Racers came from 29 states and ranged in age from 17-84 with over half the field being female athletes.

All photos by Mark Simmons.

The Michigan island sits in Lake Huron between the state’s lower and upper peninsula and is most widely known for having horse carriages and bikes as the only modes of transportation and it’s legendary fudge.

The race kicked off at 6:45AM from Shepler’s ferry dock just off main street.

With the exception of the main road which runs the 8-mile perimeter of the island, it’s either up or down on Mackinac.

The first run took athletes past Fort Mackinac before spitting them down to Mission Point for the first of seven swim legs in Lake Huron.

Following feet in swimrun is potentially hazardous for the trailing swimmer for obvious reasons though most athletes use a pull buoy to keep from needing to kick.

Swim exits can be slippery and having a teammate or a fellow racers provide a helping hand is greatly appreciated.

Pro triathlete David Thompson’s teammate injured himself on a trail run early during race week so the Minnesotan opted to race the Long Course Solo division. Thompson led the race wire to wire and is seen here pushing hard up a section of stairs leading up to Arch Rock.

A team exits the second swim leg to a spectacular view of Arch Rock with the 207 steps staircase up ahead.

The majority of the race took place inside Mackinac Island State Park and their network of singletrack trails, including the signature Tranquil Bluff trail.

Half the field tackled the Long Course which consisted of seven runs totaling 15.6 miles and six swims totaling 3.1 miles.

The other half of the field raced the slightly altered Short Course which consisted of five runs totaling 11 miles and four swims totaling 2 miles.

Jason Vertress cruises through a section of the vast trail system within Mackinac Island State Park.

The swim course followed the perimeter of the island in Lake Huron’s crystal clear waters. A saying blasted on shirts sums it up best, “no salt, no sharks, no worries.”

The clear and shallow water made this a welcoming course for first time swimrunners. Out of 188 athletes, 131 suggested this was their first foray into swimrun.

Benjamin Siems of Team Kalamanders opts to stay cool for a few extra moments at one of the swim exits.

Thomas McGlade traveled out from New York. A career firefighter, McGlade’s service included rescue operations on 9/11 as well as being awarded on NYC’s Medal Day for saving a drowning man on Christmas Day from the frigid East River.

Upon completing one of the swim legs, an athlete reviews the back of his hand paddle, a popular place where swimrunners jot down the leg distance breakdowns in Sharpie marker.

Aid stations were sprinkled throughout the course and athletes served themselves.

With so many ups and downs throughout the day the finish line is always a welcomed sight.

Inside of one mile to the finish Tom Peichel broke his hip but was determined to make it to the line. His teammate, Jamie Turner, piggy backed him the rest of the way, a technique she likely perfected during her time spent in the Air Force.

Racing action continues this upcoming weekend with OTILLO’s Final 15K on Saturday followed up with the behemoth World Championships, 75K of mostly trail running and open water swimming across and between 24 islands in the Stockholm, Sweden archipelago. Odyssey SwimRun’s next stop is the third running of their Orcas Island event in Washington’s San Juan Islands on September 26th.

The post Swimrunning Around Mackinac Island first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

Last Sunday Ben Kanute became the first man to win four in a row at the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon, perhaps the most iconic event in the sport behind the Hawaiian Ironman. Kanute’s win at the race’s 40th edition tied him with Chris McCormack with four wins and leaving him only behind Mike Pigg’s five and Andy Potts’ six victories and Michellie Jones’ six straight and seven overall wins.

Kanute will be joining Slowtwitch today in our Reader Forum and answering your questions. You can visit that Ask Me Anything thread (reachable via that link).

In advance of the start of the AMA on the Forum we tossed out a few of our own to get the Phoenix-based pro warmed up.

Slowtwitch: Can you share why this race resonates with you so strongly and why you think you've managed to be so successful on this demanding course?

Kanute: The history, course, and competition all inspire me and keep me coming back to Escape from Alcatraz. It is such a unique race, and has such different challenges from a "normal" triathlon. It is as much a battle against the course and conditions as it is against your competition, so you truly have a great setup to see what you are made of. I think I do well here because of the toughness required,and the fact that I embrace the course and love it's various challenges.

ST: Did winning this year feel any more satisfying with the recent disappointment of not being selected to the US Olympic team?

Kanute: It is always great to get a win, and having family around makes it even better. I just try to focus on what I can control and enjoy every opportunity I have to stand on the start line.

ST: Looking back at these four wins, what are some of your most vivid memories, both good and bad?

