PTO World #9 Sam Long capped off a remarkable season last weekend with third place at IRONMAN 70.3 Indian Wells, which was also an impressive 30th professional career podium for the American.

Long, who this season started coaching himself and became a first time father, has had a year full of personal and professional highs, with his podium in California his fifth since winning IRONMAN 70.3 St George back in May.

Sharing his thoughts after the race on social media, Long celebrated the podium milestone, a mark he says he could have only dreamed of when he turned professional back in 2016, before also reflecting on the battles during the run in Indian Wells.

“Battle after battle”

Despite a lightning quick bike split in Indian Wells, Long left himself with plenty of work to do on the run having turned around close to a three minute deficit out of T1, with the battle for the podium on the run seemingly never-ending.

“A very respectable 3rd place today. I gave it my best and congrats to Casper Stornes and Marc Dubrick. I worked hard out there today and battle after battle occurred on the run.”

Also competing in Indian Wells was his fiancee, Lara, just four months after giving birth to their son, plus his athlete Read Ziegler, who Long says helped him stay motivated in the run up to the race.

“Lara Gruden I am blown away by your effort of doing the run just 4 months postpartum. Also congrats to Read Ziegler on his first pro race. He got me motivated to train for this and it’s been an excellent process coaching you. All around it was a day of family, fun, and pushing my limits.”

“Dare to dream and then make it happen”

Looking back on his career thus far after picking up his 30th podium, Long recounts balancing professional triathlon with full time studies when he first turned pro in 2016, admitting at that point he never would have expected the success he has achieved in such a short space of time.

“Yesterday marks the 30th podium of my career. I am immensely proud of this mile stone. I turned pro in 2016 while studying full time as a student and the thought of 30 podiums back then was not imaginable. Dare to dream and then make it happen!”

With wins at IRONMAN 70.3 St George, IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast and IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder, plus two third place finishes at IRONMAN Maryland and IRONMAN 70.3 Indian Wells, Long can enjoy the festive period reflecting on what has been a hugely successful year.