Meet Candace

More than friendly competition: Triathlete Candace Corso draws strength from her community

Written by Stephanie Hardi

Candace Corso is a serious triathlete – she’s competing in the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge – Winter Edition for fun, but in a typical year Candace competes in several half and full triathlons a year. Like most athletes, Candace has a passion for competition and challenging herself, but unlike some athletes, Candace finds motivation in her community, drawing on her friends, family and fellow competitors for strength and perseverance when competing.

Friends don’t let friends quit marathons
Candace trained with one of her closest friends for her first marathon, and it was that friendship that helped her get to the finish line.

“I cried through that race – it was so tough. At about mile 18, I just hit a wall, I told her to go on without me!” Candace said. “But she told me, ‘we could walk and still make the cutoff time, and that she wouldn’t finish without me.’  I couldn’t let her down, so I kept going.”

Candace grew up in Illinois as a competitive swimmer, but her adult athletic career was inspired by a coworker who was on a serious fitness journey – watching the coworker’s success encouraged Candace to sign up for her first 5K.

5K to competitive triathlete
“At the time, I couldn’t even run a mile,” Candace said. “In high school, I hated running. My coach would always yell at me during the dry land workouts because I would walk. But after competing in that first 5K, I felt like I was on top of the world.”

That first race reignited the natural competitor in Candace, and she now enters multiple competitions a year, currently focusing on full-distance triathlons. 

“When it comes to being active, I discovered that you have to find something you enjoy. For me, that’s competing in something really challenging, but also building community along the way. Competition has not only brought me closer to the friends I already have because of the incredible experiences together, but I have also developed new friendships with fellow racers.”

Boosting performance through family and friendship
“A few years ago I was competing at a race and I was behind a woman by a few yards the whole time,” Candace said. “I finally decided to catch up to her to see if she wanted to race together. When I approached her, she was thrilled! Throughout the race we pushed each other and strategized together, and it paid off. We both “PR’d” that day—setting personal records for our fastest time raced. “

“I’m still friends with that woman today – we keep in touch on races we both want to compete in and trade tips and tricks for keeping each other motivated. You can build a strong friendship from suffering through a race with someone.”

In addition to her strong friendships, Candace finds motivation from her mother who was diagnosed with cystic fibrous several years ago.

“One of the reasons I race is my mom. She was so dedicated to my swimming career growing up – she never missed a single swim meet – and she’s still cheering me on today.”

“Thinking of my mom reminds me of how blessed I am to be able to do what I love to do – and to have such a strong support system. My mom’s dedication motivates me to stay dedicated to my goals and aspirations. Her pride in my athletic career inspires me. She says that if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today. And she’s right!”

For the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge-Winter Edition, Candace is once using again using the race as an opportunity to share an experience with a good friend.

“We are doing it just for fun,” Candace said. “Adventure racing is new to me, and I think it’s a lot easier to go through new challenges with a friend who is willing to do it with you. I anticipate we might get slightly lost navigating – there are sure to be a lot of laughs!”

Find your tough: having the mental strength help someone on their journey
So what does “find your tough” mean to Candace?

“For me it’s pushing beyond your personal norm and getting outside of your comfort zone– seeing if you can take on the challenge. And then, to take if further, do you have the mental capacity to help someone else during the journey? That’s where the real strength lies – when you are mentally tough enough not just to accomplish your goals, but to push someone else to accomplish theirs.”