Kanute: I love the history of the race. Looking back at the past winners is pretty amazing. 40 years is a long time to have a race, and being able to reflect back on that history and some of the greats in our sport racing there is pretty awesome. The swims always stand out, especially the difficult ones. The swim this year was particularly challenging, and made for a tough race all day. I feel like I remember the sand ladder each year too because that is a special kind of hurt that gets thrown in right after a beach run.

You can follow Kanute on Instagram at @benkanute

The post Ben Kanute Answers Your Questions first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

All photos by Mark Simmons.

Athletes had to wear masks on the Casco Bay Lines ferry ride from Portland out to the starting islands due to federal transportation guidelines but otherwise it was racing as usual.

60 two-person teams competed in the Long Course event which started on Peaks Island.

Three of the most experienced and fastest swimrun women in the US were in the Long Course field at Casco Bay. Bronwen Price-Dierksen of the mixed team Boston Wet Sox flanked by Team First Date’s Aryn Marsh and Caroline Wolek before getting down to business.

The opening two-mile run on Peaks Island started straight up a steep hill from the ferry dock and included portions of the Peaks Island Land Preserve.

Keith Lundquist and Kanoa King of Team Keith and the Unicorn showed off their running prowess and opened up a sizable lead out of the gates on Peaks. The New Hampshire-based team that won at SwimRun Lake James back in April eventually crossed the line on Chebeague Island as the top Men’s Team on the day.

Long Course athletes completed 22 total miles covering 10 islands. 17 total miles of running and 5 total miles of open water swimming. Marcus Barton fully concentrated putting on his swim cap while negotiating a trail section taking athletes down to the water with his Swaggy Zaddys teammate Lee Greene sitting just off his shoulder.

Marsh follows Wolek’s lead through a narrow singletrack trail as the eventual winning women’s team makes their way down to the first swim leg of the day between Peaks and Cushings islands.

The race start coincided with low tide which meant a longer run across pebbles and through seaweed before starting to swim.

Drew Sapp and Michael Schultz of Crew Racing jockeyed near the front of the field throughout the day, ultimately finishing sixth.

Greg Dierksen of the Boston Wet Sox powers up a pile of slippery seaweed onto House Island while Bronwen tries to keep her footing. The husband and wife duo went on to cross the finish line as the first placed Mixed Team but were also the overall fastest team on the day.

Vincent Ray leads Beer Tent Cowabunga teammate Adrian Cameron over a stretch of seaweed onto House Island. The Austin, Texas based team took fifth on the day in the hotly contested men’s field.

Once onto House Island teams ran across the Fortland property past some newly constructed yurts, camping tents and through the fortress grounds of Fort Scammel with downtown Portland on the skyline in front of them.

Chris Douglas and Chipper Nicodemus swim under the ferry dock at Little Diamond Island, a legal shortcut recommended by Race Director John Stevens, who spends much of his summer on the island. Chris and Chipper are the hosts of the swimrun podcast The Low Tide Boyz.

An athlete navigates the best line to the exit of the longest swim of the day between House and Little Diamond.

Pro triathlete Liz Baugher and fiance Jacob Gilden arrive on Little Diamond Island. The team named Batmans Parents ultimately finished second in the Mixed Team division.

Short Course and Solo races started on Long Island and from this point they shared the course with athletes from the Long Course event.

After completing a half-mile trail run on Little Chebeague, Elizabeth Dewitt and Jason Korsmeyer from the Short Course Mixed Team Otterhound, complete the swim over to Indian Point on Big Chebeague.

Steve Croucher and Caleb Baity from Team Synergy / GU Energy soldier through the longest run of the day, a four-mile section on Chebeague Island.

Solo racer Maria Tupayachi closes in on the finish line at the Chebeague Island Boatyard.

Matthew Kaiser and Adam McNally from Team Jersey Buoys reach the finish line of their Short Course effort, 12 total miles covering four islands in the Casco Bay chain. 10 total miles of running and 2 total miles of open water swimming.

Click here to see full results from Casco Bay’s Long Course, Short Course and Solo events.

Casco Bay along with Odyssey SwimRun’s Orcas Island, SwimRun NC and SwimRun Lake James events are designated as OTILLO Merit Races which earn athletes valuable points to qualify for the OTILLO SwimRun World Championships in 2022.

The post The Island Hopping Adventure through Maine’s Casco Bay Islands first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

Sam Long has experienced both highs and lows through the first half of the 2021 season. The young pro with the nickname Big Unit recalibrated after a disappointing result at IRONMAN Tulsa and set a course record at IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene. The Boulder based pro opened up with us about how he pressed the reset button after Tulsa and how he prepared for his record setting performance.

Slowtwitch: What did you do in the weeks between Tulsa and Coeur d'Alene?

