From Terrified to Triumphant: Two Athletes Share Their First 70.3 Journey

Every seasoned triathlete once stood at the start line, grappling with butterflies in their stomach, self-doubt creeping in, and a quiet voice questioning, "Am I truly ready for this?" These feelings aren't exclusive to beginners — they belong to anyone daring enough to tackle something genuinely challenging.

If you've been contemplating your first half-distance race — a 1.9km swim, 90km bike, and 21.1km run — but haven't yet mustered the courage to hit "register," this post is for you. We spoke with two athletes who recently crossed that finish line for the first time: Shannon Briggs (Shan) and Clémence Wassen (Clem). Their stories differ, their motivations are unique, but the transformation they both experienced? Universally human and deeply inspiring.

What Makes the Half-Distance So Intimidating (And Why That's Okay)

Let's address the elephant in the room: the intimidation factor. The half-distance triathlon occupies a unique psychological space — longer than the sprint and Olympic distances that many use as their entry point, but shorter than the full-distance race that feels almost mythical. This middle ground can make it more confusing to assess. "Can someone like me really do this?" is the question that stops most people before they even start researching training plans.

The honest answer is: probably yes. But the more meaningful answer comes from those who've actually done it.

Shan's background included marathon experience plus sprint- and Olympic-distance triathlons. Clem's background included multiple marathons and a love of cycling — but zero triathlon experience. That's right: this half-distance race was Clem's very first triathlon of any distance. If that doesn't reframe what's possible, read it again.

"I would also tell people that these races are not just for elite or sub-elite athletes. They are for everyone. There are people of all ages, backgrounds, and paces out there. You do not have to be 'fast' to belong. You just have to be willing to try your best and work hard." — Shan Briggs

What Inspires Athletes to Take the Leap?

Motivation is deeply personal, and understanding your own "why" is one of the most underrated pieces of preparation for any long-distance race.

Shan's Why: A Childhood Dream Finally Answered

For Shan, triathlon wasn't a new idea — it was a lifelong one. "I've always been fascinated by triathlon. Growing up in rural Ontario, I spent most of my summers as a kid volunteering at our local triathlon with my mom while my dad raced. I would hand out water to athletes and then run the last 50m or so with my dad to the finish line. Those are some of my favourite childhood memories."

Years later, after becoming a distance runner and watching her partner complete two half-distance triathlon races, the pull became undeniable. She'd once believed this kind of race wasn't for her — but she'd said the same thing about marathons, and she'd been wrong about that too. The pattern was clear: many of the limits we place on ourselves aren't real limits at all.

Clem's Why: A Year Alone and a Big Leap

Clem's endurance journey started during the pandemic, when long-distance running became her anchor. A road bike followed, and the idea of triathlon — once seemingly out of reach — started to feel less impossible. When her partner left for a year-long master's program abroad in fall 2025, she saw the opening.

"I knew that if I was going to sign up for my first, I wanted it to be something that felt truly 'huge' to me — aka a longer distance. Having run multiple marathons, I felt ready to see how far I could push my training and my endurance."

Then a conversation with a friend tipped the scales: "We both signed up. I remember going for a run after signing up and being both ecstatic and terrified, which reinforced that I was ready to take a big leap like this."

That mix of ecstasy and terror? That's not a warning sign. That's the signal.

What Training Actually Looks Like: Realistic Expectations

One of the most common fears prospective half-distance athletes have is about the training volume. Will it take over your entire life? Do you need to be a professional-level swimmer, cyclist, and runner? The short answer: no and no.

The Sessions That Build Real Confidence

Both Shan and Clem worked up to long rides in the 90–100km range, combined sessions pairing long runs with 2km open-water swims, and regular multi-sport brick workouts. These aren't small sessions — but they're also not out of reach for someone who has built a consistent endurance base.

"I think consistency matters more than any one workout. You don't need to nail every session… showing up week after week really builds confidence." — Shan Briggs

This is the principle that separates first-timers who make it to the start line feeling prepared from those who burn out or break down before race day. One missed long ride won't derail your race. Missing three weeks of training because you went too hard too soon will.

The Adventure Mindset: Clem's Secret Weapon

Clem's approach to the big training days offers a powerful psychological reframe. Rather than tracking every split and stressing over performance, she chose to experience those sessions differently: "I honestly really loved all of them. I would see them as 'adventures' — seeing how far I could push, how long I could go for, all while remembering the most important part: having fun!!"

Reframing a 5-hour training day as an adventure rather than a chore changes everything. It reduces anxiety, increases follow-through, and makes the process genuinely enjoyable rather than something to survive.

The Community Factor: Non-Negotiable

Both athletes trained as part of Mile2Marathon's Vancouver triathlon group, and both are emphatic that community made a measurable difference — not just in accountability, but in enjoyment.

"Having a training buddy or community makes a huge difference. Those long sessions are a lot more enjoyable when you have people to share them with." — Shan Briggs

Whether you join a formal tri club, find a training partner, or connect with an online group, training alone for a half-distance triathlon is the harder path. The sport is inherently social, and leaning into that is one of the best decisions a first-timer can make.

Race Day: The Emotional Rollercoaster No One Warns You About

Both athletes came into race day prepared for the physical challenge. Neither was fully prepared for the emotional one.

