Ironman World Champion Chelsea Sodaro doesnt keep her massive first place trophy in a fancy glass case.
Her winners medal is stashed in a sock drawer.
Eventually, shell move them both to her parents house, roughly 150 miles away from where she lives.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
I like to stay super hungry.
She finished the grueling course in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in just 8:33:46.
Widely considered the most prestigious race in the sport of triathlon, the Ironman Championships is a brutal event.
Here, her top reflections.
Family comes first and their support remains key.
But now she doesnt always have the bandwidth.
Its been really, really challenging to make this work, she says.
But through those periods of self-doubt, Sodaros husband provided unrelenting moral support, she says.
And he was right.
Sodaros parents also played a pivotal support role.
There’s no way that I could have done this without them, says Sodaro.
Fun is an important performance enhancement.
Sodaro was super nervous the morning of the Ironman Championships.
She showed up to the staging area later than she wanted and felt really rushed.
My stroke felt really good immediately, she says.
After the race started, Sodaro noticed a rainbow as she stroked.
She told herself to imagine she was simply out for a fun open-water swim with her friends.
That perspective shift set the tone for an enjoyable day of racing.
In endurance sports, we oftentimes are so selfish and so focused on ourselves, Sodaro says.
Motivational sayings can help you stay present.
After tackling the swim and bike portions of the race, Sodaro was in fifth place.
She began the marathon runthe final leg of the raceand immediately fell into a fast pace.
I kept on telling myself to slow down, she says.
Sodaro remembered hearing five-time world triathlon champion Craig Alexander shout Girl, you should probably chill!
from the sidelines as she whizzed by.
His words helped refocus Sodaro, who then really committed to taking care of herself.
Instead, she focused on staying completely present as she ran.
She says she did this by repeating stay here and yes, yes, yes, to herself.
Ultimately, these sayings helped guide her to a strong and fast finish.
Goals are crucial, but flexibility is key.
Whether or not she makes a concerted effort to read the words doesnt matter.
I think them being there is really powerful, she says.
Our subconscious is more powerful than we realize sometimes.
Right now, the mirror displays four goals.
The first reads: Always remember to make the most important thing the most important thing.
Beneath that is Kona, which represents Sodaros ultimate career goal of defending her Ironman Champion title next year.
Thats what really motivates me and inspires me when I wake up in the morning, she says.
Thats because training as a new mom is really freaking hard, she says.
I dont have consistent childcare right now, she says.
Were on the waiting lists for three or four different preschools.
But with the ever-shifting dynamics of caring for a small child?
I just cant do that anymore.
Its not really realistic, she says.
So Ive had to learn to let go of things.
And I do my very best to get everything done.
But there are some days where it just doesnt happen.
Meditation can help put you in the right headspace.
In the time since, it has become an essential part of her routine.
I notice a big difference in my mental health when I am consistent about it, she says.
And just taking 10 or 15 minutes out of your day to experience stillness and silence is really powerful.
Keep the bigger perspective in check.
But that knowledge actually created a fair amount of intrinsic pressure, she recalls.
Sodaro managed the pressure, in part, by adhering to her daily meditation practice.
She also maintained a sense of calm by writing a gratitude list every night before bed.
And my kids gonna love me regardless of how I do.
Moms can be athletes and so much more.
If she decides to be a mom, I want her to feel like she can do both.
