Are more young people racing Ironman? Twenty-four year old Ironman athlete Ava Jih-Schiff raced her first Ironman with only two months training and a year later was targeting the Kona age group podium. She tells us what's drawing young people to the sport, the barriers that still exist, and how watching her mom race lit her endurance sport fire!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:39 Youth in Ironman Triathlons
06:12 First Ironman Experiences
09:44 Beverage Talk and Youth Culture
11:09 Training and Early Experiences
16:25 Ironman Costs and Experiences
21:41 Ava's Journey in Ironman Racing
22:53 The Evolution of Ironman Registration
24:16 Ava's First Ironman Experience
26:40 The Thrill of Ironman Racing
31:11 Preparing for Kona: Expectations vs. Reality
36:14 Reflections on Performance and Privilege
40:30 The Journey to Cozumel: A Back-to-Back Challenge
46:03 Finding Balance: Racing vs. Enjoyment
51:24 Ava's Relationship with Her Mother and Coaching
53:26 The Journey of a Young Athlete
55:18 The Competitive Landscape of Ironman
56:49 Growing Up in a Triathlon Family
59:41 Transitioning from Synchronized Swimming to Triathlon
01:04:20 The Challenges of Racing and Nutrition
01:09:40 The Possibility of Going Pro
01:12:35 The Future of Triathlon and Community Engagement
