WELCOME
WELCOME
WELComE
Welcome to BETHANDREW.COM! Thank you so much for stopping in. this is the spot to get your triathlon fix. you'll find stories, ideas and articles for you to use in your everyday life. you'll hear tall tales of MY trials and triumphs in training and racing. discover tips and tidbits to motivate your inner athlete And check out stories from other inspiring everyday athletes.
FOLLOW ME TO A CENTURY
Kona marked my 75th triathlon! I can’t believe I’ve done that many - and I can’t believe I’ve only done that many. My long-term goal is to become a member of the CENTURY club. I’d like to hit 100 triathlons by the time I’m 55. Follow me to a century!
IN THE REAR VIEW 2023
I did it! I did it! I did it! I still can’t believe that I completed the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. I would be lying if I said that this one race didn’t change my life. I wrote a lot about the race and plan to write a lot more in the months and years ahead. Read about it in my journal.
ARCHIVED JOURNALS
I've recently updated this site. CLICK HERE to check out old stories.
JOURNAL
JOURNAL
My mother-in-law is right: I'm addicted to triathlon. There. I said it. I love it. I can't live without it. I can't quit whenever I want to. All the signs are there! I want to swim, bike and run. And when I'm not doing it, I'm thinking about it, or reading about it or writing about it. Or, I'm coaching others who may or may not be addicted also.
I'm an everyday athlete who found triathlon in 2008. I have a background in running, but due in part to injuries and in part to a little boredom - I decided to try my first sprint tri. I was immediately hooked. I fell in love with the supportive atmosphere, the competition, the people, the bling, the gear, being outdoors, meeting goals and the stories that come out of it all! I did two sprints the next year, joined a local tri club the year after that, became a USA Triathlon coach in 2010 and step-by-step moved from sprint, to international distance to half ironman to ironman. In October of 2017, I completed my FIFTIETH triathlon and moved up to Level II Endurance coach for USAT.
This is the spot to get your triathlon fix, too. I write about training, races, recovery, mishaps, coaching tips and more. Stop by for your dose of everything triathlon or subscribe for a weekly wrap-up delivered right to your inbox!
BIO
BIO
I am Beth Andrew. Writer. planner. IRONMAN TRIATHLETE. Coach. Pilates nerd. Daughter. Sister. Wife. Aunt. Friend. Motivator. Relator. Competitor. AKA, ALLSPICE: DUCHESS OF SPICELAND.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
I began competing in triathlons a dozen years ago. I have considered myself a runner all my life - but never a triathlete. I ran my first road race in fourth grade and subsequently ran track in junior high and high school. After a college-sized break, I began to run again for fitness in the late 90's and added more road races after 2005. In 2008 - due in part to injuries and in part to a little boredom - I decided to try my hand at triathlon. I signed up for the the SHEROX Tri in Charlotte: a half-mile swim, 17 mile bike and 3.1 mile run at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve. I figured that swim/bike/run would be a well-rounded fitness program.
Finishing my First IronDistance: Beach 2 Battleship 2013 with One of My Besties
That summer, I invested in a Trek road bike, my first ever swim cap and pair of goggles! That first week, I logged only 12 miles on wheels and completed 10 laps in the pool (in preparation for nearly 40 for that race!). Since then, I've retired that swim cap and the bike and upgraded to new goggles several times over. I've completed over 20+ sprint tris (including a few relays), seven international distance tris and six half-iron distance races. I've also completed ten century rides including the Fletcher Flyer in Asheville, NC, the Hot 100 near Wilmington and my first double century, the Tour de Cure 2014 (plus more in training). Last year, I swam 116 miles, biked 2017 miles and ran 455 miles. That's almost 2600 miles in one year. That's taking I-40 West to the Joshua Tree National Park!
I've tackled 16 iron-distance triathlons: Beach2Battleship in 2013 and 2014, Ironman Florida 2015, 2018 and 2022, Ironman France and IMNC 140.6 in 2016, Santa Rosa 2017, IM Chatty in 2018, Boulder, Louisville and Cozumel in 2019 and 2021 and the big one: IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in KONA, HAWAII in 2023.
When I'm not training, I'm coaching others. I'm a Level II - Endurance Coach for USA Triathlon, the swim coach for YDUBSWIMCLUB of the YWCA Lower Cape Fear and a Pilates instructor at IN BALANCE Pilates Studio. I currently live in Wilmington, NC with my husband, Ace and our Boykin Spaniel, Sunny Day.
I was scared for one hour and three minutes.