Previewing the Women's 70.3 World Championships: A Comprehensive Analysis
Focusing on the impending women's 70.3 World Championships, this episode of Tempo Talks encapsulates the essence of competitive triathlon through a detailed analysis of the key players and race dynamics. Jeff and Matt engage in a thorough exploration of the athletes set to compete, underscoring their recent achievements and the potential impact of their performances on the outcome of the championship. The hosts meticulously discuss the course profile, including its elevation challenges and the implications of these factors on race strategy. They draw parallels between previous races, particularly the Kona Ironman, to highlight the importance of recovery and mental resilience in elite athletes. The episode is rich with expert commentary, offering a unique lens through which listeners can appreciate the complexities of triathlon racing. As they navigate through the discussions of race tactics, potential rivalries, and the psychological dimensions of competition, the hosts cultivate an engaging narrative that resonates with both seasoned triathletes and newcomers to the sport, fostering a deeper understanding of the dedication and skill required at this elite level.
Links to topics discussed:
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Jeff's Instagram
Email Jeff: tri_doc@icloud.com
Email Matt: Matt@thetemponews.com
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Transcript
What would happen if you brought together a professional triathlete and producer of one of the most widely read triathlon newsletters?
Speaker B:Together with the tridoc medical contributor for Triathlete magazine, age group winner and coach at LifeSport coaching, I'd say you had.
Speaker A:The makings of a pretty good podcast.
Speaker B:Welcome to Tempo Talks.
Speaker B:Two perspectives, one sport.
Speaker B:All things triathlon.
Speaker A:Welcome back everyone to another episode of Tempo Talks.
Speaker A:This is the first of two exciting previews of the 70.70.3 World Championships.
Speaker A:And as always, I am your co host Jeff Sankoff, the tridoc and I'm joined by professional triathlete Matthew Sharp.
Speaker A:Matt, how are you doing today?
Speaker B:I'm doing well today.
Speaker B:I just got off some other calls earlier but I was thinking about this podcast the whole time.
Speaker B:Been doing a little bit of studying on the start list and it's going to be good action.
Speaker B:Good action.
Speaker A:It.
Speaker A:It is.
Speaker A:I am.
Speaker A:We've had quite a championship you year like the races throughout the year have been incredible and you knew at the end of the year you would have this little like monthly races of amazing athletes and it has played out far better than I think any of us could have hoped.
Speaker B:Yeah, we saw what happened in nice, incredible close racing, action packed.
Speaker B:And then Kona somehow blew it out of the water with the dramatic issues the women had at the end with collapsing in the heat.
Speaker B:And then rookie Kona to Kona Sovik loveseth coming in.
Speaker B:It just, it's been nonstop and you're kind of like how can this even be like that?
Speaker B:And somehow I'm sure it'll find a way.
Speaker A:And then I saw, I didn't have a chance to really look at it too carefully, but I saw the start list came out for the women's grand final for the T100.
Speaker A:It just came out today and I, I don't know if you had a chance to see it a little bit.
Speaker B:It seems like the usual suspects.
Speaker B:It seems like a very deep race for sure.
Speaker B:But I'm not sure if that was just for Dubai or if that was for the final in Qatar.
Speaker A:Oh, okay.
Speaker A:There's another race before.
Speaker B:Okay, yeah, I think this was Dubai, but again like it's a very championship worthy like top end of field worthy field.
Speaker B:We'll get into it on this podcast but it'll be interesting to see who shows up.
Speaker A:We are going to be finishing off this year with just a string of amazing races and it's, I'm excited that I'm going to be in Marbella to see the women up Close.
Speaker A:The men will be out on the course and done long before.
Speaker A:So I will not get to see the men up close.
Speaker A:But we will give you a preview of the men today we're going to focus on the women.
Speaker A:And oh, by the way, Happy Halloween.
Speaker A:This is our Halloween episode, our spooky, scary Halloween episode.
Speaker A:One thing I have not heard, and I don't know if you have any intel on this, is whether or not we can expect to see Taylor and Lucy Charles Barkley at this race.
Speaker A:I, they're on the start list obviously, but I, it's been crickets about whether or not they're going to be there.
Speaker A:Do you know anything?
Speaker B:Yeah, it really has been, I've been hearing maybe not on, maybe like the Nib behalf, but again, like I, I know nothing.
Speaker B:I know nothing.
Speaker B:It's only speculation.
Speaker B:And let's think back to what was it last year in Nice when Lucy Charles, like she had a, her calf issue and only it was what, like the day before the race she pulled out.
Speaker B:Yeah, I guess maybe we'll see earlier on, like, obviously if they're at the briefing, then they're probably going to race.
Speaker B:You saw what happened in Kona, Jeff, do you think it's even a good idea for these athletes, Nib and Lucy Charles, to be competing?
Speaker A:That's tough to answer.
Speaker A:I think the issue is they're better in touch with their own bodies and they'll have a sense of whether or not they have had adequate recovery.
Speaker A:The, it's, you can go to Marbella, you can try and ride the course.
Speaker A:It's a certain amount of effort and see how you feel.
Speaker A:And I think that because that, let's face it, the bike is going to be the challenging part on this day.
Speaker A:And as much as Ironman has advertised a 5,800 foot elevation gain, I have put the, the GPX file that they actually gave us, I put it into my Garmin and it's showing 5,000ft of elevation.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:And then today the.
