“Doubt whispered, ‘Your body has been through too much.’
I smiled and whispered back,
‘Then watch what I can still do.’”
There are races you train for, and there are races you fight your way back to. This one was both.
The road to North Carolina wasn’t perfect. My body challenged me, my back tested my patience, and more than once I had to redefine what being strong actually meant. Strength wasn’t always pushing harder. Sometimes it was backing off. Sometimes it was starting again. And sometimes it was simply refusing to stop believing that there was still another great race inside me.
And on October 17, I was finally going to find out.
Race Week
This year, race week felt extra special because I wasn’t making the trip alone. On Wednesday, I left Florida with Asia and Alessia. Two generations, one car, way too much stuff 😂, and another adventure ahead of us.
There was something comforting about heading back to a race I knew so well. North Carolina wasn’t new to me. I knew the course. I knew the logistics. I knew what race morning would feel like. But I also knew that I wasn’t the same athlete who had raced here before. This time, I wasn’t coming to prove how tough I could be. My body had already taught me enough about that.
I Was coming to Race Smart.
Thursday morning, I headed to packet pickup, and then it was time for the practice swim in Banks Channel.
The moment I slipped into the water, that familiar race week excitement came rushing back.
I swam easily, found my rhythm, and smiled.
I was back.
Not the athlete I was in 2019.
Not the athlete I was in 2024 or 2025.
The athlete I was now.
And I was ready to see what she could do.
Race Day
The alarm went off, but I was already awake.
After all the training, all the setbacks, all the moments of doubt, and all the times I had wondered what my body would allow me to do, there was nothing left to figure out.
Today I just had to race.
I got ready quietly, ate my usual breakfast, and went through everything one last time. Nutrition. Bottles. Garmin. Roka Swim-skin. Goggles.
Before heading to the swim start, I did a short, easy run warm up. Nothing hard, just enough to wake up my legs, loosen my body, and get my heart rate up a little. A few minutes of running, a couple of short pickups, and I was ready.
I felt good. My body felt loose, and most importantly, my back felt calm.
That was all the reassurance I needed. From that moment on, I stopped thinking about it.
I felt nervous, of course. I always do.
But underneath the nerves, there was something different this time.
Calm.
I wasn’t thinking about a finish time. I wasn’t thinking about what I had done here in 2019, 2024, or 2025.
I was simply ready to race.
I had promised myself one thing: race the body I had today, not the body I was afraid I might have later.
When I arrived at the swim start and looked out over Banks Channel, I smiled.
I knew this water. I knew this course. And I knew exactly how I wanted to race it.
Smart. Patient. Fearless.
〰️
Swim
〰️
1.2 mile - 2 Km
〰️
46:24
〰️
22nd AG
〰️ Swim 〰️ 1.2 mile - 2 Km 〰️ 46:24 〰️ 22nd AG
The Swim - Where Is the Current?! 😂
The sun never came out. It was cloudy and warm, the water was choppy, and the swim was non-wetsuit. Thankfully, I had my ROKA swimskin ready! I lined up with one simple plan: One buoy at a time.
I settled into my rhythm, focusing on long strokes, a strong catch, and controlled breathing. My FORM goggles helped me stay straight and on course, but something was definitely missing.
Where was that famous North Carolina current?!
I actually stopped at the first safety kayaker and asked, "Where is the current?" Apparently, nowhere to be found! That first stretch felt ENDLESS. I kept swimming and swimming, wondering if I would ever reach the first turn buoy. The choppy water wasn't helping either.
For a moment, it reminded me of the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Utah, when that sudden sandstorm hit. I remember thinking, "How much worse can it get?" 😂
Well, North Carolina was certainly giving it some competition!Thank goodness there were plenty of buoys to keep me focused. Forget the pace, forget the clock. Just get to the next buoy. One buoy at a time. Keep moving. Keep swimming.
This was nothing like the fast, current-assisted swim I remembered from previous years. Today, every stroke had to be earned.Finally, the last buoy! I increased my kick, kept my stroke strong, and headed toward the exit.
Out of the water and running toward transition! Not the swim I had imagined, but 1.2 miles DONE!
Not exactly the start I had hoped for, but I wasn't worried. There were still 56 miles of cycling and a half marathon ahead. And now it was time for my favorite part.
