Last year marked the first time that the IM World Championship was split up into two locations, with the women remaining on the Big Island and the men heading to Nice.

As the men’s race drew nearer last September – and the Norwegians were notably absent – names like Patrick Lange, Magnus Ditlev, and Jan Frodeno (who was competing in his final IMWC) began making the rounds with regards to who might cross the finish line first.

Frenchman Sam Laidlow had come in second place in Kona in 22, but had a tough early 2023 season with a DNF at IM Lanzarote and a slew of nutrition-related difficulties at other races. His name was mentioned here and there, but rarely in the vein of having a chance to win in Nice.

Then, Laidlow shocked most of the triathlon world by claiming first in Nice in a time of just over eight hours, crowning him IM World Champion.

Laidlow has found success in 2024 at the T100 races, with two podiums at that distance, but a contested disqualification at IM Vitoria-Gasteiz left Laidlow in the lurch for a moment, thinking he would not validate his spot for Kona. In the end, IRONMAN allowed Laidlow a slot to compete, and he’s now back on the Big Island and aiming for a two-peat.

Another Podium Finish for Laidlow?

ST: How do you feel being the returning IM World Champion heading into Kona? Do you feel as though you have a target on your back, or are you more relaxed knowing you’ve already achieved the highest podium finish in all of IRONMAN triathlon?

SL: I feel happy and content with where I am right now, of course there will always be pressure in triathlon, but I feel like it’s being overridden by the joy of being healthy, fit and in contention for another title. It’s not about the outcome right now, I just need to keep making sure I do everything I can to be the best – that’s what success is to me.

ST: What did it mean to you to have back-to-back years of podiums at IMWC, in 2022 and 2023? 

SL: It’s a good question; on the one hand, I feel like I’ve been doing this a very long time already, and on the other, I feel like I have a lot more to give in the sport. I have a deep, profound belief that I can be the best in the world at IRONMAN, and so long as I have that belief I will keep wanting to win world titles. I’ve raced three IRONMAN World Championships and had great days, I just hope I can make it four.

ST: This year has had its ups and downs for you with two podium finishes in T100 races and then the disqualification at IM Vitoria-Gasteiz. On the whole, how do you feel about your season thus far? 

SL: This season was a bit of a slow start, which was of course hard to accept, but in reality this was always the plan. I’ve been so committed these last two months [and that effort] simply isn’t sustainable all year. It’s been a slow build up to this point and I can happily say I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been. Whether I can translate that to the race course is another question.

ST: Kona is a very different course than Nice, and you’ve shown you can have success at both. Can you share any broad strokes of information about how you’ll change your approach for Kona vs. your approach for Nice last year? 

SL: The course in Kona is of course very different to Nice, but both are extremely honest: the fittest guy will win. It’s that simple. On paper, I think Kona probably suits me slightly better; I’m one of the heavier athletes out there and this course favors big power riders more than Nice. The run in Kona is also hillier which suits me more than an all-out fast flat course like Nice. In terms of preparation, there isn’t much difference – I’ve spent a month here which I didn’t do in Nice so naturally riding on the course is probably the biggest difference.

ST: Which course do you ultimately prefer as an IRONMAN World Championship course – Kona or Nice? Why?

SL: Nice was amazing, the course and crowds were spectacular. However, Kona is where my heart lies and will always lie. I’ve watched this race since I can remember on TV and I’ve committed my whole life to trying to win this race in particular.

ST: Who are your sponsors this year?

SL: Hoka, Canyon Bicycles, Ekoi, Oakley, Red Bull, Breitling, HVMN, AG1, Valfidus, Fusion Sportswear, Favero Electronics, Compressport, Maurten, HED Cycling, Sailfish, Ceramic Speed

Photo Courtesy of Baptiste Vignaud 

The post 2023 IRONMAN World Champion Sam Laidlow Wants a Two-Peat in Kona first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

As speculations continue as to which women will find their way to the Nice podium on Sunday, one name seems to come up again and again: Laura Philipp.

The German has always had strong showings at the IRONMAN World Championship. In 2022, despite a drafting penalty on the bike, she still finished in fifth place. Last year, Philipp rounded out the women’s top three finishers alongside first place Lucy Charles-Barclay and second place Anne Haug.

It’s clear that this year, Philipp is all-in on going for the win at this weekend’s IM World Championship in Nice. She has spent nearly all of her year training in the mountains and spent time in Nice this past spring testing bike equipment and setups to optimize for the IMWC.

She’s had a slew of successes to build up her confidence as well: Second place at Challenge Roth, third place at the San Francisco T100 race and fourth place at the London T100 race, as well as three top-five finishes at IM-brand 70.3s this year.

And though Philipp is saving her mental and physical energy ahead of race day, we were still able to sit down with the IMWC podium finisher for a few quick questions ahead of race day.

Laura Philipp Shares Her Thoughts on Her Season and Nice

ST: How has your training gone for Nice? 

LP: My training has gone well and mostly according to plan. I did a big block of altitude training in St. Moritz over the last few weeks and rode many of the big climbs to get ready for the challenging bike course [in Nice]. We focused a bit more on improving some specific skills for the climbs and descents, but otherwise the volume and intensity remained similar to any other race preparation I would typically do.

ST: What excites you about an IM World Championship in Nice?

LP: The bike course in Nice is the most amazing bike course. It’s super tough, challenging and will most likely bring a lot of separation into the women’s pro field. I like the fact that bike skills are a necessary part of nailing this course, and that it is not only about physical power output. It was also really nice to prep [for the IMWC] closer to home and avoid another big trip [such as to Kona]. I am excited about my first racing experience in Nice and I am sure that this location is very World Champs-worthy.

ST: What are your thoughts on the IRONMAN Pro Series? Have you enjoyed partaking in it?

LP: I think the IM Pro Series is a great addition to the pros’ racing calendar and has definitely increased the strength of the field at the races in the Pro Series, which is awesome and what fans want to see. I have only participated in one IM Pro Series event so far at 70.3 Mallorca, but enjoyed the experience. I like the inclusion of Race Ranger and will definitely try to race more races of the series in the future if IM decides to continue the Pro Series.

ST: What other races will you prioritize this year after IMWC?

LP: I will continue to race the T100 series.

ST: Who are your sponsors this year?

LP: Hep Solar, Canyon, New Balance, Castelli, Spa, AG1, Whoop, Shook, SwissSide, Schwalbe, Ergon, Mnstry, Incylence, Soprema, Kickass Sports, Lever Movement

The post A Quick Check-In with Laura Philipp ahead of the IRONMAN World Championship first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

These days, it seems like every age group triathlete is an “ambassador” for some product or brand, from nutrition to apparel. 

And this is a good thing: it fosters connection between athletes and niche endurance sports companies. 

But it seems like some ambassador teams come and go, making a big splash for a year or two before fading into the ether. 

Not Team Zoot. 

Since 2008, Team Zoot has been hard to miss at triathlons across the nation and the globe. Their flashy kits and cacophony of cheers for each other make quite the statement at both local and IRONMAN-branded races. 

Now, with more than 5,000 members globally, Zoot Marketing Director Mark Goddard walks us through what makes Team Zoot so enduring and so special. 

Get to Know Team Zoot

ST: What is the background of Team Zoot? How did it come to be?

MG: So the team was actually started in 2008, and it was an elite team. It was called the Zoot Ultra Team, and it was for age groupers who were trying to go pro – at one point we even sponsored Beth McKenzie.

But eventually we knew we wanted to expand the team to be more of an ambassador team for all levels, and that’s when I took over team management duties in 2014. At that time, we had about 300 age groupers under the Team Zoot umbrella.

Today, we operate as one team, but we have about 20 team captains spread around the U.S. who help on a local level with the team and organize group rides and meetups and events. 

As we started growing the team, we’re really thinking about how the best part of being on an ambassador team, especially from a brand ambassador team, is the built in support on race day. 