Speaker A:Yeah, but then today the race organizers came out and released a video, a video preview of the bike course where they said it was 5,900ft of elevation.
Speaker A:So the numbers are all over the place.
Speaker A:So I don't really know what the truth is.
Speaker A:The reality though, I think is probably closer to the 5,000 than it is to the 5,900.
Speaker A:We'll see.
Speaker A:But nonetheless, that's a ton of elevation gain.
Speaker A:And if you're coming off of that epic collapse in Kona and now you have to make yourself in very Short order, what are we about a month right.
Speaker A:To be able to come back and do this.
Speaker A:So I don't know that I would say that it's not wise.
Speaker A:I would say that it just may not be possible.
Speaker A:And I wouldn't be surprised if either they don't come because they just realize they can't compete the way they want to or if they do come, they don't do nearly as well as we would expect.
Speaker B:I'm thinking about what would their motivations be to do this race.
Speaker B:Obviously NIB's what a two time, three time champion.
Speaker A:70.3 time.
Speaker A:This would be the first person to ever win four in a row.
Speaker B:I guess she's got obviously that's a big driver.
Speaker B:I'm sure I've never been in that position so I don't know what that's like.
Speaker B:But the only thing I would say on the other side is that with the T100 and currently this season the incentives for getting that series win 200k like not neither Lucy Charles or Taylor Knibb are in the running for the Iron Man Pro series.
Speaker B:So I guess maybe if they're Ironman 70.3 sponsor bonuses are exemplary.
Speaker B:It might not even be worth it for them to pursue this race at the cost of the races, the T100 races because Lucy Charles especially, she's actually really on for that T100 win.
Speaker A:What is the prize money for this race for the 70.3 worlds I want.
Speaker B:To say 80k con is like 125k for the win.
Speaker B:I think 70.3 worlds is like a step down.
Speaker B:Still great obviously.
Speaker B:But I don't think it's in the 100k range.
Speaker B:To me I'm kind of like maybe it's just like worth skipping out for these gals and just hitting the T100 hard because there's great prize money in that and great incentives for the series overall.
Speaker B:But if you got four in a row you're trying to chase, maybe that's compelling enough.
Speaker A:Yeah, these are very competitive athletes.
Speaker A:It's hard to know what's going through.
Speaker B:Their minds and we saw they were when they went for and obviously for.
Speaker A:Kat and for Solvague there's very good reason to come here which we'll talk about in a second.
Speaker A:But why don't we go.
Speaker A:We'll go from the bib number so top to bottom and then we can give our selections.
Speaker A:But we'll start with the aforementioned Taylor nib.
Speaker A:So we'll pretend like she's going to be there and it's hard to know how she would be there.
Speaker A:As I think I just mentioned.
Speaker A:I don't know.
Speaker A:If she shows up, is she going to be the tailor nib we're used to, or is she going to be a much reduced Taylor nib because she is coming off of really what was a huge physiologic stress.
Speaker A:What are your thoughts if she shows up on the start line?
Speaker A:Clearly she will show up because she thinks she's capable.
Speaker A:Does is that all we need?
Speaker B:Yes, it is.
Speaker B:I think we saw in Kona her physiological abilities, like she was a little bit further back in the swim, but then was able to ride up to Lucy Charles.
Speaker B:Like showing her strength on the bike was certainly there.
Speaker B:And on a course like this, that's everything, right?
Speaker B:Being strong on the bike and having that ability to produce the power and whatnot.
Speaker B:So she.
Speaker B:If she does line up, she is in a very good position to have success, given if she's ready to go.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Like she usually.
Speaker A:I would think.
Speaker A:I would think if she comes thinking or feeling like she's ready and she's wrong, we'll know probably halfway through the bike because she'll either pull the plug because she's just not able to push to what she thinks she can, or she will be left behind because the others are simply stronger than she is.
Speaker A:But if she is the Taylor nib we're used to, I agree with you.
Speaker A:I think that she is right off the bat the person to watch because she's such a strong cyclist and she can run well off the bike.
Speaker A:And this is not a challenging run course.
Speaker B:Nope.
Speaker B:All about the bike.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:Kat Matthews, another strong runner.
Speaker A:Not as strong a cyclist, though.
Speaker A:So does she have a chance with this kind of bike course?
Speaker B:I think she is still quite good on the bike.
Speaker B:Like, we've seen her have great bikes in Ironman races and clearly she's coming in great form.
Speaker B:That close second in Kona.
Speaker B:Like, she's ready to go.
Speaker B:She obviously didn't succumb to the heat like the other two did.
Speaker B:So there's no question marks around whether she's ready.
Speaker B:It's okay.
Speaker B:How will the swim play out?
Speaker B:Similar to Kona.
Speaker B:Will she be closer to the front this time?
Speaker B:Maybe.
Speaker B:So then she can assert herself on the race.
Speaker B:I think she's ready to go.
Speaker A:One of the things that I thought was really interesting was that of all of the competitors in Kona, she and Laura Philipp looked the best afterwards.
Speaker A:I can't believe how fresh they both looked after that race.
Speaker A:The Thing is, you don't know, like a week later, were they still feeling that way or were they really suffering an impact?
