Kona? Nice? Or none of the above. IRONMAN signals its World Championship’s future.

TOGETHER WITH THE FEED

Good morning everyone,

Over the next couple of day’s I’ll be locked in to the 70.3 World Championships! And thank you to the subscribers who pointed out my error from the last edition. The race kicks off at 7:00 local time which is 1:00 PM EST!

• Always good to keep the editor in line 😆

And if you’re racing this weekend, best of luck!

In today’s edition:

• 🥇 How “not being perfect” can lead to a breakthrough race.

• ⁉️ Kona? Nice? Or none of the above. IRONMAN signals its World Championship’s future.

• 🚲 And glute activation to get the most out of each pedal stroke!

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.

TOGETHER WITH THE FEED

How Do You Fuel a Breakthrough Race? By Not Being Perfect!

Professional triathlete Morgan Pearson (USA) is a 2x Olympic silver medalist, and World Triathlon Championship Series winner. He recently competed in his first-ever IRONMAN 70.3 and won!

• We caught up with him to learn his high performance fueling secrets, and his advice for athletes looking to dive into a new distance!

Were you happy with your win at IRONMAN 70.3 Indian Wells? What were your biggest learnings from your first middle-distance race?

I was very happy to win Indian Wells. The biggest thing that stuck out in terms of learning from the race was how the bike packs work. There is obviously no drafting in these races, but the mental side of riding with the group creates a unique dynamic, different than that of short course racing but with some similarities. I’m excited to learn from Indian Wells and hopefully improve my tactics!

How did you fuel your middle-distance debut?

Pre race: I had a single Maurten gel 100 (25gr of carbs) before the race.

T1 fuel: I’d planned on taking an SIS gel with 75mg of caffeine in T1 but forgot to take the gel!

Bike fuel: On the bike I had five Enervit gels (150gr of carbs) in my aero bottle. I also had LMNT sachets (2 packs total) in my other bottles.

Run fuel: On the run I had an additional SIS gel with 75 mg of caffeine. 

Have you had any past weaknesses in training or racing? How have you overcome them?

In my only other Time Trial bike triathlon in 2020 in Daytona, I completely cramped up on the bike and couldn't finish. So for this one, I had a much less aggressive position on the bike and also trained more on the indoor trainer to really get my muscles ready to ride hard in TT position for 56 miles 

Since partnering with The Feed what’s been the biggest change in fueling your training/racing?

I really like being able to try different products and different fueling strategies in training and then implementing them in my racing. For example, I noticed the consistency of Enervit was pretty liquidy and mixed well with water. So I practiced putting it into the bottle mixed with water and it was a really easy way to get high carbs down. 

Which products from The Feed have really surprised you?

Mortal Hydration. I drink this every morning when I wake up.

What training advice do you have for an athlete wanting to race a longer distance next season?

You don't need to be perfect. I knew my bike position was not perfect on the bike, my gear was not perfect, and my nutrition was not perfect. I also had quite a few interruptions in training leading into the race because I was in the middle of a move. It actually took a lot of pressure off and I was able to be more relaxed going into the race.  

What do the next few months of training and racing look like for you?

• I’ll do the Houston Half Marathon on January 18th,

• Then Abu Dhabi WTCS on February 8th,

• And then a track 5k the following weekend.

After the 5k, I'll take a little break from training before hopefully building up for 70.3 Oceanside.

What’s your go-to recovery product after a hard workout?

Momentous Recovery 2 scoops + Momentous Whey Protein 1 scoop. Lots of protein!

Want to fuel your next breakthrough race? Save 15% off your first order when you join The Feed’s Strava club, and get $20 every quarter when you join this nutrition club! 

• And free shipping, VIP sales, custom bottles and so much more can be yours when you join Feed First!

Where to Find the Best Deals on Hoka Shoes

Meaning “to fly” in Maori, Hoka was founded in 2009 so that anyone spending long hours on their feet could get the ultimate experience with optimum cushioning and stability. Less than 15 years after its founding, Hoka is bringing in revenues topping a billion dollars a year, so it’s clear that people are loving this brand. But with quality comes high prices, and Hoka is no doubt in the high end price-wise. Thanks to Brad's Deals, we found the best prices on Hoka.

Here are the top 8 stores where you can find great deals on Hoka.