And so what we wanted to do is we wanted to expand the team in a major way. Just like any business, we keep needing new people to get this triathlon foot in order for us to survive and grow, while at the same time wanting to provide a supportive space for age groupers to connect and train and race together. The goal of our team and why we want it so big is so that people can connect organically with each other within the same team and become friends, training partners, all that kind of stuff. 

Today, we have 5,000 team members in the U.S. and about 1,000 members across Europe.

ST: Who is the “typical” athlete on Team Zoot?

MG: We’re not one thing. We’re not a team trying to dominate in Kona every year, we’re not a team just for women or just for men. We’re truly for everybody. We launched a para division of our team this past year, too.

We do have a lot of fast people on the team, but we also have a lot of people who are doing triathlon just for fun without concern for time or placement. But that’s the thing – everyone on the team has to be here for the fun. 

We only have two real rules on the team: be cool and don’t be a prick, and wear the team kit for racing. 

ST: What are some of the perks of being on Team Zoot?

MG: First, I think there are a lot of misconceptions about Team Zoot. Many people think this is just a money-making opportunity for Zoot. And yeah, of course it is to some extent. We are indeed a business.

However, we don’t charge a membership fee to be on Team Zoot. We own our own factory, which means we own our supply chain. This means we can offer a 40% discount on all our Zoot apparel to our team members, and we have some great partnerships with brands like Quintana Roo, Rudy Project, Garmin, and Hed Wheels. 

We don’t require our team members to buy products from our team partners. You can use the equipment you want to use. We do pass everything down to the team member – Zoot does not make any money when a Team Zoot member purchases from a team sponsor.

And because we are such a big team, we often get free IRONMAN-branded race entries to give out to team members throughout the season, too.

ST: Anything else we should know about Team Zoot?

MG: My favorite thing about the team is the people and the friendships that I’ve made from people that I meet once at a team event and then see them again the next year. As big as Team Zoot is, it can be as personal as you want it to be. 

We don’t ask people to be on social media. There is no requirement to post a certain number of times a month. If you think something about the team is cool, post about it and share it with friends. But we want that to happen organically, not because we’ve required you to post about it.

Truly, the two rules of Team Zoot are: be cool and race in the Team Zoot kit.

ST: How can people apply to be on 2025 Team Zoot?

MG: Applications are open from September 7 through September 22 on the Team Zoot Website

Image credit: Mark Goddard

The post Team Zoot Has One Major Rule: Be Cool. first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

Beth McKenzie (née Gerdes) is a name that’s hard not to know in triathlon.

McKenzie was a top American professional triathlete* for many years, racking up multiple podium finishes and becoming one of the first long course pro women to have a baby and successfully return to Iron-distance racing (which she did just four months after the birth of her first daughter, Wynne, in 2014).

McKenzie and her husband Luke also founded popular triathlon, running and cycling apparel brand WYN Republic in 2017 all while juggling a now family of four.

And while many retired professional endurance athletes move towards more leisurely recreational activities and launching a coaching business, McKenzie hasn’t hung up her racing shoes just yet – instead choosing to remain among “the coached” in a budding elite trail running career.

After a slew of road racing wins and personal bests in the past few years, McKenzie made her way into the trail world and has achieved podium finishes at events such as the 2024 Tarawera Trail 100km race and most recently, winning Ultratrail Australia in the 100km distance.

We sat down with McKenzie to talk about everything from the elephant in the room (her doping sanction in 2016) to her newfound elite racing career in trail running to how she balances her love of competition with being a loving mom of two and a business owner.

The Elephant in the Room: Doping

McKenzie served a two-year doping ban for Ostarine, a performance enhancing substance, after testing positive for it in May 2016. McKenzie has always maintained her innocence and openness to speaking about the doping ban she served. McKenzie and other athletes are currently embroiled in a lawsuit with the salt pill manufacturer whose supplements are what McKenzie believes contained Ostarine.

While McKenzie’s two-year ban from 2016 to 2018 may be old news in the triathlon world, her rise to notability in trail running has reopened the discussion around McKenzie’s doping accusation – and reopened some mental wounds for McKenzie.

BM: After living through the trauma of my doping ban both internally and externally eight years ago, I've finally come to a place where it didn't impact my day-to-day life and I've truly risen above and beyond it and I am so proud of that because it did utterly destroy me. I trudged through it all and finally came mostly out the other side, very much in part due to the support of my peers.

I'm not coming to the trail world to hide. I fully believed I would be drug tested at the UTMB series (and treated every morsel and sip that went in my mouth and even night cream that went on my wrinkles for two months like it could be contaminated) because now I hugely struggle with the anxiety of the liminal state between drug testing and results. The whole reason I only had Coke and chips on course is because I'm deathly afraid of ingesting anything else that is not mine.

I am not existing to spite people or to come and win races that people don't want me winning, and that's the crux of what has been mulling through my mind. I only want to be at races where I am welcome. My worst nightmare is competing against a woman who believes I have cheated, or am cheating her out of a podium.

Navigating Elite Racing Post-Sanction

While McKenzie acknowledges she may always be tried in the court of public opinion when it comes to her doping sanction, this hasn’t stopped her from taking part in a new athletic community – trail running – where she feels welcomed and challenged by the ruggedness of the demands of each race course.

BM: The reality for me is that the fire to push my body and my edges and compete at a high level never stopped. However, my life just couldn’t sustain the 25-30hrs of training a week I needed (not even counting all the bike and swim prep and commute time) to race at the highest level in triathlon. As our business, WYN Republic, was growing and our two daughters were as well, triathlon just wasn’t a sustainable endeavor for me anymore.

It’s no secret that running was always my strength in triathlon, so after retiring from triathlon in 2020 (thanks, COVID), I hit the roads and trails on foot. I thought an Olympic Trials Qualification time for the marathon might be in reach, so I chased the elusive 2:36:59 for about 18 months. I got super close, running under 2:40 three times, including my closest 2:37:47 at CIM in 2022…but no cigar! At 43, I knew I had squeezed what I could out of my marathon training and probably wouldn’t get much faster, so I started exploring trails more.

Only my ex-husband will know this (shoutout to James!) but I was actually a “trail runner” before I ever tried a triathlon back in 2007. I raced the Xterra SoCal trail run series and a few other events and have always loved the dirt.

I’ve been racing “ultras” since 2021, but gradually dipped my toes into the more rugged and longer events. In 2021, I raced my first 50km, which was mostly on the road in a solid 3 hours and 18 minutes and loved the distance. I then raced a true trail 50k in March 2022.

In 2023 I watched some friends race the Tarawera 100km trail race in New Zealand and it was absolutely epic racing: beautiful scenery, true grit, high-level fast women… it captivated me! I decided to sign up for the 2024 Tarawera 100km and then there was no turning back! In 2024, I’ve completed my first two 100kms (Tarawera and UltraTrail Australia) and I’m definitely hooked. Though, at 44, I’m not sure how many more 100kms my body can take at that intensity. If I slow down, sure, but that’s not really me.

The Differences Between Triathlon and Trail Running

BM: I’ve found the trail running and triathlon communities very similar in their overall passion and love of sport and how it brings us together. There is a huge collective ‘WE’ and ‘in it together-ness’ at all triathlons and trail runs and that is my favorite part. I will say that trail runners are, generally, much more chill and low key. The preening that happens at triathlons among age groupers doesn’t really exist – at least from what I’ve seen – in trail. ‘Dig Me’ beach would never be a thing in trail, lol.

the leadup and win at UltraTrail Australia 100km

BM: For my first 100km in February at Tarawera, the build was shaky and very basic. I had a hamstring injury in early December which stopped my running for a few weeks. After that, I built up volume and did some hills, but nothing fancy and no speed work. Just easy running. But Tarawera still went well (I placed second) because I had years of running and base fitness.

After Tarawera, I knew there was “time on the table” if I could just incorporate a bit more specific work and some speed work into my training. I’m coached by Meg Roche (who, along with her husband David are THE coaches in trail running. Lucky me, I’ve followed them for 15 years, so they took me in despite their overflowing coaching load!). Anyway, Meg’s plan was amazing and we executed a pretty flawless 10-week training block with everything (volume, tempo, hills etc) and I knew I was as fit as I could possibly be leading into UltraTrail Australia. I rarely get to say that, as things never go to plan, so I know how special that lead-up was and was confident in my fitness.