Speaker A:Now, you've not done an Ironman, so I know it's hard for you to answer, but for us mere mortals, we do an Ironman.
Speaker A:It takes most of us, like a good month before we're back to any kind of ability to train.
Speaker A:The turnaround that these guys have is always amazing to me.
Speaker A:But for an average Ironman where they've really pushed themselves hard versus what they went through in Kona, like, what do you think the turnaround time is for them to get back to being normal and able to be.
Speaker B:Got to be three weeks.
Speaker B:Gotta be three weeks.
Speaker A:So there would have been no training?
Speaker B:I don't think so.
Speaker B:I don't think there's much training.
Speaker B:It's just more with someone like Kat and Laura as well.
Speaker B:Obviously they pushed themselves in the race, but again, they didn't succumb to the that heat issue.
Speaker B:So they're just starting their recovery from Kona in a better place than a Lucy Charles and Taylor Knipp, right?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Third, Lucy Charles.
Speaker A:Lucy Charles Barkley is bib number three.
Speaker A:I. I think we have the same thing to say about her as we did about Taylor.
Speaker A:One thing I don't know about Lucy Charles, though, because we have not seen her race in Nice.
Speaker A:She did do.
Speaker A:She did the 70.3 in Nice, though.
Speaker A:Or maybe she did the Ironman.
Speaker A:She did the Ironman in Nice and she really handled the bike well there.
Speaker A:So it's not like she can't climb.
Speaker A:It's not like she can't descend.
Speaker A:She has that ability.
Speaker A:We know.
Speaker A:I just haven't seen her against this kind of field.
Speaker A:And do you have a sense, like, would she be the kind of cyclist.
Speaker A:Listen, she's obviously a very strong cyclist, but like I said, my experience was watching her on these kinds of courses is limited to that n of 1.
Speaker A:And she didn't really have a huge field to compete against.
Speaker B:No, we haven't seen her compete like in this type of race.
Speaker B:We missed her last year.
Speaker B:Niece, obviously.
Speaker B:I think she's gonna be very good.
Speaker B:She's just such a strong cyclist.
Speaker B:She especially too, when she's racing.
Speaker B:She won't be dictated necessarily by what other people are doing.
Speaker B:So she can get in her zone as well.
Speaker B:And maybe, who knows, maybe she gets.
Speaker B:Let's say she's racing.
Speaker B:She gets caught out there, but she's maybe had a better lead up into the hills, less pressure, less chasing.
Speaker B:So Maybe she's in a better position physiologically to start.
Speaker B:Maybe other critical sections of the race anyways.
Speaker B:Whereas other people may have been chasing because she was so far ahead and maybe aren't quite there when things happen or just fro in the race.
Speaker A:So for all of us, Matt, the age groupers, a lot of us have looked at this course and as soon as we saw the course come out, a lot of us were, oh, road bike versus tri bike.
Speaker A:And then also if we were bringing whatever bike we were bringing, many of us, myself included, were immediately shopping for different cassettes to try and improve the gear ratio.
Speaker A:Is that something the pros will do or are you guys just so strong that it doesn't matter?
Speaker B:I guess if you have a bike that you're supposed to use because of your sponsor, you're not going to change that.
Speaker B:I think people are going to change maybe the.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:The gearing ratios on their bike, maybe what wheels they use.
Speaker B:But generally I don't think they're going to change anything about the fit really.
Speaker B:I think like it's.
Speaker B:That's not going to change.
Speaker B:It's just going to be more like you talked about with the gearing ratios and stuff and the wheels.
Speaker B:Maybe.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Nothing too crazy.
Speaker B:I know.
Speaker B:Ditlev in Nice was it last year he had the dropper post on his bike.
Speaker B:He got that specially made.
Speaker B:Crazy.
Speaker B:But for this race it sounds.
Speaker B:And I, because I was messaging with Jackson Laundry, who is over there, he did a preview of the course the other day.
Speaker B:I asked him, I said what's the course like?
Speaker B:And he told me the descents are not super technical.
Speaker A:That's what I've heard as well.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:So yeah, you wouldn't need something like that for a course like that.
Speaker B:You just have your own setup, normal setup.
Speaker B:Let her rip.
Speaker A:I just wonder about the gearing because I, I always think about.
Speaker A:I worry about myself, wanting to make sure I keep my legs fresh for the run.
Speaker A:But I know how strong these pros are.
Speaker A:They're in a different level and I just wonder if this is something they even think about because FTP is 150 watts higher than mine.
Speaker B:Yeah, a lot of these pros, they run the one by the one single front chainring.
Speaker B:But I think a lot of them on this kind of course would go back to a double go back because it's just like why cook your legs when you can just carry a little tiny extra bit of weight and be able to spin a lot more effectively.
Speaker A:So do you think people will be then considering Flat kits, Matt, going back to our conversations from earlier this year about the extra weight.
Speaker B:They don't want that weight.
Speaker B:There's no way they're carrying flak.
Speaker B:It's especially.
Speaker B:Especially in a 70.3 like this.
Speaker B:Like, basically, if you flat.
Speaker B:Like your day's kind of over, it's over.
Speaker B:You need an F1, like Pit Crew or Tour de France type pit crew to.
Speaker B:To get you going.
Speaker B:No, I don't think.
Speaker B:I don't think they're in flat kids.
