Reiko Donato

Reiko grew up in Japan playing basketball in middle school and high school.  Reiko’s running career started while she was a graduate student at University of Missouri when she signed up for an on-campus 5k on a whim. She continued to run throughout adulthood racing mostly 5ks and 10ks.  Reiko picked up road cycling in the early 90’s when she joined a cycling group at work.  Reiko raced her first outdoor triathlon, My First Tri at Lake Lanier, in 2011 and was hooked! Since then, Reiko has raced numerous Olympic distance races, 13 half Ironman races and 6 Ironman races, qualifying for and racing in the Ironman World Championship in 2018 and 2020, and the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 2020.

Over the last decade, Reiko has enjoyed learning the many aspects of race preparation and execution, including training and racing with power/heartrate, nutrition, and training/racing mindset, and has successfully executed race plans over and over.  Now she wants to share her experience, passion, and knowledge with athletes and help them enter or grow in the endurance sport, work toward their goals, and have a successful race day.

“I love racing Ironman races, not because they are easy, but because long distance racing is just like doing life. It’s likely that not everything will go as you planned on the race day, but when you are prepared to deal with mishaps by focusing on what you can control and keeping a positive outlook, you will be the best version of yourself.” 

Reiko’s favorite quote is “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”  She learned this to be true when her daughter Alex was diagnosed with an incurable genetic condition at age 12 months.  She believes that being Alex’s mom and handling her multiple challenges both medically and developmentally, has helped her become proficient at handling stresses in life, and in training & racing.

Reiko’s race mantra is “Smile, have fun, and race smart.”

Reiko is a USAT Level 1 certified coach, RCAA Level 1 Certified Run Coach, and has completed the Training Peaks University course.  She holds an MBA in Marketing from University of Missouri-Columbia. Reiko represents Coeur Sport as an elite ambassador, and BOCO Gear as a brand ambassador.