Lucy Bartholomew, who came in second in the 100km distance at UltraTrail Australia, is a legend in trail running and has won UltraTrail Australia a few times. I knew that with her grit and experience, I could never count her out. I built up my lead in the opening 50km which played to my strengths (running and flowy terrain), but the back half definitely played to hers (experience, technical, etc) . From 65-75km, I actually lost about six minutes to Lucy and had that trend continued, she would have caught me by the finish. At the 78km aid station, I really took my time to regroup. From 78-86 km there was a long dirt road downhill which I knew I could smash (along with my quads, RIP quads), so I did just that and regained my momentum.

By the time we reached the 100km finish, I had extended my original lead, so that aid station was really a turnaround point for me. Never underestimate the power of taking a breather, regrouping, and getting your sh*t together!

On the Titles of Mom, Business Owner, and Elite Athlete

BM: I think with savvy coaching, run training for ultras is possible, even with a very busy work and family schedule. During the week, we never do super long runs, but double up on run sessions about twice per week. On weekends though, it does take a little extra time as we need to drive quite a bit to get trails with enough elevation change to train with specificity. I’ll always have that “pro athlete” mentality and I know that sometimes you need to invest in yourself to get the best out of yourself. So, we will hire a babysitter or the girls will spend Saturday morning at grandma’s so that I can get my training in.

I’m so fortunate that my work is in endurance sports apparel, because even training is product testing, right? (And, I’d be remiss if I didn’t say: go buy WYN Active for all your running needs – I ran 100km with no chafing and I’m here to tell about it, lol!) …But really, I work a ton, including early mornings and weekends, but that also allows me to be flexible when I need to be. I am able to train and recover in pockets throughout the day, while others are reserved for deep work and it all works. My cup is overflowing in the best possible way.

Especially for the moms, there is so much value in showing your children that you can do hard things, and that in turn, they can do hard things. I want my girls growing up thinking that reaching for the stars and having crazy goals is normal, because it should be.

The products that contributed to “no chafing” over 100km

BM: My motto is ‘sponsor yourself! I make promoting my brand WYN Republic front and center because I truly love and believe in all of our gear. Our run stuff is amazing and I love getting to show that to the trail world. I raced in a lightweight thermal base layer and my favorite “PR shorts” from WYN and my kit was perfect. Other than that, I have supporting friends at Pillar Performance (love the triple Magnesium!), AG1, and Precision Hydration and I’m so grateful for their help in keeping me healthy and fueled. The PF90 gels are a game-changer for ultra racing (Ironman included) as they are so easy to get down and contain so many carbs!

Where in the world is Beth heading next?

BM: The first half of the year has been an amazing and fulfilling run focus for me, but now it’s work-focus time (it’s always family-focus time). I don’t have any races planned but am open to suggestions!

We have tons of travel for WYN triathlon events coming up including several Ironmans, Challenge Roth, and all three Ironman World Championship events (Nice, Kona, Taupo)…so if anyone wants to go on a rugged run off the beaten path with me at any of those – hit me up!

Photos: 1 – Tim Bardsley-Smith
2, 3 – Korupt Vision

The post Beth McKenzie on Elite Trail Running and the Elephant in the Room first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga was the 5th stop on the Pro Series Tour. One name, Corey Bellemore, towards the top of the Age Group competition really caught our attention. Hey, isn’t that the Beer Mile World Record Holder guy? Is he a triathlete now? Is that the same person?

No, you did not make a mistake either if you saw Corey’s name in the results. The Windsor, Ontario native just completed his first triathlon. Corey is known for his beer mile prowess. He can drink 4 beers and run 4 laps of the track in 4 minutes 28 seconds. He has competed at the Canadian Olympic Trials and the Canadian National Championships on the track in the 1500m. He has represented Canada in international competition at the NACAC U23 World Championships in the 800m. He boasts 3:39 1500m and 3:57 mile personal bests. Now we can add the title of triathlete to that decorated resume.

Corey is friends with Canadian superstar Lionel Sanders. He joined Sanders in Kona for his final training block before the IRONMAN World Championships in 2018 and knew that he would eventually want to give triathlon a shot. He signed up for Chattanooga at the end of January and finished in 6th place overall in the age group race. We chatted with Bellemore about the beer mile, his training, the race, and so much more. Enjoy!

ST: Hey Corey – It’s great to have a chance to chat with you after 70.3 Chattanooga. You’re the Beer Mile World Record Holder and just turned in quite the performance over the weekend. Can you introduce yourself to our readers? When did you start running? Did you play any other sports as a kid? When did the beer mile come along?

CB: Thanks a lot David! Lots to work on for sure but a solid experience for my first triathlon. To the readers, my name is Corey Bellemore, I am 29 years old and have focused primarily on running since I joined my first track club in elementary school. My first love was actually basketball and I am still a big fan of the sport today (also, I was a lot shorter when I played travel)! I swam during the winter months in high school and have always used it as a method of cross training for athletics. The beer mile came about after my second year of university when our team decided to do one in the off season for fun. It wasn’t a thought to do another until they started hosting competitions around the world and I saw more news about the event. I thought maybe I could break the WR at the time (knowing I had a strong stomach, could chug well and run fairly well, too). So two years after the first one, one of my good friends Joe, and twin brother, Justin, convinced me to try one at a local track. I set the world record there and have been doing one (maybe two) a year ever since. It’s not something I train for (other than the running aspect) but is something I do.

ST: How would you describe a beer mile to our readers and what makes you so good at it?

CB: A crazy event that exists and incorporates things that should never be mixed together. You are running at a maximum effort, dealing with loads of carbonation, chugging while out of breath and trying to hold the 3lbs of beer down without puking. You start with 355ml of beer 9m back from the start line of a standard 400m track. You chug a beer within those 9m (called the chug-zone) and can’t leave until it’s finished. You run 391m until you get around to the chug zone again for your next beer. You repeat that 4 times. 4 beers, 4 laps total. The beers must be 355ml which can be out of a can or bottle as long as it’s 5% abv and not a cider or anything like that. It’s a very uncomfortable event that I want to get done as quickly as possible. Burping is important to get the carbonation that builds up out of your stomach. Would not recommend to anyone haha

ST: When did you start swimming/biking? Did you compete in either of those sports as a kid?

CB: I swam for 4 years in high school, during the winter months (November-March) and then occasionally mixed it in throughout university when I felt injuries come about or needed some time off my feet. In 2021 I lived with Lionel Sanders who is one of my good friends and someone I look up to. We were swimming 5 x a week at Aquabear swim club then and that was where I started to feel like a swimmer in the water again. Biking, I do occasionally but definitely need a lot more time on the bike.

ST: When did you sign up for Chattanooga? Have you always wanted to complete a triathlon? How long did you train for the race?

CB: I signed up for Chattanooga at the end of January. Doing a triathlon was something that got put into my head in 2018 when I went to Kona to train with Lionel for his final prep before world championships. That bug never really went away, plus whenever I spend time with Lionel it comes back more & more. My fiancee was a big reason I pulled the trigger this year to get my feet wet, see if I would enjoy it and see if it’s something I wanted to pursue further. I started getting back in the water in the fall (3-4 times a week). Started biking in February (3-4 hours a week) and have been running about 100k a week on average this year. A month ago I was in Boston at the Boston Marathon Weekend where I raced the professional road mile. It was a weird balance training for that and also trying to be fit enough to get through a half ironman.

ST: Can you talk through some of the workouts you did in your build up? How does triathlon training differ from run (+ beer mile) training?

