We Did Our First Ironman 70.3 Together! | Couple Q&A

We did it! Ian and I just completed an Ironman 70.3 together. Swim, bike, run, 7+ hours, and one moment 200 meters from the finish line where we almost got disqualified! I'm taking you through the entire race weekend from start to finish. The 4am alarm, the swim that shocked me, the bike miles where I was literally talking to Jesus, the little argument we got into mid-race, and what it felt like to cross that finish line hand in hand. Then we're getting into all of your questions. Training splits, how I balanced it with the kids, what I wore, what I ate after (McDonald's twice... yes really), and what's coming next. Timestamps: [0:00] - We finished our first Ironman 70.3 [2:30] - Race weekend begins: the nerves, the logistics, the energy [4:00] - Bike case drama and getting to the venue [5:00] - Athlete check-in, Iron Man village, and the whole atmosphere [5:30] - My nutrition coach Jamie Freed and carb loading (250–300g/day) [7:00] - Race day morning: 4am alarm, oatmeal, banana, peanut butter [8:00] - Testing the swim the day before (this changed everything) [9:30] - The swim: 20 minutes vs. 50 in the pool — how the current helped [10:30] - Transition 1: wetsuit off, hair fixed, fueled up [11:00] - The bike begins: I'd only ridden this bike TWICE before race day [12:00] - Race fueling strategy: 60–80g of carbs per hour on the bike [13:30] - First 25 miles felt great… then the hills got sneaky [14:00] - Miles 35-40: the hardest part of my life (affirmations out loud) [15:00] - The mid-race argument with Ian on the bike [16:00] - Finishing the bike and getting emotional [17:30] - The run: why my legs felt brand new after 56 miles of swimming and biking [20:00] - I almost got DISQUALIFIED 200m from the finish line [21:00] - Crossing the finish line hand in hand with Ian [22:00] - Post-race: pizza, final time, and why I missed sub-7 [24:00] - Q&A: What program did I follow? Do I have prior experience? [25:00] - My weekly training split: 12–16 hours and cutting lifting to 3 days [26:00] - Advice for training with a full-time job (get up at 4am, seriously) [27:30] - Balancing training with kids and family life (it's not easy) [28:30] - Was the training process difficult? The hardest thing I've ever done [29:00] - The emotional toll of training as a mom (I didn't feel fully present) [35:00] - Gear breakdown: Roka, Puma carbon plated shoes, Phantom Racing bike [36:00] - What I wore on race day (tri suit, sports bra, no undies — trust me) [38:00] - Why my transitions took so long (lip gloss was involved) [40:00] - Favorite discipline: the swim surprised me on race day [41:00] - Will I do another 70.3 or a full Ironman? [42:00] - What's next: pregnancy plans, future races, and keeping the bug alive [47:00] - Favorite part of the entire race weekend Thank you to our sponsors: Remi Night Guards: Get up to 50% off custom-made night guards at https://www.remiclub.com/ with code: samcfit. Cozy Earth: Head to https://cozyearth.com/samcfit and use code: samcfit for an exclusive 20% off bamboo bedding, sheets, and towels. Lola Blankets: Get 40% off select products at https://lolablankets.com/samcfit with code: samcfit. Just Thrive Probiotic: Start your first 90-day subscription and get a free 90-day supply of digestive bitters ($90 value). Go to: https://partners.justthrivehealth.com/SAMCFIT Branch Basics: 15% off the premium starter kit at https://branchbasics.com/empwr with code EMPWR. WeNatal: Get a FREE 1-month supply of Rest & Digest Magnesium with your first subscription at https://wenatal.com/samcfit. Sam's LINKS: ELEVATE App by Sam | free 7 day trial: https://www.elevatebysam.com/ My Macro Guide: https://samanthachristine.co/nutrition-guides Running Programs: https://samanthachristine.co/running-guides Follow Sam: Insta: @samcfit_ YouTube: @samantha_christine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices