Former Trine teammates compete in Chattanooga Half Ironman

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Two Trine University triathlon alumnae recently took their competition to the next level by completing their first Half Ironman event.

Tori Klingsmith, who graduated from Trine with a degree in health and physical education in 2021, and Kyra Warren, who completed her mechanical engineering degree at Trine in 2022, were among the 3,000 competitors in the 2023 Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga, held May 21 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The race included a 1.4-mile swim in the Tennessee River, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run. The sprint triathlons typically completed by Trine’s triathlon team included a half-mile swim, 12.4 miles of biking and a 3.1-mile run.

“Training for a sprint distance triathlon in college is a different mindset than training for an Ironman,” Kyra said. “Instead of focusing on speed and passing people, your goal is endurance and pushing yourself to beat your own goals.”

The pair heard about the race from former Trine triathlon coach Danny Powell, who also planned to compete. Kyra said Powell asked her about the Ironman when both were with their families in Arizona in November to cheer on Trine’s triathlon team at nationals.

“He mentioned that he and my previous teammate Tori were signing up for this race and asked if I would be interested taking on the event with them,” Kyra said. “Since I started competing in triathlons in college, I have always had the goal of competing in a Half Ironman. Long-distance races have always been more enjoyable for me, and a Half Ironman seemed like an attainable goal. Hearing that my Trine coach and teammate were competing was just the push I needed to go for it.”

Distance and nutrition

Tori had previously planned to compete in a Half Ironman, which she said was also on her bucket list. Hip surgery put that dream on hold.

“It took eight months to recover,” she said. “I was released to jog four months post-op, but I could only jog for 30 seconds at a time. It was discouraging.”

“The idea of signing up for another Half Ironman and being able to finish it was intimidating. I could barely wrap my head around why anyone would want to commit to this, but I was determined and believed in myself and signed up for it in October.”

She worked out at a local fitness center for five months to prepare for the race. She trained in the morning before going to her teaching job in Indianapolis, then again in the evening after coaching.

“The weekends were made for long workouts,” she said. “Sometimes I implemented brick workouts, where I would bike, then run immediately after. For instance, I would bike 25 miles and run for six.”

Tori’s training included hourlong swims or swimming with a parachute around her waist to create extra resistance. During March and part of April, she ran 45 to 50 miles a week to prepare for the running portion.

“I had to drink hydration mix, eat energy chews and energy gels and watch my calorie intake since I was burning a lot more calories than ever,” she said.

She cut the training back to an hour or less per day three weeks before the race, similar to her training regimen on Trine’s triathlon team.

Kyra used a 20-week training plan she found online that slowly increased mileage volume.

“It seemed like a strenuous plan, but doable with a 40-plus-hour work week schedule,” she said. “All those years of training with the Trine triathlon team gave me a strong foundation of skills and determination to keep with the training plan.”

However, she said nutrition training for the Half Ironman was new.

“I learned so much about my body and how to fuel it with nutrients and electrolytes during those long rides and workouts,” she said. “I had to practice my bike handling skills to successfully eat on the bike.”

Powell was unable to compete in the race due to a knee injury, but he and his wife traveled to Chattanooga to cheer Tori and Kyra on.

3:30 a.m. start

Tori said she woke up on race day about 3:30 a.m. to eat a breakfast of a banana and a Cliff bar. She and Kyra went to the transition area at 4:30 a.m. to set up their bikes, helmets, sunglasses, biking shoes, running belts and running shoes, then boarded a bus that took them to the starting line for the swim portion of the event.

“We have never done a race where we couldn't have seen the start line from the finish line,” Tori said.

The pair began the race with a group that estimated their swim time at 35-37 minutes. They found that was a good pace.

“Atter getting out of the water, there was a group of volunteers that took your wet suit off for you, which was different than college races,” Tori said. “In college, you had to take it all off by yourself, which is challenging when you are exhausted.”

She said the bike portion was “hilly,” but she enjoyed having other bikers with her through that segment of the race.

“When I got off my bike, I smiled because I couldn't believe that I only had a 13.1. mile run to go,” she said. “The last mile was straight downhill and filled with fans. I started crying and felt so much joy when I saw the Ironman red carpet finish line along with the family and friends that came to support us. I have never felt so accomplished in my life!”

“Once I got in the race cranking through the miles in the sun and hills, it was crazy to experience how the human body can keep going physically and mentally even when it's drained,” Kyra said. “Plus, there are 3,000 other people going through the same experience with you. It's a really uplifting and positive environment.”

“It was one of the most physically challenging experiences, but it was so much fun. The event was well-organized, the venue was beautiful, and it was awesome having friends and family there supporting us.”

Top 5 finish

Kyra finished in 5 hours, 37 minutes, which placed her in the top five in her age group and top 200 out of 1,000 women.

“Overall, I was thrilled with my race. Tori and I both finished successfully with no accidents or injuries,” she said. “Of course, I had lofty goals of finishing closer to five hours, but really my main goal was to finish.”

Tori finished in 5 hours, 50 minutes, 29 seconds, short of her “A goal” of 5 hours, 45 minutes, but beating her “B goal” of six hours.

She said she is considering a full Ironman in Cozumel in November.

“During training, I told myself I would not sign up for another one because it took a lot of training and it is hard working 40 hours a week, but during the race, I was trying to figure out which location I should do next,” she said.

Kyra said she is not planning another Ironman in the near future, since she starts graduate school in the fall.

“Graduate school is my next life goal I am working toward,” she said. “However, I have a feeling if any of my old Trine teammates decide to take on an Ironman 70.3, I'm going to have a tough time not joining them.”