Liz Hickox Edited

Liz Hickox's triathlon journey and mindset transformation. Key Takeaways Mindset Shift Unlocked Performance: Liz's breakthrough came from replacing a self-limiting belief ("I don't win races") with a performance-focused one ("Success is the only motherfucking option"). New Coaching Partnership was the Catalyst: A new coach (Colin Cook) provided the structure and accountability needed to break old habits, including inconsistent training and alcohol consumption. Adversity Forged Resilience: Winning two major races (Happy Valley, Lake Placid) with broken toes proved the power of her new mindset and physical dedication. Kona Podium Validated the Transformation: A top-5 finish at Kona, guided by a single bike-split goal, validated the new approach and solidified her identity as a top-tier athlete. Topics Early Life & Athletic Background Upbringing: Athletic parents; a strict, driving father and a supportive mother. Pivotal Event: A severe car accident at 19 caused a year-long school delay. Wall Street Career: Started on the American Stock Exchange floor, then moved to a NASDAQ trading desk. Running as Therapy: Began running after her father's death, using it as a mental escape from a high-pressure job. Sailing Career: Won a One Design World Championship, leveraging a lighter weight for crew selection. Triathlon Introduction & Early Struggles First Triathlon (c. 2000): The Mighty Hamptons Tri, completed on a mountain bike with aero bars. Result: Walked the run due to lack of training. Return to Triathlon (c. 2017): Used training as a grounding force during a difficult marriage. First Half-Ironman: Timberman, finished just outside the top 10. First Full Ironman: Lake Placid (2017, 2018), consistently finished just outside the top 10. Self-Limiting Belief: Realized she was subconsciously holding back to avoid outperforming her spouse, creating a "marginally well" identity. The Breakthrough Season (2025) Coaching Change: Switched to Colin Cook after her previous coach dismissed her Kona goal for Lake Placid, saying the race was "too competitive." New Approach: Adopted a disciplined lifestyle, including consistent training, dialed-in nutrition, and full alcohol abstinence. Happy Valley 70.3: Adversity: Broke two toes ~10 days before the race. Strategy: Wore a walking boot pre-race, then hammered the bike to compensate for a compromised run. Result: Won her age group by over 20 minutes, securing a 70.3 Worlds slot. Lake Placid Ironman: Adversity: Raced on broken toes, causing pain on downhills and a gluteal tendinopathy injury. Result: Won her age group by 26 minutes, finishing 50 minutes faster than her 2018 time. Kona World Championships Mindset: Approached the race with a focus on experience and enjoyment, not just results. Bike Strategy: Focused solely on hitting the coach-set 6-hour bike split goal, ignoring all other metrics. Result: Finished in 6:01. Run Strategy: Removed socks mid-race to manage burning feet, running the rest of the marathon barefoot in her shoes. Result: Finished 5th in her age group, achieving a podium finish. Next Steps Liz Hickox: Race Happy Valley 70.3 and Lake Placid Ironman in 2026. Compete in Unbound gravel race. Attend the upcoming Tucson training camp.