What They Don't Tell You About Ironman Training

Good morning everyone,

I’m feeling pretty sore from this weekend’s race in Boulder. I had a good effort finishing in 5th overall. But my day almost didn’t happen when I showed up race morning and my shifting wasn’t working! My friend Alex was the MVP of the day and fixed my bike just as I started the race. Another story for the book!

In today’s edition:

• IRONMAN signs another major multiyear race extension 📝

• Does shaving your legs actually help much? 🪒

• And the hilarious things they don’t tell about training for an Ironman 🤷

Thanks 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

🏒 Swim, bike, score: Over 300 participants competed in yesterday’s Harvest Triathlon in Wareham, Massachusetts, but only one has won the NHL’s Stanley Cup. Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chára completed the Olympic distance event, his first triathlon, in 2 hours and 28 minutes. [wareham.theweektoday]

⚔️ Slave Ukraini: This past weekend, the Ukrainian Triathlon Federation hosted its first National Championships since the country was invaded by Russia. The athletes competed in Sprint and Mixed Relay events in Chernivtsi. [World Triathlon]

🍑 Summerland sprint: Registration is now open for the Okanagan’s newest triathlon, the Summerland Stone Fruit Triathlon. Athletes will have the opportunity to compete in a sprint or Try-a-tri on a “challenging yet scenic course.” Sounds peachy! [Kelownanow.com]

👏 For a good cause: Two brothers from Solihull, Rich and Mike Stevens, competed in yesterday’s IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire to help raise awareness and funds for Epilepsy research. Rich’s son was diagnosed with Epilepsy, which is what inspired the duo to compete. [itv.com]

Do you want to partner with The Tempo and reach over five thousand awesome and engaged triathletes? Respond to this email and we will get back to you!

ONE BIG THING

IRONMAN Not Bearish on California, Signs Multiyear Deal Keeping Event in Sacramento

The gist: IRONMAN, Visit Sacramento, and the city of Sacramento, California have signed an extension of their current contract, keeping the Ironman distance race in Sactown through 2028.

Mutually beneficial: According to an article in the Sacramento Bee, the President of Visit Sacramento Mike Testa, suggested that the economic impact of having 4,000 athletes compete will “be significantly higher than last year’s estimated $15 million.”

Big picture: This announcement follows a suite of similar extensions for IRONMAN events.

• Waco, Texas, signed with IRONMAN through 2028.

• Bolton, U.K., recently committed with IRONMAN through 2027.

• And even after a challenging 2023 event for locals, IRONMAN was still able to secure an extension for Lake Placid through 2024. 

Bottom line: There is still a mutually beneficial opportunity for cities and governments to partner with IRONMAN to host major mass participation events. And in some cases, like in Cairns, it’s been compelling enough for them to invest millions of dollars to ensure a big-ticket IRONMAN event.

Tempo’s take: It’s an encouraging sign for the IRONMAN and the sport as a whole, to see these communities commit to long-term hosting of IRONMAN events, even with the backdrop of Kona’s community frustrations with the IMWC.

Sacramento and Bolton aren’t exactly the Paris’ of the world, but maybe they’re precisely the places for mass participation triathlon events.

• The roads are easier to close, and cheaper than major cities.

• They probably have enough hotel rooms/accommodations for the athletes and their families.

• And for these types of communities, the race might actually be a point of pride.

FAVOURITES

🤷 Why didn’t they tell us: Tik Tok user Rylee Jade speaks for all of us in this hilariously true video, “What they don’t tell you about IRONMAN training.” Seriously, why don’t they tell you about all the laundry?!? 🤣🤣🤣 [Rylee Jade/Tik Tok]

🪒 Clean speed: Thinking your hairy legs and/or beard don’t make a difference with aerodynamics on race day? Well, the folks at GTN just burst that bubble. Check out the crazy watt savings that a clean shave provides. [GTN]

🚁 No drone zone: “Why can’t they just use drones?” is the common question when it comes to addressing motorcycle camera/racer interface issues, especially in light of the recent tragedy at IRONMAN Hamburg. But apparently, it isn’t that simple. For one, current regulations wouldn’t allow it. This article gives some good context to the sought-after drone solution. [Triathlete]

🚲 Taylor Knibb TT: In the latest episode of ProTriNews, the gang speaks with current Ironman 70.3 World Champion, and Olympic medalist Taylor Knibb about her recent signing with the Trek-Segafredo World Tour cycling team and her plans to compete at the upcoming U.S. National Cycling Championships in the Time Trial, and maybe, the Paris Olympics. [ProTriNews]

Are you an expert and want to share your wisdom with thousands of engaged triathletes? Fill out this form and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

WEEKEND RACES

IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder

Men: It was Boulder’s very own, Sam Long (USA) who took the lead halfway through the bike and never looked back, taking his third 70.3 victory in a row. Lionel Sanders (CAN) and Chris Leiferman (USA) ended up in an epic sprint for second with the Canadian taking it.

• 🥇 Sam Long (USA)

• 🥈 Lionel Sanders (CAN)

• 🥉 Chris Leiferman (USA)

Women: Taylor Knibb (USA) picked up where she left off as she rode away from the field to take the win at her “home race” in Boulder. Holly Lawrence (GBR) finished in a solid second and Jeanni Metzler (RSA) took her third podium in three races with the bronze.

• 🥇 Taylor Knibb (USA)

• 🥈 Holly Lawrence (GBR)

• 🥉 Jeanni Metzler (RSA)

Full results

Check out the European Triathlon Championships and the rest of the weekend’s results here.

TEMPO EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE

• In 2023, what is the state of the sport? We speak with race director Mark Wilson. 

• Start-up life and Triathlon. How Rod Mackinnon does it.

• Expert analysis: Nail your Ironman training nutrition.

LATEST EDITIONS

• The best (legal) performance enhancers. And how to train when wildfire smoke hits.

• R.I.C.E. is D.E.A.D. And tragedy strikes in Hamburg.

• Beat the heat with tips from a world-leading researcher.

Thanks for reading to the end. If you enjoy the Tempo, we have three things you can do to help our community grow:

1. Share the Tempo with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Every person you refer will win prizes (coming soon!)

2. Forward this email

3. Follow us on Instagram