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.