Olympian Erica Hawley is set to take on a new challenge this Sunday, competing in her first-ever 70.3 Ironman event at IRONMAN 70.3 La Quinta, located near Palm Springs, California.
Hawley, who has extensive experience in short-course triathlon, expressed a mixture of excitement and novelty about transitioning to the longer distance: "It feels a little weird being a rookie in a sport I’ve been part of for 10 years… but I’m so excited to take on this new distance," she wrote in a social media post.
The athlete acknowledged her support team for preparing her for the gruelling challenge: "Huge thanks to coach Jessica West for experimenting with a new training plan, Andrew Frank for all things bike and cooking, and Jason West for the Tri knowledge!”.
The IRONMAN 70.3 distance includes a ROKA Swim Course Distance of 1.2 Miles, a ZOOT Bike Course Distance of 56.3 Miles, and a HOKA Run Course Distance of 13 Miles, totaling the 70.3 miles.
The La Quinta event is positioned as an "end-of-year race & retreat". The course offers unique features designed to challenge and inspire:
Swim: The swim takes place in the cool, calm waters of Lake Cahuilla, allowing athletes to easily sight off the mountains.
Bike: The bike course is described as a flat and fast, picturesque ride that includes exclusive access to a lap around the Thermal Raceway, offering a chance for "extra speed".
Run: The run course is set on the Silver Rock Golf Course, featuring a stunning route filled with palm trees and views of the surrounding mountains.
Hawley also gave a special shoutout to her sponsors and equipment providers: “A special shoutout to Jakroo Custom Apparel for designing and creating my custom Bermuda suit - obsessed with how it turned out! We took inspo from the Bermuda pastels and famous pink sand." She also thanked Zach Gregg for the Argon bike, Aero Gain for the hydration setup, and Precision Fuel & Hydration for keeping her fueled.
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