Sam: After Tulsa I took almost a whole week off with just a few light workouts. It was the easiest I have taken a week of training in two years. I didn’t have much choice. As mentioned after Tulsa, I had severe back problems and the pain stuck around till Friday after the race. After the week off I did two bigger weeks of training and then a two week taper. All in all, it was only two weeks of training between the two races. My training focus shifted, as well, from threshold and speed type training to more metabolic efficiency type training. I was surprised – and still am another 3 weeks after the race – how well my body has held onto the speed from the spring training.

ST: How was your headspace from the high of your St. George race and a low of not having the race you wanted in Tulsa? Is there anything in particular you do that helps you bounce back and stay mentally hungry?

Sam: My headspace was awesome leading into Couer d'Alene. I was hungry to prove to myself what I could do after Tulsa. I had something to prove. I was chasing another high like St. George. I find I have the best headspace after races that don’t go great rather than the ones that do. They get me fired up. I had to shut out the media and noise for Coeur d'Alene. There was a lot of chatter about how it was too much and that I was chasing races. I knew in my head I had made the right choice and that I was capable of a great day. I focused on myself and lived a quiet disciplined life.

ST: The days leading into race day looked to be potentially very stressful. You seemingly rolled with the punches. Can you talk about some of the pre-race snags you've had, how you keep your cool, and in the case of Coeur d'Alene, how you use it as fuel towards a great performance?

Sam: I have had a lot of SNAFUs before races leading in my life. Perhaps the greatest one was before St. George 70.3 in 2015 when I was still an age grouper. While doing my warmup jog in the near dark I tripped over a metal chain blocking the path and did a front flip straight onto my head. Ouch, that one really hurt. I recollected myself and convinced myself it just got my adrenaline going. Another good one was before my first IRONMAN win at Chattanooga in 2019. The race is right on the border and my phone switched overnight to a time change an hour earlier. Therefore, I woke up late. I was the last person in transition before the race!

Coeur d'Alene was also stressful. On Thursday trying to fly out from Denver I spent four hours in the airport before my flight got cancelled. Then I booked a flight for Saturday morning to arrive 19 hours before the start of the race. Coeur d'Alene was perfect though because it got me out of my head of focusing on making all the details perfect and instead on staying positive and carrying forward no matter what. This mindset proved vital in 100-degree weather with a slightly flat tire for half the bike. I focused on myself and doing the best I could in every moment given what I had.

ST: One of the aspects you were disappointed in at Tulsa was being unable to ride away from your peers, and also pulling the group burning too many matches. Can you share your self-talk about how you approached your bike effort and pacing? What message were you intending to send?

Sam: Tulsa was extremely dissatisfying and annoying. It sucks to set other racers up for big success at your own expense. I hope to never do that again. I would rather the whole pack gets beat in the future then set someone up who will not do any work. I completely reshaped my mindset in Coeur d'Alene, I told myself coming out of the swim from behind is a good thing and that it means every time I pass someone, I have an opportunity to sit on their wheel before making the pass. I knew when I came to the group it would be important to sit in before making the attack so that I could be rested compared to everyone else. I caught the group relatively easily, having to ride only five watts higher than my planned race power. I then sat in for 45 minutes at what felt like a base building zone two ride. When I decided to go, I had the legs and only Lionel was able to go with me—which was perfect as it gave me an ally. Granted Coeur d'Alene was a different field than Tulsa but I’m learning how to use the tactics and the dynamics in every race to my advantage. The message is that I’m not going to play the fool anymore.

ST: On a scale of 1-11, how happy were you with your run at Coeur d'Alene? With such hot conditions, do you make any special training accommodations to be heat adapted for race day? If so, what are some of your go-tos?

Sam: I was fairly happy with it. I would give it an 8. Admittedly, I ran slightly too fast at the beginning but that was all part of the plan. I knew Lionel would surge to catch me and that getting him to do that type of an effort early in the heat would cost him big time. It also cost me though, as I was hotter than I would like to admit in the final 10k. It was also hard to say because my mindset shifted at that point from “bank time and go as fast as possible” to “don’t mess this up and play it conservative”. I would have loved for it to have been closer at the end so that I would have had to empty the tank completely.

I sit in the sauna every day for 30 minutes leading into a hot race. I’m playing with the time frame needed but 7-10 days seems to be perfect. I also train in the heat extensively in the summer.

ST: What will your race schedule look like for the fall? Have you made any decisions on what your championship season focus will be?

Sam: This is a great question. What I will say for now is that it will include all the major championship races. Collins Cup, St. George, and Kona. However, I am still deciding which one to really prioritize. I think with St. George being such a demanding race and only three weeks before Kona picking one and committing to one as the A race is critical. I am leaning towards St. George as my A race of the three but am still sorting out the details.

