Team Wisco won a third place finish at the IRONMAN 70.3 Wisconsin. From left to right: Megan Cosgrove, Jenni Pinski and Trisha Hagene Nilsen. Photos: Team Wisco
One swimmer, one cyclist and one runner combine their strengths to conquer the Madison course.
Endurance racing usually means facing the course alone. At IRONMAN 70.3 Wisconsin, three Valley athletes took a different route. Hudson residents Megan Cosgrove and Trisha Hagene Nilsen joined River Falls runner Jenni Pinski to enter the Female Relay division under the Team Wisco banner.
All three have completed solo finishes around the country, but this time, they decided to split the work. Dividing the race changed their approach to training. Cosgrove focused solely on the 1.2-mile swim, Hagene Nilsen took the 56-mile cycling leg and Pinski trained specifically for the 13.1-mile run.
“The biggest difference was the focus,” Cosgrove says. “Preparing for an individual triathlon means balancing swimming, biking and running. With the relay, each of us could concentrate on our own discipline and how we could best contribute to the team. There was also a different kind of motivation in knowing that two other people were counting on you. It made the preparation feel like a shared effort, even when the workouts were individual.”
On race day in Madison on September 12, Cosgrove kicked off the effort in the water before handing off the timing chip to Hagene Nilsen. Once her swim ended, Cosgrove traded her wetsuit for a spot in the crowd. Hagene Nilsen powered through the hills of Dane County, then passed the baton to Pinski.
“Seeing Jenni cross the finish line brought all three efforts together,” Cosgrove says. “She also ran a personal best, which made the day even more special. I was proud of what each of us had contributed and what we accomplished together.”
The team’s local sponsors include Chilkoot Cyclery in Stillwater, Wisco Clothing Co. in Hudson and gear partners Borah Teamwear, Neversecond, Orange Seal, SockGuy and The Feed. Their third-place win is a testament to the friendship and community support built around this team.
Team Wisco
Instagram: @teamwisco
