Known for her speed and relentless tenacity in 70.3 races, 35-year-old Holly Lawrence, currently residing in Boulder, Colorado, is no stranger to success. But her decision to race an Ironman for the first time at this year’s Athletic Brewing Ironman Lake Placid event has everyone wondering: Will her mastery of the 70.3 distance transfer seamlessly to the 140.6 distance?
Lawrence, a force to be reckoned with in the world of triathlon, had initially planned to make her Ironman debut in 2020. However, an unexpected health setback derailed those plans. “I actually had planned to do my first full Ironman in 2020 after a great 2019 of racing, but I got sick at the end of 2019 and into early 2020,” she explains. “I still believe this was early COVID… It absolutely floored me, pneumonia, my back went out from coughing – the works. So, when the world shut down, I was actually relieved, as I was just struggling to get back to myself.”
While the pandemic pushed her full-distance goals aside, the racing world continued to evolve. New opportunities with the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and the T100 series kept her busy, finishing third in Miami, fifth in San Francisco, and sixth in Vancouver against the sport’s top athletes. But the allure of the full Ironman distance remained.
“It was always the plan to eventually go into the full distance. The history and the buzz of Kona are just too compelling to not want to be there at some point and see how I’d fare.”
A Stellar 70.3 Career
Holly Lawrence has already established herself as one of the most accomplished 70.3 athletes in the world. In addition to being crowned 70.3 World Champion in 2016 in Mooloolaba and runner-up in 2019 in Nice, Lawrence has accumulated an impressive 17 70.3 titles over the course of her career. Her consistency is extraordinary, with a 45% win rate and a 71% podium rate over the 70.3 distance since 2016.
Now, Lawrence has turned her efforts to preparing for her first attempt at the full distance. And while she’s spent months focused on this new goal, she admits there’s still a lot to learn.
“Training has been going really well, which gives me confidence, but there’s still a big unknown,” she shares. “You just don’t do the whole distance back-to-back in training to prepare for it. So I’m very cautious about not getting carried away on the day, staying conservative, and staying present.”
Lawrence knows the full Ironman is a different beast than the half-distance races she’s dominated in recent years. “I also think the mental side is so important in full Ironman. I’m just preparing myself to be strong when it gets tough and to deal with any adversity out there.”
A New Chapter: Triathlon and Motherhood
In a season that has already been remarkable for Lawrence, this year marks a particularly special milestone: becoming a mother to daughter Poppy. As any parent knows, balancing family life with intense training is no easy feat, but Lawrence’s approach to this new chapter has been refreshing and inspiring.
“Honestly, it’s been really fun coming back after having a baby. It’s given me a whole new lease on life and readjusted my priorities in a way that, if you were reading this, you might think it would detract from performance. But not having my performance be the be-all and end-all actually gives me more freedom to just race from a place of gratitude.”
The pressures of top-tier performance have shifted in this new season of her life. Lawrence explains that having Poppy by her side, including sometimes during her training, has helped keep things in perspective. “Poppy actually doesn’t care if I come last!” she laughs. “I’m also incredibly lucky that my husband, Sean, who is also my coach and coaches a little group I train with, is on the same schedule as me. So Poppy comes to the pool and on deck with us every morning, comes to track workouts and run sessions in the stroller, etc. Not having to be away from her, besides when I’m out riding, makes it a lot easier on me. I totally understand I’m in an extremely fortunate position.”
In a sport that often demands isolation and sacrifice, Lawrence’s ability to blend her family life with training has been an inspiring example. It’s a balance that she says keeps her energized and more grateful for her achievements, both as a mother and an athlete.
Setting Goals: The Road to Lake Placid and Beyond
When asked about her expectations for Lake Placid, Lawrence expresses a clear focus: “First and foremost, to qualify for Kona! Second, to have a day where I feel I got the most out of myself and don’t experience any major blow-ups. The position itself will just be whatever it is.”
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