You can follow Sam on Instagram at @samgolong

Photo credit to Kenny Withrow of @nokoastvisuals

The post Sam Long on Cracking the Coeur d’Alene Code first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

We reached out to Sam Long to join Slowtwitch for an Ask Me Anything thread following his duel with Lionel Sanders at IRONMAN 70.3 St. George a few weeks ago. He suggested he’d be able to dedicate his full attention during some down time following IRONMAN Tulsa and he stayed true to his word.

We’ve found Sam to be open and thoughtful in the responses he’s provided so far. The young outspoken pro dubbed The Big Unit has made himself available again today to answer any questions you want to ask him.

You can visit Sam’s AMA thread on the Slowtwitch Forum HERE.

Photo credit to Kenny Withrow of @nokoastvisuals.

The post Ask Me Anything with Sam Long first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

Richtrova and Jorge Martinez, her longtime coach at E3TS, leave no stone unturned when it comes to their training and race day preparations and we took a closer look at the Quintana Roo PR Six she rode to a 5:00:38 bike split, the fastest amateur split by over 20 minutes.

Richtrova utilizes Martinez’s FreeSpeed Lab periodically to fine tune her position, rides often on Zwift, but still relies primarily on outdoor rides.

Richtrova has now ridden the same Quintana Roo PR Six frame for her 2019 and 2021 IRONMAN North American Championship overall female age group wins as well as her 2019 IRONMAN World Championship female 35-39 female age group title.

A few upgrades Richtrova made this past off-season included adding her Drag2Zero Ergo high rise extensions and a swap out of her mechanical shifting for Ultegra Di2.

While finding an aerodynamic position is important for Richtrova and Martinez, even down to Velotoze toe covers, Castelli aero socks and Castelli Tri Speed suit, they study each course to gain a better understanding of when it makes better sense to ride on the base bars and factor that into her overall CDA averages.

Richtrova uses the Giro Aerohead with the visor down but if she needs more ventilation from time to time the magnets keep it secured.

Richtrova’s base bar of choice is the Zipp Vuka 38cm base bar.

This side view reveals TriRig Omega One front brake and an XLAB cage which Richtrova used with a Torpedo bottle on race day.

Richtrova keeps a close eye on her power output using Powertap P2 pedals and also seen is the Alden Crank aero cover used.

Richtrova used an Irwin Aon 60/88 wheel set up with a rear WheelBuilder disc cover. She also uses a Dura Ace chain with Silca Chain blend.

A Cobb JOF Fifty-Five saddle kept Richtrova comfortable for five hours in Tulsa and during many hundreds of hours during training.

Earlier in the week Richtrova explained how vital nutrition is in long distance racing and Sunday she executed a new race fueling strategy developed with Martinez through metabolic testing and using PowerBar products that made a comeback at the end of 2019. She stored those PowerBar drinks in her XLAB Gorilla XT cages.

Earlier in the week Martinez and Richtrova let us see the Best Bike Splits estimation which calculated a 4:55:48 bike split. With the exception of a blunder coming out of T1 in which Richtrova had trouble clipping into her pedal, her 5:00:38 split was quite close to the calculation.

Looked like it was a challenging day out there in the Tulsa countryside.

Also known as Czech Chick, you can follow Richtrova's pursuits on Instagram at @CzechChick15.

The post Czech Chick’s Tulsa Rig first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

Said Richtrova, “If you told me Kona 2019 would be my last race for nearly two years I would have laughed at you. But here we are. I must say I have been incredibly lucky and fortunate to continue to swim, bike, run and strength train pretty much without any changes throughout 2020 as I have had access to a pool, indoor bike trainer, treadmill and a good amount of strength equipment.”

Widely known as one of the most data-driven athletes, we were eager to shadow Richtrova as she went through her final preparations before driving out to Tulsa, Oklahoma for the North American IRONMAN Championships at IRONMAN Tulsa.

With the exception of trying out a local SwimRun event last Fall, Richtrova hasn’t swam in open water since competing in Kona in 2019. However, she’s been remarkably consistent in the pool, swimming 5x’s per week with Gemma Hollis’ PushGlideKick squad.

With the swim leg in Keystone Lake at Ironman Tulsa likely to be wetsuit legal, Richtrova wore her blueseventy Helix the entire session.

Richtrova loves the challenge of racing in strong championship caliber fields but in the past her swim has handicapped her, requiring her to put up exceptional bike and run legs. She’s hoping the consistency in 2020 in which she averaged 15,800 yards per week and so far in 2021 around 15,000 yards per week will pay off with a faster swim leg.