The Atmosphere: Warmer Than Expected

Clem arrived at the race venue having driven to the start at 4:30am with friends, music blasting. "Starting the day at 4:30am blasting our favourite songs while driving to a race is truly good for the soul."

What struck her most, though, was the vibe among competitors: "I didn't expect everyone to be so friendly, chatting with each other, helping each other. Even during the race, everyone was so attentive to each other, so kind and helpful — whether that be with mechanical issues, zipping up wetsuits, you name it!"

The culture of half-distance races, particularly for age-groupers, skews collaborative rather than competitive. You are racing alongside people, not against them.

The Swim: From Anxiety to Pride

Shan had been genuinely nervous about the swim. Her concern wasn't performance — it was simply making the cutoff time. She'd carried that anxiety through weeks of training.

Then she swam a 46:13.

"Coming out of the water after having such a lovely swim almost brought me to tears. I felt so proud of myself… People always say that race day is the celebration of all the training, and I truly felt that that day."

Her pre-race mantra — "Experience, not performance" — had given her permission to enjoy the race rather than fear it. That mindset shift paid dividends across all three disciplines.

The Finish Line: When the Floodgates Open

Clem had prefaced her race-day reflections with: "Let me preface this by saying, I don't cry a lot." And then:

"The last 100m of the swim, when I saw the last buoy, I started tearing up and had to snap myself out of it… I remember telling myself: 'If you cry, your goggles will fill up, and we can't have that happen!'"

She got emotional again on the final kilometer of the bike, realizing only the run remained. And on the final kilometer of the run:

"I started sobbing like a baby — not out of pain, but out of pure joy. That really was the 'I'm actually going to do this' moment. I was also much faster in each discipline than I thought I would be, and I had a moment of thinking that I really needed to believe in myself more, because this whole 'adventure' really showed me that I can do whatever I set my mind to." — Clem Wassen

This is one of the most consistent themes in first-time finisher experiences: athletes almost universally discover they were more capable than they believed. The self-doubt that feels so reasonable in the weeks before the race rarely survives contact with race day.

Advice from Two First-Timers Who Just Lived It

1. Get a Coach — Seriously

When asked for her top piece of advice, Shan didn't hesitate: "Get a coach! Having someone you can ask questions, bounce ideas off of, and trust throughout the process is incredibly valuable."

A good coach provides more than a training plan. They provide confidence when you doubt yourself, guidance when you're uncertain, and accountability when motivation dips. For a first-time half-distance athlete, that relationship can be the difference between arriving at the start line ready and arriving barely holding it together.

2. Find Your People

Coaching and community often go hand in hand, and Shan's experience with Mile2Marathon illustrates why both matter: "Find a community. Having both a coach and group training sessions made a huge difference. It made the process more fun and gave me confidence when I doubted myself."

Whether it's a local tri club, a running group that's expanding into triathlon, or even a training buddy from your gym, the people you train with become part of the experience itself. Some of them will be at that finish line cheering for you.

3. Reframe Who "Belongs" in a Half-Distance Race

This one matters more than it might seem. A huge portion of the hesitation around signing up for a longer-distance race comes from a feeling of not belonging — that this is a race for a certain kind of athlete, and you're not that kind yet.

Shan is direct in dismantling this: you don't have to be fast. You don't have to have years of triathlon history. You have to be willing to try your best and work hard. That's the only real entry requirement.

4. Let It Be More Than a Race

"As adults, it's easy for life to become all about work and responsibilities. Having something outside of work that you genuinely care about and are excited to work toward is such a gift. Training for this distance challenged me physically and mentally, but it also brought me joy, community, and confidence. There is something incredibly satisfying about working hard toward a big, scary goal and discovering that you're capable of more than you thought. And honestly, I think everyone deserves to have something in their life that makes them feel that way." — Shan Briggs

And when asked simply why someone should do a half-distance triathlon, Clem's answer needed no elaboration: "To satisfy your sense of adventure, see how far you can push your limits, build confidence, and build community."

Key Takeaways for Your First Half-Distance Triathlon

Before you close this tab and go back to circling the idea, here are the core lessons from Shan and Clem's experience:

• The half-distance is for recreational athletes, not just elites — the diversity of participants at any race proves this conclusively
• Consistency in training beats perfection — showing up week after week matters far more than any single heroic workout
• Community transforms the experience — from training buddies to race-day strangers helping you zip your wetsuit, you won't do this alone
• Emotional preparation is real preparation — expect moments of profound pride, unexpected tears, and deep self-discovery on race day
• Your perceived limits are usually self-imposed — both Shan and Clem exceeded their own expectations and found they were more capable than they'd believed
• The reward lives beyond the finish line — joy, connection, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose are the lasting returns on this investment

Your Next Step

If you've been thinking about your first half-distance triathlon, know that you're not alone. Thousands of recreational athletes — in Canada, across Latin America, and around the world — have stood exactly where you are now: excited, terrified, and wondering if they're really ready.

The question isn't whether you're capable. It's whether you're ready to discover just how capable you are.

Start by finding a local tri community or coach. Then build your training around consistency and fun, not perfection. And when you're ready to gear up for the journey, explore our triathlon suit and swimming goggles to make sure you have everything you need from day one.

Because doing hard things is deeply rewarding — and your half-distance triathlon is waiting.

Have you completed your first half-distance triathlon? Share your story in the comments below. First-timers want to hear from you.