Post-Ironman Arizona Athlete Feature
Sharon Styles needs no introduction. Sharon has graciously accepted to do a post-arizona ironman interview via email with Triathlon Alberta. Scroll down for details!
Which club are you affiliated with and train with?
Airdrie Triathlon Club / Team TriLife
How did you get into triathlons?
I come from a running background and did my first triathlon in 2007 after recovering from some running injuries. I was hooked after my first one, the Arbour Lake Sprint, and didn’t look back.
What compelled you to race at the Ironman distance?
Ironman is a challenge like to no other. It tests the body and mind not just on race day but through your training and journey to the start line. Like many other athletes I wanted to test myself with the training and preparation and to cover the distance on race day to the best of my preparation and ability. This was my third Ironman.
How did Ironman Arizona go?
It went really well. The swim was good with no issues. The bike course had some challenges with rough pavement and strong winds. There was a lot of lost bottles and equipment on the road. I lost some bottles myself and at one point had to stop to retrieve one as I knew I shouldn’t wait until the next aid station for water. The strong winds and rough pavement made for a lot of vibration on the tailwind sections of the bike and that was definitely felt in the legs during the run. It was also a hot day (29 C) with minimal cloud cover. The run got hard quite early on and the ups and downs of Ironman racing definitely came into play during the marathon. I had some low spots in the middle of the race but when my husband told me I was closing in on first place with 14km to go that helped drive me forward. I was able to move into first place with just a couple of kilometers to go. I finished 1st in my age group and was 4th female overall.
What were some of the challenges in preparing for this particular event?
The nature of Ironman training can be hard on the body. I was managing a few small injuries along the way but was able to keep them all in check and thankfully they held up on race day for me. The weather was a challenge at times also. I did do a few long rides indoors on the trainer. Those make for mental toughness!
What are your future goals for the sport?
In 2022 I will be doing the sprint world championships in June in Montreal as well as the Ironman World Championships in October in Kona.
Any other fun facts you would like to include for our readers?
The finish of the race was very emotional. The woman who was second in my age group had started the swim 1:20 after I did. So even though I had passed her on the run course I didn’t know for sure when I crossed the finish line if I had extended my lead enough to take the win. I had to wait for her to cross the finish line and for the tracker to update until I knew for sure.
Congratulations to Sharon for her amazing accomplishment and good luck in 2022!