SHUT UP LEGS! Time to ride! 🚴♀️🔥
〰️
Bike
〰️
56 miles - 90.13 Km
〰️
2:41:10
〰️
1st AG
〰️ Bike 〰️ 56 miles - 90.13 Km 〰️ 2:41:10 〰️ 1st AG
The Bike 🚴♀️🔥
The bike has always been my strength. Shut Up Legs. That’s me. Get aero, put my head down, find my watts, and RIDE!
But this year, the bike had become my biggest question mark. It was where my back could tighten and the pain could creep into my left leg.
So as I jumped on the bike, I reminded myself:
Don’t be afraid of the pain before it exists.
Well, apparently my back wasn’t the only thing I needed to worry about. North Carolina had other plans! 😂
The rain started, the temperature dropped, and then came the WIND. OMG, THE WIND!
Headwinds of 20–25 mph, with gusts over 30 mph, pushing against us for what felt like forever. For the first 30–35 miles, it was a constant battle.
I kept looking at my speed, then at my power, reminding myself not to chase numbers or waste energy fighting something I couldn’t control.
Aero. Fuel. Drink. Pedal. Repeat.
And THANK GOD I had decided to wear my wind jacket! Between the heavy rain, strong wind, and dropping temperatures,
it was absolutely freezing.
As if that wasn’t enough, we were required to dismount and walk across the metal grates on the bridges for safety. More time lost, but absolutely the right decision in those conditions.
No wonder the bike splits were slower than usual!
Some athletes had even chosen not to race in those conditions, and honestly, I could understand why.
But I had a job to do.
SHUT. UP. LEGS.
Today wasn’t about chasing my usual bike split. It was about staying strong, riding smart, managing the conditions, and getting safely to T2 with something left for the run.
Finally, with approximately 15 miles to go, the wind was behind me!
HALLELUJAH! 😂
For the first time in what felt like hours, the speed started coming back. I could finally let the bike roll and enjoy a little help from Mother Nature.
Those last miles felt completely different.
Then Wilmington appeared.
T2. 56 miles DONE!
Not the fast bike split I had imagined, but when I saw the results later, I couldn’t believe it.
FASTEST BIKE SPLIT IN MY AGE GROUP! 🥇🚴♀️🔥
Through the rain, the cold, the headwinds, and everything North Carolina had thrown at us.
Sometimes the strongest ride isn’t the fastest one on the clock.
It’s the one where you adapt, stay disciplined, and keep moving forward.
And now…
13.1 miles to go. Time to run! 🏃♀️❤️
〰️
Run
〰️
13.1 miles - 21 Km
〰️
2:01:58
〰️
8th AG
〰️ Run 〰️ 13.1 miles - 21 Km 〰️ 2:01:58 〰️ 8th AG
The Run 🏃♀️
Strong to the Finish. I came out of T2 after one of the toughest bike rides I could remember. And right there at the start of the run were Asia and Alessia, holding their “FORZA FOREVER MAMMA” sign and screaming:
“YOU’RE FIRST!!! GOOOOO! FORZAAAA!!!” 😂❤️🇮🇹 OMG, my girls! What a way to start the half marathon! Hearing them cheer and knowing I had come off the bike in first place in my age group gave me such an incredible boost! Now, 13.1 miles to go.
The rain was still coming down, the wind was blowing, and it was COLD! North Carolina, usually filled with spectators cheering along the course, felt completely different. Honestly, I couldn’t blame anyone for staying somewhere warm! 😂
I had hoped for a sub-2-hours half marathon, but after that brutal bike ride, I knew I needed to be patient and listen to my body. And, of course, my back and left hamstring decided to remind me they were still there. Not exactly what I wanted, but nothing I hadn’t dealt with before.
I focused on finding a comfortable rhythm. Relaxed shoulders. Quick feet. Controlled breathing.
One mile at a time.
The conditions weren’t making anything easier. Rain, wind, cold, tired legs, and that familiar discomfort. But I kept reminding myself that today wasn’t about chasing a perfect pace.
It was about racing smart and doing the best I could with the body I had.
At the aid stations, I stayed focused on my nutrition and hydration, keeping myself moving forward.
Mile after mile, I adjusted, stayed patient, and kept going.
I had already made it through a choppy swim with no current and 56 brutal miles on the bike. Now it was time to finish what I had started.
