Iron-Fitness & Wellness with Vanessa

08/08/2026

LFG to my friends conquering this BEAST. 💪🏻

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08/01/2026

IronMan Month 💪🏻

Run miles = 79.22
Swim miles = 13.80
Cycle miles = 224.83
Lifting Sessions = 11
Recovery Boot Sessions = 18
Massages = 3
Chiropractor Adjustments = 5

When we fail - we get back to work.

When we succeed we get back to work.

The “work” is the reward.

Keep moving forward friends. 💪🏻

07/31/2026

Ladies & Gentleman…..

LFG 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Bring on ALL the 2027 goals. 🎉🎉🎉🎉

07/28/2026

When we fail - we get back to work.

When we succeed - we get back to work.

The work is the reward. 🔥💪🏻
(Thank you Chelsea Sodaro for this. 🫶🏻)
—————————————————————
Photo 1) Can you see the frustration? I can. With 22 miles to the finish I truly did not think my body was capable of getting it done due to a bike mechanical failure. I am grateful for my training because that is what got me to that finish line on completely toasted legs.

Photo 2) The “final” IronMan tattoo to commemorate the event. Despite being able to finish the race and acquiring my first DNF, showed me how strong I really am. It wasn’t an issue regarding my training nor effort. A nice “perseverance” tattoo.

Photo 3) Recovery. Something I need to get better at.

Currently, I do not foresee myself attempting another full Ironman. Ever. But, what I can tell you is I’ve already got three 70.3’s on the schedule.

Back to the drawing board. ✍️

07/24/2026

“You are an IRONMAN Eli!!!!!!”

PROUD, is a complete understatement.

What a HUGE accomplishment.

The time, the dedication, the work, the highs, the lows, ALL the sacrifices given paid off for this amazing moment in your life.

It was not easy one bit but you persevered and crossed that finish line, strong with a smile on your face.

Congratulations on becoming the 0.01% of individuals who do this. As your Coach, I am SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!

There are moments where you didn’t want to do the training or looked at your workouts as “really, I’m doing all of that”. But you did it. ALL. And it got you across the finish line that seemed so inevitable at the time.

Welcome, to the IronMan club. I am so happy I was able to get to experience it with you. Thank you for letting me train you and share this awesome experience with you.

I cannot wait to see you accomplish many more dreams and goals in life.

07/20/2026

Today, I accomplished 2️⃣ out of the 3 IronMan 140.6 disciplines.

My CAD 10, the absolute love of my life, took an actual s**t. The back derailer gearing cable actually broke through the thick layer of protection and bike tape on my handlebars puncturing my right palm from mile 58 to 112.

The goal was to get my bike to the bike finish. I couldn’t shift on the hills… so it was an absolute slogfest. I had to slow down and grind it out. My legs were completely trashed for the run and I called it a day at 5.74 miles.

It is what it is. I am VERY happy with my decision. I gave it my absolute best. I knew going into this event my bike could very well possibly fail me. It finished its FINAL ride in Lake Placid, which I am VERY proud and grateful for. The green machine never gave up on me and I never gave up on her.

A little history about my CAD 10…. I purchased it in 2018, the model is actually 2017. It has ridden and seen 4️⃣ of my 140.6 IronMan bike routes including today’s ride. It has also seen 5️⃣ 70.3 IronMan events and ALL of the INTENSE training miles. I cannot be disappointed one bit with this bike.

Today was my first DNF - but I am 100% okay with it due to SOOOOOOOO many reasons.

Today, it is time for me to hang-up the full IronMan. I had nothing to prove to anyone nor myself. Just to do my best with what I knew my body could do since I put so much time, money and effort into training.

This 4th attempt was a redemption of the last 7.5 years of my life. Which, actually was a success today despite not completing the run portion of the IronMan. My life has been such a chaotic mess and financial struggle for this amount of time. I am not disappointed, I am happy. Because today, I gave it my best and persevered just as I have these last hard 7.5 years.

I am ALREADY an IronMan x 3 to be exact. Today would’ve been my 4th. What I am most happiest about is, I proudly started and said goodbye to the FULL IornMan distance.

I go to bed this evening proud. Probably more than I have been in my entire life. 💪🏻💥🐶🎉❤️

07/11/2026

Tracking Vanessa Johnson in the Athletic Brewing IRONMAN Lake Placid. Check it out!

07/01/2026

June was such a great month. Sad to see it go but happy for the joy and memories it brought.

20 Days until Lake Placid!!! I am very excited. I really have no idea how my training will play out in the race to be 100% completely honest. There’s been a lot of volume and intensity but not a lot of long long rides or runs. My life and schedule just didn’t allow for it this training cycle. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous about that. I do feel though the constant volume of my training will surprise me. It might not be a Kona finish but it will get done. I am really looking forward to exploring Lake Placid, Vermont and Mount Washington post race with Nova & Re*****on. 2026 is the year for travel and I will be making the most of that for sure.

I truly cannot wait to enjoy this race. As well as this area and not have to worry about my other half putting me down the night before an IronMan due to jealously and complete unhappiness in their life. I am excited to be on my own journey this time. It will be so much more enjoyable to not have to deal with someone else’s negativity constantly pulling me back. I am very happy to have closed that chapter of my life. Negative energy is something I no longer have time for. My only regret, I wish it didn’t take me as long as it did to realize it. But we all live and learn in life. I gave it my absolute best, which is key to saying goodbye for good.

I hope you all have an awesome July. Keep training hard.

Always remember:
1) consistency is key
2) something is better than nothing

Here’s my “do the work” numbers for June:
Running Miles = 91.97
Swimming Miles = 22.62
Cycling Miles = 315.05
Lifting Sessions = 15
Recovery Boot Sessions = 9
Massages= 1
Chiropractor Adjustments = 2