After Alpe d’Huez and Embrun, it was time for a full Ironman again in September. My last Ironman, Les Sables d’Olonne, had ended in disappointment, so I was eager to get back on the start line and finish strong on the red carpet! With most European races already done, and not all of them offering a pro field, Ironman Chattanooga was the perfect fit.

We flew to Atlanta on September 23, then drove to Chattanooga. The trip didn’t go quite as planned, our first flight was canceled due to drone activities near the airport we had to transfer to, but we managed to rebook and fly directly to Atlanta. Once there, we grabbed the rental car and headed straight to Chattanooga to catch up on sleep. Travel days are never easy!

Since we were only in the U.S. for six days, the priority was to adjust to the time zone quickly. Despite hearing from other athletes that there wasn’t much to do around Chattanooga, we actually enjoyed it, long, rolling roads that looked promising for race day, even though much of the course was on the highway.

In the days leading up to the race, Thijs got sick, but I felt fine, until race morning, when I woke up with a sore throat. Still, I felt good enough to race and was excited. The course featured rolling hills on the bike and plenty of elevation on the run, just how I like it. The heat and humidity had been high all week, but I usually handle that well.

The swim was downstream, promising a fast time, and it was, but I struggled with navigation in the current. I lost my group early and ended up coming out of the water last, which was frustrating. But I knew the bike course would suit me: rolling climbs and plenty of athletes to chase down.

I started strong on the first of three laps, overtaking athletes quickly. The open highway course allowed great visibility of who was ahead. After the first lap, I got word that I had the second-fastest bike split so far, promising! I stayed aero and pushed the climbs hard. But as the day got hotter and the wind picked up like a hairdryer, it got harder to maintain target power. Normally I can do a negative split pretty well, but not today, my power slowly dropped. Still, I overtook 13 competitors and came into T2 in 5th place.

Right from the start of the marathon, I could tell it was going to be a grind. My heart rate was fine, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate. Halfway through, one athlete ahead dropped out, putting me in 4th. The gap behind was safe, but the top 3 were well ahead, around 12 minutes. I tried to increase the pace, but my legs just wouldn’t go. My goal became to hold on and finish strong. Despite the fatigue, I closed the gap to 3rd a bit and finished in 4th place, my best professional Ironman result so far.

However, it was bittersweet, I missed the Kona slot by one place. The 2nd-place finisher declined her slot, which made it sting even more. I crossed the finish line completely spent and went straight to the medics, convinced I was dehydrated. That evening, my cough worsened, and it was clear I hadn’t escaped the illness after all. Looking back, I’m proud of how I managed the day and maximized what I had. Not everything went to plan, especially the marathon, which ended up being a 3:18 instead of the around 3:00 I’d hoped for, but that’s racing. No point dwelling on “what ifs.”

I recovered quickly, and now it’s time to focus forward, next stop: Ironman Arizona! I’m really looking forward to giving it everything one more time before the end of the season.