Choosing Myself Over Medals

/February 22, 2026

Swimming Was My Foundation

Swimming has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. From kindergarten through college, and now as a USA Swim and IMU Triathlon Coach, it seems like my life path was driven by being an age group swimmer.

Early mornings, doubles, weekends at meets was a lifestyle, I loved training and for a long time, that love came wrapped in expectations. Parents. Coaches. Teams. Goals that weren’t always mine.

I swam in college because my coach told me to. When my collegiate swimming at Eastern Michigan University ended, I didn’t lose my love for the water. I lost my love of a coach telling me what to do. I found triathlon after my freshman year swimming and continued to swim for the “money” as I had a full ride scholarship

Discovering Triathlon on My Terms

Triathlon meant I could still train twice a day and not get wet, sign me up. It gave me variety and ownership. I chose triathlon for me, myself and I.

I’ve always loved training more than competition. Give me the challenge and I will do what I can to achieve it, the process was fun, goal achieved, what is the next challenge. And, Race day? That was complicated. As a swimmer, I was a head case standing on the blocks. All that fitness, all those hours, condensed into a few minutes where I felt fragile. I thrived in preparation, not performance.

Triathlon felt different. Swimming became something I got to do, not something I had to. It was familiar, a strength I could lean on while learning two new sports. The water was and still is, my safety zone. I built my self confidence because of triathlon

When Metrics Started to Feel Heavy

Over time, though, triathlon started to feel heavy too. Expectations crept back in, this time self-imposed. Metrics, pacing, comparison, and the pressure to optimize everything. I had enough and while a competitive triathlete, I found a trail running and finally decided, If I want to run and be at the trail running competitive, I need to discontinuing triathlon training

In 2023, I choose ultra running while still maintaining a sprint each year to maintain my annual triathlon event streak. I started 34 years ago and don’t want it to end.

Choosing Trail Running and Simplicity

Simplicity is my word for 2026, Running is simple, just shoes, out the door, no overthinking. Not everything has to be measured to be meaningful.

Swimming, Triathlon, Running. These don’t define me, My sport supports me mentally and physically. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do as athletes isn’t chasing the next physical goal. It’s choosing ourselves.

Wendy Mader Run Tri Bike Everyday Athlete Clubhouse

Wendy Mader has been immersed in endurance sport since her Division I swimming days at Eastern Michigan University and has raced triathlon since 1992. She prefers the training over the spotlight of race day. With a master’s degree in Wellness Management, where her research examined eating disorders among triathletes, she brings both lived experience and academic insight to the conversation around performance and health. Hee decades of experience navigating setbacks, she coaches athletes to chase growth, she believes longevity, not metrics, is the real measure of success. As founder of t2coaching, she guides ambitious athletes to execute, think long-term, and stay in the sport for life.