Speaker A:I think it'll just be out.
Speaker B:There is neutral support, and I should say that there is neutral support on the course where if you're in the top of the race, they'll be following you.
Speaker B:Maybe that's why they won't carry it.
Speaker B:But they won't be carrying flat kids.
Speaker A:All right, let's get back to our women's list.
Speaker A:We are at number four, and that is somebody who I am seriously considering is my pick of the day.
Speaker A:And that's Paula Finley.
Speaker A:Oh, what do you think about Paul?
Speaker A:I can't listen.
Speaker A:Canadian.
Speaker A:What do you think about.
Speaker A:Oh, and by the way, the Jays are playing right now.
Speaker A:We are recording this on Wednesday.
Speaker A:It's game five and it's been a stellar World series.
Speaker A:Very entertaining.
Speaker A:Well, I guess there's no point in keeping track of the score given that people who hear this Friday morning.
Speaker B:But I just did a shot of maple syrup.
Speaker A:All right, let's talk about Paul Finley.
Speaker A:What do you think, Paula, going into this race?
Speaker B:Yes, it sounds like from Paula that she has been focusing very heavily on this race as one of the most proficient cyclists in the sport.
Speaker B:She represented Canada at the world championships in the individual time trial.
Speaker B:I'm sure maybe for LA she'll make a run at that Olympic TT opportunity.
Speaker B:She probably saw this course and knew about the hills and was just absolutely frothing.
Speaker B:And from what I can tell from her training that she's been doing, she has just been dialed in on this race.
Speaker B:She's not worried about the T100 contract or anything.
Speaker B:Like she's shown up those T100 races.
Speaker B:But I really do think, like many athletes, she is focusing on an Ironman race for her season and this is the one.
Speaker B:So a great pick on your behalf because she is locked in and is focused exclusively on these hills.
Speaker A:How does.
Speaker A:She's not.
Speaker A:She's not a threat in the series, though, is she?
Speaker B:Oh, no, she's done like a few.
Speaker B:70.3.
Speaker B:She's not.
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:Like this one off race.
Speaker B:Like this is her.
Speaker B:A race for the year.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I would say.
Speaker A:I do think that she.
Speaker A:Because she puts together such strong cycling prowess and the ability to run well off of that.
Speaker A:I think about her performances at places like Oceanside, where she has really done, like, a lot of damage on the bike and then been able to run quite well off of that.
Speaker A:This really does, I think, like you said, suit her.
Speaker A:The question is, can she shake people like Cat Matthews?
Speaker A:So that's the question.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And because Katt will outrun Paula every.
Speaker B:Day, I think she will too.
Speaker B:I think so with Paula.
Speaker B:That's an interesting setup there.
Speaker B:But we have to mention as well, putting her abilities on lock here, she actually hired a cycling coach this year.
Speaker B:Like, she's working with a cycling coach.
Speaker B:So I don't know how much more locked in you can get on this kind of race.
Speaker B:She worked on her descending, even though maybe not as necessary for this race.
Speaker B:But it's all about the bike.
Speaker B:And we can go over the scenarios after, but I think she'll need to definitely jettison a few people on that bike.
Speaker A:All right, let's move down the list to number five is Ellie Salthouse from Australia.
Speaker A:She's had a quietly very productive, very successful year.
Speaker B:I'm gonna be honest, I don't know much about her stats this year.
Speaker B:Has she.
Speaker B:She's.
Speaker B:Has she won a race?
Speaker A:She's won a race.
Speaker A:She won the races.
Speaker A:But her races have all been in, like, Oceania.
Speaker A:So that's where she's.
Speaker B:I'm guessing, maybe that was from her ranking last year.
Speaker B:Like, I was doing a little bit of research for this, and I honestly didn't put her on my radar as someone who's going to be competing for the podium.
Speaker B:No disrespect, I don't think.
Speaker A:No, exactly.
Speaker A:I agree with you.
Speaker A:I also don't view her as a major threat, and I think that her BIP number reflects her ranking from last year, like you said.
Speaker A:But she has quietly had a solid year, so it'll be interesting to see how she does.
Speaker A:I don't think she fares well against these powerhouses, though.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Number six, Carolyn Pole.
Speaker B:She's a great athlete, actually someone who I definitely had on my list.
Speaker B:She.
Speaker B:Did you see this video of her and the other woman, Lena Meisner?
Speaker B:That finish line where they bumped into each other?
Speaker B:That was crazy.
Speaker A:More like an attack.
Speaker B:Yeah, it was.
Speaker B:I love that.
Speaker A:So it's interesting.
Speaker A:I saw a reel on Instagram today.
Speaker A:I get a lot of these cross country high school things because my kid, my son.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:And there was one where this high school kid was running and he was winning by a lot and that kid was coming from behind and as the kid came up to him he threw out an arm and he.
Speaker A:He directed them away and he ended up losing the race to the other kid.
Speaker A:It.
Speaker A:You see this happen a lot and I.
Speaker A:It's completely.
Speaker A:I think it's not intentional.
Speaker A:I think your sort of chimp brain takes over.
Speaker A:It's like this survival thing.
Speaker A:Like somebody's coming by.
Speaker A:No, I'm not going to let them go.
Speaker A:I want to win this race and I know when I saw the.
