It was a desert of extremes in St. George, Utah when Jodi competed in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships last September.

“The weather was a bit of a mess. It was not the race I wanted,” she said. 

Come Rain and Shine

A storm rolled through while Jodi was in the water during the first leg of the half-day competition that included swimming, biking, and running components. During the 1.2-mile swim, the temperature dropped into the 60s, the wind started whipping and the hail poured down.
As the waves picked up, an unfortunate situation turned into a dangerous one. Drowning was an eminent possibility so boats were deployed to rescue the athletes.

“I felt relief when I was pulled into the boat but I was worried about the other competitors still in the water,” recalls Jodi. “When everyone was out of the water, the race was able to continue, but it really became about survival now and how I was going to get myself to the finish line.”

Jodi’s body temperature had plummeted, she was shivering and turning blue. Still storming and with lightning cracking overhead, the wind pushed tumbleweeds across her path. Jodi wrapped a space blanket around her core and slowly completed the hilly biking portion. 

After riding 56 miles, the sun came out and along with it, the heat. With no shade, Jodi found it exhausting to complete the final leg of the race, a 13.1-mile run. Focused on staying hydrated and cool, she stuffed ice down her shirt, and refused to run out of steam until after crossing the finish line. 

In July, Jodi competed in the Ironman Musselman 70.3 in Geneva and qualified to compete in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, where she’ll be heading again this year. 

“I’m concerned about the weather but I’m hoping that can’t happen two years in a row,” she said.

Local Paths and Long Adventures

This is Jodi Plante’s 18th season competing in triathlons, a sport her sister introduced her to when she was 30 years old and that Jodi’s been in love with ever since she crossed that first finish line, she said. 

Completing an average of five to seven races each year, she enjoys testing her spirit, tenacity, and courage in a continuous pursuit of excellence. 

“I like seeing how much I can push myself and empowering other women by doing it. I’m leading by example,” she said.

Despite a harrowing fall from her bike during the Lake George Triathlon in 2017 that left her with an angular collarbone break, today, Jodi is at the top of her game. 

“Since then, I have wanted to come back stronger, so I have been pushing myself harder,” she said. In addition to competing in regional triathlons, she races in the events that attract the best in the sport, including the Lake Placid Ironman in 2014, 2019, and 2022.  

Jodi lives locally and has been an architectural assistant for the Saratoga-based Olsen Associates since 1997, but travels all over to compete, often accompanied by her husband, Jim Jordan (they’ve been together for 17 years). 

It’s a pursuit they’ve participated in as far away as Hong Kong. Always on the lookout for races when they travel, the couple ran a half marathon when last there. 

“It was great. We loved it.”

Better Than Yesterday

Whether you’re competing at elite level or it’s still the first steps on your personal fitness journey, Jodi loves to share with you what she knows and mentoring others. 

“Whatever you want to do, if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish it,” she said. “You can do it at any point in life. Just go do it. Start with one step.”

As a member of the Saratoga Triathlon Club, the Plush Global Team, the Eliel Cycling Factory Team, and the League of Garmin Jodi receives perks, discounts on gear, and the additional power that comes from an electrifying amount of spectator support. 

“When you go to bigger races, you can meet up with other teammates and have an automatic family (because you’re all wearing the same team kit) and cheer each other on even though you just met.”

For more inspiration and updates on Jodi Plante’s October 28th Ironman World Championship race, follow her on Facebook.