Dr. Caitlin Alexander

Three weeks post-Ironman and still trying to find my stride, so just filling my time with the things that bring me joy 🐕🐶🍩🚴🏼‍♀️⛰️👯‍♀️🥾

All summer I struggled to find my groove and I felt stressed and pressured to get to the starting line of a race, to have something to show for the season. Kalmar was very last minute. With only 4 “good” weeks of training leading into the race, I figured I’d take the risk and see if I could put something together, showing up to the starting line barely in one piece. I don’t regret the experience but I’m also not sure it was worth all the stress and the money.

I’m not sure where this leaves me for the rest of the season. I’m taking a bit of a break from structured training but still training on my own accord. Trying to find the joy and excitement in pursuing this sport that I once had. I know it’s still there. I think I just need time.

Ironman Kalmar - a race experience to remember ✨

A couple firsts for me yesterday..

First time racing in Europe! (Kalmar is the perfect fave venue)

First time leading a group out of the swim (probably one of the coolest swims I’ve ever done, navigating all over the harbor, under bridges, around rocks)

First time getting my period in the middle of a race (halfway through the bike 🫠 and then the subsequent cramps just zapped the power from my legs the rest of the day.)

First time doing an Ironman marathon without ice on the course (I rely, maybe too much, on the ice to keep me cool but also hydrated between aid stations. Not having it was a struggle and my legs just locked up from cramping with 10 miles to go.)

Ironman Kalmar is magical though. If you’re looking for a destination race, I highly recommend. The entire (literally entire) town comes out to support (swipe to see the finish line last night).

Grateful to be here and share these moments with 🫶

I did my first Ironman when I was 25 years old. I was 9 months post-ACL reconstruction and my surgeon told me in my first pre-op appointment that, sure, I could do an Ironman in 9 months! My rehab was less than stellar and my PT didn’t seem to care about me or my goals. I ended up taking the rehab protocol and doing my own thing after two months (do not recommend doing this).

I remember starting the Ironman marathon after the hilly Mont Tremblant bike, and running felt natural. I ran 3:57 for my first Ironman marathon, when I had never even broken 4 hours for an open marathon. I knew in that moment that this was the distance for me.

I didn’t have a coach. I had reached out to my local tri club at the time to help with a training plan because I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t get much help, so I found a free 16-week Ironman training plan in Triathlete Magazine and used that.

I averaged about 10-12 hours a week of training. Four weeks out from the race, I did a 100 mile ride to Bear Mountain in NY fueled with rice cakes from the Feed Zone Portables cookbook, and a 20 mile run off the bike drinking chicken broth (literally didn’t know what I was doing 😂). Then basically tapered for a month lol.

I didn’t have much support from those closest to me at the time. I felt alone in my journey but I was intrinsically driven and wanted it badly. After I crossed the finish line, the motivation to see where I could go grew.

It wasn’t until I actually had money to hire a coach and get a decent tri bike (many years down the road) that I started to see big improvements.

I’m proud of how far I’ve come, even if it’s taken me longer than the typical amateur-to-pro pipeline. As I get through my last key sessions before Ironman Kalmar, it’s not lost on me how lucky I am to be able to race at this level across the world, with the best support and the best sponsors.

This will be my first race in Europe and I’m so excited for the chance to do my favorite thing and explore a new part of the world. The gratitude runs deep.