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Mini Nicolau Is An Everyday Athlete On A Triathlon Journey Proving It’s Never Too Late to Chase Finish Lines and Face Your Fears
When Mini Nicolau laced up for her first group run last year, she wasn’t chasing a podium. She was chasing connection.
“I was depressed, I was sad, and I needed to get out of the house,” Mini says. “I saw one of my friends running and thought, ‘That looks like a good way to build relationships and get out of my own head.’”
That decision led her to Ridgewood Runners, where she ran a 5K without knowing what 3.1 miles really meant. Then, almost immediately, she was convinced to sign up for a half marathon. With no idea that it would be 13.1 miles, she ran it anyway.
“I was at mile three and thinking, ‘Why am I still running?’” she laughs. “By the end, I was like, ‘Wait… that’s what a half marathon is? Cool. I just did that.’”
That moment did more than introduce Mini to endurance sports. It sparked something bigger: a desire to show up, not just for herself, but for others.
This was her gateway race — the beginning of it all. Her first taste of the pavement, the finish line, and the power of community.
She found her stride with some of the most inclusive and supportive run crews out there: Wepa, Asian Trail Mix, Run Hustle Run, and NYC Dragons.
Running for More Than Miles
It wasn’t long before Mini started noticing the gaps in representation at events. “There weren’t a lot of Black or Hispanic people there, and even fewer women,” she says. “I wanted to take up space and not just for myself but for others who don’t feel seen in these spaces.”
She didn’t start running to become an endurance athlete. She kept running because the sport offered her something powerful: perspective, purpose, and a community that cheered for her whether they knew her or not.
“I started for the social aspect. Then it became about doing it for people who can’t. Then it became about taking up space,” she says. “I’m 41. I just started running, swimming, biking, and dancing. If I can start, anyone can.”
The Marathon Mindset
Mini’s journey wasn’t a straight line. She ran a marathon, her first, without a training plan.
“I don’t recommend that to anyone,” she says. “But I had to do it for myself. I needed to prove to myself that I could finish something big on my own.”
Her goal? “Finish line, not finish time.”
That phrase has become her training mantra. “I knew if I waited for the perfect plan or the perfect timing, I might never do it,” she says. “So I just did it. And now I know I can.”
That experience opened the door to triathlon, even though she was terrified of the water.
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From Fear to the Finish Line
Mini is an everyday athlete on a triathlon journey that did not start with a cannon blast but with baby steps. “I couldn’t even put my face in the water,” she says. “My swimming started in a shallow pool where I could stand, then moved to deeper water, then to the ocean. I still struggle, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come.”
She jokes that she wants to be a mermaid, but “the mermaid isn’t clicking yet.”
Still, she shows up. And that consistency has led her to finish her first triathlon. There is now a growing desire to go even further.
“When I said I’d never run, bike, swim, run in the rain, run in the heat… I ended up doing all of those things,” she says. “Each thing I said I’d never do, I’ve done. Now I’m out here writing a story I didn’t think I’d ever live.”
Endurance Lessons Beyond Sport
Mini’s endurance journey has had a ripple effect on the rest of her life.
“I’m more confident now,” she says. “I’m setting boundaries, being more patient, and showing up as my full self.”
Even the logistics of training such as driving hours to races or swim lessons have helped her grow. “I hate driving, but now I do it because I know the reward is on the other side.”
She’s also found strength in community, particularly through her coach, Adam, and his Pay It Forward program. “I lost my job, and I was holding on by a thread. Adam believed in me when I didn’t have much left,” she says. “That belief gave me the chance to keep going.”
Barriers and Belief
Mini is honest about the challenges of participating in triathlon. “This sport is expensive,” she says. “Even with thrift shopping and second-hand gear, it adds up. A gym membership is $50. That’s a lot for some people. A race can be $600. That’s wild.”
She wants more people to see that endurance sports are not just for the privileged. “We need more coaches who are accessible. We need to build bridges, not gates.”
That’s why her presence matters. That’s why she keeps going. She is an everyday athlete on a triathlon journey and leading the way.
“Every distance is legendary,” she says. “Whether it’s a 5K, a sprint, a full Ironman, or walking around the block. If it challenges you, it’s meaningful.”
The Power of Showing Up
With her sights set on the 70.3 Ironman at Jones Beach in September, Mini continues to train with realism, grit, and humor.
“My swim still needs work. My transitions are a mess. I couldn’t even find my bike during my last race,” she laughs. “But I’ll get there.”
Her mantra during training?
“You a bad b****. You can do hard things.”
Mini reminds us that getting to the start line is often the biggest win of all. “My first goal is to show up. My second goal is to finish. So either way, I’m going to win.”
And beyond the start and finish lines, she’s already making an impact.
“I have friends now saying, ‘You inspired me to swim’ or ‘I’m going to try a duathlon with you.’ That’s everything.”
Mini’s story isn’t about perfection or pace. It’s about progress, purpose, and showing up for yourself and others.
“If you’re wondering if you can do this, you can,” she says. “Take baby steps. Have fun. Don’t wait for the right time. Just start.”
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