Speaker A:Those two women at.
Speaker A:In that race that was.
Speaker A:It was in.
Speaker A:It was Estonia wasn't it?
Speaker B:It was in Sweden.
Speaker B:I think it was European Championships 70.3.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:You could tell that it was like it just.
Speaker A:She just did it as a reflex.
Speaker A:It wasn't like oh I hate.
Speaker B:It didn't look malicious, it didn't look.
Speaker A:Malic but it was clearly intentional and the punishment I think was appropriate.
Speaker A:But yeah.
Speaker A:So here's Carolyn.
Speaker A:Carolyn was the benefactor of the.
Speaker A:She was the one who was pushed and she ended up getting the win.
Speaker A:Other than that has she had a season of note?
Speaker B:I think she's been doing some of the T100 races like she's a very solid athlete.
Speaker B:I just don't know when it comes to these like this hilly course.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:If she is in the same echelon as a Paula Finley as a Kat Matthews there's few people in there this.
Speaker B:Let's be real.
Speaker B:Yeah it's.
Speaker B:They're that good.
Speaker A:Grace Tech, another Australian She's a great athlete.
Speaker B:I think she's focused more on full distance this year so I don't expect her to fully feature at the front of this race but a good athlete for sure.
Speaker A:Laura Philip is an interesting name to come across here because we think of her for the Ironman distance.
Speaker A:She does do well at 70.3.
Speaker A:She obviously can climb.
Speaker A:She's very strong.
Speaker A:Was incredibly strong in Nice last year.
Speaker A:The question is does she have.
Speaker A:She's an incredible runner but she's an incredible marathon runner.
Speaker A:Does she have the half marathon speed to take on the likes of Taylor Paula, Kat Matthews?
Speaker A:What do you think?
Speaker B:I personally want to see a like a rematch almost because in Kona cat dusted her but they had that incredible run battle that whole race in at Ironman Hamburg.
Speaker B:So it's a 1:1 situation and I want to see who takes the season series if you will between Laura Phillip and Kat Matthews and I think Laura Phillip, she'll Actually have, like, she got third in Kona and how many miles in the run did she realize that she was actually going to be on the podium?
Speaker B:So I think that was great.
Speaker B:Like, I think she was ultimately very happy in the end, but I think she has a little bit of maybe a chip on her shoulder, maybe just something to prove in this race.
Speaker B:So I feel like she's going to bring the heat.
Speaker B:I could see her because I think in Kona, from when I was watching, she was at the front a lot on that bike.
Speaker B:And I don't know if she.
Speaker B:She cooked herself a little bit.
Speaker B:So she might be a little more tactical this time, depending on what's happening with the groups and who's in them and whatnot.
Speaker B:But I could see her kind of being like a stealth person for the win just because maybe she could play her cards a little better and she has the ability to climb.
Speaker B:We saw her niece last year.
Speaker B:She knows how to ride a bike very well.
Speaker B:Yeah, she obviously can run very well.
Speaker B:It's just Icona was something else.
Speaker A:She was the most morose podium finisher I've ever seen.
Speaker A:It was like, she was like, I don't deserve to be on this podium, but I'll take it.
Speaker A:But for sure.
Speaker B:But at the end of the day, she crossed the line in third and hey, you take it.
Speaker B:I've been in those positions many times and so I don't feel bad you got on the podium.
Speaker A:That's how I was thinking as I was watching her.
Speaker A:And she was, I can't believe I finished in third.
Speaker A:I didn't think I was in third.
Speaker A:And then all of a sudden I was in third.
Speaker A:And she seem so non plussed about the whole thing because you could tell that she almost felt guilty about the whole thing.
Speaker A:I get it.
Speaker A:But at the same time, like you, I'm like, hey, you finished the race.
Speaker A:You get what you deserve anyways.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:Martha Sanchez, phenomenal swimmer.
Speaker B:Marta.
Speaker B:She was, I believe, third at Ironman Lake Placid.
Speaker B:And she won, I'm pretty sure, Ironman South Africa.
Speaker B:So again, a great Ironman athlete.
Speaker B:She's in for the pro series.
Speaker B:I don't think she's in the same tier as I talked about earlier as the Kat Matthews, as Laura Philip on the bike.
Speaker B:Like, it's just, I don't think she's in that tier.
Speaker B:And if you can't climb with them, the race is just gonna go up the road.
Speaker B:But for her, I think her play is just try and yeah, finish as well as she can.
Speaker B:So she can claim maybe podium on the pro series.
Speaker B:She's on the bubble of podium, I believe.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:And I promise I'm not gonna run through the whole list.
Speaker A:We're gonna continue down.
Speaker A:We're going to continue down through the names everybody knows.
Speaker A:I will stop at the next one.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:It's an unknown, relatively vague loaf.
Speaker A:Seth, I think.
Speaker B:Never heard of her.
Speaker A:Never heard of her.
Speaker A:I don't know who she is.
Speaker B:Yeah, Rookie.
Speaker B:A rookie is 70.3, so we can't expect too much.
Speaker A:I know.
Speaker A:Maybe we should just pass right over.
Speaker A:But since we've stopped, why don't we just consider.
Speaker B:Going into Kona like she was your dark horse pick.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker B:Like you.
Speaker B:You followed that?