But even if she has the swim of her life, when you ride a bike like she can, it is likely only one mantra repeats in your head, “Where’s my bike”.

After the mid morning PushGlideKick swim squad, Richtrova had a weekly strength and rehab session at Mobility Chiro Therapy in The Woodlands. Her bike and run gear also made the trip for a final race week test with Coach Jorge Martinez of E3TS who operates his FreeSpeed Lab in the same office.

Richtrova used the stretch bands to run through a series of strength exercises. Following Kona 2019, she had a lingering running injury when another one developed mid way through 2020. She stayed patient and didn’t feel the need to rush back and instead fully focused on rehab and swim, bike and strength sessions.

As it turned out, Brazilian pro Pamella Oliveira was in front of Richtrova in line to see the physical therapist. The fast swimming Olympian used The Woodlands as her base while racing at 70.3 Texas and 70.3 St George in preparation for IRONMAN Tulsa and the two had gotten out for a few long training rides together.

Physical Therapist Kyle Suchma has been working with Richtrova for the past few years since she moved from Boston to The Woodlands and has an excellent track record of getting her to the starting line injury free.

Mobility Chiro also offers cupping therapy which Richtrova takes advantage of…

.as well as E-STIM, dry needling with stim and ART (Active Release Technique).

Despite likely feeling relaxed after her therapy treatments, Richtrova changed into her IRONMAN Tulsa race day kit and hopped on her Quintana Roo PR Six Ultegra Di2 machine to dial in her race day plan with Martinez.

Before a race Martinez puts his coached athletes, including Richtrova, through a session with efforts at race pace to help them determine their bike position depending on the course and race day weather conditions, their power targets for both bike and run, and their fueling needs.

Martinez uses a series of tools, including the Leomo Type S for motion analysis to help determine an athlete’s bike fit. But together with the 3D aero virtual simulator he has worked with Richtrova to optimize her bike-fit and aerodynamics. By using the simulator pre-race they can estimate her latest Coefficient of Drag taking into consideration the equipment she’ll use.

For IRONMAN Tulsa, which will be a relentlessly hilly bike course, they tested various positions from sitting up and having her head exposed to the wind as well as her head super tucked in an aero position. The goal is to get an average coefficient of drag since she won’t keep the same position during the entire race.

Taking that information, Martinez uses Best Bike Split to model out an estimated time and performance she can expect given the weather forecast. He also uses it to determine how Richtrova should pace the race depending on the weather forecast and the terrain. In this way she will have guidelines when she may be able to push more or less power. Since their plan is more of a guide, Richtrova can make adjustments on race day if the weather forecast changes.

Martinez tests Richtrova’s blood lactate concentration throughout the year to help her set her training zones, target specific adaptations and develop fueling plans. This race week test is to fine tune her power targets for race day and make any necessary adjustments to her fueling strategy.

Following the bike session, Richtrova pulled on her running shoes and hopped on the treadmill to review her stride. Richtrova trains with the Stryd and Martinez sets most of her runs by power or heart rate instead of pace.

Coupled with the metabolic testing Martinez does, they have identified which run dynamics result in a lower energy cost of running at Ironman race power and heart rate.

Following a very full few hours of training, body work and lab testing, Richtrova was famished and ready for lunch.

Richtrova, Martinez and Hollis met up for a few pizzas to celebrate the end of her training. Sitting patiently underneath the table in anticipation of some dropped crumbs were Hollis’ two dogs, Trifle and Figgy, who Richtrova is extremely fond of and dog sits for at every opportunity.

Hollis is one of Richtrova’s training partners when not running her PushGlideKick swim squad and will be racing in St. George at 70.3 Worlds later in the year.

Also known as Czech Chick, you can follow Richtrova's pursuits on Instagram at @CzechChick15.

All photos by David Reynolds of Digital Knight Productions.

The post The Return of the Czech Chick first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

After a foot injury ended Barrett Brandon’s pro triathlon career, the Texas native pounced on a job at Ventum, moved to Utah and fully embraced the mountain lifestyle.

Slowtwitch: A quick peek at the 10 day forecast for Park City shows 32 and snow. As a Texas native who chased the endless summer during your pro triathlon career, what does your Strava activity feed look like these days?

Barrett Brandon: A lot of indoor riding, that's for sure! With my work schedule and the short winter days, I am inside weekdays this time of year and try to go outside when the weather permits on weekends. When I moved here a friend told me to embrace the seasons or you won't survive. Still: it's cold! Summer is incredible here, however. I don't miss Texas summers.

ST: Have you tried skiing yet?

