Patti Vetter is one of BHRC’s highly valued team members. She serves as one of our corporate Comptrollers and I have come to know her as having outstanding follow through, highly committed to results, a joy to work with (she always shows up with a smile) and innovative in her thinking. It made sense to find out that she was an accomplished athlete in a sport that many put on their bucket list but few every accomplish once, not to mention repeatedly. I was inspired to learn that Patti has used Triathlon competitions as a method to overcome grief, loss, and other personal hurdles. I hope her story encourages you to double down on the goals you deserve to accomplish. Her journey has lessons to bring out the “iron woman” in all of us.
Q: What made you decide to do an IronMan?
A: Well, I wanted to eat whatever I liked and not gain weight! LOL In all seriousness, back in 2017 my husband and I finally got pregnant after trying for 7 years. We saw the heartbeat and everything only to lose the baby at 9 weeks. The miscarriage devastated me, especially when the doctor told us that we would most likely not have a successful pregnancy. To cope with the devastating loss and disappointment, I decided to train for my first marathon so I could channel those feelings into something positive and check running a marathon off my “bucket list.” I ran my first marathon 4 months later and qualified for the Boston Marathon. Well, if you qualify for Boston, you must run it, right!?! That led me to several years of running until I got bored and met my friend Angel. She is a cancer survivor, a nurse, a mother and has done over 200 marathons and close to 30 Ironman races. She inspired, motivated, and encouraged me to TRI doing a triathlon.
Q: What obstacles - personal, physical or environmental have you had to overcome to become an Iron Man (woman)?
A: 3 obstacles come to mind, 2 prior to becoming an IronMan and one after. The first was anorexia which I struggled with from about age 11 to 26. To do an Ironman you HAVE to eat. It’s 140.6 miles in one day and without proper nutrition, it is unlikely a person could make the cutoffs and finish the race in time. The second was my miscarriage. That was devastating for my husband and I. It took a lot of strength and grit to just keep going. The third was the death of my husband, my biggest fan, in 2019. I did Ironman Texas one month after he passed and when I crossed the finish line, I had my triathlon friends and teammates there to catch me as I broke down crying. This sport has given me strength that I never thought I had and a support system to enable me to get through anything.
Q: What are the most important traits of successful triathletes in your opinion?
A: I would say 1) Consistency – if an athlete is training right, they should be able to train year-round, often with lower and higher volume weeks geared around the athlete’s race schedule and training plan. 2) Self–control and persistence – whether you hire a coach or create your own plan, you must be patient and give it time to work for you. Physical fitness does not happen overnight, and Ironman triathlons are an endurance sport. Looking at the bigger picture and long-term goals is important for success. 3) Trust and communication – whether you have a coach or are training on your own, it’s important to trust in your plan, execute to the best of your ability and listen to your body. Your body communicates with you and often will tell you what you need and if you need rest, are low on critical electrolytes such as sodium or potassium, etc. I like to get IV fluids with added electrolytes prior to races and especially following a race to aid with recovery. 4) Realistic goal setting – we all want to be pros but some of us do not possess those God given abilities. The goal of most Ironman triathletes, male and female alike, is to go to the World Championship. I had this goal and have worked hard over the year to obtain it. I have competed in the ½ Ironman World Championship in South Africa back in 2018 and this year I will be competing in the Women’s full distance Ironman in Nice, France in September and the ½ Ironman World Championship in New Zealand in December. I did not qualify on my first race, nor my second or third. It took perseverance, hard work and determination to reach my goal. 5) Attention to details such as Nutrition and fueling. Many think triathlons are just swimming, biking and running; however, both the transitions (T1 swim to bike and T2 bike to run) and the fueling (aka nutrition) are critical elements as well. Learning your body, what kinds of fuels work for you, how much fuel you need during a race, etc. are all critical elements to being able to complete an Ironman. To sum it up consistency, discipline, hard work, grit and competitiveness are all important attributes of Ironman triathletes.
Q: What does your daily routine look like?
A: This is different for everyone, but for me, depending on the day of the week, I wake up at 3:00am or 4:00am to get my workouts in prior to heading off to work. I exercise 18-20 hours a week rotating between swim, bike and run and often adding in brick workouts to focus on “muscle memory.” Jumping off the bike to start running can often feel like your legs are made of Jello. You must train your body to switch gears and use different muscle groups.
Q: When do you find time to sleep?
A: I don’t…lol. This is an area that I struggle with, finding time to sleep. Sleeps affects recovery, metabolism, hormonal balance and the rate at which injuries heal and your body recovers. Sleep may feel like wasted time; however, this is the time that the body repairs damage from the physical stress placed on it during waking hours. My performance on race day relies not just on how hard I train, but also on how well I sleep. Since endurance sports are demanding on the body, sleep is important and 8-10 hours per night for athletes is recommended. (https://triathlonhealth.com/training/how-much-do-triathletes-sleep/) This is going to be a goal of mine to work on in 2025.
Q: How many Triathlons have you completed and how did you build up to it? Did you do shorter, smaller competitions for a time and if so, what kind of events?
A: So far, I have done 12 full Ironman's (#13 is the World Championship in Nice, France in September), 6 half Ironman's (#7 is the World Championship in Taupo, New Zealand in December), 1 Olympic distance at Nationals and numerous sprint triathlons.
Q: What was your biggest surprise when you began competing?
A: That I didn’t drown! Swimming is my weakest link of the 3 sports.
Q: What does your diet and nutrition plan look like when you’re bulking up or getting in shape during training?
A: This varies for everyone, but for me I find that eating foods that are closer to the earth is beneficial. What I mean is, rather than eating processed foods from fast food establishments or the frozen food section at the store, cook meals at home using fresh veggies, meats, etc. When going to the grocery store, I try to do the bulk of my shopping around the perimeter of the store: i.e. fruits and vegetables, dairy, meets, etc. The aisles tend to have most of the highly processed foods that are harder for your body to convert to energy.
Q: There must be many mental hurdles to overcome to compete at your level - how do you get into and stay in the right frame of mind to achieve your goals?
A: There are always mental hurdles, the girl next to me looks more athletic, stronger, etc. I’m too weak, slow, blah blah blah. I’m not good enough. I like to get in a “zone” before the race starts. I try to implement positive self-talk and if that’s not working, I have an internal play list of songs I can mentally rock out to.
Q: What role does "self-care" play in your performance?
A: Self-care is very important and just as critical as the workouts. After gym workouts I usually hop in the Jacuzzi or use one of their Hydromassage beds to relax and recover. I also have a Hot Tub at home that is on our balcony with a beautiful view of Pike’s Peak that my husband and I often relax in. I also try to get a few professional massages each year to work out any muscle knots, etc. Lastly, I always try to look good on the outside. Although physical appearance is not the most important thing it does help one to feel better on the inside mentally when you look better on the outside.
Q: Has your perspective of self-care changed since you started competing?
A: Yes, I realized the importance of it more. I get regular facials and use better products since starting triathlons. One of my favorite products since I’m often dehydrated from sweating and working out is the Triple Lipid Restore by SkinCeuticals.
Q: You are newly married, and you have children - how do you balance marriage, career and family and still have time to condition?
A: Well, step 1 was converting my new husband from a marathon runner into a triathlete. He now does Ironman races with me so it really helps having someone to get up with you at o’dark thirty to workout. We are both widows/widowers and since our kids our his from his first marriage, he takes the bulk of the responsibility there while I help with the household chores, cooking, laundry, etc. It helps have a “teammate” to share the load.
Q: What role does community and family support play in your success?
My community and family play a huge role. Without my teammates joining me on those weekend long rides or family willing to let me sleep in on those rare days off, I would be able to compete. It’s like the volunteers at the races. Without them the races wouldn’t be able to take place. Family, community, volunteers…they are the silent champions!
Q: You are already an Iron Man (woman!) What's next?
A: Sleep, food and sleep some more. LOL I want to do a 100-mile running race (the farthest I’ve done is 50 miles) and hopefully qualify for the Leadville 100.
Q- How have you changed since you began competing? Have changes or learnings impacted other areas of your life such as work or how you approach other goals?
A: Although I was already Type A, triathlons and training for them have caused me to become Hyper Type A in that I have had to develop even better time management skills to get everything accomplished, manage my money even closer so that I can afford to go on all the trips and pay for all the races and gear required to do them, etc. Triathlons have made me focus more so on the end game like retirement, etc. because like life, it's a long race and you must keep looking forward to the finish line.
"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional." - Roger Crawford
Q: How many women compete in full distance triathlons (Full IronMan: 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run)?
A: The longer the race, the fewer the women. For sprint triathlons, there is a 2:1 ratio of men to women. For longer triathlons, “Ironman touts an 18% increase in female participation in Ironman and 70.3 events since 2015, yet Ironman’s average global female participation rate is still quite low – women make up only 21% of the field.” (https://www.triathlete.com/culture/news/women-in-triathlon-where-are-we-now/)
Q: Why are there so few women doing Ironman's?
A: Some of the roadblocks to completing the training it takes to complete an Ironman are time, finances, family commitments, and personal confidence. With family commitments, spouse, kids, etc. it is often hard to find the time to train properly. Furthermore, Ironman races are also quite pricey ranging from $600-700 for a Half Ironman to upwards of $900 for a full Ironman. Then there is the cost of wetsuits, running shoes, bike shoes, bike helmet, and the larger ticket item, the bike itself. A carbon fiber triathlon bike can cost anywhere from $3,000 up to $15,000…. add in the race wheels, Di2 shifters, etc. and the price keeps climbing. Not to mention maintenance and logistics: the cost to ship your bike to races, airfare, hotel, rental car, meals, etc. As many of you know, back-to-school clothes, school supplies, food, etc. are the priority.
Q: What message do you want to give young women thinking about entering the sport?
A: I would tell them to “tri.” Just Do It! The self-confidence you develop and friendships you forge along the way are priceless. The strong, positive and empowering mindset that blossoms with each workout is what makes women all around the world choose to challenge themselves every day in this sport. I have my friend Angel who’s a cancer survivor, another friend who was hit by a car and had to have her leg amputated and still races and yet another friend Scott who has completed several races himself and is now a Guide for a blind athlete that does Ironman triathlons. Every race, I meet and talk to some of the most amazingly smart, funny (I think it’s the endorphins) and talented individuals who I have learned from and who have impacted my life in positive ways.
Q: You had to overcome extreme grief, loss and an eating disorder to accomplish your goals. What words of wisdom do you have for someone facing challenges and struggling to move forward?
A: A friend once reminded me that courage is not having the strength to go on, it is going on when you do not have the strength. My late husband was my best friend so everything I do, I do knowing that he is looking down watching me from above and I want to make him proud. So, if you are looking for a life without adversity, remember that oaks grow strong in opposing winds and diamonds are made under pressure.
Written By: Christiana White, Sr. Vice President BHRC
