Sports
Vera Cavanha and Rafaela Nagai at Ironman 70.3 Curitiba
The race's most experienced athlete and youngest debutant share routines, resilience, and race strategies.
Ahead of Ironman 70.3 Curitiba, Vera Cavanha and Rafaela Nagai come together to discuss the challenges facing different generations in triathlon. Balancing a first half-distance race against nearly three decades in the sport, the athletes reflect on consistency, routine, and pacing strategies.
The pre-race atmosphere of an endurance event always brings together stories with very different beginnings. On the eve of Ironman 70.3 Curitiba, a meeting between the oldest registered athlete, 67-year-old Vera Cavanha, and the youngest in the women's start list, Rafaela Nagai, embodies the dedication driving different generations in triathlon.
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Three decades on the road and overcoming open water
Vera Cavanha is tackling her third Ironman 70.3 in Curitiba, bringing with her no less than 29 years of triathlon experience. Her start in the sport, however, required overcoming a hurdle common to many beginners: a fear of swimming in open water. After cheering on her husband and son at Sesc circuit events solely as a photographer, she decided to take the plunge.
Supported by therapy and driven by determination to swim despite her anxiety, Vera built a solid routine that weathered changing family and professional phases. For her, persistence remains the primary driving force in both life and sport, leaving no room for excuses about weather or lack of time to get training sessions done.
Debuting at half distance alongside college studies
At the opposite end of the experience spectrum, Rafaela Nagai is gearing up for her first Ironman 70.3. With a background in swimming since childhood and having picked up running about two years ago, Rafaela transitioned to triathlon a year and a half ago. After competing in Sprint and Olympic distances, the Paraná native is now taking on the 113-kilometer challenge.
The primary obstacle during her preparation was balancing heavy training loads with college commitments. Defying skeptical advice from those who doubted such a routine was feasible, Rafaela scheduled early morning sessions to maintain the consistency demanded by the half distance.
Strategy and pacing on the Curitiba course
Familiar with the local elevation profile and unique course features, both athletes emphasize that Curitiba demands patience. According to Vera, the race calls for a measured pace and emotional control, especially on the bike leg, where technical sections and aero bar restrictions require attentive bike handling and steady output without unnecessary power spikes.
When fatigue sets in on the run, the veteran with nearly 30 years in the sport offers straightforward advice: recognize the moment you hit the wall, slow down briefly, hydrate, take in calories, and restart your stride with your mind set firmly on the finish line.
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