We've updated our policy regarding how we treat and protect data that is collected and used from our websites. This site also uses cookies which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the policy. By using this site you agree to our use of cookies. Please read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy anytime for more information and your related choices.

triathlete logo
Search Triathlete
triathlete logo
  • Gear & Tech
    • 2018 Buyer’s Guide
    • Swim
    • Bike
    • Run
    • Kestrel 5000 SL SRAM Red eTap

    • Garmin Forerunner 935

    • 2XU P:2 Propel

    • Saucony Liberty ISO

    • Giro Vanquish MIPS

    • How to Put Your Triathlon Wetsuit on Like a Pro

    • Reviewed: 10 Wetsuits for Triathletes

    • Your Smartwatch Is Getting Smarter

    • Suit Up! 9 Wetsuit Reviews

    • A Look At Finis’ New Edge Fins

    • Oakley Flight Jacket Fights Fog with Flip of a Switch

    • Augmented Reality: The Future of Triathlon Training?

    • The Lube You Use Can Make You (Marginally) Faster

    • Face Off: 2 Bike Cases for Triathletes

    • How to Adjust Your Rear Derailleur

    • What to Do When Your Running Shoe Is Discontinued

    • Find The Perfect Pair of Running Socks (For You)

    • Why Do Some Running Shoes Cost So Much More Than Others?

    • Our First Impressions of Zwift’s Run Platform

    • 4 Tips for Buying Trail Running Shoes

  • Training
    • Swim
    • Bike
    • Run
    • Injury Prevention
    • Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

    • Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

    • Six Steps To A Better Streamline

    • Quick Set: 2, 4, 6, 8

    • Quick Set: Frogs And 3/2/1/0 Breaths

    • One-Hour Workout: Wildflower Windups

    • One-Hour Workout: Weight-Room-On-Wheels Bike Set

    • One-Hour Workout: Brick-Build Bike/Run Quad-Burner

    • One Hour Workout: 2-Prong Power

    • One-Hour Workout: Colt 45 Bike Intervals

    • Are You Reaping the Benefits of the Fartlek?

    • The Myth of the Ideal Running Cadence

    • One-Hour Workout: Criss-Cross Run

    • Hide and Train: Use This Unique Trend to Spice Up Your Workouts

    • Most Runners Overstride—Here’s How to Stop It

    • Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

    • Improve Your Posture with This One-Minute Exercise

    • A Doctor Solves the Bum Problem You’re Afraid to Google

    • Video: Shoulder Strengthening Exercise For Triathletes

    • The Triathlete’s 15-Minute Anywhere Strength Routine

  • Nutrition
    • Race Day & Training
    • Recipes
    • Weight Loss
    • How Hydrating Properly Is Key For Optimal Recovery

    • Should You Ditch Sports Nutrition Products for Real Food?

    • What’s the Best Way to Approach Nutrition on Long Bike Rides?

    • Nutrition Case Study: The Swollen Ironman

    • How to Adjust Your Nutrition During Injury Recovery

    • 10 Ways To Use Protein-Packed Greek Yogurt

    • Make Your Portable PB&J Healthier With This Salad Twist

    • Real Food For The Road: Crispy Rice Omelet

    • It’s Spring! 4 Gardening Tips For Triathletes

    • Simple Chef: 3 Tasty Recipes Centered Around 5 Ingredients

    • Is Intermittent Fasting a Good Idea for Athletes?

    • 3 Healthy Ways to Battle the Nighttime Sweet Tooth

    • Should I Stop Eating After 6 P.M. As Part Of My Diet Plan?

    • Are You Eating Enough?

    • 5 Steps to Reaching Your 2018 Nutrition Goals

  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Races
    • Travel
    • A Brief Complaint From a Salty Triathlete: Stop Hating on Pros

    • ProFile: Meet XTERRA World Champ Bradley Weiss

    • How This Estee Lauder Exec Fits in Triathlon Training

    • A Brief Complaint from a Salty Triathlete: Stop Rolling Starts!

    • Professor Multisport: My Friend Skips Body Marking Because He Thinks It’s Pointless. Is That OK?

    • Ben Hoffman On the Sheer Relief of Surviving Cape Epic

    • 9 of the Most Popular Races in Triathlon

    • Need a Race-Cation, Pronto? Head to Bermuda

    • 5 Must-Watch Pro Races of 2018

    • A World Inside: A Look at the Big Shift in How We’re Racing and Training

    • Need a Race-Cation, Pronto? Head to Bermuda

    • What to Do If You Are Injured at a Race Abroad

    • Dear Coach: How Do I Deal with Time Zone Changes?

