Unfinished Business: My Road to IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina 2027
October 2027. Wilmington, North Carolina. A new challenge, a new strategy, and unfinished business.
On September 27, 2026, I competed in IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta. I completed the 1.2-mile swim and made it to mile 41 of the 56-mile bike course before missing the cutoff by approximately four minutes. Officially, the result was a DNF—Did Not Finish.
But in my mind, DNF means Did Not Fail.
Augusta taught me valuable lessons, and I'm taking every one of them into my preparation for IRONMAN 70.3 North Carolina in October 2027.
Learning From Augusta
Looking back, I made three significant mistakes.
First, I followed kayak support rather than sighting properly for the buoys which created a zig zag swim pattern.
Second, I was too slow in T1 ( transition swim to bike ). Those extra minutes mattered. I could have saved 4 minutes in transition. Being 4 minutes too slow is why I was pulled from the bike course after 41 miles.
Third, I wasn't adequately prepared for Augusta's hills. My cycling training didn't sufficiently replicate the demands of that course.
Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, my mindset was simply to beat the 8-hour, 30-minute cutoff. I wasn't training toward a finish time that provided enough cushion when things didn't go perfectly.
That changes now.
A New Goal: Under Eight Hours
I've established a projected finish time of 7 hours, 55 minutes, and 18 seconds for North Carolina.
My targets are:
Swim: 45:00 (1.2 miles)
T1: 10:00
Bike: 4:00:00 (56 miles at 14 mph)
T2: 10:00
Run: 2:50:18 (13.1 miles at 13:00/mile)
These are a little ambitious for me but measurable goals, providing a little cushion under eight hours.
Training Smarter, Not Just Harder
Beginning November 1, I'll be working with a new triathlon coach in the Wilmington area who understands the North Carolina course.
I plan to swim the actual race course several times before October 2027, eliminating much of the uncertainty surrounding race day.
I'll also train locally, both independently and alongside a triathlete friend who's a stronger, faster cyclist than I am. Having someone push me beyond my comfort zone will be invaluable.
Between now and race day, I'll compete in shorter triathlons and a half marathon to build endurance, speed, confidence, and race experience.
Another priority is body composition. I intend to arrive at the starting line more than 10 pounds lighter than I was in Augusta, with a lower body fat percentage, while maintaining strength and muscle.
Parkinson's Doesn't Define Me
I'll be almost 61 years old on race day, and I'll still be living with Parkinson's disease.
My neurologist has told me I can push as hard as I want. That's encouraging, but I also recognize the importance of being realistic, listening to my body, and respecting recovery.
I cannot control everything Parkinson's throws my way. But I can control my preparation, attitude, consistency, and determination.
Unfinished Business
Augusta wasn't the ending I wanted. It was an education.
The next 12 months aren't about proving that Parkinson's can't stop me. They're about discovering what I can accomplish through disciplined training, smarter decisions, and persistence.
October 2027, I'm coming for that 70.3 finish line. David Williams is a triathlete, Parkinson's advocate, speaker, and creator of The Unsteady Show, sharing his journey to encourage others to live actively and purposefully despite life's challenges. Donate To The Parkinson's Foundation: www.David2026.com Order Apparel: www.FightPD.Shop
