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ST: Most folks are aware of the Hawaiian Ironman, the XTERRA World Championships and the Ultraman event and possibly various other Hawaiian events, but EPIC5 likely does not ring a bell. Can you explain the event?
Suzy: EPIC5 is 5 Ironman events in 5 days on 5 islands of Hawaii. I saw this as part of an article and it is so true. EPIC5 is a personal test, not a competition; there are no winners, only finishers and participants. Longer, more demanding endurance trials exist, but this is the only one that combines back-to-back triathlons with travel.
ST: How did you stumble upon it and what drew you in?
Suzy: I had a few friends who I met through Ultra520K that have completed it, so it was something that interested me and I had on my radar for a few years. When I finished Ultra520K Canada for a second time, I felt that I was ready for something new - something that would scare and excite me at the same time.
ST: Could you also talk about you racing as a professional? When was that and what was the highlight?
Suzy: I raced professional from 2012 to 2015. It truly was something that I never aimed or trained for, but when the opportunity presented itself, I said why not. Honestly nothing really changed, I still had to keep my day job, but I was able to wear the cool P tattoo on my calf and start in the front. The highlight was Ironman Lake Placid 2012, my first professional Ironman race. I was the first out of the water and in the lead until about mile 90 on the bike, I felt pretty badass having the camera crew follow me around. I ended up 4th female pro.
ST: Where is that trophy now?
Suzy: Still on display at the house. However, the Ultra520K awards and now the Epic 5 are taking a front seat on the mantle. [laughs]
ST: What made you decide that racing with a pro license in triathlon is not for you?
Suzy: It was an amazing opportunity to race against the best of the best. I felt like many of times, I was racing to not be the last professional to finish. That caused me to lose some joy in the sport, so I took a step back to try and find my passion again.
Suzy: EPIC5 is 5 Ironman events in 5 days on 5 islands of Hawaii. I saw this as part of an article and it is so true. EPIC5 is a personal test, not a competition; there are no winners, only finishers and participants. Longer, more demanding endurance trials exist, but this is the only one that combines back-to-back triathlons with travel.
ST: How did you stumble upon it and what drew you in?
Suzy: I had a few friends who I met through Ultra520K that have completed it, so it was something that interested me and I had on my radar for a few years. When I finished Ultra520K Canada for a second time, I felt that I was ready for something new - something that would scare and excite me at the same time.
ST: Could you also talk about you racing as a professional? When was that and what was the highlight?
Suzy: I raced professional from 2012 to 2015. It truly was something that I never aimed or trained for, but when the opportunity presented itself, I said why not. Honestly nothing really changed, I still had to keep my day job, but I was able to wear the cool P tattoo on my calf and start in the front. The highlight was Ironman Lake Placid 2012, my first professional Ironman race. I was the first out of the water and in the lead until about mile 90 on the bike, I felt pretty badass having the camera crew follow me around. I ended up 4th female pro.
ST: Where is that trophy now?
Suzy: Still on display at the house. However, the Ultra520K awards and now the Epic 5 are taking a front seat on the mantle. [laughs]
ST: What made you decide that racing with a pro license in triathlon is not for you?
Suzy: It was an amazing opportunity to race against the best of the best. I felt like many of times, I was racing to not be the last professional to finish. That caused me to lose some joy in the sport, so I took a step back to try and find my passion again.
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ST: And when and how did you get started with triathlon?
Suzy: I got started in triathlons when I was in high school. There was an iconic triathlon in my neighborhood called the Columbia Triathlon. I wanted to sign up but I didn’t have a bike. My parents didn’t want me to go to senior week so they asked me to come up with something that I wanted instead. I said a bike and they rest is history! The first year I did the race, I qualified to be on the Junior World triathlon team and got to spend my summer at the Olympic training center in Colorado. Needless to say I got hooked! Unfortunately, the race is no longer but the memory of where I got started will always be there.
ST: What sports did you do prior?
Suzy: I played basketball and volleyball. I thought that I would play volleyball in college, however my senior year I switched to cross-country so I could train for triathlons. I learned that I enjoy individual sports a little more than team sports.
ST: How much do you swim, run and bike during a good week?
Suzy: When I am not training for ultra distance racing, I would say that I average three swims, three to four bikes sessions and I teach spin class three times a week, and three runs. I never really have an off-season as I see this as a lifestyle.
ST: Talk about your day job.
Suzy: I am an elementary school Physical Education teacher. I teach kids from kindergarten to 5th grade. I was not the most athletic kid growing up, and surprisingly I did not enjoy PE. I was the girl picking weeds during kickball. However, I think because of the experience, it makes me want to try that much harder to be a better teacher and help foster a learning environment where all children feel success in physical activity.