Speaker A:I called it.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I was pretty excited about that.
Speaker B:So it's interesting, I think, of the dynamics now because she was able to get away from those girls.
Speaker B:Like, she.
Speaker B:I don't even think she even put in an attack in Kona.
Speaker B:She just wrote her effort, rode what she felt good and got away.
Speaker B:And I think a lot of those women were like, okay, we'll see on the run situation.
Speaker B:So, like now they've got eyes on her.
Speaker B:Like, oh, yeah, she's not so.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah, no, she's not going anywhere without.
Speaker B:So she's forever changed in a way.
Speaker B:Like, she doesn't get any of those gimmes.
Speaker B:And I don't want to say gimme because she worked her ass off, but just in terms of people being like, oh, she's not a threat.
Speaker B:So now forever she is a threat.
Speaker B:So it'll be interesting to see she's going to come out of the water with Cat Matthews, Laura Phillip.
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker B:Do they try and attack her or are they just.
Speaker B:I think we can outrun her.
Speaker B:So we just need to stay with her this time.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah, that's a tough.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Race dynamics are going to be very interesting here, aren't they?
Speaker B:I love it.
Speaker A:Given.
Speaker A:Given this bike course.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:We have next a Olympic familiar, another Brit with three names, gtb, Georgia Taylor Brown.
Speaker A:A very, I think, melodic, mellifluous name.
Speaker A:Georgia Taylor.
Speaker B:Very nice.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:Rolls off the tongue.
Speaker A:Well, just rolls off the tongue.
Speaker A:I can't remember what race she qualified for this in.
Speaker B:She might have been the Bahrain 70.3 last year because she was on the Bahrain team.
Speaker B:So she's in there as like a front pack person.
Speaker B:She's going to be in the top three or four out of the water.
Speaker B:I don't know if Lucy Charles is there.
Speaker B:She should be able to Swim on her feet alongside like a Jessica Learmouth from Great Britain as well, who can also swim in the front pack.
Speaker B:So you have these kind of front pack people who maybe as we saw in T100, can help each other out on the course.
Speaker B:I guess less so when they get to the hill because of the lack of group dynamics.
Speaker B:But yeah, mentally having other people around is always helpful when you're out there.
Speaker A:Do you know will they enforce.
Speaker A:They will enforce the 12 meter draft rule on those climbs.
Speaker B:Yeah, they're going to have the race ranger.
Speaker B:So there's going to be the lights going.
Speaker B:So yeah, it's definitely going to have the same effect for sure.
Speaker A:That's interesting because when you're on those climbs you tend to compress and I always wonder if they're going to be as strict on the climbs.
Speaker A:But okay, we'll see.
Speaker B:I think I actually, my take for this race is they're going to be very strict.
Speaker B:That's just my.
Speaker B:I don't know why I have this.
Speaker B:This intense feeling of penalties, like people sitting in the box.
Speaker B:Like I just think because the penalties aren't as stiff now.
Speaker B:They changed it right to one minute two.
Speaker B:So I.
Speaker A:Two.
Speaker B:Is it two?
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Not as stiff though as before.
Speaker B:And I think that's gonna give the refs license to.
Speaker B:To toss out a few cards out there.
Speaker B:And I just, I don't know because it's a world championship because of there's so many people in the race who are going to be closer together.
Speaker B:I just think there's going to be some cards out there.
Speaker B:People are going to really have to do a good job of avoiding them.
Speaker A:Now Georgia faded in Wollongong.
Speaker A:Do you think that she comes back here and has a more successful day or she's a rookie at this world championships anyways.
Speaker B:She doesn't have a ton of 70.3 experience.
Speaker B:But I will say she's an interesting case because she's really been focusing on her cycling.
Speaker B:Like she, she joined up with a cycling team earlier this year, did some training with them.
Speaker B:She's been doing some gravel races.
Speaker B:So maybe that was a part of this.
Speaker B:Maybe she just wanted to have some fun.
Speaker B:But anyways, I think her cycling is probably on point right now.
Speaker B:So that's great for this race.
Speaker B:And if she is someone who can stay near the front, in the front group somehow, if there is a front group and she comes off on the run, definitely a threat.
Speaker A:Oh yeah, she's a threat.
Speaker B:Yeah, she's an Olympic medalist.
Speaker B:Olympic medalist.
Speaker B:That's just that's pedigree.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Jackie Herring, perennial sort of runner up, I think, of.
Speaker A:She just used to.
Speaker A:I don't think she's going second or third.
Speaker B:I don't actually think she's going.
Speaker B:No.
Speaker B:So I don't know where she's at in the pro series.
Speaker B:I don't like.
Speaker B:I thought she was actually in a pretty decent position.
Speaker B:I saw her name X' ed out on one of the lists there, so I don't know if she's gonna be there, but I just.
Speaker B:This wouldn't suit her, I don't think.
Speaker A:Not that kind of rider, huh?
Speaker A:How about Danielle Lewis?
Speaker B:Yeah, Danielle, she's a good cyclist.
Speaker B:She's a good runner.
Speaker B:She's had some health issues this year.
Speaker B:Like in Kona, she had a really rough day.
Speaker B:She had a liver infection, I believe.
Speaker B:Oh, yeah, I would.
Speaker B:I interviewed her for my newsletter before Kona, and.
