CoachGPT For a New PB

Good morning everyone,

Thank you to everyone who checked in on me after a bit of a health issue last week, I’m definitely feeling the love. I’ve started moving again and training hard should be just around the corner. Of course, I’m already thinking of where the next race will be…

In today’s edition:

• World Triathlon announces 2024 Championship Finals location 🥘

• Back to school: why “cross-education” will help you return stronger from injury 💪

• And are Chat GPT and AI going to be your next coach? 💻

Thank you for being here.

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

Have a triathlete in your life who can't stop swimming, biking, or running? Fire this off to them. Forwarded from a friend? Sign-up for free. 

QUICK NEWS

👐 USAT gives back: USA Triathlon has extended its “You Buy We Give” membership campaign through June. With every adult membership purchased through May and June, USAT will donate a youth membership to the triathlon community. [USA Triathlon]

🏁 SEA Champs: Fernando Casares (PHI) and Margot Garabedian (CAM) took home the Triathlon titles at the recently-held South East Asian Games in Cambodia. [pageone.ph]

👊 No kid hungry: The ninth annual Tuscaloosa Kids Triathlon will use proceeds from the event to help support Secret Meals for Hungry Children, a non-profit that provides summer meals for Alabama kids. The event takes place May 20th at Lake Lurleen State Park. [WVUA]

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ONE BIG THING

Malaga, Spain will Crown Kings and Queens of Short Course in 2024

What is it: World Triathlon has announced that the 2024 World Triathlon Championship Finals will be hosted in the Port City and tourist magnet of Malaga, Spain.

• Located on Spain’s Southern “Costa del Sol,” Malaga is home to incredible beaches, food, and history.

The races: The event program will feature the World Triathlon Championship Series Grand Final, Para triathlon World Championships, and U23/Junior World Championships.

Age Group athletes will also fight for World Champion titles in:

• Standard (Olympic) distance.

• Sprint distance - which will most likely be draft legal.

• And mixed team relay.

Tempo’s take: Although World Triathlon has seemingly struggled to find consistent hosts for their events, the Spanish triathlon authorities are more than happy to step up. Although given Marisol Casado is Spanish, and the president of World Triathlon, perhaps there was a bit of pressure from above 🧐

Spain has recently hosted the World Triathlon Multisport Championships/PTO European Open. Later this fall Pontevedra will host the World Triathlon Championship Finals, and in 2025 Pontevedra will against host the Multisport World Championships.

¡Vamos!

RACE WEEKEND

World Triathlon Yokohama, Ironman 70.3 Gulf Coast, Challenge Frejus

World Triathlon Championship Series - Yokohama, Japan

It’s been over two months since the start of the season in Abu Dhabi, so no doubt these short-course triathletes will be chomping at the bit. They’ll also be battling for critical Olympic qualifying points, as Yokohama will be their last opportunity to collect during the first qualifying period.

Women’s race: The women’s race, like Abu Dhabi, is a bit of a toss-up. So look for a motivated group to try and create a break on the technical circuit.

Ones to watch: Sophie Coldwell (GBR), who was second in Abu Dhabi will be hoping to go one better tomorrow.

• Taylor Spivey (USA), who finished third in Abu Dhabi, will be looking to continue her podium run and will be pushed by fellow Americans Rappaport, Kasper, Auckerlund and Knibb (who is making an anticipated return after a foot injury).

• Maya Kingma (NED) will be hoping to break away on the bike and keep her distance from athletes like Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR), Laura Lindeman (GER) and Emma Lombardi (FRA).

• Full start list.

Men’s race: Current World Champion and recent Ironman 70.3 Oceanside champion Leo Bergere (FRA) headlines a very strong field.

• Current Olympic Champion and 70.3 World Champion Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) and Olympic bronze medallist Hayden Wilde (NZ) will be battling for the podium.

• Morgan Pearson (USA) could take the sneaky win if he puts himself into the right position heading onto the run.

• Full start list.

The races kick off at 10 AM local time on Saturday, 2AM CEST, 9PM EST on Friday.

Watch live at Triathlonlive.tv and for the first time there will be alternative commentary streams to choose from.

World Triathlon Para Triathlon Series - Yokohama, Japan

Highlights of the Paratriathlon races will no doubt include:

• The Women’s PTS2 event which should feature an All-American battle between current World Champion Hailey Danz, Melissa Stockwell, and Allysa Seely who have both previously won in Yokohama.

• The Men’s PTVI race which will see a battle between American’s Owen Craven, Kyle Coon, and Oscar Kelly (GBR).

• The Women’s Wheelchair event will continue the heated rivalry between Paralympic Champion Kendall Gretsch (USA) and Lauren Parker (AUS).

Full category start lists here. 

Watch live at triathlonlive.tv and the races kick off at 6:05 AM local time, 10:05 PM CEST (Friday), and 5:05 PM EST.

Ironman 70.3 Gulf Coast - Panama City Beach, Florida

This men’s-only pro field features a rematch of last weekend’s exciting Ironman 70.3 St. George podium, and a few others thrown in to spice things up.

Tim O’Donnell, the recent winner of Ironman 70.3 Peru, will have his work cut out for him to stay away from the leg brigade of Sam Long (USA), Trevor Foley (USA) and Lionel Sanders (CAN).

• It will most likely come down to a thrilling run battle between Jackson Laundry (CAN), Long, and Foley. Although Sanders may have a chip on his shoulder from missing out on the St. George podium last weekend.

Watch live on Outside Watch. The race kicks off at 6:30 AM EST

Challenge Frejus, France

Rudy Von Berg (USA) and Sebastian Kienle (GER) should battle for the men’s title. Magda Nieuwoudt (RSA) will look to take the win in the women’s event.

Live coverage at challengefamily.live starting at 7 AM CEST

FRIDAY MEME

FAVOURITES

🤖 CoachGPT: The rise of generative AI and tools like ChatGPT bring about questions regarding society, and even the end of humanity. But the most important question surely is whether it can coach me to a 70.3 PB? One athlete gave it a go and learned a lot along the way. [ABC]

🏊 Ultra Experience: Whether you're an experienced swimmer or looking for a new challenge UltraSwim 33.3 is for you! An epic adventure swim race. Six swims over four days in stunning Montenegro. Find out more. [UltraSwim 33.3]*

🐺 Sam Long? Sound on: Werewolf howls, stoic philosophy, and a deep dive into a coaching change? All that, and you know there’s more. This YouTube is vintage Sam Long — entertaining and unfiltered. [YouTube/Sam Long]

🏫 Educate yourself: Are you injured and worried about a loss of strength? There may be a solution. Read on about how the “cross-education effect” of training one side of the body can increase strength in the opposite side. [Yahoo News]

💭 A perfect mess: Doing three different sports in a row is complicated, ripe for mistakes, and ultimately imperfect. Which, ultimately is what is beautiful about triathlon. Ben Randall speaks to this perfect mess in a well-written and thought-provoking article. [Ben Randall]

*Sponsored Listing

TEMPO EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE

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• Startup life and swim squad, how Rod Mackinnon does it.

• Expert analysis: Why you should celebrate the small wins.

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