This October, Jane Shumka and her daughter Leslie Moffat stood together on the Kona start line for the first time, sharing an experience they describe as nothing short of unforgettable.
How The Journey Began
Jane first discovered triathlon in her thirties, sticking mostly to shorter distances (nothing beyond an Olympic), and enjoying local favourites like the Sri Chinmoy at Elk Lake. Then, in 2020, she decided to take on a new challenge and began training for her first half-distance race: the Victoria 70.3.
When the pandemic hit and the race was cancelled, Jane kept training anyway. Meanwhile, Leslie, a competitive field hockey player, suddenly found herself without her primary sport and in need of an athletic outlet.
“I started training with my mom, initially joining on bikes and runs as a way to stay fit and involved in sport,” Leslie shared. But the sport quickly grew on her, and with pools closed, she even began lake swimming. That year, the two completed a virtual 70.3 together – the start of what would eventually become their shared journey to Kona.
The Jump to the Full Distance
From there, the spark was lit for Jane to take on the full Ironman distance. In 2022, she raced Ironman Canada in Penticton, completing her first-ever full with Leslie cheering proudly from the sidelines.
“Watching the event in Penticton made me want to do it myself!” Leslie said, describing the race-day atmosphere as absolutely contagious. What began as a one-and-done dream for her mom quickly became a shared goal: both would return to Penticton the following year to race Ironman Canada together.
They had already been training side by side – swimming in the same group with Pinnacle Fitness and doing most of their base runs and rides together – so the next step was simply building Leslie’s volume to prepare for the full distance.
The Surprise Dual Qualification
In 2023, the Penticton race was cancelled, but Jane and Leslie continued building toward the 2024 edition, expecting nothing more than another memorable day of racing together. Then came a twist. Jane finished first in her age group and realized she would be offered a coveted slot to Kona – something she had never imagined.
“You need to take it!” Leslie told her immediately, both of them aware of how rare and special the opportunity was. But the surprises weren’t over. At the awards ceremony, Leslie learned that she, too, would be offered a roll-down slot.
“It felt completely meant to be,” Leslie said. In an instant, their shared triathlon journey expanded: not just training partners, but mother and daughter preparing to race Kona in the same year.
Big Island Magic
Both Jane and Leslie described their week on the Big Island as magical – a blend of gratitude, excitement, and the surreal feeling of finally living out a long-imagined dream. “From the practice swim where we first experienced the course, to setting up our bikes in transition, to thanking the volunteers, there wasn’t a moment we weren’t smiling,” Jane shared. The significance of the experience was unmistakable.
They were also deeply grateful to share the experience with their coach, Janet Nielson, who made the trip to Kona to support them.
When asked about their favourite memory, they didn’t hesitate. “Leslie started the swim about 45 minutes after me,” Jane said, “but I knew she’d catch me at some point. I first saw her on the Queen K and then again on the run.”
“I looked for my mom at every turnaround,” Leslie added, noting that her motivation quickly became catching her so they could share a moment on course. “We started running together, and that was definitely our favourite moment. But we knew our coach Janet would want us to run our own races, so we only stayed side by side until the next aid station!”
After Leslie crossed the finish line, she waited to welcome her mom home. When Jane reached the chute, the two embraced with tears in their eyes – the perfect culmination of a shared journey years in the making.
What’s Next?
When asked what comes next, Jane and Leslie laughed, joking that they may have “peaked early” by racing the sport’s most iconic event so soon in their triathlon journey. Kona was their first true destination race – the first time they packed up their bikes, boarded a plane, and raced far from home – and the experience has only inspired them to keep exploring.
Their next goal? Another destination race, somewhere new and meaningful, and of course, done together.
The post A Mother-Daughter Duo’s Unforgettable Journey to Kona appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.