FAVORITES

🚲 Cycling glute activation: Have you been out on the bike and felt like your glutes aren’t pulling their weight? Next time, try this quick mid-ride glute activation to help get the most out of each pedal stroke! [LSM Clinic]

👏 Supertri success: It was a landmark year for Supertri with records set in broadcast viewers, social media engagement, race participation, and money raised for charity! [Supertri]

💦 Water why’s: Are you drinking enough water? It depends on your body. But what we do know is that the old “eight glasses a day” adage is due for a refresh! [The Guardian]

😴 Your next best sleep: There has been plenty of research on sleep quality the past few years. And one of the biggest takeaways that can help you have your best nights sleep? Ensuring the best possible temperature. And as it turns out it might be cooler than you think. Why? Find out here! [Sleep Foundation]

🏆 Yee SPOTY: The BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award is Britain’s ultimate sporting award, and Olympic gold medalist Alex Yee is on the shortlist for the big prize! 

Novaxidil Triple Action Hair Regrowth Treatment

Novaxidil is a premium OTC Triple Action hair loss treatment that stimulates hair regrowth, prevents further loss, AND nourishes your scalp with a combination of clinically proven ingredients: 5% Minoxidil, 2% K-Conazole, 1% Nicotinamide, Vitamin K, Biotin, and Collagen Peptides.

Our team of MD/PhD's formulated Novaxidil to maximize results while minimizing side effects. In recent studies, K-Conazole was even shown to have a higher absorption rate AND block DHT more effectively than Finasteride.

Before you give up, and start rocking the "bald look," give Novaxidil a try. We're confident you won't regret it.

Learn More

ONE BIG THING

Kona? Nice? Somewhere Else? IRONMAN Signals World Championships’ Future

What is it: In a recent survey sent to IRONMAN stakeholders, the corporation has asked for input on the future of the IRONMAN World Championships. The results may determine whether the race returns to its iconic home in Kona, or heads for greener pastures elsewhere.

The survey options for a future World Championships included:

• A single-day IMWC at a global destination that rotates annually, with fewer slots for both men and women (compared to 2024).

• Two days of IMWC racing together, but in globally rotating venues, similar to the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship format, with a day of racing each for women and men.

• A single-day IMWC in Kona, with fewer slots for both men and women (compared to 2024).

• Two days of IMWC racing in Kona, with a day of racing each for women and men.

• Two days of IMWC racing, in separate locations, one being Kona and the other Nice (i.e. the current format), with a day of racing each for women and men.

Survey says: There was no information on the survey for when the decision would be made. But presumably, they would decide after the final contracted year of the Nice/Kona split which is in 2026.

Tempo’s take: The foray to Nice has shown what a World Championship outside of Kona truly could be. An exciting and challenging course, plenty of reasonable accommodation options, and fairly easy travel for a lot of athletes.

• Unfortunately for IRONMAN, this isn’t what the future will look like.

It’s a blessing and a curse that the Kona brand is just so incredibly ingrained in the triathlon, and the general population’s conscious. When the race is held on the Big Island, the demand to compete is incredible, when it’s in Nice, IRONMAN can’t seem to even give the spots away.

• It’s not in the spirit of our sport to have everyone separated. The World Championships should have everyone together!

In our opinion, the only way forward is to have it back on the Big Island. One day, or two days, whatever it takes! The only issue is the classic slow male pros/AG Men interfering with the Women’s Professional Race. Here’s a possible solution:

• Saturday - Male Pros, Age Group men and women’s races.

• Sunday - Female Pros

In this scenario, the female professionals can have their own uninterrupted race day. And the second day can be a lot less of a burden for the locals with rolling road closures.

But who cares what we think, what do you think?

REEL TIME

It’s why this sport can be so addicting, always something to improve!

ryan.triathlon

View more on Instagram

YOU SAID

It looks like Tempo readers are excited to watch 70.3 Worlds!

RACE WEEKEND

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships

Our picks for the win? Taylor Knibb (USA) and Leo Bergere (FRA). Check out or full 70.3 World Championships preview here! 

Full start lists

TEMPO EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE

• Why you should be training faster (but not harder!) - Vol. 1

• Want to perform better? Put your phone down! Says Olympic gold-medal-winning coach.

• Start up life and triathlon training? How this athlete does it!

LATEST EDITIONS

• 70.3 Worlds preview, and what cadence should you be cycling at?

• Race better by improving your fatigue resistance. Plus, 15 healthy carbs!

• A $200,000 shake-up. Plus: six tips to run smoother.