Los Alamos resident Liz Miller running Oct. 19 at Ironman California in Sacramento. Courtesy photo

Los Alamos resident Liz Miller triumphantly holds up the banner at the finish line of Ironman California. Miller was the first female finisher of the triathlon, which featured 2,300 competitors. Courtesy photo

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

When Los Alamos resident Liz Miller snatched and proudly held up the banner at the finish line of Ironman California, she said she had a strong sense of déjà vu.

She explained that she held a mental picture of being the overall winner of the race for so long that when she achieved the goal of being the first female runner to cross the finish line, it felt like the experience was being repeated.

“When it was happening, it felt like déjà vu,” Miller said. “It was interesting; something I pictured happening was actually coming to life. It was really incredible.”

Miller earned the top female time of 9:34:30 at Ironman California, which was held Oct. 19 in Sacramento.

The race is an intense triathlon; it involves running 26.2 miles, biking 112 miles, and swimming 2.4 miles.

It is also popular. Miller said she competed against approximately 500 other women racers. A total of 2,300 people participated in the race.

Miller recalled what her thought was as she crossed the finishing line, “I think really what was going through my brain was, ‘I’m doing this. I did this.’”

While the actual race was impressive, so was all the work Miller did to prepare for this event.

She said she trained on average 15 hours a week but there were a few weeks that she raised it up to 20 hours. Her training included four bike rides a week, three swims and four to five runs. Miller added that she did a fair bit of training in Los Alamos; she would swim at the Aquatic Center and she and her husband would ride their bikes at the Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Training for the Ironman started as soon as she registered for the event, in December 2024.

“Prepping for these things as far in advance as possible is always a benefit,” Miller said.

Miller would know; this was her 16th Ironman event. She has done the event in St. George, Utah, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and in Arizona, Maryland and even one in Germany as well as other locations.

What attracts her to the Ironman competitions is “I like the structure; I like the variety. I tend to really thrive at large endurance events,” she said. “I really like the challenge of it and pushing your body as much as you can.”

She has had success as previous Ironmans, too, Miler said she has been in the top 10 finishers. What helped her at the California event, she said, was “I was really driven to put it all out there to do the best of my abilities.”

Plus, she said during her trainings, “I really just held myself accountable … my big goal was to win. I felt it was time to make this happen. I really just did not let myself cut corners.”

Miller’s participation in marathons is somewhat new; she said she did not grow up doing these races. However, she was a runner; Miller ran in high school and then again during graduate school. When she moved to Los Alamos in 2008, she did her first triathlon in Santa Fe and then another in Los Alamos.

“It was just a way to meet people,” Miller said. “It was a good way to get to know other folks…”

While the California race is over, that doesn’t mean Miller is putting away the running shoes, the swim cap or the bike. She has already signed up for the Ironman event in Lake Placid and noted that a half-marathon Ironman is coming to Ruidoso in 2026.

“My husband jokes that I have no off-season,” Miller said.

Miller added it is exciting that the Ironman events are coming to New Mexico.

“It’s awesome for Ironman to come here,” she said.

Perhaps it will encourage others to give triathlons a try. Whatever people are interested in pursuing – whether it is triathlons or something else – Miller encourages them to go after it.

“I think – go for it. Find something you are passionate about and go for it.”