‘I’m really proud’ – Chelsea Sodaro on Oceanside second and bigger picture

There was a bigger picture for Chelsea Sodaro, but equally her second place at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside was a significant result in her first race since that incredible IRONMAN World Championship win.

Thinking of others

The American was again putting others before herself in the build up to the race and confirmed she would donate 100% of any prizemoney won to Moms Demand Action, explained in the tweet below.

But on the race course her seasonal reappearance couldn’t have gone much better.

She was in the mix throughout the swim and bike and moved into the lead early on the run.

But the bad news was that one of the very few women able to match or better her over the half marathon distance was close behind.

And Tamara Jewett duly swept by and went on to take an impressive win.

“She had a fabulous day and was the better athlete,” said a gracious Sodaro afterwards. “And I’ll be working hard to narrow the margin.

Later on Instagram she wrote: “Second place and a 1:15 run split to finish off the day. Big congrats to all of the amazing women out there today. What a thrill to battle out there with you.

“Had a blast testing out all of my new equipment today. Everything was on point and I’m pretty freaking excited about my amazing partners and everything we’re taking on this year.”

She added: “I’m really proud of today. I think that I still have some work to do for the season but what I’m most excited about is that I will be donating the $5,000 I made to the organisation called Moms Demand Action.

“It’s a grass roots project that’s working to improve gun control laws in this country.

“I want to live in a place where I can send my daughter to school and know that I will be able to pick her up at the end of the day.”