CB: I fit in what I could fit in. I got some swimming, biking and running in within the months leading up. I was consistent in getting those disciplines in but knew for my first one I didn’t want to put too much pressure on it or get too specific in my approach. Running was my comfort spot so I spent most of my time keeping that system in good shape especially with the Boston road mile in April. I swam 3-4 times a week (anywhere from 2.5-3.5k a session). I biked weekly but not very long and not enough quality. I also did a lot of unconventional training. Ex. run to the pool (4/4.5mi) with my swim stuff at 3:15/km, swim hard for 45-hour and run home at 3:15/km (4/4.5mi). I work 3 jobs so fitting that into my schedule made it constantly busy; sections of everyday were important to fit something in. Triathlon training is consuming. After doing Chattanooga, I’ve learned a lot. I need a better schedule, I need to follow a specific plan and overall, more focus on bike training + fitness.

ST: Take us through your race – you debuted at the 70.3 distance with a 4:10:53 (26:52 swim/2:22:08 bike/1:16:07 run)! What did you learn? Any advice for someone thinking about lining up for their first triathlon?

CB: For your first triathlon, it’s all about the experience. Push hard but enjoy the process. Be smart about it but make sure your focus is on finishing it without any obstacles. I swam within myself in the water. Transitions were completely foreign to me so being prepared for those were key (I didn’t practice any but knew what I needed to do and what equipment was necessary to focus on during that aspect). My transitions need to be oiled and repeated much better though. The bike was a wake up call that I need to put more time into it so I can hammer harder and have better legs for the run. I did one bike at race distance (90km) and one bike over race distance (124km) in my build. With most of my other bikes being maybe half the distance of the race. That’s not enough. My legs (quads mostly and left hamstring a bit) were very cramped at the start of the run, I was a bit nervous. I ensured I backed off when I needed to and also ran within myself to be smart and finish without having to stop or walk. Nutrition wasn’t a massive issue for me. I have a strong stomach and rarely have GI issues; I fuelled most chances I got throughout the race.

ST: What was it like competing in a more than 4+ hour race versus ~4:00 mile? Was a half marathon at the end of a 70.3 your longest running race ever? I don’t think I’ve seen a running race result for you above 10k. What was it like to run off of the bike at a distance much longer than your usual one on a day that got into the mid-70s (23-24 celsius)?

CB: My longest real race before this was 10km. There is a lot to learn, work on and implement going forward. I love competing, challenging myself and trying new things. I can understand why this sport can be so addicting, there are so many puzzle pieces to it. Yes, the half marathon at the end of the 70.3 was my longest running race ever. It was a unique experience being locked into a race for approx. 4 hours. The weather was pretty warm this time of year as I haven’t been exposed to heat yet in Canada. I did my best to break it down discipline by discipline.

ST: Your 1:16 run split would have been 8th fastest in the men’s pro field. I can say that nobody ahead of that has 3:39/3:57 speed (or 4:28 beer mile ability). What kind of respect do you have for professional triathletes who can run that fast or even faster off of a ~2 hour bike split?

CB: Every athlete that completes a half ironman or full is an absolute workhorse.. I have a huge amount of respect for the sport and most definitely, all of the pros. Triathlon is a sport that never gets enough credit. You have to be completely dedicated to the craft. One discipline can’t suffer or it will expose weaknesses in other areas. Matt Hanson ran like an animal to win Chattanooga.

ST: Did you talk to anyone for advice before the race? Did you coach yourself?

CB: Before the race I wished Jackson (Laundry) a great race and he joked by telling me not to run a faster split than him haha. He’s been wildly consistent and I knew that would be a challenge regardless of my running background. Although I had some guidance and suggested training from people around me, I picked and chose what I did leading up to my first one. I wanted to do it out of curiosity and enjoyment. I wanted to be prepared but not treat it like it was the only thing that mattered. With that being said, now that I have a baseline, I know what needs work, I know that I need more structure and I know I need to follow a plan specific to my strengths and weaknesses. This is where the real fun begins.

ST: The 2024 Beer Mile World Classic is in your hometown in August – what’s the goal for that race? Will you keep swimming/biking as you prepare for it? Can you break the World Record again?

CB: The Beer Mile World Classic is in Windsor, Ontario on August 17th. Although I will absolutely gun for the world record, there will be no specific training for it other than ensuring I am fit, healthy and ready to rip on the day. I want to keep swimming, biking and running for the next little while.

ST: Will we see you back at a triathlon this year? Is the goal to get your pro license? Will we see more of you at IRONMAN events?

CB: I have to figure out that process. I am such a newbie that I don’t know much about that stuff. If a pro card can be attained I’d absolutely love to give another one another go with more preparation.

ST: Do you think you could take down Joe Skipper at a beer mile the day after an IRONMAN? (note: Joe is a UK pro who is known for putting on beer miles the day after he competes in an IRONMAN)

CB: I’d never bet against myself there, even if I could barely walk the day after.

ST: Who are your current sponsors? Are you looking for swim and bike sponsors?

CB: I would love to represent a swim and bike sponsor. I used a lot of hand-me-down equipment for this race. A local sponsor, Flow Bike Shop & Cafe and Meal Prep Company in my hometown supported me for Chattanooga. I am extremely grateful and fortunate for their support.

ST Recap: Well, there you go. From beer mile world record to top age group triathlon result in 3 months. We hope you learned a little something from this interview and if you’re a sponsor reading this consider reaching out to Corey! We’re excited to continue to watch his progress in the sport. If he was able to do this with just a few months of training, he can definitely move up a level in competition as a pro. There are so many good runners turned triathlete like Tamara Jewett, Grace Thek, Beth Potter, and Alex Yee. Maybe Corey will be next!

Photo Credit: @longrunlactic

The post Catching up with Beer Mile World Record Holder & New Triathlete Corey Bellemore first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

Everything is bigger in Texas – and that held true for this year’s edition of Ironman Texas, with the Lone Star State packing gusty winds, its usual heat and humidity – and a new course record set by Tomas Rodriguez Hernandez, the first-ever Mexican to win an Ironman.

Rodriguez Hernandez’s win may have seemed to come out of nowhere, but the 25-year-old has been wowing with his next-level run for years, with wins at 2023 70.3 Cozumel and 2024 70.3 Campeche.

As American Matthew Marquardt’s run lead started to fade, Rodriguez Hernandez, who was 11th out of the swim and moved up to eighth on the bike, capitalized with a blistering 2:34:14 marathon – that’s 5:51 per mile pace – to cross the finish line just about 90 seconds ahead of second place Patrick Lange.

We chatted with Rodriguez Hernandez to learn more about his post-race interview controversy – was he really saying f*ck you to Lange?! – and what his mindset was as a dark horse for this race.

We’ve provided the interview in both English and Spanish. Tomas provided his answers to Kristin’s imperfectly phrased Spanish questions in Spanish – and we’ve translated his answers to provide insight for our English-only readers.

ST: You had mixed results this year with a win in Campeche and a tough day at Oceanside. What was your mindset heading into Ironman Texas?

TRH: I always want to win, I prepare to win and realistically my data makes me feel confident that I can win. Campeche was a race that from the moment I saw the start list I knew I would win and I did. I wanted to win in Oceanside – I trained for it and once out of the water I thought I the win was entirely possible, but I made a mistake with the bike course directional signage, which made me want to turn in my timing chip and not even run. I no longer cared whether I was 10th place or 60th place – I still wanted to finish. In the end, I took the rest of the day somewhat easy – it was a bad day all in all – and when I got home I continued with my preparation for Ironman Texas, which was my “A” race for this year so far.

Also, after Oceanside I took a break from social media and told my friends that when I returned to social media, it would be with a post showing me winning Ironman Texas – and that’s exactly what played out. Heading into Ironman Texas there were two phrases in my head – the two phrases I always go to in a race: “F*ck your tired body” and, when I am hunting athletes down in front of me, I think, “one more, one more.”

