Whitney Lynn

I signed up for the Big Blue Olympic Triathlon back in 2015, well before becoming a mom. I was looking for a new challenge, a way to spend more time outside, and a chance to push my limits. To be honest, I was completely unprepared; that bike course is incredibly tough! But crossing that finish line gave me that distinct feeling of having accomplished something deeply cool, and I was hooked on the challenge.

I played soccer in high school and college, so I had a solid foundation of team sports and running, but endurance-specific training was a shift. My husband swam in college and has been “coaching” me for years which mostly just means that I swim a bit less slowly but I have never been fast. Swimming has definitely been my biggest hurdle. Even though I started swimming in the Bay years ago, the open water still scares me. Over time, I’ve actually learned to value that fear; there is a unique mental victory in doing something that intimidates you first thing in the morning, calming your nerves, and carrying that sense of resilience into the rest of your workday.

It has completely changed my perspective. Returning to running post-pregnancy was an eye-opener: navigating the physical changes, like the hormone relaxin making your connective tissue feel entirely elastic and realizing you’re suddenly running with what feels like zero abdominal muscles, takes a lot of patience.

Today, training is less about hitting “optimal” physical metrics and entirely about maintaining my mental sanity. Squeezing in a workout is how I decompress, move my body, and feel like a whole person outside of my roles as a mother, wife, worker, and friend. I mostly just feel really grateful every time I get time to myself to do something I enjoy and spend time with a great group of people.

Accepting my reality and relying on a fantastic support system. I am an odd duck who actually prefers working out at night rather than early mornings, so you can frequently find me on my Peloton late at night. I’ll also squeeze in a workout in between meetings and show up looking less professional but sharper mentally. That tradeoff works for me.

More importantly, I couldn’t do any of this alone. My husband is incredibly supportive and truly understands that this movement is essential for my well-being. We also have a beautiful, kind, and caring babysitter named Wise who comes a couple of times a week and helps keep our family running. It truly takes a village.

Honestly, the logistical hurdle of just staying healthy enough to train. Young kids are gross, and it feels like I am constantly catching some sort of daycare cold or flu. It forces me to drop any perfectionism regarding my training calendar and instead practice deep gratitude for the weeks where my body does feel strong and healthy.

SF Tri has been an absolute lifeline. I first reached out to Leslie a couple of years ago when my daughter was just four months old. I had entered the lottery for Escape from Alcatraz and was shocked (and terrified) to actually get a spot. I knew I needed serious help, and Leslie was incredibly encouraging. She invited me out to track night. My very first session happened to be hills day, which felt exceptionally rude at the time! But I kept showing up.

What I love most about SF Tri is that it’s a group of highly competitive people who are ultimately competing with themselves. Everyone is out there running their own race without judgment. I felt that inclusivity on day one, and it’s what keeps me coming back.

I really want to be a model of strength and capability for my son and daughter. It’s incredibly important to me that they see their mom being active, taking on difficult challenges, and having fun doing it.

I am training for my very first 70.3 at the Santa Cruz Half Ironman this September, right ahead of my 40th birthday later this year. I’ve incorporated a lot more strength training into my off-season routines this time around, and my goal is to go into this build feeling present, strong, and a bit more prepared than I felt standing on the beach at Escape from Alcatraz. But mostly, I just want to be outside and have fun.