When we think of pro triathletes, we often think of those who set out on the path intentionally. Far less common is a Division I swimmer who, after moving to New York, noticed a group of people wearing bright T-shirts in Central Park. That group turned out to be a running program for disabled individuals in need of guides (Achilles International), which eventually expanded into triathlon – and through guiding, and giving to others first, she ultimately discovered her own love for the sport.

Well, this is the story of Julia Day, overall age-group winner at the Ironman 70.3 North American Championship in Happy Valley, who has now officially qualified for her pro card. But before making that leap, she plans to finish the season as an amateur, capping it off at the fast-approaching Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Nice.

The Work Behind the Rise

Throughout Day’s triathlon journey, she has continued to work full-time as a project manager for a data analytics platform at Citigroup. “I definitely believe it’s possible to reach this level while balancing both,” she said. “It just requires exceptional time management.”

She spoke about prioritizing sessions before work (sometimes getting up at 4am to do so), squeezing others in over her lunch hour, and generally making the most of each day to achieve her goals on both fronts. She’s a member of Working Triathlete, coached by Conrad Goeringer, and also a member of Team That Triathlon Life (TTL), the community led by Paula Findlay and her husband, Eric Lagerstrom.

Day is also a former Division I swimmer, a skillset she’s grateful to bring with her into triathlon. “I have a lot of admiration for those who take up swimming for the first time as adults!” she said.

But what stood out most about Day’s story, beyond her own exceptional trajectory, was her true passion for guiding—how it brought her into the sport in the first place, and how it’s something she’s actively looking to continue doing even as she steps up to pro racing.

Guiding Her Way Into Triathlon

While Day began as a running guide, the moment Achilles International looked to add a triathlon chapter…well, they thought of her, particularly with her strong swim background. This eventually led to training with McClain Hermes, who had previously competed as a visually impaired para athlete in swimming and, as such, needed a very competent swimmer to effectively train with her for triathlon!

“Learning to ride a tandem bike was a real challenge!” Julia said with a laugh. “But of course I was in to become a triathlon guide.” And it was from this experience that her love for triathlon began to grow.

Hermes currently lives and trains out of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs where Day has relocated to train with her for the 2028 Games in LA. She shared that, especially as she looks to step up and race pro herself, figuring out the balance will be key. But she’s keen to stay involved in the sport in both ways, adding that guiding keeps triathlon fun while adding another level of meaning.

Looking Ahead

With Nice now one month away, we asked Day what success would look like on that stage.

“Last year I was top 25 in my age group, so I’d love top 10 overall…and an overall podium would be a dream,” she said with a smile.

And it truly is a race where she can push herself, take some risks, and also enjoy the day, as her biggest goal (securing her pro card) is already complete. “I achieved it far earlier in the year than I thought. It actually surprised me,” she said.

We’ll look forward to witnessing Day’s final amateur performance in person along the iconic Promenade des Anglais!

You can follow Julia Day’s journey on Instagram (sending_good_juju) and on Substack (https://open.substack.com/pub/sendinggoodjuju).