SHUT UP LEGS!
Even if today they had a few friends complaining along with them! 😂
As I approached the final miles, I thought about everything it had taken to get here. The injuries, treatments, setbacks, and all those moments when I wondered whether I would be able to race competitively again.
Then, finally, the finish line!
I turned toward the finish chute, smiled, and gave it everything I had left.
IRONMAN 70.3 NC DONE! ❤️🔥
Not the run I had imagined. Definitely not the weather I had expected. But I had done it. And later, the results made me smile even more.
After everything my body had been through, I was back on the podium. Not because everything had gone perfectly. Because I had adapted, stayed patient, and trusted myself.
And that little voice that had whispered, “Your body has been through too much”? I finally had my answer.
“Maybe. But look what I can still do.” ❤️🔥
70.3 miles- 113.13 Km
〰️
5:37:59
〰️
3rd AG
〰️
70.3 miles- 113.13 Km 〰️ 5:37:59 〰️ 3rd AG 〰️
The Finish 🏁
Still Here. Still Racing. Still Me. ❤️🔥
I crossed that finish line, and for a few seconds, I just stood there. I had come into this race wondering what my body would allow me to do.
Now I had my answer.
The swim had been choppy, with absolutely no current. The bike had been a battle against heavy rain, brutal headwinds, and freezing temperatures. And the run had tested my patience with discomfort in my back and left hamstring attachment.
Nothing had gone as planned.
But I had done it.
And OMG, I was COLD! 🥶
By the time I finished, I could barely feel my body. I was absolutely freezing! Forget celebrating outside. I needed to get warm! I ended up sitting in the car, trying to warm up while waiting for IRONMAN to reopen transition so I could retrieve my bike. Definitely not the finish-line celebration I had imagined! 😂
But underneath all that cold and exhaustion was an incredible feeling of satisfaction.
I had made it through one of the toughest North Carolina races I could remember. And later, the results made it even sweeter.
Fastest bike split in my age group! 🚴♀️🔥
Third place overall in my age group! 🥉
3rd place AG
After everything my body had been through, I was back on the podium.
Not because everything went perfectly, but because I adapted, stayed patient, and kept believing in myself.
The People Who Made It Special
A huge THANK YOU to Asia and Alessia for making this race unforgettable!
From waiting with me before the swim to screaming “YOU’RE FIRST! GOOOO! FORZAAAA!” with their homemade “FORZA FOREVER MAMMA” sign at the start of the run, you made my heart smile! ❤️
Having my girls there means more than any finish time or podium.
And a HUGE shout-out to the incredible IRONMAN volunteers! ❤️👏
While us athletes were moving and generating body heat, you stood for hours in the freezing rain and wind, cheering us on and taking care of us.
YOU were the real heroes of the day!
These races wouldn’t happen without you. THANK YOU! ❤️
World Championship
Some Things Are Just Meant to Be! 🌎🔥
And then came the awards ceremony. 3rd place in my age group! 🥉
After everything it had taken to get back to this start line, standing there with my award felt incredible. But the day wasn’t finished surprising me!
The 1st and 2nd place women in my AG had already secured their World Championship spots. Which meant the slot rolled straight down to 3rd.
ME!!! ❤️🔥 I didn’t even have to wait for the age-graded Performance Pool roll-down!
And here’s the funny part… I was ranked 37th in the age-graded Performance Pool, and the women’s slots eventually rolled all the way down to 49th. So either way, I was going to Worlds! 😂
Sometimes things really are meant to be.
Another World Championship qualification, continuing my incredible journey of qualifying for Worlds year after year since 2014.
And this one feels especially meaningful.
The injuries. The setbacks. The treatments. The frustration. The countless times I questioned what my body would still allow me to accomplish.
But here I was.
Third in my age group. Fastest bike split. World Championship qualified. AGAIN! 🥉🚴♀️🌎
I’m so thankful that God continues to give me the strength, the FORZA, and the opportunity to keep doing what I love.
I never take any of it for granted.
CHOO CHOO! 🚂 CHATTANOOGA 2027, HERE I COME! 🌎🔥🇮🇹
“Your body has been through too much.”
Now, holding my third-place award and World Championship qualification, I finally had my answer.
“I told you. Watch what I can still do.”
❤️ IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina 2026.
Still here. Still racing. Still me.
