Ordinary athletes with
extraordinary goals.
The Ordinary Athlete
An endurance blog for everyday athletes
Welcome to The Ordinary Athlete — a no-BS endurance blog for everyday runners, triathletes, and goal-chasers. Whether you’re training for your first 10K, your next Ironman, or just trying to fuel better, you’ll find practical tips, honest stories, and useful tools to help you go farther, faster and stronger.
Recent Posts
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12 Mistakes I Made in My First Marathon (So You Don’t Have To)
No matter how much you train or prepare, your first marathon is always full of surprises. The long runs in training give you confidence, but nothing quite replicates the reality of race day — the nerves, the logistics, the 26.2 miles (or 42.2 kilometres) ahead of you, and the inevitable marathon mistakes that come with…
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How Long is an Ultra Marathon? Race Types, Distances & What to Expect
An ultramarathon is technically any running race longer than 42.2 km (26.2 miles). But how long is an ultra marathon, really—and what does that actually involve? That depends. The truth is, ultras come in many shapes and sizes. Some are just a few miles past a marathon, while others stretch across entire regions, test sleep…
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Triathlon Transition Bags: What Goes in Them & How to Pack
Triathlon gear can get overwhelming fast—especially when it comes time to pack your transition bags. If it’s your first race, you might even be wondering: what are triathlon transition bags, what goes in them, and when are they actually used? In most sprint and Olympic-distance triathlons, you won’t use dedicated transition bags. Instead, you’ll usually…
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How Long Do You Need to Train for an Ironman?
If you’re wondering how long you really need to train for an Ironman, the short answer is: it depends. For most people, training for a full-distance Ironman will take 6 to 12 months, but the right timeline for you depends on a few key things—like your current fitness level, your experience with endurance sports, and…
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Race Report: Ironman Canada-Ottawa 2025
On August 3, 2025, I became an Ironman. It was actually my first triathlon, my first Ironman, and my first time racing in an event of this scale. The entire experience was surreal—from the intense prep and logistics in the days leading up to the race, to the 12 hours and 27 minutes I spent…
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About Me
Hi, I’m Chanelle — an amateur triathlete, avid runner, and lover of all things endurance.
I created The Ordinary Athlete to share real-life tips, training stories, and fuelling advice from someone who’s in it for the journey, not just the podium.