REFLECTIONS | ALEX NOONAN
Title
What Alex Noonan Taught Me About Endurance and Mindset
The Story
Alex has travelled the world competing in triathlon, driven from a young age by her dad. That early influence sparked a lifelong pursuit, 4am starts, competing while pregnant, pushing through injuries, and facing debilitating panic attacks every time she approaches the water. Alex opens up about her relationship with food, dealing with judgement, and navigating a male-dominated sport. A fascinating insight into a uniquely driven and competitive mindset.
Opening
Alex came in with what I thought would be a different kind of story. Not one shaped by trauma, but one focused on mindset, understanding what drives someone to pursue something as demanding as triathlon. But that’s what Storyland is about. It’s people, their stories, and what makes them who they are. Alex’s story is no different, it’s about understanding what makes her tick.
What Stayed With Me
What stood out most was Alex’s determination to push through her own mental blocks. The fact that someone who competes in triathlon has a fear of water is hard to comprehend. To stand at the edge of a lake, overwhelmed, yet still choose to go in, because that’s what it takes to do what you love, that’s a different level of resilience. It hasn’t got easier for her, but she does it anyway. Every time.
The Bigger Reflection
Her dad played a huge role in shaping that mindset. He saw something in her early on, and that belief helped push her forward. But Alex has had to own that herself. In a sport where she’s faced judgement and assumptions, she hasn’t let it define her. She just gets on with it, proves people wrong, and continues to show up. That quiet confidence says a lot.
A Line I Won’t Forget
“What if you fall? My darling, what if you fly.”
This is the line Alex carries with her. It’s what she comes back to in moments of doubt—standing at the water’s edge, questioning whether she can do it. It reminds her that the fear is in the mind, and she has the tools to push through it.
Closing Thought
Alex faces the same everyday challenges as anyone else, struggles with food, body image, and balance, but she doesn’t dwell on them. She accepts them and keeps moving forward. From those early struggles to travelling the world as a triathlete, while also being a mum and a wife, she continues to make space for who she is. She puts the time in, because it matters to her.
