One of the best things about the triathlon community is the ability to connect with strangers and make new friends along the way. In June, I had the pleasure of meeting Amy Mason, a passionate triathlete and coach, at the IRONMAN 70.3 Pennsylvania Happy Valley.
Mason just completed one of the most challenging races on the IRONMAN circuit, which also happens to take place in one of Switzerland’s most spectacular towns: Thun.
The race took place on July 5 in what IRONMAN describes as “the ultimate endurance challenge that pushes athletes beyond their perceived boundaries, set against the breathtaking scenery of Thun’s pristine waters, majestic mountains, and historic bridges.”
Heading into the race, Mason expected the bike course to be difficult. “It is a high meter, high elevation kind of ride especially given the fact that we don’t have that kind of geography here on the U.S. East Coast.”
Mason – who is from Princeton, New Jersey – has prepared for the Thun race over several years by competing in the IRONMAN Lake Place race. “Lake Placid was a commensurate platform, which worked out very well in the end.”
That being said, Mason insists with a laugh, “the climb still kicked my butt. I’m not the best climber but the descent was also challenging.” The triathlete has grown more conservative over the years especially after several hard falls and losing a friend to a biking accident. “I am more risk averse now than I used to be which is why I didn’t bike down the big hills at full speed.”
“I used to be quite a baller descending, which I love but I don’t do high speed at aero anymore.”
The bike race entailed some high-speed cornering, but Mason expresses satisfaction with how they were marked. “IRONMAN did a great job with organizing the race. There were even a few areas where aero was prohibited.”
For Mason, who has been competing in full and half IRONMAN races for 20 years, safety is always her top priority: Prior to the event, participants had been warned about the radiant heat at elevation.
With a little luck, however, the weather conditions on race day had dramatically improved from the week prior when Switzerland – and much of Central Europe – experienced a grueling heat wave. “On race day, one never really knows how the body is going to respond to things, but I definitely felt that intensity riding in the mountains.”
The weather conditions were sunny around the 80s, but Mason nonetheless experienced what she describes as “radiant heat” while riding. “It was a very intense experience as I did not respond well to IRONMAN’s on-course fluids. In retrospect, I could have and should have practiced better hydration protocol.”
In light of these dynamics, Mason quickly realized that she was about to triage the run. “I knew that I would have to try and overcome the deficit that I had done on the bike but in the end, I just couldn’t.”
It was a hot and steamy run. “My body did not like any of the nutrition and hydration on the run, which affected my run but fortunately I am a good and experienced runner.”
In between the various IRONMAN races – whether it is a full or a half – Mason runs several marathons, ultra-marathons and half-marathons every year.
Though Thun wasn’t her best day, “it was a fantastic race which was beautifully coordinated surrounded by beautiful nature and cityscape. Thun is simply a magical place. The community also really came out to support us. Not every race has that.”
The Thun race – along with its Lake Placid counterpart – are both known as some of the most demanding IRONMAN circuits. This year, Mason did not participate at Lake Placid but accompanied some of her coaching clients to the race. “The day after the race, I went out and rode the course and swam. It was so nice and quiet.”
Most of us never reach our potential because we fail to take advantage of our brains' capacity to respond when pushed
Preparing for KONA
This October, Mason will participate for the second time at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Because she sustained an injury in Thun, which inevitably affected her run, Mason won’t compete in any race before Kona. “I injured my hamstring and lumbar spine and even ruptured a disc, but I am going to rehab. I will be fully recovered by the time I head to Hawaii.”
For Mason KONA has a special place in her heart. “During my first World Championship competition in 2023, it was a women’s only event. I am a huge proponent of women in sports. One of my main passions is trying to grow the very low percentages we have across all sport.”
Mason is drawn to women only races because of the camaraderie and outpouring of support from fellow athletes. “Not every race has that vibe but in women only races, we all feel grateful and that we have earned it.”
This year, however, KONA will be coed.
It was in her early 20s that Mason developed an interest in triathlon after witnessing what she facetiously describes as “Those People,” yes, with ‘capital T and P,’ she insists, who participated in multi-sports events around the Princeton, NJ, community. “I was young, driven, ambitious, yada, yada. I was really impressed by these people, and kept thinking: ‘wow, wow, wow.’ They must have done something right.”
Now, Mason is one of Those People.
And the rest in history but it keeps evolving: After finding her own way within the alluring lifestyle of swim, bike and run, Mason felt compelled to help people she encountered along the way who could benefit from her insights and experiences. “I decided that I wanted to become a coach.”
Coaching philosophy
After years of competitive racing, Mason earned a Level II Coaching designation with USA Triathlon, a distinction shared with only approximately 200 fellow coaches, as well as certifications from USA Swimming, and USA Track & Field. She graduated from The College of New Jersey with degrees in Journalism, Psychology, and Women’s Studies and Rider University with a MA/Honors of Athletic Leadership/Sports Psychology.
“There are not many of us who have earned a USA Triathlon Level II certificate. After earning it, I have had the pleasure of learning from some really accomplished people in the sport, including a lot of professionals, athletes or former professional triathletes. These experiences opened a lot of doors right there in terms of a knowledge base, but also networking; I’m still working with them.” Mason is also making alliances with the many people she has met over the years.
Her coaching certificates include:
- SISU Performance Coaching
- USA Triathlon Level II Coach
- USA Swim Certified
- USA Track & Field Certified
- MA Athletic Leadership/Sports Psychology
Mason is a fervent proponent of understanding and actively training the mental as well as the physical aspects of performance. Her passion is the art/science of endurance and motivation-concepts like flow, grit, perseverance/resilience— and how to use empirical data to optimize individual peak performances. Her focus is helping athletes bridge the gap between competence and confidence, effectively managing stress and anxiety, and achieving mental, physical, and emotional balance. “Training should fit into your life and be fun and rewarding— not a chore. Our minds and bodies are capable of extraordinary things when we promote synergy. Understand the process… enjoy the journey…achieve your goals,” Mason says.
When not racing or coaching, Mason loves traveling and motorcycling with her retired US Air Force husband. Excursions include the Italian Dolomites, Swiss Alps, Colorado and California and exploring America’s National Park System. She is a frequent race, community, and animal-shelter volunteer and former coach for Girls on the Run. She can often be found hitting the trails with her Border Collie Scout.
Mason can be reached at: coachamymason@yahoo.com.
