Local Ironman women strive to compete

ROCHESTER — In a commitment that consists of competing in one of the most difficult competitions in the world, four local women have strived to not only set goals, but inspire others along the way.

“Tell me I can’t do it and let me prove you wrong,” Tara Berens DiLaura said.

DiLaura, a Rochester native, along with Jen Hope (St. Clair Shores), Dominique Rommel (Sterling Heights), and Taylor Probst (Rochester Hills) competed in the 2021 Ironman World Championship held May 6 of this year in St. George, Utah.

An ironman race consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile cycling segment and a 26.2-mile marathon.

“I wanted to put my body through the cruelest thing ever by taking part in this race,” Rommel said. “That was my goal, was to really push to see before my body gave out.”

The four women are accustomed to competing in physical activities with several years of triathlons under their belt, and are a part of the Infinite Multisport Triathlon Club. The club was founded in 2005 and has locations in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

After physical activity became a regular routine due to training and competing in triathlons, it was only right that the Ironman Championship became a goal.

“Once you’re into a sport, it’s always kind of a dream to get into this full Ironman,” Rommel said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to race in a big race like this.”

Rommel, a mother of two teenage boys and a full-time family nurse practitioner, has competed in triathlons for four years.

Rommel, along with Hope and DiLaura, finds a way to practice and perfect her craft within her demanding schedule.

Hope, a mom and advocate for youth at risk and foster children, said she notices her work ethic reflects on her children.

“I’ve seen the benefits run into my kids, because they’ve seen me organized, so now they want to excel as well,” Hope said.

While Hope’s competitive energy has made an impact on her children, she’s also made a significant impact on the lives of other children as well.

Hope, a foster child herself, has worked with Champ Life, a nonprofit in St. Clair Shores, to raise money for foster children and attend a camp to speak and participate with the children as well.

“I got to go to this camp and interact with these kids, and it’s crazy, because I was a foster kid and got to have this amazing opportunity.”

Hope finished the ironman with a 15:41:59 time while DiLaura finished with a 16:34:46 time.

Whether it’s motherhood, a full-time job, or both, the women find a way to stick to a routine practice schedule.

Their training consists of swimming, running and strength training, but most importantly, holding each other accountable.

“Without these two, and others, it makes it very difficult to show up for those workouts at five o’clock in the morning,” DiLaura said, motioning to Hope and Rommel.

DiLaura was a competitive swimmer from age 8 until college, and after college she took up running.

DiLaura and Rommel have made it a priority to hit the pool at 5 a.m. on certain mornings.

“At that point you just don’t care because you have to get your training in,” Rommel said. “It becomes who you are.”

During her first ironman race in St. George, Rommel learned something about herself that she said has become a part of who she is.

“As you learn year after year, you learn something about yourself and apply it,” Rommel said. “For me, my big takeaway was really learning to surrender.”

Rommel was pulled off her bike because she wasn’t going to make the cutoff, and that moment played a huge part in discovering herself.

DiLaura and Hope both faced challenges in their first triathlon. DiLaura’s goggles snapped while swimming, and she was left with a quick decision to put them in her swimsuit.

For Hope, it was realizing she was the only one doing breaststroke while others did a freestyle swim.

“It really made me learn something new at that time,” Hope said.

As the ladies continue to discover things about themselves and impact others in the process, they’re training for another ironman race next year.

“I used to tell people, ‘How could you do an ironman every year?’ I’m about to figure that out, because we’re going to do another one again,” DiLaura said.