(Left to Right) Rachel Paepke and Meredith Wegener

My Y Story: Endurance and Friendship

The YMCA is a special place – it brings people together through many different types of activities. This is a story of two friends who met at the Y in 2014 through their shared interests in staying active, helping others as Group Exercise instructors, and finding local races to run together. But all of that took a backseat in the spring of 2020 when the world seemingly shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and day-to-day life looked different for many of us. For Meredith Wegener and Rachel Paepke, it was just the beginning of their Ironman journey.

During the YMCA’s required three-month shutdown in the initial months of the pandemic, Rachel and Meredith continued to run together as a way to stay active. This not only allowed the two women to serve as a support system for each other, but it also got them out of the house and kept them moving while their Group Exercise classes were on hiatus. They soon found themselves joining a couple of friends who were training for a full Ironman distance race. Both Rachel and Meredith had previously completed the sprint-distance Indoor and Outdoor Y Tris, and before long their outdoor runs progressed to include swimming and biking with their friends. Both women noted that while you can complete a triathlon on a road or other type of bike, they soon found themselves purchasing triathlon bikes. “Our friends are really good at helping us spend our money,” they added.

As the Y facilities started to re-open, Meredith and Rachel were able to utilize the pool and return to group cycling classes to stay active during inclement weather, which helped them achieve their goal of completing the Olympic-distance Sunapee Triathlon in September 2020. The pair shared that they discovered they enjoyed the longer distance of the Olympic-distance triathlon and that they were having fun together as training partners. As local road races started to emerge again, they completed a half marathon that October, both posting a personal best in the distance, and then decided to run the Manchester Marathon in November. It was after this race that they started hearing about a well-known 70.3-mile distance triathlon, and after a short chat, they were both registered for the Patriot Half Triathlon located in Freetown, MA.

Through the winter months, Meredith and Rachel relied on the Y to continue swimming and biking, while still completing the majority of their runs outside. They continued training with friends and enjoyed the camaraderie and social aspect of the triathlon community. The women joined Northeast Multisport, a local triathlon club, many of whose members also belong to and train at the Y. Rachel and Meredith both enjoyed the training and social aspects of triathlon, but as they witnessed friends training for full-distance Ironman races (140.6 miles), they told one another, “There is no way we would try to complete a race of that distance anytime soon.”

However, they continued to train, and in June 2021, Meredith and Rachel finished the 70.3 Patriot Half Triathlon. With the excitement that came with the finish, they both quickly signed up for Ironman Timberman 70.3, a race that returned to Laconia, NH, in August 2021 following a several-year hiatus. Both were already trained, and now knew what to expect. Ironman Timberman was another success, with both improving their previous times despite a harder course. The Olympic and Half distances races continued through 2023, with the goal of each being not only to finish, but also to improve upon a skill or discipline. “Each race was a learning experience,” they shared.

Then one warm summer day in July 2023, Rachel saw a notification through a national triathlon club, Team Zoot, for a discounted entry fee to Ironman Lake Placid (IMLP). IMLP is regarded by many in the triathlon community as one of Ironman’s most iconic and challenging races. The two talked it over with each other, their families, and veteran IM race finishers/friends, and decided to take things to the next level in terms of physical and mental challenges. Rachel said, “There was no turning back with the completed registration.”

Meredith and Rachel with Coach Brian Muldowney

Meredith and Rachel hired Brian Muldowney of TriHabit Coaching, who has experience training for and competing in six full Ironman distance triathlons. They would rely on his coaching expertise and training plans to gear up for the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run in July 2024.  Although the pair had done many previous races, they knew that they would need additional training and support to be successful in Lake Placid. The duo began training and consistently put in 12-18 hours per week, starting in January 2024. They shared that training is not only a physical challenge, but a mental one as well, and at times can put a strain on the family. Both Meredith and Rachel are mothers, so long hours of training meant a lot of time spent away from their children (and husbands). A benefit of having a coach is support in navigating all aspects of training, especially the challenging areas. Brian would be a key piece in helping both women get to the start line healthy and prepared for what to expect on race day.

Both Meredith and Rachel teach cycling classes at the Y, and once they shared that they were training for IMLP, they received much support from their respective classes. They began to create special playlists and/or training sets that mimicked their bike training plan. Members enjoyed the experience, and some came to the Y extra early (as in 5:30am early) to join their pre-class training time to support and encourage them. As Meredith shared, “It was amazing having the support of our classes – it was like we had a whole team training alongside us.”

In June of this year, both Meredith and Rachel were able to head to Lake Placid to scope out the course. Luckily, their coach, Brian, was able to join, as he too had signed up for IMLP. Brian led a 3-day training camp where they biked the entire course the first day, biked half of the course and swam the full course the second day, and finally ran half of the course on the third day. This helped the approaching race feel slightly less intimidating and boosted their confidence heading into the final month of training.

The next month passed quickly, and training started to slow down the last two weeks before the race to let the body recover and rest. Then finally, after almost a full year of mental and physical preparation, July 22 arrived, and it was game time! The weather was ideal on race day, with a slight drizzle and mid-70s at the 6:30am start. Meredith and Rachel lined up on the beach for the swim with the thousands of other competitors, and as they neared the water, both snagged a high five from Mike Reilly, the iconic voice and inspiration for many Ironman athletes. The swim seemed to go by quickly for both, and they were on the bike before they knew it. Despite Rachel getting a flat tire about 30 miles into her bike, she was able to resolve the issue and still make good time on the bike leg. The physical strain was certainly a challenge, but as Meredith also shared, “it was good to stay positive and keep moving forward. You can definitely let your mind go to dark places, but luckily, that day neither of us let that happen.”

The two shared that during the race they had no concept of real time, but tried to remain present and just take in the whole experience. After 6-7 hours, the bike turns into the run, and the goal is to continue to move forward as you continue to tick off the miles. At the final turn before the finish line, both women were able to ring the bell, a tradition saved for first-time Ironman participants. They both finished well above their expectations, Meredith completing the race in 12 hours 54 minutes, and Rachel in 13 hours 43 minutes.

“It was really special to have Rachel and our coach there to celebrate each other,” Meredith shared, noting that while it was a huge physical and mental achievement, it was also about friendship and support. While finishing an Ironman was a bucket list item and what the pair thought would be a “one and done” experience, there is a surprise plot twist to this story. In addition to exceeding their individual personal goals, Meredith and Rachel both qualified for the Ironman World Championship, which will be held in Nice, France, on September 22.  Meredith, Rachel, their families, and even a few friends will be headed to the competition in just one month. We at the Y will be cheering them on, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for this duo.

Your support helps the Y empower members like Rachel and Meredith to connect with like minded people, discover shared passions, and achieve fitness and wellness goals. By donating to our Y campaign, you provide essential resources for our fitness, wellness and member connection programs, inspiring more individuals to reach for their own lofty goals.