A Tale of Triumph: Arianna and Ali’s Personal Duel at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship

The drive from Helsinki to Lahti was palpable, with a mix of nerves and electric anticipation as Arianna and Ali ruminated on the daring strategy they had crafted. Despite this being their first IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, they decided to stage a personal duel within the race, leveraging the 5-minute gap in their start times to engage in a fierce game of cat and mouse.

Aware of Arianna’s superior swimming skills, Ali planned to utilize her strength in cycling and running to close the gap in the subsequent segments. As their coach, I could not help but feel a surge of excitement at this bold plan. It promised not only an intense competition but also a deep embodiment of camaraderie, with the potential to push both to their utmost limits, possibly leading them to cross the finish line shoulder to shoulder without compromising their individual races.

The Swim: A Duel in the Waters of Lake Vesijärvi

Finally, as the fog lifted, Ali was the first to take the plunge into the clear waters of Lake Vesijärvi from a wooden platform at Teivaa Harbour at 9:24 AM. Five minutes later, Arianna followed suit, diving gracefully into the crystalline waters with a determined stroke.

Arianna’s sheer prowess in swimming became evident as she not only closed the five-minute gap but surged ahead, finishing her 1.93km ROKA swim in a remarkable 30:45, which was nearly 9 minutes faster than Ali’s time of 39:37. When Arianna exited the water at 10:00 AM, she had not only eliminated the stagger but had created a lead of about 3 minutes, setting a vibrant and optimistic stage for the bike leg.

Transition 1: The Hustle to the Bikes

In T1, every second was precious. Ali and Arianna moved with purpose and agility, with Ali taking 3:24 and Arianna just a bit faster at 3:07. As Arianna rushed onto the bike course, she carried a lead — a pivotal moment in their orchestrated race strategy.

The Bike Leg: A Symphony on Wheels through the Finnish Countryside

As they mounted their bikes at Lahti Harbour, the iconic Sibelius Hall stood witness to the inception of a meticulous dance of strategy and sheer determination. The athletes pedaled fiercely through the 90km FulGaz bike course, a voyage through the breathtaking landscapes of lakes, fields, and tall birch forests that define the picturesque Finnish countryside.

Arianna initiated her journey with a strategy of sustaining a steady pace, a game plan clearly manifested in her consistent split times. Ali, meanwhile, was relentless, fueled by a staunch resolve to diminish the gap with Arianna, pedaling mile after mile with unyielding determination. The duo approached the race’s halfway mark at exactly 11:32:00 AM, setting the stage for a head-to-head duel that demonstrated their profound competitive spirit and mutual respect for each other’s strengths.

The course unraveled through the heart of the Finnish countryside, leading them through the tranquil towns of Kärkölä and Hollola, presenting an intense back-and-forth with several lead changes as they navigated the hilly terrains. Their unwavering resolve and strategic foresight brought them to a near-synchronized arrival at the steep incline near the Sport and Fair Centre.

Arianna completed the strenuous leg at 12:44:10 PM, clocking a commendable bike time of 2:41:02. Not far behind, Ali exhibited remarkable tenacity, finishing just a second later with a blazing bike time of 2:36:22. This incredibly narrow margin amplified the suspense, promising a final run leg replete with heart, spirit, and the manifestation of months of meticulous preparation.

Transition 2: Setting the Stage for the Final Chase

As they entered T2 inside the bustling Sport and Fair Centre, a heightened sense of anticipation and excitement enveloped the atmosphere. Each athlete was fully engrossed in a battle against the clock, seeking to make the most seamless transition possible, a true testament to their preparedness and the underlying endurance cultivated through months of rigorous training.

Arianna, exploiting every ounce of her pre-race strategy and on-the-day determination, managed to create a decisive gap, clocking a transition time of 4:04. This swift changeover allowed her to carve out a 21-second advantage over Ali, who transitioned with a time of 4:24. Given Ali’s run strengths Arianna needed to continue making progress if the two were to finish together.

The Run: Friendship Meets Endurance on a Scenic Course

As they darted out of the Sport and Fair Centre, a unique 21.1km HOKA run awaited them, a two-lap course with a spectacular overview of Lake Vesijärvi and a thrilling fast-lap experience inside the Lahti Stadium. It was here that the chase intensified. Ali, demonstrating remarkable speed and endurance, forged ahead during the first lap, her strong resolve reflected in her run time of 1:43:42.

Arianna, not far behind, pursued with a heart brimming with determination. The run path offered no respite, challenging them with climbs and granting moments of ease during the descents. It was a course that tested their limits, a witness to their indomitable spirit as they pursued personal records while nurturing a friendship forged through shared dreams and hard work.

In a chase marked more by mutual encouragement than rivalry, the athletes approached the final stretch, with Ali crossing the finish line at 2:32:15 PM and Arianna finishing at 2:35:07 PM. The clock, the unyielding judge of their fierce but friendly duel, awarded Arianna the triumphant edge with an overall time of 5:05, a mere two minutes and 43 seconds ahead of Ali’s finish time of 5:08:13.

A Celebration of Sisu and Team Triple Victor Spirit

Arianna and Ali demonstrated the true embodiment of the Finnish concept of “sisu,” which resonates with grit, bravery, and resilience as they battled it out on course.

Their duel may not have rewritten the history of the IRONMAN championships. Still, within our team, Triple Victor, it blossomed into a testimony of sheer determination and an emblem of what camaraderie can achieve on such a demanding stage. They turned the grand World Championship into a personal battlefield, a race within a race, challenging each other while respecting their individual strengths and strategies.

Looking at them, flushed with the joy of achievement, it became abundantly clear that Arianna and Ali had not just participated in a race; they had crafted a memory rich with the spirit of ‘sisu,’ sprinkled with personal victories and echoing with the harmonious laughter of two friends who took on the world side by side and succeeded in their unique, self-set mission.