out to cheer him on. His father passed away ten years ago, so doing the race over Father’s Day weekend was extra special for him, knowing his dad was with him every step of the way.
After the race, Joe and I shared a sweaty hug and he expressed his gratitude for me to his family and friends. His friends peppered me with questions about endurance training and told me they signed up for marathons that day after being inspired by watching Joe crush it. It just takes one—one person in your social circle to plant the seed and give others permission to go for it themselves.
After the race, Jenny and Joe told me they were already looking at what other races to sign up for. They caught the bug, similar to another coached athlete, Emmett, who completed his first 70.3 at Eagleman and is now registered for his first full—Ironman Maryland in September. 70.3s are manageable enough to complete with months of consistent training, but significant enough to transform your entire life.
While Jenny and Joe were racing their first triathlons, another athlete I coach, Tia, was 24 hours into the iconic Destination Trail Tahoe 200—a 200-mile footrace around the largest alpine lake in North America.
Tia is a firefighter and paramedic in Alberta. Her shift-work prevented her from being consistent and adequately recovering, which is why it was crucial for us to develop a unique plan to set her up for success.
More importantly, she’s a mom. When she’s not working 14-hour nights, she’s making sure her two boys get to their hockey and baseball games and practices, even if that means driving four hours to another city in the province.
She came in with solid running experience, but high life stress made her fall out of love with the sport. She had her first DNF at the Bigfoot 200 last year and it’s haunted her ever since.
We spent the winter building her time on feet and as she gained fitness, she began to find the spark again and gain confidence. Motivated to set an example for her boys and as a badass woman in a male-dominated career, she made no excuses and put in the work.
Coming from sea level, she battled the infamous “Tahoe Lung”, asthma attacks, and altitude sickness, but stayed present, relied on the supportive ultra community, took short trail naps, moved and ate steadily, and got the job done in 95 hours. She did it all without crew or pacers, but with a no quit attitude.
We sign up and compete in these events because they’re difficult. Because they put us in dark places and force us to reckon with ourselves. Because they expose our weaknesses, crack us open, and allow us to problem-solve and overcome adversity in real-time. Because they make us feel vulnerable, but alive and strong when we endure. Because they make us realize we’re capable of far more than we believed. What in daily life makes us feel that way?
Helping others develop skills, shift their mindsets, and accomplish more than they thought possible is rewarding and fulfilling. I don’t believe there’s a better use of my time. I’m honored to be in their corners, play a small part in their journeys, and see it all come together on race day/weekend.
Jenny, Joe, and Tia, congrats on your momentous accomplishments. It’s just the beginning! I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.
“Awaken through adversity” is the Forge Performance way.
I’m opening five roster spots. If interested, DM me “TRAIN” on Instagram to see if 1-1 coaching is the right fit for you.
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Congratulations coach and congratulations to these athletes.
Vicky and Dan
Yessir!! I Get To - Change Your Words, Change Your Life :)