UNLEASH YOUR INNER CHAMPION

Your Journey. Your Triumph. Your Life.

IM TRI Transforms the lives of individuals in our communities by removing participation barriers for the IRONMAN 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities.

Everyone has the potential to be a champion – no matter where they start.

IM TRI offers a pathway to health, wellness, and personal achievement. We are committed to fostering participation from athletes of all backgrounds – regardless of race, gender, physical or mental ability, or socioeconomic status. Together, we create a thriving community and fuel transformational growth.

Empowering Local Athletes. Transforming Lives.

Stepping into the IRONMAN world can be intimidating, and for first-time hopefuls preparing to participate can be daunting. By removing obstacles to participation, the IM TRI program from Visit Tri-Cities gives local individuals the opportunity to conquer the IRONMAN 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities and, in the process, transform their lives.

Each year, with generous support from community partners, the IM TRI program awards two deserving individuals with a training package valued at $9,650 each. This package provides support for gear, coaching, nutrition, and other essentials, helping participants focus on the challenge ahead.

Meet the 2026 IM TRI Athletes

Jaime Vera

Jaime Vera never pictured himself waiting on the start line of an IRONMAN 70.3. For years, his days were defined by what his body wouldn’t let him do. A herniated disc led to back surgery, degenerative disc disease made ordinary movement uncertain, and the unpredictable challenges of an autoimmune condition made training for an endurance race feel worlds away.

"For a long time, my life was measured in pain thresholds and appointments," Jaime shares. "I grew tired of that, and I decided to make a change. At first, that change wasn’t my body - it was my mindset. It was the profound declaration that my story wouldn’t be written by my diagnoses."

Jaime began small - with careful walks, gentle mobility, and intentional movement. Many of those early steps unfolded outdoors in the wide-open spaces of Tri-Cities, where he was able to rebuild at his own pace. Progress didn’t arrive in miles, but in inches, teaching him that consistency mattered more than speed. Setbacks and flare-ups required adjustment, but they also strengthened the patience and discipline that would carry him forward.

"Crossing that finish line would show me - and anyone who’s watched me navigate pain and uncertainty - that my story didn’t end with limitation," he says. "It grew with possibility through continued patience, adaptation, and a stubborn hope that I am, and always will be, more than the sum of my diagnoses or scars."

For Jaime, IRONMAN 70.3 represents more than a race - it represents a legacy of hope and endurance, one he wants to share. "I want my kids to see that no diagnosis has the final say in what your life can look like," he says. "And I’m ready to prove it."

Mariel Gentges

For Mariel Gentges, the path to IRONMAN 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities is more than a race—it’s a testament to resilience shaped through years of uncertainty. After living with unexplained symptoms, she was diagnosed in 2020 with hereditary angioedema, a rare disease affecting just 1 in 50,000 people.

“For a long time, I lived between fear and confusion,” Mariel says. “I looked healthy on the outside, but inside I was constantly bracing for what my body might do next.”

Her experience revealed something deeper: not all struggles are visible—but neither is strength. “Strength lives in quiet resilience,” she explains. “It’s in showing up through uncertainty and choosing to move forward, even when fear is present.”

That perspective is something she sees reflected in the IRONMAN 70.3 community. “Every athlete has a story,” she says. “Some trained through illness, grief, or loss. You don’t always hear those stories—but you feel them at the finish line.”

After losing her father last year, Mariel’s purpose became even more personal. Crossing the finish line now represents more than achievement—it represents healing, advocacy, and proof that resilience can rise alongside grief, illness, and unseen battles.

“I want anyone carrying something heavy to know that healing is possible,” she says. “Even when life feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. There is still hope—and there is still so much life ahead.”

A Look at Our IM TRI Sponsors

Through generous community support, IM TRI turns your IRONMAN 70.3 dream into reality.

CBRC Training

Mike works with a CBRC personal trainer on strength training to support his Ironman prep.

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Jen Comfort Coaching

Jen Comfort, swim coach, trains Maricela in the pool before transitioning to open water in the Columbia River.

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Runners Soul

Mike gets fitted for running shoes at Runners Soul, gearing up for the miles ahead.

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Augment Wellness

Maricela enjoys some athletic recovery at Augment Wellness.

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Trek Bikes Kennewick

Offering Quality bikes, professional service, and gear for cyclists of all levels.

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IM TRI Athletes Will Receive:

CBRC Health & Fitness

Six month single membership
3x/week one hour personal trainer
PNOE Metabolic and VO2 Testing

Jen Comfort Coaching

Comprehensive coaching services for swimming, biking, running, and strength for a period of six months.

Augment Wellness Recovery

Six-month unlimited membership
Monthly access to the hyperbaric oxygen chamber

Runners Soul

One pair of running shoes up to $150

Trek Bikes Kennewick

$300 in product, at retail
Two tailored one-on-one bike clinics to address athlete's needs: basic bike maintenance, road-side repair, two bike fits, or any other areas of similar inquiry
Two service packages, including: a “Level Two” bike tune in the Spring and a “Level One” prior to race day OR a $300 dollar coupon towards the bike of the athlete's choice, in place of the bike tune packages

Visit Tri-Cities IRONMAN Registration

Registration/Race Entry to IRONMAN 70.3 Washington
Program collaboration, marketing, publicity, social media, and media outreach across communication platforms