Speaker B:Yeah, she told us about this liver infection she had, and that really set her back, and I.
Speaker B:She has not fully recovered from that.
Speaker B:This would.
Speaker B:Could actually be a really good race for her because she's a good cyclist and a great runner, but I just don't think she's coming in at 100, really.
Speaker A:All right, I'm gonna pass down a few names, and we'll move down to 21, where we find India Lee, a woman whose name.
Speaker A:Gosh, back when the World Championships were in Utah, she made us.
Speaker A:She made a.
Speaker A:A real kind of her presence known in that race.
Speaker A:And I remember thinking, oh, we're going to be hearing about her a lot over the next few years.
Speaker A:But she's never had the kind of success at the World Championships like she did that one time.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I would say last year in Singapore, did she win or get on the podium?
Speaker B:She might have won in Singapore or in Miami.
Speaker B:It was the Miami T100, the very first one.
Speaker B:And she won it.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:That sounds familiar.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And I was like, okay, like, she is here, but she could never get that escape.
Speaker B:I call it escape velocity, and I don't even know if that makes sense as a term, but just.
Speaker B:She could never, like, get to that next stage and stay there because she's had great races.
Speaker B:But just the staying there and, like, cementing herself, having that escape velocity to get up there.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:But a great athlete, no doubt.
Speaker B:Like, she has.
Speaker B:I think she has a few wins this year in Kona.
Speaker B:She was on for a great race and then I think, faded on the run.
Speaker B:So who knows?
Speaker B:Again, like, she could come out and have a blinder just like that.
Speaker B:She's done it before.
Speaker A:Also has a great name, India Lee.
Speaker A:I just.
Speaker A:All the Brits in this race have great names.
Speaker A:Jess Learmouth is our next one.
Speaker A:Another Brit with a great name.
Speaker A:Yeah, she's a. Yeah, she's definitely a threat.
Speaker A:And where did she qualify for this race?
Speaker A:Because I think of her as T100.
Speaker A:I don't think of her as Ironman racing.
Speaker B:She.
Speaker B:I know she did 70.3 nice, I believe, earlier this year and I think that was one of the last ones to qualify.
Speaker B:She like jumped into it and absolutely destroyed.
Speaker B:So her biking prowess is on point.
Speaker B:You saw her go toe to toe with Lucy Charles, I believe.
Speaker B:Was that in Vancouver?
Speaker B:Who was in Vancouver with Nip in Vancouver, sorry.
Speaker B:Like T100.
Speaker B:So she's swim bike ready to go again.
Speaker B:Another person who's.
Speaker B:She comes off the bike in that league group or whatever.
Speaker B:Definitely a threat.
Speaker A:Fifth place at Kona.
Speaker A:And one of your picks possibly is a dark horse for the podium there.
Speaker A:Lisa Peterer.
Speaker A:She is coming to this race as well.
Speaker A:You have a big smile.
Speaker A:You're a fan.
Speaker B:I'm a fan.
Speaker B:She's been really impressive this year across all disciplines.
Speaker B:Like, she's done well in 70.3, she's done well in T100.
Speaker B:She's done well obviously in full distance Ironmans.
Speaker B:So I'm just really happy for her because she's had a great season.
Speaker B:She's probably, in terms of, you know, what Kat Matthews did last year.
Speaker B:I think she was fourth in the T100 and then won the pro series.
Speaker B:I think Purder is having that kind of year where I think she's in the top eight or so of the T100, maybe even seven or six.
Speaker B:And then in the Pro Series, she's like top five.
Speaker B:So just like an incredibly consistent world class season.
Speaker B:So I'm hyped for her.
Speaker B:Although in saying that I don't know how she's gonna go in this race.
Speaker B:Again with the.
Speaker B:With.
Speaker B:She's a good cyclist.
Speaker B:She's a good cyclist.
Speaker B:For some reason I'm like not as bullish on her for this race.
Speaker B:And of course by saying that now she's probably gonna win again.
Speaker B:A top five.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Certainly in the cars for Lisa Perder.
Speaker B:And it's more like again these pack dynamics like.
Speaker B:Like she did do what I said she would in Kona where she sat in mostly in that bike.
Speaker B:Wasn't really on the front much.
Speaker B:Didn't have maybe as good of a run as she would have wanted.
Speaker B:Still good.
Speaker B:Really.
Speaker B:So I think that's her game again.
Speaker B:This time for sure.
Speaker A:There are 72 names on this list.
Speaker A:I'm not going to continue running down them.
Speaker A:We're going to talk about what we think is going to play out in this race.
Speaker A:I do want to mention, however, that none of the names on this list are Tamara Jewett, which is unfortunate.
Speaker B:Bummer for sure.
Speaker A:Yep.
Speaker A:I don't think this is Tamara's kind of course.
Speaker A:She.
Speaker A:Although she did do well at Oceanside a couple years ago, she has not really shown her prowess at these kinds of very difficult climbing courses.
Speaker A:Obviously the run, she's lights out.
Speaker A:But you wonder if this kind of bike course might have been why she chose not to do this race.
Speaker A:Although she told me.
Speaker A:I'm super excited to say that I get to chat with Tamara now periodically.
Speaker A:Thanks, Tamara's mom, you're awesome.