Spanish: Siempre quiero ganar, me preparo para ganar y siendo realista mis números me hacen sentirme seguro que puedo hacerlo. Campeche fue una carrera que desde que vi el start list supe que la ganaría y así fue. Quería ganar en Oceanside, entrené para ello y una vez fuera del agua creía tener la carrera hecha, tuve una equivocación en el curso de ciclismo y eso me hizo cambiar mi chip inmediatamente a ya no quiero correr. Ya no me importaba ser 10 o 60 yo quería estar peleando un podio. Lo tomé con calma, un día malo a fin de cuentas y continué con mi preparación para TX, el cual era mi evento principal del primer semestre. Después de Oceanside me tomé un respiro de redes sociales y hablaba con amigos que me regreso a los medios sería con un post compartido con IM ganando Tx y así fue. En mi cabeza siempre hay dos frases, a la mierda tu cuerpo cansado y cuando me toca cazar atletas enfrente de mi pienso uno más, uno más.

ST: Tell me about your day at Ironman Texas. What was each leg of the race like for you?

TRH: I am a great pool swimmer – one of the best pool swimmers in triathlon, I would say – but replicating my speed in the pool in open water has always been difficult for me. At Ironman Texas, I had a very good swim, and then I dedicated myself to being consistent and within my numbers on the bike while at the same time trying to stay in the main group – but always paying attention to the Race Ranger to make sure I was not drafting. The last hour of cycling my watts started to go down and at that moment the group I was with was caught by Joe Skipper and Chris Leiferman. I thought they would set a harder pace but that wasn't the case, so I tried to go to the front of the group for the last 10 minutes with the tailwind.

However, when I arrived at the bike turnaround I realized that Skipper and Leiferman were not after me – I don't know if I didn't create enough danger for them or if they were getting tired. One thing I’ve been working on in training is pushing watts with a tailwind and taking advantage of my smaller front panel, so I took advantage of the entire return on the bike course with a tailwind to ride as fast as possible and I managed to open up a minute with respect to the group.

As for the run, on the one hand, I didn't want to be running with Patrick Lange because his experience makes you feel insecure, so I preferred to run by feel and race my race, I never looked at my pace, I only used my Garmin to time my nutrition. I dedicated myself to catching up with all the competitors and once I was in the lead, I was able to relax… until the final 10km when even with a relaxed mind, my body began to feel tired, and I really had to push until the end.

Spanish: Soy un gran nadador en la alberca, de los mejores diría yo pero hacerlo en aguas abiertas y con gente siempre me ha costado. Tuve una natación muy buena, la bicicleta me dediqué a regular y al vez tratar de estar en el grupo siempre al pendiente de la luz del race ranger. La última hr de ciclismo mis watts empezaron a bajar y en ese momento fuimos alcanzados por Joe Skipper y Chris Leiferman, yo creí que pondrían un ritmo más duro pero no fue así, me sentía demasiado bien y probé pasar al frente los últimos 10min con viento en contra, al llegar al retorno me di cuenta que no estaban tras de mí, no se si, no les genere peligro o si no podían más. He estado trabajando empujar watts con viento a favor y aprovechando mi reducido panel frontal aproveché todo el regreso con viento a favor para rodar lo más rápido posible y logré abrir un minuto con respecto al grupo. La carrera por una parte no quería estar corriendo junto a Patrick porque su experiencia te genera inseguridad entonces preferí correr adelante a sensaciones, nunca vi el pace solo veía mi garmin para alimentarme, me dediqué a alcanzar a todos los competidores y una vez adelante pude relajar, eso me costó porque como relaje mi mente mi cuerpo empezó a sentir cansancio entonces los últimos 10km los pasé fatal.

ST: What was your mindset for that incredible run? What was going through your mind as you took the lead?

TRH: My mindset before reaching the lead of the run was, “One more, one more,” (a phrase from the movie Hacksaw Ridge as they rescued soldiers) and as I got tired I just said, “One more, one more.” Once I had the lead, when I started to feel fatigue I just thought, “F*ck your tired body.”

Spanish: Mi mindset antes de llegar a la punta era uno más, uno más (frase de la película hacksaw ridge cuando rescataba soldados) y si estaba cansado solo decía uno más, uno más. Una vez adelante, cuando comencé a sentir la fatiga solo pensaba f*ck your tired body.

ST: There was some confusion and controversy in your post-race interview. Many people thought you said “F*ck your titles, boy” in reference to Patrick Lange. Can you clear that up for us?

TRH: What I meant was “F*ck your tired body,” which is what I said to myself on the run to fight my own fatigue. I have nothing but respect for Patrick Lange – I admire and respect him.

Spanish: Por supuesto, lo que quise decir era f*ck your tired body, no tengo nada en contra de Patrick al contrario lo admiro y respeto.

ST: Where is “home base” for you and who is your coach?

TRH: I train in León Guanajuato in México – it is about 6,000 feet above sea level, but I also train at altitudes of up to 8,500 feet – the altitude is key for me and my training. I have been working with my coach Jesús Rivera for four years at the Aquiles MD clinic in León.

Spanish: Entreno en León Guanajuato, está a 1800 metros sobre el nivel del mar pero puedo estar haciendo entrenamientos hasta los 2600, la altura es clave. Mi coach Jesús Rivera tengo 4 años trabajando con el en la clínica Aquiles MD en León.

ST: Who are your sponsors this year?

TRH:
Universidad Tres Culturas
Mabe
Precision Hydration and Nutrition
Varlo Apparel
Grupo Gaviota
AquilesMD
Giant Bikes
Bike & Roller Shop

ST: What are your upcoming races?

TRH: 70.3 Boulder and 70.3 Mt. Tremblant

ST: Ok, time for some fun questions… Dog or cat?

TRH: Cats

ST: Of the three – swim, bike, and run, which is your favorite?

TRH: Biking, 100%.

ST: What is your favorite pump up song?

TRH: Más Altas Que Bajadas – Natanael Cano

ST: What is your favorite post-race meal?

TRH: A hamburger and a few beers!

The post Talking with Tomas Rodriguez Hernandez first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

Emma Pallant-Browne is known for a few things: the super-high ponytail she wears atop her head accompanied with a wide smile, podiuming in nearly every 70.3 she’s entered the last two years, and terrifying her competitors with a devastatingly fast run.

Pallant-Browne began her 2024 season at T100 Miami, ready to avenge her heatstroke incident of 2022. Instead, a nightmare unfolded as a similar heat-induced delirium took over partway through the bike, causing Pallant-Browne to once again pull out of the race.

Not one to shy away from adversity, Pallant-Browne recovered from her affliction in Miami and headed to Tucson, Arizona to dial in her heat management strategy before arriving in Oceanside, California, ready to compete in a deep field of professional women on April 6.

We caught up with Pallant-Browne about her lead up to Oceanside 70.3, how she handled her initial disqualification from Oceanside, and what’s next for her this season.

ST: T100 Miami was a bit of a challenge for you, and no one wants to start off their season that way. Given that early season frustration, what was your mindset heading into Oceanside about a month later?

EPB: I take a bad race better than a DNF. I really don't sit well with not finishing a race and I think I can be quite hard on myself. I kind of wanted to think of prepping for Oceanside as like a reset as if now I'm just gonna start my season again. We went to Tucson, Arizona after Miami and I was still recovering from my heat incident and the first few days there I felt like I had a hangover – which ended up helping me actually rest for a few days and not get back into hard training too soon.

I felt like I built up really good fitness and then lost some of that in Miami, so when I got into my Oceanside training block in Tucson, I started religiously looking at all my data and trying to drop Jaryd, my husband, on all our efforts. The training I did in the heat and terrain of Tucson gave me the confidence I needed and reminded me I’m not a terrible athlete and I can look at Oceanside as a true start to my season. I also reminded myself that three years ago a very similar situation happened at the start of my season and then I had one of my best years ever. I kept telling myself that heading into Oceanside.

ST: We saw via social media that you had a minor bike crash just a week before Oceanside while out for a ride in Tuscon. What happened there, and did it impact you on race day?

EPB: Ahead of my season, I went to London to dial in my bike position. As I trained for Oceanside, I was so focused on dialing in my bike position and getting comfortable with it on all my rides in Tucson. On my final big ride in Tucson a week before Oceanside, I was on a great road for time-trialing, and I was in my aerobars doing a hard effort. I must have hit something in the road, although I didn’t see anything because my tire was suddenly slit and I went over the front of my bike.

