Strongest Version: Mia’s Journey Into Endurance Sports

Mia Ramos never thought she’d be a triathlete. Growing up, she did dance and cheer, but never really got into sports. That all changed one day when she was working as a lifeguard at a local pool. Her coworker Sacha asked her a simple question: if she did a triathlon, which part would she prefer? Mia recalls, “I was like, I guess run. Like, I haven’t really done any of those in a while.” Little did she know that casual conversation would be the start of the strongest version of herself. 

Form a Group

Soon after, Mia, Sacha, and their friend Steph decided to form a group and start training in all three triathlon sports. They called themselves the Tri Girls. To their surprise, they all enjoyed it much more than they expected.

Running Became Her Focus 

For Mia, running became her focus. During the COVID pandemic, she realized her fitness wasn’t great. “I started realizing, like, my fitness was not up to par,” she explains. “So I just kind of like, decided that I wanted to get better at running, so I would just kind of, like, run a mile, like, every day and try to, like, get a better time.”

Drag Each Other Along

Training with Sacha and Steph made a huge difference for Mia. She says, “If there were days where one of us didn’t want to train, the other two would be like, well, we plan to train, so we’re going to go train anyway. So we’d kind of, like, drag each other along.” This teamwork helped them all stay on track and push themselves to do their best.

First Triathlon Together

Their first triathlon together was in Duncan, South Carolina. It was a test to see if they really wanted to keep doing triathlons. Mia remembers, “It was really nice at the end because we all, even though it was a really hard race, we all had fun, decided to keep going with it.”

All Women’s Event

As the Tri Girls did more races, Mia’s confidence grew. But their experience at the SheTris event was special. Mia loved being part of an all-women’s race. “It feels really empowering and there’s really no negativity when you’re in an all women’s event,” she explains. “All of the women that I would see racing, and even if it was like they would pass me or I would pass them, like, we were all very encouraging to one another.”

The SheTris Event 

The SheTris event was also very well-organized, which Mia appreciated. “There have been many races that are not very organized, but the SheTris event was very organized, and there was really no confusion when it came to anything,” she says.

A Strong Support System

Having Sacha and Steph there made it even better. Mia explains, “I think it just makes everything a lot more fun, in my opinion, because we have each other to support each other. And then I think that also helps with the nerves because, like, we’re just all going through it together.” For Mia, being part of the Tri Girls means having a strong support system. The friendship and teamwork she’s found through triathlon have changed her life in ways she never expected.

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Joined the Military 

Mia’s triathlon journey took an interesting turn when she joined the military. She went through boot camp and then on to Marine Combat Training (MCT). Her experience with endurance sports gave her an edge. “I kind of knew, like, the baseline of, like, nutrition and, like, what I needed to, like, eat and things to keep me going in boot camp,” she explains.

Boot Camp 

Boot camp changed Mia’s fitness in unexpected ways. “Coming out of boot camp, it’s really interesting to see my endurance has… Hasn’t gotten any better. If anything, it’s gotten maybe a little bit worse just because it’s mainly just sprints. But my times have gotten a lot better, especially with, like, the runs.”

How Far She’s Come 

Looking back, Mia is amazed at how far she’s come. From a casual conversation at the pool to competing in triathlons and joining the military, she’s discovered strength she never knew she had. The Tri Girls have been there through it all, supporting each other and pushing each other to new heights.

Don’t Have To Be a Lifelong Athlete 

Mia’s story shows that you don’t have to be a lifelong athlete to find success in sports. With determination, good friends, and a willingness to try new things, anyone can discover their inner athlete. For Mia, the journey has been about more than just crossing finish lines – it’s been about finding a community, challenging herself, and becoming the strongest version of herself, both physically and mentally.

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