by Shawn R.

The weather could not have been better. The forecast called for mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. I knew it was going to be a good day to race.

I arrived at transition a little later than usual. I figured it was going to be a long day, so I allowed myself a little extra sleep. And now, here I was, walking up the Helix and getting ready for 140.6 challenging miles.

Coach Joe and the cheer squad were there getting ready for their day as I walked up. Almost immediately, I started hearing those early-morning cheers. Then Coach Joe said something that would replay in my head throughout the entire day:

“Have a fun day, and just don’t give up. Don’t quit.”

And I knew I wouldn’t.

A Lot of Time to Think

When you’re racing for 15 hours without headphones, you might think the day would feel incredibly long. Surprisingly, it goes by pretty fast.

There’s a lot to think about—race strategy, nutrition, pacing, the course, and simply taking in the sights and sounds around you. But there’s also a lot of time to reflect. A lot of time to think about how you got there. And a lot of time to practice some gratitude.

One of the things I thought about most during the race—and throughout the entire training journey—was all of the amazing support I received along the way.

I really could not have completed an Ironman without my wife Lisa, my Experience Triathlon friends, and Coach Joe.

Lisa

My wife, Lisa, was incredible throughout the entire training process.

She encouraged me when I was feeling great, and she encouraged me even more on the days when I really didn’t feel like working out.

Training for an Ironman means a lot of hours working out and a lot of time away from your family. It means rearranging schedules, early mornings, late nights, and being flexible to accommodate an athlete’s training needs. That isn’t always easy.

Lisa was amazing with all of it.

She rubbed my tired legs, encouraged me to take naps when I was cranky and exhausted, and somehow didn’t get too upset when I got a $265 speeding ticket on my way to Madison to bike the loops.

(For the record… 90 mph in a 70 zone at 7 a.m. Probably not my finest moment.)

And then there was race day.

Lisa kept popping up when I needed her the most. Getting out of the swim, there she was, going up a tough hill on the bike, there she was. At Mile 25 of the marathon, when my legs just couldn’t run anymore,  there she was. Lisa knew I was struggling, and she came alongside me to walk and help push me through that final mile.

I’ll never forget that. (Or the Chipotle in a hot bag that she carried with her)

My Experience Triathlon Family

Then there was the ET group.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoy being part of Team Experience Triathlon. A little more than three years ago, I found this group, and it has become a huge part of my life.

I love the Wednesday and Sunday group rides. I love the monthly run meetups. I love the indoor triathlon races in the winter. Most of all, I love the feeling of being part of a team.

Everyone you meet is kind, fun, welcoming, and great to be around.

Dave, Eric, Joe G, Marissa, Gustavo, Christa, Mike, Lorena, Bill, Alyssa, Bernard, Doug, Kent, and so many others—you guys are simply the best.

But this year, I also had an amazing time training with Tom, Elenor, Brian, and Nicole.

These were MY people from very early on in the training process.

We met up in Madison numerous times to train. We ran bricks together. We texted each other. We talked about training, racing, nutrition, and everything else that comes with preparing for an Ironman.

We were there for each other.

Honestly, training with these four was just as much fun as racing Ironman.

I will forever be grateful for these friendships.

Throughout the race, I was constantly looking for them on the course. I couldn’t wait to see them, and I couldn’t wait to celebrate with them at the finish line.

Coach Joe

After the race, when I was back at the hotel, I saw another finisher as we were getting into the elevator. The guy was absolutely destroyed. He seemed out of it, and I was honestly a little worried about him.

As he stepped off the elevator at his floor, I had this moment where I realized something:

I felt strong.

I knew I had given everything I could during the race. But I still felt good.

And I knew exactly why.

I had great coaching.

Coach Joe got me to that point.

Thanks, Coach!

Joe provided the blueprint that got me to the finish line feeling great and feeling proud.

Over the past two years, I have learned so much about triathlon, nutrition, training, and—maybe most importantly—what I am capable of because of him.

He guided me each week with workouts tailored specifically to me. He gave me tips and advice when I needed them. He talked me through injuries. He helped me with my training needs, race preparation, nutrition, and race plans.

He had my back through all of it—and then some.

I Am an Ironman

Somewhere past 10:40 p.m. on Sunday, September 13, 2026, I became an Ironman.

I raced 140.6 amazing miles through Lake Monona, over the hills of Dane County, and through the energetic and incredible race towns surrounding Madison.

And somehow, through all of it, I kept a smile on my face. I was happy, I was proud.

I had fun.

I knew I had put in the work.

I knew I had the support.

And I knew I had the best advice I could have received:

Don’t give up.
Don’t quit.

When I finally crossed that finish line and heard the words:

“Shawn Riordan… YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!”

I got to celebrate it with Lisa, Coach Joe, and my ET family.

And that made it even more special. We didn’t go home right away. We stayed for and supported the other people racing on our team. We had a blast enjoying the whole Ironman experience.

The race may have lasted more than 15 hours, but becoming an Ironman was about so much more than one day.

It was about the early mornings.
The long rides.
The endless runs.
The swims.
The injuries.
The tired legs.
The sacrifices.
The friendships.
The family.
The coaching.
The people who believed in me.

And when things got hard, I remembered those words from Coach Joe on the Helix:

Don’t Give Up. Don’t Quit.

I didn’t.

And now I can finally say it:

I AM AN IRONMAN.