ST: Are the students impressed by your adventures?
Suzy: I was welcomed back to school with the hallways lined with cheers from students and staff. Not only that, but they made a rubric cube art of my face. I think you made it when that happens!
Suzy: I got started in triathlons when I was in high school. There was an iconic triathlon in my neighborhood called the Columbia Triathlon. I wanted to sign up but I didn’t have a bike. My parents didn’t want me to go to senior week so they asked me to come up with something that I wanted instead. I said a bike and they rest is history! The first year I did the race, I qualified to be on the Junior World triathlon team and got to spend my summer at the Olympic training center in Colorado. Needless to say I got hooked! Unfortunately, the race is no longer but the memory of where I got started will always be there.
ST: What sports did you do prior?
Suzy: I played basketball and volleyball. I thought that I would play volleyball in college, however my senior year I switched to cross-country so I could train for triathlons. I learned that I enjoy individual sports a little more than team sports.
ST: How much do you swim, run and bike during a good week?
Suzy: When I am not training for ultra distance racing, I would say that I average three swims, three to four bikes sessions and I teach spin class three times a week, and three runs. I never really have an off-season as I see this as a lifestyle.
ST: Talk about your day job.
Suzy: I am an elementary school Physical Education teacher. I teach kids from kindergarten to 5th grade. I was not the most athletic kid growing up, and surprisingly I did not enjoy PE. I was the girl picking weeds during kickball. However, I think because of the experience, it makes me want to try that much harder to be a better teacher and help foster a learning environment where all children feel success in physical activity.
ST: Are the students impressed by your adventures?
Suzy: I was welcomed back to school with the hallways lined with cheers from students and staff. Not only that, but they made a rubric cube art of my face. I think you made it when that happens!
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ST: In 2016 you switched from Ironman racing to Ultra events. Talk about that transition.
Suzy: I knew it was time to sign up for the Ultra520K when I would sign up for an Ironman and it would become more about not if I was going to finish, but how well. I felt like I was going through the motions of swim, bike, and run without really getting excited to do a race.
ST: I think the 2018 Canada Ultra 520K is your highlight or is it now the EPIC5?
Suzy: EPIC 5 for sure!
ST: How did you prepare for EPIC5?
Suzy: What felt like endless hours of swimming, biking, and running! I basically spent my free time swimming, biking, and running. One of my biggest weeks was the following:
Monday: 4000m swim and a 3 hour ride
Tuesday: 45 minute spin class and a 6 mile run
Wednesday: 75 minute run and 45 minute spin class
Thursday: 3.5 hour ride
Friday: 4000m swim, 4.5 hour ride, 3 mile walk
Saturday: 4000m swim, 6 hour ride, 1 hour run
Sunday: 4000m swim, 5 hour ride, 1.5 hour run
I don’t have a coach so I made things up as I went. I really tried to listen to my body and let it tell me what it could handle. A hug part of this was getting to the start line uninjured. I also had great advice and support from previous finishers - thank you Dani, Mel, Duncan, and Chad.
ST: Those 4000 meter swim workouts, how do you structure them?
Suzy: I vary them. A go to workout was 1 x 1000, 5 x 200, 1 x 1000, 10 x 100. A little mixture of long and short distances.
Suzy: I knew it was time to sign up for the Ultra520K when I would sign up for an Ironman and it would become more about not if I was going to finish, but how well. I felt like I was going through the motions of swim, bike, and run without really getting excited to do a race.
ST: I think the 2018 Canada Ultra 520K is your highlight or is it now the EPIC5?
Suzy: EPIC 5 for sure!
ST: How did you prepare for EPIC5?
Suzy: What felt like endless hours of swimming, biking, and running! I basically spent my free time swimming, biking, and running. One of my biggest weeks was the following:
Monday: 4000m swim and a 3 hour ride
Tuesday: 45 minute spin class and a 6 mile run
Wednesday: 75 minute run and 45 minute spin class
Thursday: 3.5 hour ride
Friday: 4000m swim, 4.5 hour ride, 3 mile walk
Saturday: 4000m swim, 6 hour ride, 1 hour run
Sunday: 4000m swim, 5 hour ride, 1.5 hour run
I don’t have a coach so I made things up as I went. I really tried to listen to my body and let it tell me what it could handle. A hug part of this was getting to the start line uninjured. I also had great advice and support from previous finishers - thank you Dani, Mel, Duncan, and Chad.
ST: Those 4000 meter swim workouts, how do you structure them?
Suzy: I vary them. A go to workout was 1 x 1000, 5 x 200, 1 x 1000, 10 x 100. A little mixture of long and short distances.
