This was my third triathlon, but the first time taking on the 70.3 distance. The idea to sign up for an Ironman came last year – my training buddy Daniel and I figured that since we already train in three disciplines, it was time to challenge ourselves with a longer course.
2025 wasn’t exactly a highlight year for me. Although I did my first sprint triathlon back in 2021, I knew I needed a few warm-up races before the “half” – to get familiar with the transition zones, dial in my pace, and test my gear. But nothing was going to plan. First, the half-marathon – I got sick three days before the race. Then, an Olympic triathlon four weeks ahead of IM Warsaw – broken front derailleur cable, and I had to do the whole bike leg “on cadence.” And as if that wasn’t enough, Daniel pulled out a month before the race due to personal reasons. Not gonna lie – that hit me hard. He was a big motivator, especially on the bike. We wanted to race head-to-head to see where we stood. Still, no love lost – we’ve got ambitious plans for the future 😊
On Thursday before the race, I flew into Katowice with my girlfriend Michalina to pick up my TT bike from the shop. Friday we headed to Warsaw, to Lake Zegrzyńskie, where the swim and T1 were set. We checked out both the swim and bike routes. Saturday was hectic – picking up race packs, dropping gear off at T2 in downtown Warsaw, then back to Zegrze to prep things at T1. One of the quirks of IM Warsaw – two separate transition zones, one at the lake and the other in the city where the finish line is.
We stayed at the historic Zegrzyński Palace, on the opposite side of the lake. The night before the race… total chaos. A huge hornet flew into our room around 3 AM. Michalina jumped up, woke me, and ran for help. The guy from the front desk told us it’s not the first time – apparently, there’s a nest problem. Result? Zero sleep. Friday: 6 hours. Saturday: 3. Not ideal for pre-race recovery.
Sunday morning – breakfast and off to the start line. Huge crowds heading in one direction – it felt almost like a pilgrimage to Jasna Góra 😊 Everyone had their own goals: some were racing the clock after months of prep, others just wanted to cross the finish line.
Around 8:00 I did a short warm-up – 2 km run with a heart rate of 160 (normally that’s 125–130). Nerves. Then I caught up with friends, put on the wetsuit, and got in the water. I spent 20 minutes there – getting the wetsuit to settle, doing a few drills and sprints, floating to calm my breathing. It really helped.
The start was around 9:30. Pros went first, then age groupers, released in waves – a few athletes every 10 seconds. I was off. The first 50 meters were shallow – you could run. Key goals: no water in the goggles, no cramps, and no kicks to the face. First half was smooth, standard washing machine chaos – passing and being passed. Picked up the pace in the second half. Got a mild cramp before exiting the water, but managed to shake it off – it was a 100-meter jog to T1.
T1 surprise: It had rained the day before, so I’d tied my gear bag in a bow to keep it dry. Bad idea – the knot tightened on the hook and I couldn’t untie it. Stress brain couldn’t solve it. Lost a bit of time. Eventually managed – helmet on, shoes, wetsuit in the bag, and off I went.
The bike? Absolute blast. It was only my second ride on the TT this year (first was at pickup, second was the race – not recommended 😅). But last year’s bike fitting and consistent planks 2–3 times a week paid off. I held the aero position 99% of the time. Pace? 38–40 km/h with ease. After one hour, my heart rate dropped from 170 to 155. I felt great. Even though the ride took 2h17min, it felt like 30 minutes – adrenaline does wonders.
T2 went smoothly – I’d learned from T1. But… the zipper on my sunglasses case broke, so I ran without them. And yes – you look more tired without shades 😅 I also grabbed only 2 gels instead of 4 – no idea why. Rookie mistake – no carbs = no fuel.
The run plan was clear: 4:17/km pace for a 1h30 half marathon. That pace lasted for 2 km. Then I settled at 4:32/km. Tried to stay steady, no surging. First gel at 4 km, second from the aid station. That was a bad idea – I hadn’t tried that one before. By 6 km, I felt nauseous. I kept hydrating. Third gel – one I knew. I skipped the fourth – didn’t want to throw up.
The finish – 4h41min. First Ironman 70.3 complete! 😊
Huge shout-out to Michalina – without her, this race would’ve looked completely different. She was amazing support before and during the event. She handled so much: the bike, nutrition, logistics, hotel – all the stuff that’s easy to forget in the race frenzy. She was everywhere – at the water exit, at both transitions, along the course. Her presence and cheering gave me a massive boost 💪
Triathlon is a brilliant adventure – three sports, no boredom. I can’t recommend it enough!
**Next up?** Improving my 5K and 10K times. This winter I’ll focus on the bike – building power and raising FTP. And next year… another 70.3 – just not in Warsaw 😄
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