2026 USAT Nationals Race Review: Letting Go and Racing Anyway

I’ll be honest: I didn’t feel particularly great heading into Nationals this year.

After a long season of training and racing, I’ve been in a bit of a training rut lately. The fitness didn’t feel like it was coming together the way I wanted, and I definitely didn’t have the same confidence going into this race that I’ve had in the past.

But one thing I’ve learned from racing Nationals in previous years is that the more stress I put on this race, the less I tend to enjoy it—and the less likely I am to actually race well.

So the day before the race, I decided to take a different approach.

I acknowledged that I didn’t feel great. I acknowledged that I couldn’t magically change my fitness overnight. And then I reminded myself: on race day, I either have it or I don’t.

There was nothing left to figure out.

The Race

This year’s Nationals in Milwaukee brought much better conditions than last year.

It wasn’t easy—the bike was still windy and the run was hot—but compared to last year, it felt far more manageable.

The swim was a solid start, and I settled into the bike knowing I needed to stay smart in the wind.

There were tough sections where it felt like I wasn’t going anywhere, but I reminded myself everyone was dealing with the same thing. Instead of forcing it, I stayed controlled and saved something for the run.

Then came the run.

The heat made it a grind, and it became less about pace and more about execution. I focused on staying steady, taking in what I needed, and just keeping myself moving forward.

And eventually, I crossed the line.

11th place. More importantly, I hit my main goal:

Automatic qualification for the 2027 World Championships in Hamburg.

That made the result feel especially meaningful—not because it was perfect, but because I got it done on a day I didn’t feel fully confident.

The Biggest Win Wasn’t the Result

Looking back, the biggest takeaway had very little to do with placement.

It’s easy in triathlon to overthink everything: training, fitness, taper, readiness, expectations. And even with all that analysis, you still don’t really know how race day will unfold.

I’m learning to accept that more.

You can feel underprepared without deciding the race is already over. You can have doubts without letting them define your performance. And you can still show up, race with what you have, and let the outcome take care of itself. That mindset made this Nationals experience far more enjoyable than some of my previous ones.

Why I Love Nationals

No matter how I feel going in, it’s always one of my favorite races of the year.

USAT does an incredible job with the event. The energy, the depth of competition, and the mix of athletes at every level make it feel special in a way few races do.

I love seeing familiar faces, racing alongside some of the best age-groupers in the country, and being part of a bigger triathlon community.

That’s one of the things I love most about this sport: there’s always someone to cheer for, someone to encourage, and something bigger than just your own result.

And this year, I was especially grateful to be there. Not because I felt perfect. Not because everything went to plan. But because I showed up anyway.

See you next year Hamburg!