    • Triathlon Tour Guide: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

    • Swim Camps: Improving Your Freestyle Has Never Been So Fun

  • News
    • Triathlon
    • Gear
    • Ironman
    • The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

    • The 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide Is Available Online

    • Tim Don Crushes Boston 6 Months After Kona Crash

    • Enter Triathlete Magazine’s First Ever Photo Contest!

    • Bkool Launches Online Tri League

    • The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

    • The 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide Is Available Online

    • A Ventum for the Masses?

    • Win the Bike from the Cover of Our Buyer’s Guide!

    • Get the 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide!

    • Photos: Jan Frodeno, Anne Haug on Top at 70.3 Oceanside

    • Wanda Considers IPO for Triathlon, Cycling Holdings

    • Ironman Overhauls Pro Qualification System (Again)

    • Van Collides with Pro Matt Russell at Ironman World Championship

    • Daniela Ryf Earns Third-Straight Ironman World Title

  • Subscribe

    Subscribe to Triathlete Magazine

    • The hottest gear and tech
    • Expert training, gear and nutrition advice
    • The latest on the people, places, ideas, and issues that define the multisport lifestyle

     

     

    VIEW PACKAGES

    Sign up for the Free Email Newsletter

    • Everything triathlon delivered directly to your inbox
    • Editors’ top story picks
    • Exclusive offers from our sponsors available only to newsletter subscribers


  • Follow Us on Twitter
  • Like Us on facebook
  • Follow Us on Instagram
  • Search Triathlete
  • Triathlete.com
  • InsideTri

The Making Of Ironman Champion Hillary Biscay

InsideTri By TJ MurphyUpdated On: Jun 19, 2012

The (stubborn, ornery, unruly, hell-bent, no-denial) making of an Ironman Champion.

Written by: T.J. Murphy

Photo: Robert Murphy
Photo: Robert Murphy

Two days before Ironman New Zealand in 2004, a triathlete from Los Angeles struggled to make final race preparations. A pain in her left thigh throbbed, and the age-grouper with five Ironmans to her name was unable to sustain a meager three-minute jog. At the time she was trying to convert a low-riding marathon shuffle into the gazelle-like motion of a track runner, an objective that undoubtedly exacerbated the pain and likely caused it in the first place, but regardless the notion of pulling out of the race was as distant as the nearest neutron star. The headstrong blonde started the race with her two rules of Ironman racing clenched into her mindset like grinding teeth. Rule No. 1: Never drop out. Rule No. 2: Never walk.

She put on jewelry (“I like being a chick.”), threw back a handful of Advil and started the race. This did the trick for several hours, but during the run, pain seeped through the ibuprofen in the form of agony. Rule No. 2 went off like a fire alarm in her skull. “At that point I was doing my best to pretend to run,” she now recalls. At aid stations she screamed for more Advil as her imitation run degraded into a shambles. “Medical officials chased me down. I was bent over when they grabbed me and stood me up. I thought I was going to pass out.” There were 10 kilometers to go. The medics thought she should give up and go home, but the young woman would have none of it.

To allay the distressed volunteers, the triathlete asked if crawling was OK. It’s a vivid comment on how disturbing her form looked that medics found this an agreeable compromise.

Off the hook, our pertinacious triathlete dropped to the pavement with six miles to go and started to crawl, pivoting awkwardly off the right knee to avoid putting weight on the left. After three miles, two local boys offered kneepads. With less than a mile and a half to go, the top medical official showed, halted the crawling triathlete and fired off a few questions. The conclusion was swift. “You’ve fractured the femoral neck of your femur,” the doctor told the athlete.

The crumpled woman was incredulous. “How do you know it’s broken?” she asked, more as a bratty protest than an earnest question.

“You’re 25 years-old. You’re risking permanent damage,” the doctor replied.

“I don’t care!”

The medical official saw the burning madness in the eyes of the American. “I’m the head event doctor. Your race is officially over.” An “excruciating” ride on a stretcher soon followed.

X-rays showed a fracture of the femoral neck cutting through the bone like cracked marble. Luckily, the bone hadn’t displaced and three titanium screws were inserted to hold things together. “Phew!” thought the woman. “I can start training soon.”
Eight months later, she clocked 10:08 at Ironman Florida, a PR by 40 minutes. She would later turn pro and join Brett Sutton’s renegade triathlon squad based in Leysin, Switzerland. Sutton sized her up: Limited talent, unlimited hunger for work. Sutton generally doesn’t want Americans on his team. “They’re too soft,” he says, but this one won him over. The two agreed on her goal: to get a podium finish in an Ironman race in three years. This came sooner than they planned, followed by a topper. At an Ironman in September 2008, the 30th of her life and the last month of the three-year deal, she was the first woman to cross the line.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
NEXT »