Barrett: I have gotten into ski touring this season for some cross-training. Before December, I had never skied before in my life. Even growing up we never went on vacation, so I am a true newbie. About 2-3 times a week I skin up our local mountain and then do my best pizza down. I am still at the point where going down is actually harder than going up. I also have yet to ski from a lift, so I guess I am learning the hard way.

ST: What prompted your move from Texas to Utah?

Barrett: I moved here to work for Ventum. The company relocated our operations from Miami and Boulder to Park City and I came on board as part of that move.

ST: What is your role at Ventum? What has the workplace environment been like throughout COVID?

Barrett: At Ventum I run Finance and Operations. Being a slightly smaller company, we have quite a bit of cross-functional collaboration by our teams so the scope of what I do on any given day is fairly broad. As a company, and compared to many other business and individuals, we have been fortunate during COVID. We continued to grow the brand, we launched our new gravel bike, and have managed to maintain a safe work environment for our employees. That is not to say 2020 was without its challenges, but we are excited about the road ahead.

ST: 2020 looked like a return to racing for you, but in a new backdrop. Why do you think gravel was the spark to get you racing again?

Barrett: I started riding to get back in shape and around that time we started our GS1 gravel development at Ventum. Before I knew it I had signed up for pretty much every major race in 2020. Also, coming from Ironman, I just seemed to naturally gravitate towards the longer events, and gravel is perfect for that. Even though COVID changed my initial plans, I was able to get in a few races towards the end of the year.

ST: Is there anything in particular you experienced or noticed that makes the gravel community uniquely welcoming? Do you have any advice on how to get started for those triathletes who might be considering giving gravel a try?

Barrett: The biggest thing I noticed is just the laid-back atmosphere, and the general feeling of inclusivity. You come as you are. You don’t have to have the fanciest gear, and it really seems people are there for their own adventure and shared experiences. I certainly take a more performance-centric focus than some, but plenty, if not most, are there for adventure and the challenge. Can you even do a gravel race and not drink a beer at the end with your friends? Whereas you contrast that experience with your local CAT 5 crit or IM Kona and those feel like a different world.

If you are looking to get into gravel, I would first suggest getting a dedicated bike even if it is just an entry level model. I would make sure you know how to change a flat (and plug a tubeless tire) and either go with someone else or let someone know where you are. Be prepared for minor mechanicals as things can often rattle loose. Bring extra food and water as routes always take longer than you think. Other than that, make a new route, go explore, and have fun!

ST: What adjustments did you make after your first race that helped you at Fistful of Dirt and BWR Cedar City? What changes did you make in your equipment setup or the way you trained?

Barrett: If you want to race well at gravel, you have to be able to respond to constant pace changes and also deal with a high-powered and frantic start. While most races last 5-10+ hrs, it is full on from the gun trying to establish your position. I spent most of quarantine in early 2020 working on those areas. As for implementing it, I managed that well at Fistful of Dirt, but got caught out and spent most of the day chasing in BWR Cedar City.

For my setup, I am continually learning and tinkering. One of the design imperatives for our GS1 was stability at speed on gravel. We developed the geometry and our dual position fork dropout to specifically address this. I run 700c wheels in our "long" (5mm greater offset) position to slow steering inputs for a less twitchy front-end during long days.

Tire choice and tire pressure are crucial. When in doubt, probably go lower pressure. I think I went through at least 15 sets of tires in testing for Ventum (sorry mechanics) trying to find the best one to race on and to spec for our brand. In regards to width, wider is generally better. I raced on 43mm Gravel King SKs this year and they worked well. They were a fantastic mix of volume, grip, and speed over all kinds of terrain. I also opted for the Enve G23 gravel wheel as opposed to their deeper and slightly more aero AR series. I found the compliance and flat protection they offer outweighed and outperformed a slight aero advantage on a lot of courses.

All it takes is one unfixable flat, a dying headlamp, and being completely solo in darkness in the middle of a Florida swamp before you decide to never run aggressive tires again.

ST: What is the story behind ending up in a Florida swamp?

Barrett: The short of it is that I showed up to a 200 mile gravel race in January overconfident and under prepared. I rolled up with 31c tires because I thought they would be faster for the "light" gravel. I also chose not to have a front light (the race started in the dark) and just use a blinky because I would be around others at the start and then be done before dark. I had never used GPS turn-by-turn or put a plug in a tubeless tire. Fast forward about 16min into the race and I didn’t see a rock and ripped my tire sidewall open. I hastily tried to fix it and get back on the bike, but I lost my saddle bag, and then proceeded to miss the next few turns. My plug didn't hold, and suddenly found myself alone, with a dying light, and a completely flat tire and no spares, in the dark in the middle of a sugar cane field. I ended up walking most of the way back to my car. My first ever gravel race was a spectacular DNF where I made it all of 5 miles.

