Maddy Adams

My first introduction to triathlon was watching my mom compete in a sprint triathlon when I was growing up. I remember cheering her on, feeling incredibly proud, and wanting to do the race myself as soon as I was old enough. When I turned 16, I signed up! It was a women-only race in Maine that raises money for cancer research, and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the sport. I hope to do the race again someday. Right after I graduated college, both of my siblings started running marathons which inspired me to give triathlon another try. At a time when life felt particularly unstructured, I loved having a goal to work toward and a training plan that gave shape to my days. The sense of community I’ve found as well as the structure and accomplishment that training brings to my life has kept me engaged in the sport through today.

I think a lot of people gravitate toward endurance sports because they see someone else accomplish a big goal and think: I want to do that. But the longer I train and the more races I do, the less it is about race day. I’ve learned to love the daily training and the way it allows me to prioritize both my physical and mental wellbeing. Triathlon challenges me, makes me feel good, and has become an important part of my life! By starting each day with a workout, I already have an accomplishment under my belt and it makes everything else feel just a little bit easier.

I decided to join SF Tri because I wanted more consistency and community in my training, and it has made all the difference in the world. Training with SF Tri has turned workouts from chores to fun social events. Even a tough track workout becomes something to look forward to when you’re doing it with friends! Before joining, I dreaded speed workouts and rarely ever swam. The club has provided me with a reason to show up every Track Tuesday alongside a wonderful community of people who all prioritize their mental and physical health while also balancing the rest of their lives. I will always be a part of a tri club going forward.

Before deciding to race Ironman California, I asked myself whether the entire experience would still feel worth it if I woke up on race morning and couldn’t compete. The race itself is just one day, and the outcome can sometimes be completely out of your control. I wasn’t comfortable with the race itself being my main reason for signing up because it felt too far away and unpredictable. What drives me to take on these big goals is knowing that the real achievement lies in my commitment to show up for myself each day and get my workouts done! Thinking of it that way feels much more controllable and that’s what drives me.

When I originally signed up to do my first full Ironman, I didn’t know if I could do it. And that’s exactly how you should feel when you commit to something that you want to be challenged by. You’re not supposed to be able to do a triathlon the day you sign up, that’s what training is for! But once you commit and start putting in the work, step by step you’ll move through that training journey and find yourself at the start line ready to take it on.

My hardest moment wasn’t a race but a specific workout. It was my first open water full Ironman-distance swim. I did it by myself at Aquatic Park on a Sunday afternoon and I felt terrible. I got nauseous from the waves and was swimming way slower than usual. It just wasn’t my day. I took several float breaks to collect myself, using my swim buoy as a pillow. Despite feeling defeated, one lap at a time I eventually got it done. On my drive home, I got emotional thinking about how hard it had been but how I had still pushed my way through it and swam the full distance. When I think back to racing Ironman California, I always think about this workout. I’m more proud of that swim than the one I did on race day.

This year for me has been all about finding a sustainable balance between training and life. Preparing for a full Ironman last year took up a lot of time, so my goal now is to train consistently while still saying yes to experiences and social events that matter to me. I want triathlon to be a part of my life for as long as I can see into the future, so it’s been important to me to not burn out. I could see another full in my future, but I want to preserve this balance along the way so I continue loving triathlon training as much as I do now!