IRONMAN Jacksonville 2026 Race Recap | First-Year Course, Brutal Heat & First Finish Stories

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!Click here to schedule a consultation Tired of cycling in your basement alone? Peloton and Zwift has gotten old? Try live online group cycling with Be Fierce Multisport - now in Beta and accepting founding members!Join our virtual group cycling beta at 👉 https://fierce.li/cycling Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.