Luckily, there was a guy driving behind me that saw the whole accident unfold, and he helped me right away. I had some bad road rash on my hands which prevented me from swimming for nearly the entire week ahead of Oceanside, and I also had whiplash, but I was so, so lucky that it wasn’t worse.

My Liv bike was also miraculously OK – we had to replace the basebar, but any other issues were cosmetic. We also replaced my helmet, of course. But that’s why you wear one – helmets are replaceable, heads aren’t.

My road rash hurt a lot and in Oceanside on Thursday we decided to test out if I could actually swim. We put kinesiology tape over my road rash as that was the only bandage-type of tape that would hold up in the water. I managed to swim on Thursday and we decided I’d race, so it wasn’t a typical week where I had time to build up race nerves; I literally didn’t think I would be racing as of Monday of that week, so it was a very different race week for me.

ST: Give us a quick play-by-play of how the race went for you, especially given your road rash injuries and knowing the women’s pro field was filled with talent.

EPB: Coming out of the swim, I heard I was four minutes down – I don't think I've ever lost four minutes in a swim. When I heard that I knew I was going to have to bike well – and part of the reason I wanted to race was to get back on the bike and quell those post-crash nerves. I thought to myself , “OK, the roads are closed to traffic, I’m in a safe environments, there’s going to be medics all around, let’s hammer the bike.”

And then I went a little off course, which of course wasn't ideal. There was a fork in the road and a barrier down the middle. The race marshal signaled for the motorbike with me to keep right, but I thought I was meant to keep right, so I went to the right of the fork. The motorbike and I ended up on the other side of the highway, but the moto was awesome and found a gap in the barriers of the road so that I could do a U-turn and go back and complete the correct turn.

I told myself to keep calm and cool and know that I was going to have run fast when I got off the bike. As I got off the bike, someone shouted that I was about 90 seconds to Fanella and Paula, which to me meant I was still in the race, even though I know both of them have great runs. I was excited hearing this and felt ready to run as soon as my feet hit the ground.

I enjoy running because there’s not much that can go wrong the way there is in the swim or on the bike. I actually really enjoyed this run course with all the crowd support on it and I was so grateful to be racing. You don’t often get to experience that emotion while racing as you’re so focused, but I truly felt grateful and happy to be out there.

ST: You overcame a four-minute deficit on the swim, a wrong turn on the bike… and then as you crossed the finish line a referee told you you were disqualified for not obeying the speed limit zone on the bike. Talk to us about that situation and how you had your results reinstated.

EPB: The referee came up to me at the finish and I was like, oh no – I’m going to have to explain that I didn’t cut the bike course and that I did go back and make the correct turn after going off course. But then the referee said I didn’t obey the 35mph rule during the marked section of the bike course. I knew though that I had maintained 34mph as I was constantly checking my Wahoo bike computer during that section.

At first I was like you know what, this has just been a crazy trip, bad things happen in threes and this has been the third thing and I’m going to have to toughen up and get over this. My husband was like, no we’re going to protest this, even though I was saying at the time that I just wanted to go home and I should accept the disqualification.

However, my husband convinced me to file the protest and the race referees were awesome and gave us plenty of time to go back to transition, get my Wahoo computer and upload the data. The referees had a meeting to analyze my data and ended up overturning my disqualification, which was a pretty big deal, and a good way to end a tough trip.

ST: What’s next for you this season?

EPB: I’m home now in Johannesburg and going to do a three-week training block here at home. Then I’ll head to 70.3 Mallorca and then to 70.3 Chattanooga. After that, I’ll have about a week-and-a-half in Boulder to prepare for T100 San Francisco.

Beyond that, the focus will be on the rest of the T100 series and then 70.3 Worlds in December. I’m trying to remember that despite all the racing, I need to have some blocks of solid training in there, to, so I’ve tried to divide myself up in a way that allows for that.

ST: Who are your sponsors this year?

EPB: I think my longest sponsor is Hoka. This year, I’m pleased to work again with the Liv and Cadex partnership, so they provide me with my bike and wheels. I also work with Wahoo for all my data and computer needs.

I’ve also just started working with DeBoer wetsuits and Form goggles to try to help with my swimming, and Precision Nutrition and Hydration on the fueling front. Lastly, Santini is my partner for apparel and they always work with me to create a cool racing kit, which I love.

ST: Okay, we’ve talked business – now for some fun questions. Ready?

EPB: Yep, I’m an open book. Let’s go.

ST: Dog or cat?

EPB: Oh, dogs, all the way. My two dogs are currently sitting on the floor here looking up at me.

ST: Sweet or salty – which are you going for as a post-race treat?

EPB: I am more of a sweets person – always ice cream post-race.

ST: Mountains or ocean?

EPB: Ocean for sure. Jaryd was saying in Oceanside how much he misses being by the ocean, so now he wants to move us back to Durban – which I think was a joke, but we’ll see.

ST: Favorite post-race meal?

EPB: I like to go for something I don’t normally have, like a good curry. I usually eat pizza the night before the race, so I try to find a good curry house with great naan – which is my favorite – post-race.

ST: Last one: what’s your favorite pump-up song?

EPB: Go Get It by T.I.

Photos: Slowtwitch Files

The post Emma Pallant-Browne Talks Tough Start to the Season, Oceanside Podium first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

India Lee was a dark horse win at the T100 Miami this past weekend, with few podium picks including the Brit. But those who have been following Lee know that she’s racked up quite a few achievements in the sport over the past couple of years and could be poised for a dominant season.

Since 2021, Lee has collected numerous 70.3 accolades, including a third place podium spot at 70.3 Nice (2021) and second place at 70.3 Lanzarote (2023) as well as a victory at Challenge Samorin (2023) and a second place Nice-qualifying spot at Ironman Florida (2023).

Lee is often referred to for her bike prowess, but last weekend it was her run that sealed the deal for her to break the tape. About 15 minutes before the three-hour mark in the women’s race, Lee passed race leader Lucy Charles-Barclay and remained in first place until Lee crossed the finish line in first place at the 3 hour and 27 minute mark, both a smile and happy tears appearing on her face.

ST: How was your training heading into T100 Miami?

Lee: My training leading into T100 Miami was solid, but nothing special. I haven’t had any stand-out sessions, just a load of consistency. I only started “proper” structured training in the first week of January as I had some time off in December.

I went out to Lanzarote for two stints of three weeks each to get some good weather and focused training blocks. My coach Sam Proctor and I have the whole season in mind, so we hadn’t rushed fitness just to be ready for Miami – instead, we focused on plenty of foundation work to build upon throughout the year.

ST: What were your goals or thoughts heading into race day?

Lee: I had no idea where I would be fitness-wise heading into race day. The goal for Miami was to get a benchmark for where I’m at and then determine areas to both work and focus on for the next block leading into T100 Singapore.

Race strategy-wise, I wanted to have a solid swim, ride smart on the bike and not explode on the run. The run in particular was something that I was wanting to have a positive experience on; I’ve had a lot of races where I have faded badly on the run despite doing well in training. I stuck pretty rigidly to target power and pace ranges on the bike and run because I didn’t want to blow up.

ST: You mentioned in your post-race finish line interview that the swim was "boisterous" – what did you mean by that? How did you settle once on the bike, and what was going through your mind on the run knowing that it was essentially a battle between you and LCB?

Lee: In the swim, there was a line of five of us that formed right around the 200m mark. All of us were trying to get on the same feet just ahead; despite the small field we were all wanting to be in the same place and the same time – it’s just how it goes in the water. I decided to stop and go around the back of the group to get clear water on the left, which seemed to help break up our pack a bit and we got into a paceline after that.

On the bike, I settled into the rhythm of the laps quite quickly. I kept an eye on my power, and tried to take the corners quicker with each lap as I built confidence, then I used the back straightaway to recover a bit as we had a tailwind there.

On the run, I was just doing my own thing. I knew that I wanted to run a certain power and pace and would risk a blow up if I went out too hard. When I started catching up to Lucy [Charles-Barclay], that gave me confidence and a big boost, but I stayed steady and tried not to surge. When I went past Lucy, I anticipated she would probably try to tag on and it could turn into a real tough race, so I was relieved when I heard that I had a gap.