ST: We noticed at Fistful of Dirt the breakaway group included Peter Stetina and Paul Thomas. How did you find it riding isolated with two experienced cyclists? Did you share a common goal of working together or were there games being played out?

Barrett: It was really fun riding with those guys. They both have so much more bike racing experience than I do, and it was great to see that play out in a race in real time. Pete and I got a gap on the early climbs, but Paul always clawed back on the flats. It was nice to have a 3rd person to swap turns, so a few times we waited for Paul. Once the race gets established, gravel seems to be pretty friendly until the end: we agreed to stop at some aid stations together and wait for each other during nature breaks. It is this unique dynamic in that you are racing, but there are some unwritten sportsmanship rules. However, at about mile 65, Stetina started to apply pressure and Paul and I were eventually distanced. I was able to gap Paul on the last main climb and get 2nd which was a good finish for me. It was a great learning experience, and tons of fun.

ST: As a pro triathlete the bulk of your career was on the ITU circuit before turning to non-draft and Ironman racing at the end. You raced for a long time. Can you tell us what it was like when you decided to step away from the pro triathlon lifestyle of training and racing?

Barrett: I had foot surgery at the end of 2017 and a return to racing never materialized. My non-triathlon work life started to pick up as I was recovering from surgery, so it became an easy transition. Looking back, I had been competing at a pretty high level in sport since high school and it was the right time for a pause. It took a couple years for me to rekindle that competitive fire, but it seems that racing gravel has done that. I think for me, having an athletic goal and working towards that is extremely important and helps anchor the other parts of my life. I also find that when I have focused on structured training, I am more productive at work. It just seems to work well for me to still have some sort of competitive outlet.

ST: Do you have any big challenges or races planned for 2021?

Barrett: I'm pretty much signed up for all the big races. Right now I am planning on doing BWR, Unbound (formerly Dirty Kanza), Tushar, Leadville/SBT GRVL double, Fistful of Dirt and The Wasatch All-Road. Ventum is the Official Host of the The Wasatch All-Road, which is a new race for 2021, and a big goal for me. It is the groads I train on daily, so will hopefully have some local advantage, be an epic course and it should be a super competitive race! I have an ambitious (for me) racing schedule this year, but also should find time for some bike adventures into the backcountry this summer too. Hopefully we will be able to race a few times more than last year!

You can follow Barrett on Instagram at @barrettbrandon_.

The post A Former Pro Triathlete Hits the Gravel first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

The Pace Bend Park location is inside Austin city limits but is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Texas' capital.

Long Course athletes, both 2-person teams and solo athletes, completed 13 miles of trail running and 5+ miles of swimming around Pace Bend Park. Short Course athletes, teams and solo, completed 8 miles of trail running and 2 miles swimming.

The start line looked a bit different than previous swimrun events with athletes staggered 6-feet apart versus the traditional mass start.

Race organizers set athletes out from the start in 10 second intervals. Team Mexi-Cali's Roberto Florencia and Charles Brown took the time-trial start in stride and were strong finishing just off the podium in fourth.

Instead of swimming between islands as is often the case in Odyssey events, Pace Bend features a few dozen coves in the Colorado River. Low water levels meant athletes needed to stay attentive to trees and exposed rocks.

The Balcones Canyonlands provided a stunning backdrop.

Run sections offered a variety of terrain including singletrack, rocky and rooty trails and even the occasional bush-whacking section but in swimrun you negotiate with what nature gives you.

These teammates look to be in sync after completing one of the early swim legs.

Garrett Weber-Gale was the second swimmer on the Olympic Gold Medal winning 4×100 relay at the Beijing Olympics when the Americans famously beat France in come-from-behind fashion to ensure Michael Phelps earned one of his record setting eight Golds. Weber-Gale's friend Mark Iwans told the 2-time Gold Medalist about the Austin event and he took up the adventure despite only a few weeks of run training. We cannot see a tether which must mean Iwans is a solid swimmer in his own right to keep pace with the Olympian.

Even in November, Texas can be dish out some downright oppressive conditions. Cloud cover was a welcome relief for Hannah Davies and Nicholas Mathers as the temps didn't start soaring until later in the day.

Do it your own aid stations are normal for swimrun and organizers will often provide athletes with a foldable cup to use. Team Lyle Fitness' David Lipke opts to drink from his swim cap while teammate Mike Lyle searches for a gel.

Former pro triathlete and top swimmer James Bonney teamed up with friend and training partner Stephan Schwarze for their first swimrun. The Austin-based duo named their team Old School and went on to finish third overall in the Men's Long Course race.

