Paula Findlay’s first IRONMAN brought a victory and a ticket to Kona. But for the Canadian, the most valuable outcome was rediscovering her excitement for the sport.

After two decades of demanding training, moving up to the full distance offered a refreshing change of approach. Her body responded well, she enjoyed the preparation, and winning IRONMAN Lake Placid in July provided the perfect reward.

Now she is preparing for her first IRONMAN World Championship appearance, with Saturday’s race in Hawaii only her second full-distance start.

Speaking to TRI247’s Laura Siddall in Kona, Findlay explained why the result at Lake Placid was only part of the story.

“To win IRONMAN Lake Placid was like icing on the cake, but really the win was enjoying that race and enjoying the training leading up to it and having a little bit of excitement about the sport again.

“Since I’ve been in it so long, that can kind of waver. So I’ve tried to carry that as best I could into Kona.”

A refreshing change after 20 years

The transition has involved the familiar adjustments to IRONMAN training: longer rides, longer runs and less intensity.

For Findlay, however, that change has had a significance beyond simply preparing for a longer race.

“I think my body has responded to it particularly well,” she said.

“I’ve been training at a high level intensity-wise for 20 years, and I think that’s led to some burnout and fatigue and injury.

“The thought of trying something totally new that required a different energy zone and approach to the training every week was refreshing to me.”

Her Lake Placid victory demonstrated that the new approach could produce immediate success. Kona now offers a much bigger examination, against a deeper field and in demanding heat and humidity.

But Findlay arrives with the encouragement of knowing she has enjoyed the work required to get there.

Heather Jackson: ‘You’re so ready’

Helping her prepare is a close friend with extensive experience of racing in Hawaii: Heather Jackson.

The American has since turned her attention to trail running and gravel racing, but her knowledge of Kona remains a valuable resource for Findlay.

“Heather’s like my hype woman and she keeps saying, ‘You’re so ready. You’re so ready’,” Findlay said.

“I’m like, ‘I don’t feel ready’, but I don’t know if you ever feel ready for this race. It’s so crazy to imagine racing in these conditions and over that distance, but she is just so positive.”

Their friendship has developed through supporting each other’s sporting pursuits, including shared run sessions and Findlay helping crew Jackson at ultra races.

“It’s a cool relationship we’ve had over the last five years, just helping each other in our respective sports,” she explained.

“Her experience in triathlon obviously is super valuable. She knows so much about this race specifically.”

The conversations have covered how different race scenarios might unfold. But Jackson’s presence offers more than tactical advice.

“Even just having her here for emotional support I think is really good.”

Learning the course before the crowds arrived

Findlay also invested in a reconnaissance trip six weeks before the interview, giving herself an opportunity to experience Hawaii without the bustle of race week.

Initially, she was unsure whether another journey was worthwhile. In hindsight, she believes it was time well spent.

“I was on the fence about coming because it was another trip to do,” she told Laura.

“I think it was super valuable just to see the whole course when it was quiet here and there wasn’t anyone training or there was no hype around.

“Just to be able to feel the conditions, feel what the humidity and the heat is like, and see every inch of the course was really valuable.”

For an athlete making her Kona debut, that familiarity removes at least some of the uncertainty.

“I think there’s an advantage to just knowing what’s coming,” she added.

Our Kona course guide explains the swim, bike and run awaiting Findlay and her rivals on Saturday.

Going ‘all in’ after Nice

Between Lake Placid and Kona, Findlay raced September’s IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice.

She acknowledges that the trip interrupted her full-distance preparation, but it was a decision she made because the course appealed to her.

“I think going to Nice was a little disruptive to feeling really, really prepared for this,” she said.

“But it was a choice I made to go there and do that course because I love hills and climbing and it was a fun experience.

“I’ve tried over the last three weeks since that race to really put my head down and be all in on this.”

When she spoke to Siddall, Findlay had arrived in Hawaii that morning and was still settling in. Physically, though, she was encouraged by how she felt.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” she said. “Physically, I feel great. The travel’s easy for me, so I’m not really feeling jet-lagged or anything.”

Nerves – and a rare opportunity

The prospect of race day brings nerves, with the opening ocean swim foremost in Findlay’s mind.

“Every time I think about race day, I get so nervous,” she admitted. “The swim makes me the most nervous for some reason.”

Alongside that apprehension is the excitement of joining a field featuring so many of the sport’s leading women.

With athletes following different schedules throughout the season, opportunities to race them all together are rare.

“The exciting part I think is just the vibe here and the excitement of what it is, knowing that there’s so many people not just on the island supporting but watching the race, and racing with all the best women.

“That’s an opportunity you don’t get very often since everyone scatters themselves all year pretty well.

“That’ll be the fun part, I think: seeing where I can fit in with these outstanding athletes that I respect so much and try to race with them.”