2026 Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley Race Recap
Nicholas Sommers Nicholas Sommers

2026 Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley Race Recap

My 8th Ironman 70.3 at the North American Championships in Happy Valley didn't go according to plan. What started as a race filled with high expectations quickly became a lesson in humility, perspective, and perseverance. Despite a strong swim and solid bike split, the run forced me to adapt, regroup, and focus on simply reaching the finish line. Sometimes the races that challenge us the most end up teaching lessons far more valuable than a personal best.

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Book Review: Smile or you’re doing it wrong - Andy Glaze
Nicholas Sommers Nicholas Sommers

Book Review: Smile or you’re doing it wrong - Andy Glaze

This spring, I stepped away from collegiate swimming after one of the hardest mental health battles of my life. Around the same time, I picked up Andy Glaze’s Smile or You’re Doing it Wrong. What I found wasn’t just another endurance sports memoir - it was a reflection on hardship, purpose, identity, and learning how to smile anyway. This book challenged the way I think about success, suffering, and what it really means to “find your trail.”

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