Some races are not about times or PBs. Ironman 70.3 Goa was one of those
races for me.
More than five years ago, my first attempt at this distance ended in the
heart failure ICU, not at a finish line. Coming back to a 70.3 took time
– physically, but even more mentally. I needed a lot of confidence to
even consider trying again. This race happened because my husband simply
signed me up and because so many people believed in me and supported me
all the way back to that start line.
Pre-race week: settling into Goa
We had a great pre-race week in Goa. We explored historic places,
enjoyed really good food and had time to relax before race day. Our
hotel was comfortable and close to the venue, which made everything
easy. The race village itself was quite small, but that was actually
perfect for me – friendly, calm and not overwhelming at all.
The swim: waves, currents and confidence
The race started with a one-loop ocean swim. Conditions were challenging
but fair: some waves to manage, warm water that made it non-wetsuit
legal but still comfortable, and a very long beach run into transition.
In the days before the race, we trained open water entries and exits
with a local instructor who also taught us how to read the currents and
use them to our advantage. That helped a lot on race day. Thankfully,
there were no jellyfish to add to the excitement.
The bike: wind, bridges and relatively smooth roads
The bike course consisted of two loops with mostly flat terrain and
several bridge climbs that rewarded us with beautiful views. Wind played
a role, but the roads were in good condition, fully closed, and mostly
wide. Despite initial concerns about traffic and street dogs, everything
ran smoothly – the dogs were all very well behaved.
Unlike many other athletes, we didn’t ride the course before race day.
For me, that was the right decision, as the traffic outside the race is
quite chaotic and risky. The course itself wasn’t overly technical,
which made it easy to settle into a steady rhythm.
The run: heat and climbs
The run was hot and humid, though not nearly as brutal as predicted –
especially for us coming from Dubai. The course included a tough climb
on each of the three loops, which was mentally and physically demanding.
On the upside, the organisation was excellent: very frequent aid
stations offering water, hydration drinks, Coke and Red Bull, plus a
welcoming shower tunnel that felt like a small miracle.
Nutrition and conditions
Nutrition worked well for me throughout the day. I used Stealth training
mix before the swim, Stealth BigR endurance mix on the bike, and a soft
flask with Stealth training mix for the first part of the run.
Everything my stomach was used to. Although I was prepared for extreme
heat and humidity with salt tablets, I didn’t need those.
Results and atmosphere
The field was a great mix of participants: excited first-time Ironman
athletes alongside experienced racers from across India and European
competitors chasing qualification slots for the Nice World Championship
2026.
I finished 7th out of 69 women, 158th overall out of 851 athletes –
and as the only finisher in my age group. The cherry on top: for the
third time this year, across three different distances, Edgar and I both
stepped onto the podium. Try that!
Travel and logistics
Getting to Goa from Dubai was super easy. Air India Express offers a
three-something-hour direct flight, generous baggage allowance (30kg
plus 7kg cabin), and accepts bike boxes for a very reasonable additional
handling fee of 150 AED. The staff were initially surprised by seeing
the dimensions of the Bike Box Alan, but everything went smoothly.
Vélo Presto ensured my bike was packed safely, and even I managed to get
it ready again on arrival – especially straightforward with a road
bike.
Final thoughts
Ironman 70.3 Goa may not be the race to chase a personal best, but it is
an excellent overall experience: a rewarding, well organised race
experience in a beautiful location, with a nice spirit, and close to
Dubai.
Posted on 24th Dec 2025
About the Author