ST: What thoughts were going through your head when you made the decisive pass on Lucy Charles-Barclay?

Lee: I kept calm and focused on the rhythm of my run. The lap around the track had a bit of an uphill drag on the first half and a slight downhill on the way back towards the pit lane. I tried to kid myself I was getting a bit of recovery on the downhills. I was purely inside my own head, I knew I was doing what I could, and didn’t think about anyone else really.

ST: Finish line emotions – loved you showing every range of emotion at the finish line. What was going through your head, and is still going through your head as the champ?

Lee: I was pretty emotional at the finish line. I just couldn’t believe that I had won – I would have been thrilled with a top five finish and it’s still not really sunk in [that I won]. I’m just so proud of myself and my team. I’m so fortunate to have some close friends who were just as happy for me. Kat [Matthews] had a rough day for herself but came to the finish to greet me – that meant so much to me. The reaction from my fellow competitors has been so positive too, which also means a lot.

ST: What's on the docket for you? Any marquee or key races you're looking forward to? Any specific goals for the season other than to be in it to win it?

Lee: I’ve qualified for the Nice World Championships already, which is a course that I think will suit me – so that’s a big goal for the year.

Other than that it’ll be full focus on the T100 series. Next up is Singapore in April, so a ton of heat prep is happening between now and then. I’m not getting ahead of myself and fully appreciate that I have won one race at a time of the year when everyone is building fitness and not necessarily at their best. That being said, neither am I, so for the rest of the year it will be fun to see how everything shakes out.

ST: Who are your sponsors this year?

Lee: Huub – Huub allowed me to design my tri suit, which is the first time I’ve had that opportunity from a sponsor. I’m definitely proud of it because it’s so personal. Big thanks to them.

OTE Sports – nutrition sponsor

Specialized UK

Kings of the Wild Frontier (KOTWF) Elite Performance Coaching

I also want to give a huge shout out to my coach Sam Proctor and my manager Iain Hamilton.

ST: Bonus question: was it as dark on the track while riding as it looked on the broadcast?

Lee: It wasn’t as dark as it looked on the telly. But I did have to discard my visor for the last few laps on the bike. The benefit was that it cooled down considerably once the sun went down.

The post T100 Miami Women’s Champ India Lee on Her Calm, Collected Win first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

Don’t let her name fool you, Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) is anything but when it comes to duking it out on the race course. Gentle is currently ranked second in the Professional Triathletes Organization (PTO) ratings, sandwiched between top spot-holder Anne Haug (GER) and third place Taylor Knibb (USA).

Gentle has only climbed further in the rankings since her breakout middle-distance race season in 2022, where she took gold at Clash Miami, 70.3 Andorra, PTO Canadian Open and PTO US Open. She finished in third place in the PTO rankings that year before storming back for more in 2023, where Gentle was on the podium at every PTO race she completed: PTO European, US and Asian Open races.

Gentle wrapped up a highly successful 2023 in second place in the PTO rankings and was given one of 20 coveted invitations to the 2024 PTO T100 series. Gentle must compete in five of the eight T100 series races as well as the Grand Final. There is $250,000 in prize money at each race and $2 million for the series on the line.

Gentle will not be taking the start line of the inaugural T100 race – T100 Miami – this weekend, instead choosing to focus on T100 Singapore on April 14 as her season opener. We sat down with Gentle in between her sessions to get the scoop on how things are going as she heads into a very intense season:

ST: How was your offseason? You ended on such a high last year with wins at the PTO Asian Open and Noosa Triathlon, was it nice to finally get some downtime?

Gentle: Winning the Noosa Triathlon was a really nice way to end the season. Then I took about a month off Josh [Amberger] and we went camping, which we do every year. We usually go to Morton Island or Fraser Island and this year we went to Morton Island again.

We've been doing it for about 10 years now. We pack up Josh's car, the tent and camping supplies and we go offline for seven nights and eight days. The phones are off or in airplane mode and don't really get reception where we go camping anyway. For us, it’s the ultimate way to disconnect and appreciate a little slice of paradise that's a 90-minute ferry ride from where we live. I don't quite know how to describe it other than it’s so refreshing and I think after a really intense year each year, no matter how it's gone or the results, it’s a nice way to decompress and disconnect for a bit, and then come back ready to return to training.

ST: What were your thoughts about the T100 series announcement?

Gentle: I was super excited. When the series was confirmed we obviously found out as the pro athletes and then it was just a process of waiting for [the PTO] to announce the series of races. The way the calendar's shaped up looks really exciting.

For me, the T100 event in San Francisco is definitely of interest. I've done Alcatraz twice and I've won there twice. So that's one that's super exciting because I've wanted to go back to Alcatraz again for a third time. Now I get this opportunity to do it over the 100km distance and it's really cool that we can go back to such a cool city like that. And then of course, London, Ibiza, and going back to Singapore; I think these locations are really fun and you know, obviously people are wondering how it's gonna go, what the competition's gonna be like and how it's gonna play out.

I think the T100 series is going to be really exciting racing and they've obviously secured, you know, the 16 best women in the world plus four more [wildcards]. My main emotion was excitement and glad that the PTO could put together such a strong series.

ST: Do you have any goals for the T100 outside of going all in for the series win?

Gentle: The thing right now more than ever is there's no room for weakness. One of my big goals is to try and keep all three disciplines at a really high level. And that's always just such a hard part of our sport because trying to balance all three sports can sometimes be counterintuitive to balance. And I suppose that’s kind of the magic of being able to race consistently is to make sure you don't have those weaknesses.

You've got to be prepared to be a robust, smart, and dynamic racer who can respond to different forms of attacks from different people literally all year – and it’s going to be exhausting. I know that I can't be in top form in February and at my best at the grand finale at the end of November. Physically, for me it's not possible. I have to be smart and accept that yeah there might be some races where I'm not a hundred percent firing on all cylinders, but I can still put together really, really good performances at a more controlled level and pick those battles where I know that I am at one hundred percent and have a chance to win.

ST: Is there anyone who you particularly have a lot of respect for coming into this series?

Gentle: I have a lot of respect for all my competitors. I honestly think that the depth of the women's field is so insane that you could be seeing different podiums at each race. Obviously, you have the really consistent people at the top of the rankings, which, you know, hopefully people consider me in that with the way I've been racing in the PTO races. But you know, when someone like Taylor Knibb turns up, you know she means business and she is so strong when she's “on.” I think she for sure is going to be a huge danger to the field.

I mention Taylor, but there are so many people who could come out and have a win or land on the podium. There are a handful of other women racing who have solid strength across the board, and then a few with strong weapons in single disciplines. For me, I’ve got to make sure I’m thinking about myself – what can I do to use my strengths to the best of my ability and not get caught up in what others are doing.

ST: Looking ahead to being just about a month out from T100 Singapore, your first race of the season, how has training been going?

Gentle: Training has been pretty good. My first race of the season will be T100 Singapore, and even though that’s six weeks away, I know that time will go by quickly. I’m currently coached by David Tilbury-Davis, as well.

I've been training at home here in Brisbane, Australia and we've had a brutal summer – in between bursts of rain we’ve had overwhelming heat and humidity. I can’t complain because I would rather train in the heat than the cold, but it’s still been quite tough at times – feels like I’ve been living in a sauna for four months.

January in particular was tough with the weather and it was one of those situations where a lot of my training was based on feel.I couldn't really go by pace or power because if I was trying to hit certain paces all of January in the heat, I would've completely cooked myself and derailed a lot of my training block, which would've had a negative effect during the season. So, this training block has been a funny one.

It's been a bit of a slog, but there's been a few days which have been a bit more bearable and I kind of can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can see the work that I've put in over the course of the months. I can see that the work is paying off and I think when it cools down a bit and I've got a bit of freshness I'll see the work that I've been doing and know that it’s starting to add up.

ST: Who are your sponsors for the 2024 season?