Related Articles

5 Iron-Distance Races in 5 Days in 5 NYC Boroughs

Lifestyle By Marty MunsonJan 12, 2018

Avoid Late-Season Burnout

Features By Jené ShawOct 17, 2014

How To Tap Into Fat For Fuel

InsideTri By Torbjørn SindballeJun 27, 2014

Psych Out: Dealing With Race-Day Anxiety

InsideTri By Erin BeresiniJun 24, 2014

  • MOST READ
  • LATEST
  • TRAINING

The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

Triathlete.com News

Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

Erin Taylor Training

Lessons From This Year’s Surprise Boston Marathon Winner

Chris Foster Training

Tim Don Crushes Boston 6 Months After Kona Crash

Triathlete.com News

Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

Erin Beresini Swim

How to Strength Train for Movement, Not Muscle

Allie Burdick Training

Super Simple Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Training Plan

Triathlete.com Training

The Four Functions Of Your Swim Kick

Gary Hall Sr. Swim

Lacking Swim Progress? Try This Short Technique-Focused Block

Bethany Rutledge Training

8-Week Sprint Triathlon Training Plan For Beginners

Lance Watson Training

10 Ways To Use Protein-Packed Greek Yogurt

Jessica Cerra Nutrition

A Brief Complaint From a Salty Triathlete: Stop Hating on Pros

Kelly O'Mara Lifestyle

4 Yoga Poses Designed to Make You More Aero

Lexie Williamson Training

How This Estee Lauder Exec Fits in Triathlon Training

Sarah Barker Lifestyle

Are You Reaping the Benefits of the Fartlek?

Lance Watson Training

Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

Sara McLarty Training

Set Your Half Ironman Race Goals

Mike Ricci Race Tips

New Research Is Changing the Game for Female Athletes

A.C. Shilton Lifestyle

A Brief Complaint from a Salty Triathlete: Stop Rolling Starts!

Kelly O'Mara Lifestyle

The One-Hour Swim Test

Sara McLarty Swim

2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide: Running Shoes

Apr 20, 2018 Gear & Tech

Lessons From This Year’s Surprise Boston Marathon Winner

Apr 20, 2018 Training

A Brief Complaint From a Salty Triathlete: Stop Hating on Pros

Apr 20, 2018 Lifestyle

Is Intermittent Fasting a Good Idea for Athletes?

Apr 20, 2018 Nutrition

Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

Apr 20, 2018 Training

On-The-Go Breakfast Options For The Busy Athletes

Apr 19, 2018 Nutrition

Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

Apr 19, 2018 Swim

Eco-Friendly Gear for Earth Day

Apr 19, 2018 Gear & Tech

Could This Neurostimulation Technique Improve Athletic Performance?

Apr 19, 2018 Training

Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

Apr 18, 2018 Training

VIEW MORE >>

Lessons From This Year’s Surprise Boston Marathon Winner

Training

Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

Training

Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

Swim

Could This Neurostimulation Technique Improve Athletic Performance?

Training

Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

Training

One-Hour Workout: Wildflower Windups

Training

Are You Reaping the Benefits of the Fartlek?

Training

Beginner’s Luck: Totally New to Triathlon? Start Here

Training

Improve Your Posture with This One-Minute Exercise

Training

Six Steps To A Better Streamline

Swim

VIEW MORE >>

Photo Galleries

Photos: Triathletes Support Puerto Rico’s Recovery Efforts

Photos By Paul PhillipsMar 26, 2018

Photos: Declan Wilson Has Breakout Race at New Plymouth World Cup

Race Coverage By Triathlete.comMar 26, 2018

The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

News By Triathlete.comApr 18, 2018

Photos: Buckingham, Charles on Top in South Africa

Photos By Triathlete.comApr 16, 2018

Photos: 2,500 Age-Groupers Compete at 70.3 Oceanside

Race Coverage By Triathlete.comApr 12, 2018

Triathlete

SEARCH TRIATHLETE

GET THE MAGAZINE

SUBSCRIBE NOW

CONNECT

  • Follow Us on Twitter
  • Like Us on facebook
  • Follow Us on Instagram
  • View Our Videos on Youtube

© 2018 POCKET OUTDOOR MEDIA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  • Gear & Tech
  • Training
  • Nutrition
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Subscribe
  • TwitterFacebookInstagram
  • All
  • 2018 Buyer's Guide
  • Swim
  • Bike
  • Run
  • All
  • Swim
  • Bike
  • Run
  • Injury Prevention
  • All
  • Race Day & Training
  • Recipes
  • Weight Loss
  • All
  • Culture
  • Races
  • Travel
  • All
  • Triathlon
  • Gear
  • Ironman