Now that I’m back home from Lanzarote, with the recovery week after the race behind me and the first full training week completed, it’s time to reflect on my debut race as a professional athlete at Ironman Lanzarote. This was a race I had been working toward and preparing for over a long period. Starting as a professional has been a dream for quite some time, and to actually stand on the start line next to someone like Lucy Charles-Barclay was a truly special moment.

At the same time, it was important not to get too caught up in that moment. There was still a full Ironman ahead. And not just any Ironman. Lanzarote is known as one of the toughest races on the circuit. The wind, the elevation on the bike course, the burning sun, and the elevation during the marathon along the boulevard all make it a formidable challenge. Luckily, I knew the course well and had prepared accordingly.

The preparation on the island itself went smoothly, helped by a great accommodation. Staying at Casa Mia in Costa Teguise (Kevin’s house) gave me the perfect base for my final race prep. We flew to the island a week ahead of raceday to adapt to the temperature and the wind conditions.

Race morning seemed promising. The wind appeared to be relatively mild. Swim conditions were good, and I had a great spot in the transition zone. It does make a difference when your bike is racked on the front row. Bib number 15 definitely gave the experience an extra edge.

Preparations went smoothly. We arrived as transition opened, checked the bike, everything was in order, and got ready for the swim start. I had a coffee about an hour before go time to boost focus with some extra caffeine, but in hindsight, that wasn’t the best choice of the day.

Once in the starting pen, it was full focus. My first pro race. I wanted to see if I could find a good swim group and keep up with the pacing dynamics, which are very different from racing as an amateur. I managed to stay with a group for both laps, including the Australian exit, and came out of the water in 1:05, which I was happy with. A slightly faster group might have been possible, but this was a solid start.

In T1, I started feeling nauseous. Looking back, I probably swallowed too much seawater, and that coffee definitely didn’t help. The nausea persisted on the bike, and I had to throw up a few times. Gels didn’t stay down well, but I kept eating to avoid running out of fuel. Because not much was staying in, I ended up consuming more than planned, which backfired toward the end of the bike leg when I ran out of nutrition. I wasn’t able to hit my target wattage, but still clocked a decent bike time (and significantly faster than last year), with the 7th fastest bike split.

Then came the marathon. Normally I look forward to the run, but with lingering nausea, it already felt like a long day. Fortunately, the nausea gradually faded during the first few kilometers, and I found a steady pace. In the first 10k out-and-back section, I passed several competitors and moved into 8th place. During the second half, the nausea returned, but I was able to maintain my pace and gain one more spot to finish 7th.

I crossed the line in 10:09, over 21 minutes faster than last year, despite tougher wind conditions. Overall, I’m happy with the progress and with my pro debut, though it felt like a constant battle with nausea from the very start. That just shows how much room for improvement I feel there still is.

Racing as a pro, with more solitude (and peace) on the bike and the dynamics of racing head-to-head with direct competitors, is exactly what I imagined. I’m really glad I took this step as a Pro and was able to make it happen. Even though the result was pretty ok, it only makes me more eager to push further. I know there’s more in the tank.

That’s why I’m not wasting any time. I want to race again soon to show what I’m capable of and also to get better at managing the nausea. That’s something I can only practice at race intensity. So I’ve signed up for Ironman Les Sables d’Olonne on June 22.

My legs feel good, I’m recovering quickly, and I’m excited to get back on the start line. The flexibility that comes with being a pro athlete is something I really appreciate when it comes to entering races.

Les Sables features a rolling bike course, or “flat,” as my coach likes to call it, a beautiful sea swim, and once again my favourite: a run course along the boulevard.

And since it’s within driving distance, travel will have minimal impact. I’m really looking forward to racing again. Racing as a pro, a dream come true. So you might as well do it as often as you can!