07/14/2026
“Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself and be lenient to everybody else.”
― Henry Ward Beecher
After completing my first Ironman 70.3, I asked myself, “Why did I do this?”
I always had a why: my health and my family. Setting a good example for my toddler son. I did this race to see if I could commit to something that, at first, sounded impossible. I did it to see how resilient I was. I did it to see how I would react to adversity and setbacks.
Now that the race is over, I can reflect on how the MIRROR Model guided me through the daily training, the hard days, and eventually, the finish line.
M – Movement: I had to move every single day for 9 months. Swimming, biking, running, stretching, mobility work.
I – Inertia: I committed to doing something hard and out of my comfy zone. I wanted to grow, so I pushed against the resistance of staying stagnant. Executing the training plan regardless of how I felt.
R – Recovery: After hard training days, I was never so excited to eat a healthy meal and go to bed early. And stretch out my sore muscles and reflect through intentional breathing.
R – Renewal: When recovered well, I look forward to the new day. A fresh start. A fresh mindset. Ready to train more.
O – Observation: In the mornings, I took the time to journal (not always about training) that helped me reflect and prioritize what’s important to me and what I should focus on.
R – Resources: I joined the Rocky Mountain Triathlon Club (RMTC) and connected with other athletes on the same or similar journeys. The support and connection helped keep me accountable toward my goals.
The MIRROR Model can be used in many facets of life, not just triathlon training. It’s a framework we can use to help guide us through life and supporting the decisions we make around our health and finances.
