When Race Day Falls Apart: Erin Byrge on Crashing at IRONMAN Texas
What happens when the race you trained months for suddenly goes sideways? In this episode of the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast, Coach Jill Bartholomew sits down with fellow coach and athlete Erin Byrge to unpack her experience racing IRONMAN Texas — including a bike crash at mile 60, back spasms during the marathon, and the mental battle required to keep moving forward. Together, they discuss: Racing through adversity Managing “dark moments” during endurance events The emotional side of Ironman training How athletes process disappointment after a race The role community plays in triathlon Redefining success when goals change This conversation is honest, raw, funny at times, and ultimately a reminder that resilience in endurance sports rarely looks perfect. Be Fierce. Be You.
Have you ever had a race that didn’t go the way you imagined?
Coach Jill Bartholomew welcomes fellow coach and athlete Erin Byrge to the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast for an honest conversation about what happens when months of preparation collide with unexpected setbacks on race day.
After crashing at mile 60 during IRONMAN Texas, Erin still found a way to finish the race — battling physical pain, self-doubt, and the mental challenges every endurance athlete eventually faces.
This episode dives into:
- The emotional reality of Ironman racing
- Navigating disappointment after a tough race
- Dark moments during endurance events
- Why triathlon community matters
- Reframing goals and redefining success
- Racing beyond Kona dreams
Whether you’re training for your first sprint triathlon or your next full Ironman, this conversation is a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t always pretty — but it matters.
🎧 Subscribe to the Be Fierce & Tri Podcast for more conversations where endurance training meets real life.
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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