PICKUPS with Joy McAdams
From posterior tibialis injury to HYROX Worlds — meet Joy.
How does running make you feel?
Running will always be sentimental for me because, at 4 years old, my dad believed in me and helped me train to complete a 9.3-mile iconic race. Whenever training gets tough or late, I go back to seeing our shadows late into the night. A little girl in pigtails and the shadow of a man supporting her. This visual has gotten me through many of the Ironman runs that go into the night.
Name a woman who inspires you.
I recently had pro triathlete Gabriel Suvar on my podcast. She was hit and left for dead on her last training ride before IM Cozumel last year. Her body was shattered, and watching her come back this year, already back to doing local races, is nothing short of a miracle and shows what the human body is truly capable of when the mind refuses to accept defeat.
What’s something you thought you couldn’t do, but did?
Swimming in an Ironman was always terrifying to me. I never thought that I would fall in love with it and gain the confidence to take on any swim conditions.
Any races on your bucket list?
I've done the double crossing of the Grand Canyon, but I'd love to do it again, but a lot faster.
You’re at the peak difficulty of a workout, race, or run—what one thought keeps you going?
I think to myself, “this is what winning feels like, and this is what separates winning and losing… lean in”. Also, I think about my kids watching and that "lessons are caught not taught".
Which Hettas are you currently training in?
Alma Tempo
You didn't run your first race until you were 44. What made you decide to start, and what surprised you most about who you became on the other side of it?
I started seeing a lot of personal development content on LinkedIn. It was all about how being comfortable is the most dangerous place to be. Instead of paying the expensive fees for personal development courses, I decided to try to achieve the same result through a physical challenge and train for my first marathon. Through training and race day, I realized I was exactly spot on, because I grew soooo much through the process. You can't cheat a physical challenge and have someone do it for you — the only way is to grow through the suffering or quit. There's no in between. I was sold on this process... if it scared me, I had to do it!
You were told your running days might be on hold because of your posterior tibialis injury. What did it feel like to lose that consistency, and what did getting it back make possible?
It was extremely frustrating. I thought that what they say about turning 50 was true — that things would keep falling apart and I would have to back off from chasing my big goals. I wasn't willing to accept this because I still had so much more I wanted to do. I knew I had to figure it out. Once I found Hettas, I was able to start running consistently and slowly add mileage without my PT swelling. My first sign that there was hope was when I won a local 5k. I then qualified for Hyrox Worlds and Ironman 70.3 Worlds. Then I had the privilege to help a challenged athlete complete the Ironman World Championship. The marathon was drawn out longer than any I had run, and yet my PT held up. Also, she kept her eyes focused on the reflectors on the back of my Hettas to help her equilibrium in the dark. This would have never been possible without Hettas.
You're heading to HYROX Worlds at 50, competing in a sport that is extremely demanding. What do you think 50 means now vs. what you thought it meant before?
I feel like 50 is just getting started. I'm still seeing gains, and the mental side of doing sport now for 6 years is really starting to become an advantage as well.
What's one thing you wish someone had told you about gear, training, or your body that you had to learn the hard way?
That just because something is flashy or possible, it doesn't mean it's the best for longevity. Maturity as an athlete is about always asking "how does this affect my longevity?" — sometimes it means pulling out of a race when an injury starts or focusing more on recovery instead of pushing through.
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