Gentle: I'm really lucky the last two years I've been able to establish a great team around me. The two new players this year are WYN Republic and On Running.

With WYN, it's amazing to be sponsored by a company based in Noosa – a short drive from Brisbane – and founded by two athletes, Beth and Luke McKenzie that I know care about the athletes that they sponsor. I know that they're going to really support me during the year as an athlete but also a person.

The same goes for On, I signed with them earlier this year for a couple of years and yeah, that's a super exciting one. I was with ASICS for nearly a decade. It was one of those things where it was time for a change and I can see what On is doing to support athletes globally, which is what I need as an Aussie who's a bit of a nomad when I head up to the northern hemisphere for the racing.

I'm still riding Scott and this is my third year with them. They did that custom paint job on my bike for me during the back half of last year and that was special; it's not often that you get something like that from such a big company like that.

Additionally, SRAM – they've literally seen me through all aspects of my career as an athlete just starting out in the World Series circuit, a couple of Olympics, a couple of Commonwealth Games, and then supporting me with the transition over to middle to long distance racing. It's companies like SRAM and my other partner Oakley that have stuck with me for so long that make me appreciate the partnership all the more because they’ve seen me through all the highs and lows of my career and still decided to stick with me.

I also have great support from The Feed – again as a more nomadic athlete it’s incredibly helpful to know that I can get the nutrition and fuel I need, when and where I need it. Orca will also be supporting me from a swim standpoint this year and I am immensely grateful.

As an athlete, you don't always get the best results, that’s just how it goes. With all of my sponsors, I feel that they are all going to support me no matter what, and it makes me proud to represent them and more motivated than ever to do my best on and off the race course to represent them in the ways they deserve.

ST: Alright, time for some fun questions to end on – rapid fire-style. Ready?

Gentle: Ready.

ST: Dog or cat?

Gentle: Oh gosh, cat? Neither really, I choose Australian wildlife every time!

ST: Sweet or savory?

Gentle: Sweet.

ST: Mountains or ocean?

Gentle: Oh. This is hard. Mountains. No, ocean. Ocean? Yeah, ocean. I’m going with ocean.

ST: Favorite color?

Gentle: Purple.

ST: Walkout song for PTO series?

Gentle: Thunderstruck by AC/DC.

ST: Favorite post-race or post-training snack?

Gentle: I know I said I prefer sweets, but after a race or training session, I crave salt. Something like chips is my go-to snack.

This Australian wildlife-loving, ocean-preferring, number two in the world triathlete will line up for her first race of the season at the T100 Singapore race on April 14.

The post Ashleigh Gentle Talks Off-Season, 2024 Prep, and Competition Ahead of T100 Season first appeared on Slowtwitch News.

2023 was a big year for triathlon. We saw former champions bow out and new champions arrive in style. We saw the first ever separate IRONMAN World Championship and the PTO started to figure out its model a little more.

With most things in life 2023 brought with it a lot more stability post pandemic. People were able to travel more freely and racing was back to its somewhat normal self. It was also the first time in 3 years that we had an idea on not only where the industry was but where professional athletes were when it came to a somewhat full normal season. Sure, we had stuff in 2022 but it was sort of still all over the place and people were dusting off cobwebs for most of it.

Once the dust settled, at the end of 2023 it was Jason West that would end up third in the world. That’s right. Jason West, the really soft spoken kid that runs like a mother @#$@!$ing cheetah at races. Yeah. That guy took third in the very independent PTO ranking system (get more details here about the PTO ranking system if you want them).

Let me be clear for a second. It’s not that I think Jason isn't 3rd in the world material. It’s just funny to me that a company can, on its own, go ahead and say, “We are the true World Ranking System!”

Let’s get back to West. So with three wins, three other podiums, and two other top five finishes to his name, West had an outstanding year. But it clearly was the two second place finishes in the stacked PTO race fields that helped with his final ranking. I would say the only disappointment in 2023 was West getting sick and missing out on 70.3 Worlds in Finland. I'm talking super sick – for a guy who only weighs 140 lbs to drop 10 lbs in a week is pretty sick.

Truth be told, up until last week I really haven't spent much time with Jason. I have seen him at races a bunch but outside of yelling a time split or yelling “GO GO GO!” during a race (like I do for almost any athlete) that was about the extent of my interactions with him. He was always nice pre and post race and I always liked seeing him do so well because I would admire his soft spoken voice he seemed to have. Come to think of it, I feel like I would cheer him on via his wife more than him. I have known Jess for like 12 years and when she would post about his victory I always send her a message of “YES!” or “SO RAD!!!”

I was approached by Jason’s agent Alicia Kaye about a month ago about some photography work and just some general advice about and his new partners. In that conversation I told her that 100% we would do a story on him. So with a lot of back and forth and trying to figure out timing and ease to Jason, we decided we would go out to Boulder and pray for good weather. Turns out that more people were praying for snow. Because the weather for biking and even running outside was not on the table But we did get a great look at his pain cave and Jason did cook us a couple of really great meals.

Getting back to my original point – 2023 was a big year for the sport, and even though Jason doesn’t think it was a huge deal for him, it really was.

Anytime an athlete goes head to head with the best athletes in the world and takes a podium – not once, but six times, three of those on the stop step in the same year – it's life changing for that athlete. And that’s exactly what West did in 2023. Jason has now become a top paid athlete in the sport. With that, everyone wants to talk to him, and companies now bid for his time and logo placement, and his bank account shows that he doesn't need to go race so he can pay rent next month. And while I think Jason is happy about that.. I really believe that it doesn't really matter as much as it does for him to do what he likes. Train, eat, spend time with his wife, and go race really hard. At the end of the day Jason is a total homebody.

In diving into Jason’s 2024, let’s talk about some of the sponsors he kept and new sponsors he teamed up with. Sure, some of these sponsors have to do with money; I think anyone would be lying to you if they said that wasn’t the case. But in the end money truly wasn't the only reason why Jason either stayed or left with certain companies. Jason values relationships; he also values things that work for him. And in the end, “almost no amount of money” can get him to switch from something that works for him to something that doesn't just because they are willing to pay him.

Sponsors Staying from 2023:
Blue Seventy
Ventum
Precision Hydration
Wove

New Sponsors for 2024:
Certified Piedmontese
Garmin
Jakroo
SwissSide
VeloVetta

Sponsors that Didn’t Make the Cut for 2024
Rudy Project
Ellevo Wheels
Varlo

I’m most surprised by the lack of a shoe sponsor. And I think that this just illustrates the point that no amount of money is worth it to Jason for something that doesn't work for him. (PS: Asics, if you are reading this. You should talk to this guy.)

Now why did some of the sponsors change? Probably a lot of reasons. Some were money and some were just wanting to have more control. For example, I know that he, Ventum, and SwissSide want to do a lot in the wind tunnel ASAP. West also wanted to be able to choose his helmet off of those result, so no helmet sponsor. He also wanted to be able to work with a clothing company that specializes in only custom appeal leading him to work with Jakroo. These are just some of the reasons that we talked about in our interview and podcast with him. All of these reasons in my opinion all make sense.

When it comes to racing in 2024 Jason is pretty set on the PTO Tour and 70.3 Worlds. The PTO Tour works really well for him because the company is throwing money around like it grows on trees – as they say, “make hay when the sun shines” and the distance suits him well. And while he won't admit it or, at least dwell on it, he has something to prove when it comes to the 70.3 World title.

Gavin (our new video guy) and I really enjoyed spending time with Jason and his family in the frigid, below zero temps. We enjoyed getting to know him more, and by doing so seeing what the future of our sport looks like. We’re growing with such new young talent. It’s hard to get to know all of them like we got the chance to get to know Jason. I hope we continue to do more of these deeper dives into these athletes here on Slowtwitch.

I believe Jason has the right mindset to be one of the world's best. He also has the drive, the grinding work ethic. But like we all know, you have to have both in order to be one of the best. It will be interesting to watch him go after his goals and we will be for sure cheering him on when we see him.

“GO GO GO!” Jason.

The post The Quiet Jason West first appeared on Slowtwitch News.