IRONMAN Jacksonville 2026 Race Recap | First-Year Course, Brutal Heat & First Finish Stories
Three athletes. One inaugural IRONMAN. And a full day of heat, wind, tidal currents, and unforgettable finish-line moments. In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill Bartholomew sits down with Dawn Edens and Belinda DeWitt to break down their experience racing the very first IRONMAN Jacksonville. From the challenging tidal swim and windy bike course to race-day nutrition pivots, brutal Florida heat, and emotional finish-line stories, this conversation gives an honest look at what it takes to get through 140.6 miles. Belinda shares her inspiring journey from losing more than 150 pounds to finally becoming an IRONMAN finisher, while Dawn discusses chasing Kona through the Legacy Program and why Jacksonville may be one of the most beginner-friendly full-distance races in the U.S. Whether you’re training for your first full-distance triathlon, researching IRONMAN Jacksonville, or just love endurance sports storytelling, this episode is packed with practical insights, humor, and real athlete experiences. Train with purpose. Execute with intention.
What’s it like to race the inaugural edition of a full-distance IRONMAN?
In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill Bartholomew sits down with fellow athletes Dawn Edens and Belinda DeWitt to break down their experience racing IRONMAN Jacksonville 2026 — from the unusual tidal swim and windy bike course to the heat, logistics, nutrition struggles, and emotional finish-line moments.
Belinda shares the powerful story of losing more than 150 pounds and finally earning her first IRONMAN finish after multiple attempts, while Dawn discusses chasing Kona through the Legacy Program and what makes Jacksonville a surprisingly beginner-friendly full-distance race.
If you’re considering IRONMAN Jacksonville, preparing for your first full-distance triathlon, or just love hearing honest race-day stories from endurance athletes, this episode is for you.
Topics include:
- The inaugural IRONMAN Jacksonville course
- Swim conditions & tidal currents
- Wind and heat management on the bike
- Race nutrition adjustments
- Spectator experience & race logistics
- Mental toughness during an IRONMAN
- First-time finisher emotions
- Whether Jacksonville is a good beginner IRONMAN
Train with purpose. Execute with intention.
If you are training for a Triathlon or Run event of any distance from your first 10k to your first full IRONMAN and beyond, connect with Jill to talk about how to take your performance to the next level! Jill is the Head Coach and owner of Be Fierce Multisport is a full time, professional coach and works with athletes of all skill levels.
We also specialize in training for runDisney race, as Jill is an avid runDisney fan with 7 Dopey finishes and nearly 100 Disney races under her legs - she knows the courses and how to train for them!
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