Strength in mind and muscle: Med student competes in Ironman 70.3 Augusta
By Jenna Harrington | Correspondent
Some 2,331 athletes gathered along the banks of the Savannah River by SRP Park on Sept. 28 to kick off the swimming portion of the 16th Ironman 70.3 Augusta.
The swim took competitors 1.2 miles through the cold river water, finishing under Fifth Street Bridge. They then went on to a 55.7-mile bike course through Augusta, starting in the historic downtown and moving through rolling hills, tracking technical turns and grueling along long climbs. The last leg of the race was a half marathon—that’s right, another 13.1-mile run—to bring participants home to the finish line in historic downtown Augusta.
Among these thousands of athletes was Augusta University’s Courtney Levit. In addition to competing in one of the country’s largest half ironman events, Levit is a third-year medical student at the Medical College of Georgia. Originally from Johns Creek, Levit started her medical school journey in Augusta in Fall 2023. She is completing her clinical rotations on the MCG Savannah campus with plans to pursue a residency and career in orthopedic surgery.
“I decided to sign up for the half Ironman on a whim, and I am so glad I did,” Levit said. “Training during rotations, while difficult to schedule at times, always gave me a reason to take a break and get outside and move my body. For me, managing stress with training helped me to show up as my best self for rotations.”
Levit has always led an active lifestyle; she played lacrosse in high school and participated in intramural and club sports while at the University of Georgia as an undergraduate. She has completed a half marathon alongside four of her medical school classmates, hiked in the wilderness of Alaska, kayaked through Banff National Park in Canada and ridden bikes with her family through the tall, icy peaks of Switzerland.
As a testament to her physical ability and love for exercise, it became Levit’s goal to compete in the Ironman event in Augusta. For months, Courtney trained in preparation: She got a membership at the Chatham County Aquatic Center to practice her swimming, she trained by heart rate zones to enhance her running endurance, and she took her bike with her across the state, pedaling with purpose. All the while, Levit was also completing her core medical school rotations in pediatrics, OB/GYN, family medicine and surgery across different cities in Southeast Georgia.
“Training for a half marathon while in medical school was definitely not easy, but it reminded me how important it is to prioritize my heath and my hobbies while also pursing my career passions,” Levit said. “This journey challenged me in ways I have not been before, and crossing the finish line was proof that with consistency and dedication, you can handle just about any challenge that faces you.”
Levit’s story is a testament to hard work, dedication and balance. That she was able to complete a half ironman is impressive in itself. That she is crushing medical school with plans to enter a competitive, male-dominated specialty is awe-inspiring. That she is able to do both of these at the same time is simply remarkable.
“The race day itself was amazing,” Levit said of competing in Ironman 70.3 Augusta. “I was most nervous for the swim, but the Savannah River has a fast current that helped a ton. It was also so sweet to bike and run through some areas of Augusta where I spent a lot of time during pre-clerkship. After, I was completely exhausted and swore I would never do another one, but of course two days later I was perusing the Ironman website for future races that could fit into our fourth year schedule.”
Next year’s Ironman 70.3 Augusta, the 17th, will be held on Sept. 27.
Contact Jenna Harrington at jeharrington@augusta.edu.
Courtney Levit joins her parents, Doug and Gwen Levit, after finishing the Ironman 70.3 Augusta in downtown Augusta. At the top of the page, Levit crosses the finish line at the Ironman 70.3 Augusta. (photos by Tyler Kaszas/special to the Bell Ringer)
