IRONMAN Louisville | 2018
Professional Category, this was an awesome Iron-Women debut experience.
True winners compare their achievements with their goals.
Nido Q.
I want to share the story behind my decision to compete in my first IRONMAN. Initially, I signed up for IM Maryland, ultimately leading me to IM Louisville.
During the first semester of 2018, I was in Michigan, balancing my coaching and teacher roles with my training. I was honored to receive once again a personal invitation from the Dominican Triathlon Federation to race as an elite athlete for the fifth year in a row in several ITU races that year, including the Huatulco World Cup, Magog Pan-American Cup in Canada, and Santo Domingo Pan-American Cup. I'll post mini-blogs featuring images and stories from my experiences racing as an elite athlete in approximately 20 countries between 2013 and 2019.
During that summer of 2018, while competing internationally, I accepted a Triathlon Studio Manager and Coach role, which led my daughter and me to relocate to Virginia. Given the race's proximity to our new home, I registered for IRONMAN Maryland. After months of diligent training and preparation, just two weeks before the event, I was informed by IRONMAN officials that I was ineligible to race at that specific event due to my professional status and the associated rules.
After several calls between my Coach, Mark, and the officials, I was transferred to another event.
I've written a blog with other details for my team, Athletic Mentors, which provides more information on this situation.
From left to right: Raquel, Michelle, Coach Mark, Coach Cricket and Coach Cheryl
The best crew ever. I am very grateful.
Despite the challenges of juggling new jobs and relocating to Virginia, I somehow found myself on the starting line in Louisville less than two weeks later. Having the Athletic Mentors Team there, my Coach, Coach Mark, along with my fellow teammates, made an enormous difference. I can't express how grateful I am for the support and encouragement.
THE SWIM-3.8 KM
Because of the very bad weather and the strong current in the river, the swimming distance became shorter and faster.
“Hold fear in one hand and passion in the other and leap.”
The 180 km Bike Ride
Windy, cold, and rainy weather can make long bike rides challenging. Yet, this is part of the sport's appeal—you must adapt to enjoy and improve. Honestly, it was very demanding. My power meter was uncalibrated, and I spent the first 10 kilometers trying to fix it. The rain made it hard to use the touchscreen, and my chain dropped multiple times. I kept reminding myself, “Raquel, this is what it takes!”
Since nutrition is my weakness, I focused on sipping every 10 kilometers or whenever negative thoughts arose. The last 20 kilometers were particularly difficult; I was exhausted, and my neck, shoulders, and legs were hurting. Still, I practiced staying present and tried not to think about what was ahead.
The Marathon… 42 km
This second transition was unlike any I had experienced before. Drawing from my past 70.3 IRONMAN adventures, I took my time to stretch and mentally prepare for the marathon ahead. The volunteers were fantastic—kind and eager to help me get ready as quickly as possible.
During the first 10 km, I felt an exhilarating rush and ran faster than planned. I tried to stay focused while sipping my nutrition. In hindsight, I realize I probably didn’t consume enough, but I pushed through. The atmosphere was electric, filled with music and enthusiasm throughout the two loops of a flat course. As I passed under a train bridge, a freight train crossed my path, its graffiti boldly proclaiming “LET THEM KNOW.” The sight felt surreal, like a scene from a movie, and that message stayed with me. As I entered the final loop of the 21 km, Coach Mark’s voice broke through: “You need to be tough now!” I thought, “I need to be tough, NOW?” Yet I understood—I had to dig deep and find every ounce of strength within me.
As I counted the kilometers, I felt the aches and pains, particularly during those last 10k. That’s when my mantras kicked in and grew a bit louder: “Raquel, you rock! You’ve got this!” “Come on, Raquel, this is what it takes!” “Just 5k to go—let’s do this!”
When I finally crossed the finish line, I was overwhelmed with emotions. The crowd was so energetic, and even though I was sore, I felt an incredible rush of happiness—I couldn’t believe I had done it! I finished 8th in the Professional category and 15th overall among all the women. What an experience!
Then I started counting the kilometers, and when I reached the last 10k, everything hurt. The mantras became a little stronger and more frequent: “Raquel, you rock; you can do this!” “Raquel, this is what it takes. You got this!” “Raquel, just a 5k left. Keep going!”
When I reached the finish line, I felt a mix of emotions. The crowd was very energetic, and I was in pain and so happy at the same time. I couldn’t believe that I had made it. I finished 8th in the Professional category and 15th overall.
“Sometimes you have to be willing to let go of something old to grab onto something new. You have to be willing to let a part of you die that you used to be comfortable with for another part of you to be born.”