Not everyone arrives to the finish line unscathed. Gemma Hollis took an early spill on the rocky trails but together with teammate Jana Richtrova held on for third place in the Women's Long Course race.

Drew Sapp and Michael Schultz navigate a steep rocky swim exit and eventually ended up as the second overall Men's Long Course team.

Paul Matthews is another former pro triathlete who calls Austin home and raced with one of his coached athletes Brandi Swicegood to second overall in the Mixed Long Course category.

Many athletes who want to try swimrun but perhaps do not know anyone else wanting to scratch the same itch compete in the Solo category. This is an especially popular category for triathletes used to racing as an individual although race organizers encourage everyone to try out the team racing at some point.

Pace Bend is a popular trail system for mountain bikers but Tyler Long and Scott Chaney appear far more interested in refueling at this aid station.

Amie Quinn launches from 30-feet. This cliff jump was an optional way for athletes to enter one of the swim legs and many took the leap.

Teamwork is an essential part of swimrun and Bronwen and Greg Dierksen have it nailed down. The married couple was the first American team to podium at an OTILLO World Series event and finished the challenging Austin course as the fastest overall team and easily won the Mixed Long Course category.

Wearing the Gold bib put a target on Team Swaggy Zaddys but Lee Greene and Marcus Barton rose to the occasion and won the Men's Long Course category. The Gold bib was earned for accumulating the most points from OTILLO Merit Races in North American including Odyssey's four races, SwimRun North Carolina and SwimRun Lake James.

Photos by Aaron Palaian and Elizabeth Kreutz.

The post SwimRun in Austin City Limits first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

The Marathon Squared, a challenge to swim 10km in open water followed by marathon run, each leg in less than 3 hours, was conceptualized in 2012 and only recently re-ignited by Magnolia Masters swim coach Tim Floyd. 

For years, Floyd mulled over hosting this challenge, but with a void in most of the racing calendar, 2020 proved the perfect time to pull the trigger. On Sunday, October 11th in conjunction with his Snapping Tortuga 10km open water swim event, Floyd organized the first known Marathon Squared Challenge attempted on US-soil in and around Lake Conroe in Montgomery, Texas.

Three multiple-time Ironman winning pros, Matt Hanson, Justin Daerr and Lisa Roberts, heeded the challenge.

The 10km swim was staged as part of Floyd's annual Snapping Tortuga open water swim event.

In an iron-distance triathlon, both Daerr and Hanson, are typically found in the first or second chase pack during the swim leg, but the 10km distance would be a first.

Hanson had forgotten his goggles on the pool deck during a swim practice the previous day and was wearing borrowed goggles.

Daerr strategically started out the swim conservatively and was behind Hanson the first three kilometers before pulling up nearly even to him the remainder of the swim.

Both Daerr and Hanson were well behind the fastest swimmer on the day, elite amateur triathlete Tyler Blackburn. 

Daerr and his kayaker deployed excellent positioning strategy for much of the swim allowing Daerr to conserve as much energy as possible.

Blackburn finished the 10km swim in 2 hours, 24 minutes and 40 seconds, over 6 minutes ahead of Hanson and 7 minutes ahead of Daerr.

Although Daerr and his kayaker took a better swim line, Hanson climbed out of Lake Conroe one minute ahead.

While Roberts is used to posting fastest run splits, the swim has never been her strongest discipline. 

Though Roberts finished the 10km swim leg in 3 hours, 23 minutes and 50 seconds well outside of the mark, she was still smiling and laced up her shoes to tackle the marathon.

Out on the three-loop marathon course under scorching conditions, Hanson tapped out a 2 hour, 46 minute, 25 second marathon to become the first known person to successfully complete The Marathon Squared Challenge. Impressively, his transition time between the 10km swim and marathon was only 2 minutes and 58 seconds, meaning he completed the entire event in less than 6 hours.

Through the halfway mark Daerr was on pace to dip under 3 hours but with temps reaching into the mid-90's, his pace eventually slowed and he finished the marathon in 3 hours, 15 minutes and 52 seconds.

Out of contention to complete the challenge under the goal mark, Daerr and Roberts linked up to urge one another through to the finish.

Encouraged by what he saw and the questions he's been fielding since Sunday, Floyd plans to hold the second edition of The Marathon Squared next September or early October 2021.

All photos were provided compliments of Scott Flathouse Photography. His full gallery can be seen HERE and he can be followed on Instagram at @scottflathousephoto.

For more on The Marathon Squared Challenge, join the conversation in our Forum Thread.

The post The Marathon Squared Photo Gallery first appeared on Slowtwitch News.