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ST: Back to your big Hawaiian adventure. What did you do after each day to get mentally ready for the next?
Suzy: Honestly, sleep. As soon as the race was over, my crew was amazing. They would get me into my pajamas and I would head straight to bed. I learned after the first day you really can’t prepare for what the next day is going to bring. I just had to be rested as much as possible and wake up with a positive attitude; or at least fake it!
ST: Talk about the nutrition each day during and post the event.
Suzy: I went in thinking that I would be starving and want to eat everything and anything before, during, and after each day. We did a huge shop on the first island and got items that I used in training including Oreo cookies, Swedish Fish, Potato Chips, and Pop Tarts to name a few. However, the first day I think I overloaded my bottles with calories and unfortunately was throwing up throughout the bike and run. We might have used 5% of the items we bought! After that, I gave up control of my food and calories to my crew. For the rest of the days, I took in a mixture of liquid calories, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Cheez-Its, and pickles. When we found something that worked we kept with it. As for after, I am still trying to get my full appetite back.
ST: Was there a point during these 5 days where you questioned the decision to enter this event?
Suzy: I think I questioned it at some point every day. However, I quickly shifted my mindset to a I get this. Signing up for something like this, I knew that there were would be ups and downs. I was pleasantly surprised by how many more ups there were than downs. Honestly, the only real low moment I had, was the last 6 miles on Day 5. It was a painfully slow walk but I knew that I had plenty of time so I knew I would finish. I did debate going back to the hotel to sleep and then come back in a few hours to finish. I have never hit a wall like that. If it was on any other day I am not sure I would have made the flight.
ST: What else is on your bucket list?
Suzy: That is the million dollar question! I have no idea.
ST: That is maybe better for your bank account.
Suzy: Oh yes! Mt bank account is suffering a little after this trip, but it was so worth it.
ST: Is there anything else we should know?
Suzy: I owe a great deal to my crew, Stephanie Blades, David Blades, and Mark Naphin. They were my lifeline and without them I would not crossed that finish line. We are forever bonded in a way that I will be forever grateful. Throughout this journey I wanted to raise awareness for Parkinson’s, something my dad was diagnosed with 7 years ago. Through BigFoot Endurance, I was able to raise over $10,000 to go to Parkinson research.
Suzy: Honestly, sleep. As soon as the race was over, my crew was amazing. They would get me into my pajamas and I would head straight to bed. I learned after the first day you really can’t prepare for what the next day is going to bring. I just had to be rested as much as possible and wake up with a positive attitude; or at least fake it!
ST: Talk about the nutrition each day during and post the event.
Suzy: I went in thinking that I would be starving and want to eat everything and anything before, during, and after each day. We did a huge shop on the first island and got items that I used in training including Oreo cookies, Swedish Fish, Potato Chips, and Pop Tarts to name a few. However, the first day I think I overloaded my bottles with calories and unfortunately was throwing up throughout the bike and run. We might have used 5% of the items we bought! After that, I gave up control of my food and calories to my crew. For the rest of the days, I took in a mixture of liquid calories, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Cheez-Its, and pickles. When we found something that worked we kept with it. As for after, I am still trying to get my full appetite back.
ST: Was there a point during these 5 days where you questioned the decision to enter this event?
Suzy: I think I questioned it at some point every day. However, I quickly shifted my mindset to a I get this. Signing up for something like this, I knew that there were would be ups and downs. I was pleasantly surprised by how many more ups there were than downs. Honestly, the only real low moment I had, was the last 6 miles on Day 5. It was a painfully slow walk but I knew that I had plenty of time so I knew I would finish. I did debate going back to the hotel to sleep and then come back in a few hours to finish. I have never hit a wall like that. If it was on any other day I am not sure I would have made the flight.
ST: What else is on your bucket list?
Suzy: That is the million dollar question! I have no idea.
ST: That is maybe better for your bank account.
Suzy: Oh yes! Mt bank account is suffering a little after this trip, but it was so worth it.
ST: Is there anything else we should know?
Suzy: I owe a great deal to my crew, Stephanie Blades, David Blades, and Mark Naphin. They were my lifeline and without them I would not crossed that finish line. We are forever bonded in a way that I will be forever grateful. Throughout this journey I wanted to raise awareness for Parkinson’s, something my dad was diagnosed with 7 years ago. Through BigFoot Endurance, I was able to raise over $10,000 to go to Parkinson research.
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ST: Can you share that link?
Suzy: https://www.bigfootendurance.com/suzyserpico
Suzy: https://www.bigfootendurance.com/suzyserpico
