Balancing Life and Ironman: Belinda Agamaite’s Journey to Overcome Challenges

Belinda Agamaite’s journey toward her Ironman goal is not just a story of physical endurance, but also one of balancing life’s many demands. Between work responsibilities, family obligations, and rigorous training, Belinda’s path to the Ironman shows us that the journey is not smooth. Her candid reflections offer a glimpse into balancing life and Ironman training. Belinda discusses the challenges faced by many endurance athletes who juggle multiple roles while pursuing their dreams.

The Balancing Act

Belinda Agamaite’s training for the Ironman has been far from smooth. “If I could just be retired .. I’m sure I would be the most fit person. I could utilize all my free time doing what I love… which is being active and outdoors. Do slower athletes ever get sponsored?  .. raising my hand high in the air.” she muses, acknowledging the difficulty of fitting training into her already packed schedule. Her job requirements plus unplanned family obligations have added an additional layer of complexity.

Despite these challenges, Belinda remains committed. “I’ve been training, but not as well as I could,” she admits. “I have had family obligations pop up and I’ve been trying to help my sister as much as I can.”

Belinda’s situation resonates deeply with many facing similar situations. In those scenarios you’re physically capable of doing it, but mentally you may ask what am I doing? Why am I doing this? There is no easy answer to any of these questions showing that balancing life and Ironman can be extremely difficult.

The Mental Struggle

Balancing her work, family, and training isn’t just a logistical challenge for Belinda; it’s a mental one too. “Work is doable,” she says. “I have new work opportunities on the horizon that I have been contemplating. If I agree to come on board .. it will then immediately lead to the question of “great when can you start?” But all I can think about is I have to finish this Ironman first.”

The idea of expanding her work to the East Coast brings its own set of questions and worries. If life was ‘easy’ then these scenarios would not pop up or would be answered without contemplation. Unfortunately, life isn’t easy and we are consistently facing new obstacles as well as opportunities. Finding balance in life with Ironman training complicates matters even more.

Training Challenges

Belinda’s commitment to her family has inevitably affected her training schedule. It’s a scenario in which getting 10 hours of training versus 15 or 20 hours leads to the thought process of I’ve got to maximize this time. I cannot sacrifice training time but that leads to additional anxiety and stress.

Belinda recognizes this scenario. “I’m at the point in my training that it is what it is. I can feel the heaviness of  the responsibility to train creeping up on me and simultaneously my focus is being pulled in varying directions. This race is going to be a nail biter if I cross the finish line. So grab a chair if you plan on watching.”

Belinda’s thoughts shift to the physical aspects of her training. She reveals her struggles with open water swimming and the nausea it causes. “I can swim. I can bike. I can run. But putting them all together is an entirely different beast. I’ve done a few open water swims and I have to figure out why I get so nauseated while doing so. The last few times I’ll swim about a mile out and then the nausea will start to set in … that’s when I know that I need to turn back around to shore. Otherwise I’ll be stuck out in the middle of the Bay dry heaving trying to get back to land.”

When asked about the training she has done and her thoughts on being capable of doing the distances, Belinda acknowledges the challenge of combining the disciplines. “Race day is different. I’m in moving water, going downstream, so it’s just a matter of me just hustling and keeping going. From there, I have to ride 112 miles and then run 26.2 miles. It can feel daunting at times.”

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The Power of Support

Support from training partners plays a crucial role in Belinda’s journey. “Training with others is always super helpful and certainly much more fun. There are times I’m just too tired or mentally I’m not there .. but someone else is waiting on you to go swim, bike or run. You have to show up for the other person,” she explains.

Her training partners, George and Giselle, have been instrumental. “George has been helpful in keeping things fun and engaging while we train together. And then I have another good friend, Giselle who leads our Saturday group rides. She’s a fantastic cyclist who plans all the routes and keeps our rides both challenging and fun. There’s always pizza and beer at the end of our rides.”

Race Day Anxiety

As race day approaches, Belinda’s anxiety grows. I empathize with her and shared my own experiences with race day nerves. At IMWI in 2019, I pulled myself out of the water after having swam six tenths of a mile in 30 minutes. Realizing that I wasn’t having fun and having to swim another 1.5 hours then ride for 6 and run for 4, I DNF’d but I learned lessons.

Belinda laughs, appreciating the perspective. “You’re trying to make me feel better about myself. That’s good. I appreciate it. Also .. you didn’t want to do a 2 hour swim? Ha … welcome to my world. I definitely have you on that. No problem .. excluding any nausea.”

Despite her concerns, Belinda’s resolve remains strong. “I just need to get on the run course. Once I do .. I can tap into my mental fortitude to push through to the finish line. But first I have to survive the swim to then get on the bike and race the course fast enough to allow me more time on the run. Easy. Not easy.”

Preparing for the Big Day

Belinda’s preparation involves breaking down the bike course mentally and physically. “My goal prior to Ironman is to ride the entire bike course at least once. There are two loops.. an out and back twice. Mentally I would have to break it down focusing solely on each out and back.”

Her strategy includes being self-sufficient during the race. “During training while cycling or running. I have been purposely wearing a running vest to carry all my needed essentials for race day; nutrition, head lamp, extra layers and water. It’ll save me time during the race. Avoiding having to stop for any specials needs and helping to get to the finish line at a faster pace.”

Belinda appreciates the support she has received but remains realistic. “I have to admit that I have increasing anxiety. Even more so as the race date creeps closer. I always have some sort of internal dialogue playing on repeat in my head. These days, it is: Can I do this? Will I do this? How am I going to do this? I am not where I want to be in my training … and race day is definitely going to hurt. But is it an really Ironman if it doesn’t hurt even a little bit (or a lot)?”

Belinda Agamaite’s journey to the Ironman is a testament to the balancing act that many endurance athletes face. Her story is a reminder that achieving goals often involves navigating life’s unexpected challenges and finding the strength to keep moving forward.

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