Ironman Texas 2026: Releasing the Dream I chose Ironman Texas as a recon mission for my Kona dream. And I left knowing it was probably time to release that dream. When I raced Kona in 2016, I was there as the Women for Tri Kona Inspiring Woman - raising over $28,000 for Women for Tri. That experience absolutely counted, and it will always be one of the most meaningful opportunities I have had in this sport. But there was still a part of me that wanted to go back by qualifying. Not to prove that I belonged there. I already knew how much that first experience mattered. I wanted to bring this stronger version of myself back to that course. Ironman Texas felt like the right place to test whether that dream was realistic. A flat, windy bike course suited my strengths, and while I was not racing for a Kona slot this year, I wanted the information. Could I get close? Was the dream still something worth chasing? I think I knew the answer before race day, but the slot allocation made it impossi...