Outgoing IRONMAN CEO Hints at Organization's Future

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning everyone,

I had a fun run workout on Saturday. It started off on the track where I helped pace my wife for her last key workout before she races this weekend in Hamburg. Then I did a build run home from the track. It felt great to help, and get a solid workout in!

In today’s edition:

• 🔮 Outgoing IRONMAN CEO hints at organization’s future focus.

• ♨️ Why training when it’s hot can level up your fitness.

• 🤑 And how much do you actually need to spend on gear?

Thanks for being here.

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

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ONE BIG THING

Outgoing IRONMAN CEO Signals Changes for Iconic Brand

What is it: Outgoing IRONMAN CEO Andrew Messick did a wide-ranging interview with Triathlete Magazine, and among the topics discussed (including Lance Armstrong’s brief return to triathlon 😕) was the future of IRONMAN.

• According to Messick, “We’re a company that has historically been organized around events… Our future is not to think less about events, but more about our customers.”

What it means: IRONMAN will pursue a strategy that is more focused on building a better database of its athletes and improving athlete retention.

• IRONMAN will continue to pivot towards “customer centricity,” by implementing different IT systems, marketing systems, and other means.

Tempo’s take: “Customer centricity” could probably use a bit of a rebrand, but it’s great to see that IRONMAN is at least thinking about improving the experience for its athletes.

It’s a pivotal moment for the brand, as the years of being one of the few mass-participation endurance events are now over. With the rise of trail running and gravel cycling, IRONMAN has even more competition in the endurance event marketplace.

• IRONMAN can succeed in this environment, but it will take a visionary CEO to make it happen.

We’re just curious to see when they “unsplit” the World Championships and have everyone return to Kona 😉

We want to know what you think! If you were CEO for a day (or two) what changes would you make? Respond to the poll below and let us know! 👇

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TOGETHER WITH FOSTER AND ASSOCIATES

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Athletes face unique financial situations. As a fellow triathlete, David understands your lifestyle and can work with you to design a portfolio to suit your family's needs.

If you’re a Canadian, contact David today to learn more about becoming financially secure. Or send him an email directly to learn more.

QUICK NEWS

🌟 Super League Stars: Olympic gold-medallist Kristian Blummenfelt and World Triathlon Champion Léo Bergere are two of the latest athletes confirmed for the star-studded Super League Championship series that kicks off in London on August 27th. [Super League Triathlon]

🎸 Take me home: A family-friendly triathlon in West Virginia, the Thurmond Triathlon, will take place on Saturday, August 6th. [West Virginia Gazette]

🐎 Shetland success: The Shetland women’s triathlon team won a bronze medal, the first medal for Shetland in the Guernsey Island games. [Shetland Times]

🙏 Huntsville tragedy: Sadly, during this past weekend’s IRONMAN 70.3 Muskoka a competitor suffered a medical issue during the swim and passed away. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the athlete. [Huntsville Doppler]

TRAINING THOUGHT

Hot Outside? Extra Training Benefits Await!

A recent study published in Medicine in Sports and Exercise tested whether a heat training protocol would increase hemoglobin mass and endurance performance in elite cyclists.

The protocol: Athletes performed 5×50-min sessions per week for five weeks in a heat chamber or while wearing a heat suit, in temperate conditions.

The results: The athletes who completed the heat training protocol saw a 2.4 to 2.6% improvement in their hemoglobin mass.

This means: If your summer temps are consistently hot, then for a short time investment, you can see real performance benefits.

• An 📈 in hemoglobin mass (HM) helps the body transport more oxygen to the muscles, which lets them work harder for longer!

• The increase in HM is the same benefit that one gets at training at altitude ⛰️, so you don’t need to travel far to get the thin-air advantage.

A reminder: In our interview with renowned endurance heat training expert Dr. Julien Périard, he notes that heat exposure sessions should be at a lower intensity.

Happy heat training!

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.

REEL TIME

Open Water Chaos

We’ve all experienced it, the craziness at the start of a race. Well, this reel from @swimgym_com does a great job recreating it! 😂😂😂

swimgym_com

View more on Instagram

FAVOURITES

⛰️ High life: Epic rocky mountain scenery, secret altitude training sessions and so much more. Take a look at the latest episode of That Triathlon Life, which finds Eric Lagerstrom, Paula Findlay, and Flynn just outside the incredible Canmore, Alberta. [That Triathlon Life]

💰 Gear gains: Some triathletes love to go down the gear rabbit hole, spending everything they can to gain an edge. But is it actually worth it? A Reddit user asked the question, and got some surprising answers! [Reddit]

🥊 Triathlon fighter: Nate Diaz competed for an incredible 15 years in the UFC, and ahead of his massive PPV fight against YouTuber Jake Paul, he’ll take no chances with his training. That’s why he’ll be training for and competing in two triathlons ahead of the fight. No word on what his FTP is…yet. [MMA Mania]

🥇 Rach’s renaissance: Rach McBride just turned 45, but after two pro wins at 70.3 Boulder, and 70.3 Los Cabos, it feels like they’re just getting started. Check out this profile on the “Purple Tiger,” and they’re big race plans for this season. [Triathlon Magazine Canada]

TEMPO EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE

• Expert analysis: Nail your Ironman training nutrition.

• How they do it: Start up life and triathlon training.

• Expert analysis: Legal performance enhancers that actually work!

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