We first got to know Julia when she came out to our TTL Base Camp in Las Vegas just a short while ago. Instantly, we knew she was exactly the kind of athlete that embodies what this brand is about.. hardworking, humble, and fiercely fast (the last one isnt necessary..but it is inspiring!). We love having athletes like Julia aligned with the TTL community.
This past weekend at Oceanside 70.3, Julia put together a performance that turned a lot of heads. Not only did she take the tape as the 1st Overall Age Grouper, but she also finished 17th Overall, taking down a massive chunk of the professional women's field in the process.
The Splits:
Swim: 26:16 / Bike: 2:35 / Run: 1:28:52
We love letting the athletes speak for themselves, so we asked Julia to walk us through her race day. Here is her race report, in her own words:
The Swim: Finding Comfort in the Water
"I approached the start line of Oceanside 70.3 the same way I do every race—without expectations, but quietly hopeful I could put together something special. I’m lucky to begin with my strongest discipline: the swim. While most dread the water, I’ve always felt at home in it.
Years of identifying as a swimmer still carry through, and triathlon lets me stay connected to that younger version of myself. Highly recommend romanticizing it this way—it helps with the shock of diving into cold water, at least. Thankfully, Oceanside spared us that this year with record-warm temps. Overall, the swim felt controlled and steady, and the biggest highlight was being flanked by friends and teammates for nearly the entire time. I definitely credit them for helping me to a swim PR of 26:16."
The Bike: Leaning Into Discomfort
"I knew the bike would be the real test, given the climbs. I’ve started to realize that a hilly course might actually be my friend rather than foe, though there was a moment early on where I had to choose between backing off or leaning into the discomfort. I chose the latter. It wasn’t a perfect ride, but it was progress—and it set me up well for the run."
The Run: Chasing the Sub-90
"I’m usually ready to hit the run hard out of T2, but this time I came in under-fueled after missing nutrition and water for the last 10 miles of the bike. I was worried I’d pay for it. I made a point to get in a gel and grab electrolytes early, then settled in.
At that point, I knew I was about three minutes behind the lead amateur but had no real sense of where I stood otherwise. So I focused inward, drawing confidence from a recent half marathon PR and chasing a sub-90 run—a goal I’d been after for a year. It wasn’t until mile 12 that I learned the leader had dropped, putting me in front by nearly seven minutes. I crossed the line just behind pro Joanna Ryter, glanced at my watch, and saw 1:28. That alone felt like a win."
The Takeaway: A Shift in Perspective
"The overall title just made it surreal. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to achieve something you once thought was out of reach—but for me, that 'something' isn’t just the win. It’s finding a sport that feels like me beyond swimming.
Somewhere during the race, things started to click on a bigger level. The kind of clarity that makes you wonder what might be possible if you gave this your full attention. Finishing as the top amateur—and among such a strong pro field—is something I’m incredibly proud of, but more than that, it feels like a shift. After years of balancing work, training, and everything in between, it’s both exciting and a little intimidating to feel pulled so strongly in one direction again. I’m really looking forward to what’s ahead and seeing how far I can take it."
A massive congratulations to Julia from all of us at That Triathlon Life. Breaking the tape is one thing, but finding that inner clarity on the race course is what this sport is truly all about. We can't wait to see what she does next!
Comments
This is inspiring – congratulations on your race!
Way to go Julia! I was in awe watching you work at Base Camp and am excited to continue cheering you on!
Way to go Julia! I was in awe watching you work at Base Camp and am excited to continue cheering you on!