Ironman Wisconsin (IMWI) took place this past weekend. By all accounts, after a brisk start, it was a glorious day to be out crushing 140.6 miles of swimming, biking and running. IMWI is one of THE iconic races on the Ironman circuit…maybe not globally but most certainly in North America. Why? ALL THE REASONS… scenic, hilly (but the cool kind of hilly lined with crazy spectators), technical, spectator friendly and the Capitol dome makes for sweet finisher photos. The weather is typically optimal (though I have been witness to the extreme ends of the spectrum) and since the collar towns are filled with granola fitness types, the race is mostly embraced the surrounding community.

We love it up in Madison. Being just three hours from Chicago, a lot of local triathletes that consider Ironman Wisconsin our hometown race. IMWI (or IMOO as we affectionately hashtag it) has been around since 2002 and Jen and I have raced, volunteered, or spectated on 9 or 10 occasions. We’ve also happily found ourselves in Madison countless other times just to hang out and train. I can tell you all the best pitstops along the bike the loop in places like Mount Horeb, Cross Plains and Verona…our preferred hotels for ease of getting around on race day — the Best Western Premier Park or Hyatt Place Downtown…the best pre-race carbo loading pancake stacks — Marigolds…best burger and a beer post race — The Great Dane. And if I am being honest, if Madison’s year round climate were more moderate we would probably be living there or at least be planning our retirement there.

Setting aside the years of racing, the training, and all the cows…the thing that gives me ALL THE FEELS is the community of people we associate with Ironman Wisconsin. But we didn’t start with Ironman. We started by meeting in online community groups like Beginner Triathlete (the OG of triathlon training forums and public diary keeping) and at small races like Pleasant Prairie (Wisconsin). And as we grew together, Ironman Wisconsin was kinda like our triathlon Woodstock. Ironman Wisconsin remains a very transfomative and center through point for us. So each September we think of our friends and that shared experience. It’s a crazy dopamine hit when you are there and there is a lot of melancholy when you are not.

I hope that the Triathlife becomes that kind of community where friends are forged and shared experiences are found. We’re at the point in our lives where we need camaraderie more than ever. Where we inspire each other to thrive in mind, body and soul…no matter what our fitness endeavor might be. Being part of a community makes you feel less alone and helps with our continued personal development. I’m learning a bit more these days about community building and these are the first steps of that journey. Thinking out loud here…I’m even considering a Slack channel…letting the newsletter and social media accounts serve as an “in” or an anchor point and the Slack channel being the real place where we connect. Like I’ve said since the start….building the plane here as we fly it.

Give The Triathlife a follow on Instagram (@thetriathlife) and subscribe to The Triathlife “Connection” (The Connection or TTC) below.