Hunter Ralston combines mental discipline and family support to redefine her limits in endurance sports
Story by Nathan Morgan | Photos provided by Hunter Ralston
Hunter Ralston (‘16) was focused, her breath steady, eyes fixed on the road ahead. The evening sun was warm against her skin, a humid 81 degrees, not typical for this time of year in Lake Placid, New York.
Every stride was deliberate, the rhythm of her feet hitting the pavement syncing with the beating of her heart. For a moment, the world around her faded into silence, broken only by the sound of her breathing and the steady thud of her shoes on the asphalt.
As she climbed a slight incline, her gaze wandered to the horizon, where the Adirondack Mountains reflected on Mirror Lake. Their beauty was a quiet witness to her effort, a reminder of how far she had come.
But there was no time to dwell; a casual stroll through an Ironman triathlon just isn’t in her DNA. Her focus snapped back to the road as she descended into the town of North Elba.
The crowds grew thicker, their cheers swelling like a wave that carried her forward. Her legs ached, muscles tight, but the sight of familiar faces among the spectators gave her new strength. Her family stood near the finish, waving, their voices distinct in the roar of the crowd. A smile tugged at her lips.
Success and Growth at UT Martin
Ralston’s path to becoming an Ironman athlete is far from typical. While she dabbled in the usual sports during middle and high school, it was her passion for horses that truly ignited her competitive spirit and revealed her natural ability to thrive under pressure.
She spent her childhood riding and showing horses, eventually signing with UT Martin in 2011 to continue her equestrian career. At the time, UTM’s equestrian program was still in its infancy, just five years old, but Ralston takes pride in helping to build the foundation for what the team has become today.
“We qualified for nationals all four years I was there, which was really cool,” she said. “And one year, we made it to the second round, which was a big deal because we got to compete against some really big schools.”
Ralston enjoyed a standout career at UTM as a hunter/jumper, earning the titles of team captain, Honorable Mention All-American Equitation on the Flat and Bettye Giles Female Athlete of the Year. However, it wasn’t until halfway through college that she first dipped her toes into endurance sports. A running class designed to prepare students for a half-marathon sparked her interest, but it didn’t hurt that her family was already involved in triathlons and endurance races. Their enthusiasm inspired her to give it a shot.
“Eventually, you go to enough of these events, see enough people, and think, ‘Yeah, I can try that,’” she explained.
Ten years ago, she took part in her first sprint triathlon in Connecticut alongside her brother, just for fun. That experience lit a spark that quickly grew.
“I wasn’t really into endurance sports before,” she recalled. “I rode horses, played basketball and volleyball, and did AAU, but I was always better at riding. Still, this just took off. It’s cliché, but I never thought I’d be this person. And yet, here I am.”
Now, having completed 14 Ironman 70.3 (half) events, including earning an invitation to the World Championships in St. George, Utah, Ralston is fully immersed in the world of endurance sports.
Dedication and Success in Endurance Sports
Ralston’s dedication to endurance sports is a natural extension of her mental discipline and love for challenging herself. After graduating from UT Martin with a degree in psychology, she pursued a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of St. Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut, combining her academic background with her passion for pushing the limits of the mind and body. Her approach to racing, much like her counseling work, is deeply rooted in mindfulness and visualization.
In 2022, she completed her first full Ironman in Lake Placid, New York, a grueling test of endurance that includes a 2.4-mile open-water swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a full 26.2-mile marathon –back to back, with only brief transition moments. Because of this, Ironman is widely considered to be one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.
For Ralston, the challenge wasn’t about winning but about reaching new personal milestones. She finished in 11 hours and 53 minutes, placing fifth overall in her division, a result that surprised even her. “It went better than I could have ever thought,” she said. And because the day went so well, she said she’s not in a hurry to do another one.
Her success in the Ironman wasn’t by chance. Ralston’s secret weapon is visualization. During training and races, she sees herself crossing the finish line, pushing through each stage and feeling that wave of accomplishment. She likes being in her head, focusing on the task at hand.
“Honestly, there’s so many things to be thinking about. … There’s times you get lost in your thoughts, but eating and drinking is so important, and if you even skip an hour of that, that could bite you in the butt in mile 20 on the run, even though it’s mile 50 on the bike. So there’s a lot of that. ‘What time is it? How much through this bottle should I be? When’s the next aid station?’… So there’s a lot of that kind of mental math.”
Her equestrian background prepared her for this kind of mental discipline. As an individual sport, riding horses taught her how to handle pressure on her own, lessons she carries into the world of endurance racing.
“You get used to having all that pressure on you, with no teammates to hide behind,” she said.
Lately she has taken up cyclo-cross, a gritty form of bike racing that she describes with a smile as a chance to “smash some pedals.” Even with her Ironman accomplishments, it’s clear that for Ralston, the adventure never stops.
It’s not just about the destination; she really enjoys the journey. Every race is a process, and the progress she makes keeps her coming back. For Ralston, endurance sports have always been about personal growth rather than external rewards.
“This means nothing,” she laughs, “I do this as a hobby, for fun. I don’t make any money from it. In fact, I spend way too much on it–six bikes, endless races – I don’t even keep track of how much anymore.”
Yet, despite the cost and the countless hours of effort, she finds herself hooked on the challenge.
“Sometimes I ask myself, ‘How much better can I be?’” she said. “I know I’m not going to win a 70.3 Ironman, but can I podium in my age group? Can I get a personal best? It’s those little wins, like having my best power output at my last race, that keep me excited.”
For Ralston, the drive to improve is what keeps her going.
“Swimming used to be my weakest event, but now I think it’s my running,” she said. “It’s always about challenging myself. I’d be pretty bored without this. That’s why I hire a coach and sign up for races. If I didn’t, I’d probably just be sitting at home or going on the occasional hike. But sometimes, I have to remind myself that in the grand scheme of things, it’s OK – this is just for fun.”
Empowering Women Through Cycling
In addition to her personal athletic pursuits, Ralston’s passion for cycling has fueled her dedication to building a supportive community for women in the sport. What began as a small project in 2020 has evolved into a full-fledged nonprofit, Women on Wheels, a group that empowers women to get involved in various forms of cycling from road and gravel riding to mountain biking and cyclo-cross.
“I started working at a bike shop in the summers during college, and it kind of evolved from there,” she recalls. “We had this small women’s program that eventually grew, and after a while, I decided to rebrand it, make it independent of any shop, and really expand it into something bigger.”
Women on Wheels now boasts a thriving community with over 1,800 members on its Facebook page and more than 100 active participants in regular rides and events.
“It’s been amazing to see how much it’s grown,” she said. “When we’re not riding, we’ll do some maintenance clinics with different shops in the area … We’ll do Zoom talks on all sorts of different topics from nutrition to mental health to different styles of riding. … We have a quarterly book club where we read some kind of book. We’ll do a lot of social events. … We’ll go get coffee or grab a drink after. Just because of what our group is, they very much enjoy getting out and about, and it’s like, if we get them out of the house, let’s keep ‘em out of the house for a little bit.”
Her vision for the group goes beyond just getting women on bikes; it’s about creating a welcoming space for them in a sport that can often feel male-dominated.
“There’s a lot of respect in our community, but the cycling world is still figuring out how to make women feel more welcome. I’m glad to be part of that conversation and to help shape events that prioritize inclusivity.”
Under her leadership, Women on Wheels is breaking down barriers, connecting women to other women and fostering shared love of cycling.
The Importance of Family Support
For Ralston, family has always been the cornerstone of her athletic journey. Growing up with parents who themselves are no strangers to endurance events – they’ve both qualified for the Boston Marathon and completed a Ironman 70.3 – she was raised in an environment where staying active was a way of life.
“They’ve always been so supportive,” she says. “My parents joke that they’re just flopping around every weekend with their 30-year-old, but they love it.”
That unwavering support is a major part of what fuels her success. Her parents are at nearly every race, cheering her on, giving her time splits and knowing exactly how to support her during critical moments.
“They understand what I need, whether I’m going for a personal best or just enjoying the experience. They never make me feel guilty for how much time I put into this,” she adds.
While she admits she’s not always easy to be around in the days leading up to a race – stressed and hyper-focused on every detail – her family, and now her fiancé, Oye, have learned to roll with it.
“I’m not always the nicest person a few days before a race, but they know me well enough to give me space,” she said. “It’s incredible to have people who just get it.”
Even outside of her races, her family’s involvement doesn’t stop. Ralston’s mom regularly joins group rides she leads through Women on Wheels, often hanging back to support those who might be struggling.
“It’s amazing to see how proud they are and how much they genuinely enjoy being part of this journey with me.”
As she makes the final turn to enter the Olympic speed skating oval for the finish, Ralston takes a moment to reflect on what she’s about to accomplish. She envisions herself crossing the finish line knowing that she just conquered one of the most challenging races in the world. She hears legendary announcer Mike Reilly–“The Voice of Ironman”–saying, “Hunter, you are an Ironman!”
With the finish line in sight, the fatigue in her body seemed to melt away, replaced by a surge of determination. The final stretch was a blur of noise and emotion – her feet moved faster, her heart raced. And then, at last, she crossed the line, arms raised in triumph, her spirit soaring above the exhaustion.
The race was over, but the memory of every mile, every challenge and every victory would stay with her forever.