Speaker A:But Tamara told me that she was really focusing on Ironman New Zealand and she's looking to qualify for Kona so she can go back and have the day that she thinks she deserves and that I think I would agree given how she's performed elsewhere.
Speaker A:So that was really why she wasn't going to go to Marbella.
Speaker A:But I do think also that this course doesn't really suit her that well.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker B:Suits her better than it suits me.
Speaker B:I'll say that for her.
Speaker A:I'm sure she probably suits her better than me also.
Speaker B:But anyway, yeah, the one name who it's unfortunate she's not there and wasn't in Kona.
Speaker B:Julie Darren.
Speaker B:She's someone who was going to rip up this bike course.
Speaker B:So yeah, unfortunately she's not there because she just adds.
Speaker A:Continues to have the injury issue.
Speaker B:I think so.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker B:So it'll be interesting to see.
Speaker A:We just don't know what's going on with her.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:It's been mystery.
Speaker A:Like she must have had a much bigger injury than they let on because.
Speaker B:Yeah, her team kept that under wraps for sure.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:She is on the Dubai start list that I saw today.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:Could be on for that one.
Speaker A:All right, let's talk about how we think the race will shake out.
Speaker A:We've talked a little bit about that as we've gone through these names.
Speaker A:But I think both you and I agree that there will be a split on the swim similar to what we saw in Kona and we will presume that Lucy and Taylor are there and presume that they are racing up to snuff because I.
Speaker A:Otherwise we'd be just.
Speaker B:Yeah, let's Go for that.
Speaker B:Let's go for that.
Speaker B:Ideal situation.
Speaker A:My, my, my thing, my feeling is it's going to look very similar to what we saw in Kona.
Speaker A:I think Lucy just goes out and destroys the field and I, I think that she would feel even more pressure to do that here because shorter race and knowing the bike course is as difficult as it is, she's going to want to get as big of a gap as possible.
Speaker A:That's my thinking.
Speaker A:Especially with Taylor, Laura, some of these other really strong bikers coming from behind.
Speaker A:I mean, she's not going to have a six minute gap.
Speaker B:One question for you.
Speaker B:Do you know if it is a wetsuit or non wetsuit swim?
Speaker A:So everything I've heard is that the water is pretty cool and that it will be a wetsuit swimming.
Speaker B:That changes, right?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:The water temperature this time of year is supposedly like 60s to 70.
Speaker A:So it's going to be cool.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:When I hear about.
Speaker B:Yeah, if it's a wetsuit swim, to me it's just okay.
Speaker B:People are closer together out of the water.
Speaker B:There isn't going to be as like a big Kona blow up.
Speaker B:I think there was for Lucy Charles.
Speaker B:If she's there firing, I actually think she might have a few friends with her out of the water, which again, maybe if that happened in Kona, it actually would have played out better because she could have had people to work with on that bike.
Speaker B:And I think maybe this time she might have a Jessica Learmouth, she might have a Georgia Taylor Brown with her out of the water to work together at least till the hill and then who knows what's going to happen once the hills start.
Speaker B:I could see her having friends this time.
Speaker B:Whether NIB makes that break, I feel like with the wetsuit, maybe a little more likely.
Speaker B:So again, if NIB is there as well, then they're off to the races.
Speaker B:They got a great start and how.
Speaker A:So can I ask you about the wetsuit?
Speaker A:I wanna ask you about the wetsuit.
Speaker A:Cause I know for us as age groupers, the wetsuit's hugely important.
Speaker A:Mostly because it gives us improved body position.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:For pros.
Speaker A:For pros, is it about body position or is there something else going on?
Speaker B:I think it's about body position for sure.
Speaker A:So even for pros, it's the body position improvement.
Speaker B:And I think of like athletes like a Lionel Sanders, who this year had very good wetsuit swims, like he was swimming lights out in these races.
Speaker B:And this is my theory, especially for people like Lionel.
Speaker B:The guy's got Massive legs.
Speaker B:If there's any way those can get propped up a little higher in the water, he can just glide through the water a lot easier than having his legs slow him down.
Speaker B:And if he doesn't have to kick as much, then again, it's great for his legs.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I just think.
Speaker B:No scientific basis on this, but I just know that the body position can improve it for everyone, not just age groupers.
Speaker A:And in saltwater where you're getting a significant amount of buoyancy, it's still.
Speaker A:With the wetsuit you just get that much more and so it's that much better.
Speaker B:A hundred percent.
Speaker A:Okay, we agree.
Speaker A:Lucy Charles at the front, the question is whether or not she has some company.
Speaker A:I wouldn't be surprised if she does.
Speaker A:We've seen in 70.3 is more than an ironman.
Speaker A:She tends to come out with people and ironman.
Speaker A:She has enough time to really just destroy the field.
Speaker A:But in 70.3, I find more frequently than not she'll come out with one or two other people and that's probably what will happen here.
Speaker A:That's my guess anyways.
Speaker B:And I'm looking.
Speaker B:I pulled up the course profile here and really the hill.
Speaker B:There's a hill after five miles.
Speaker B:Doesn't look massive, but.
Speaker A:Oh no, it's massive.
Speaker A:It's massive.
Speaker A:So the hill.
Speaker A:Yeah, from mile 5 to mile 10 there is like.
Speaker A:There's like a.
Speaker A:Somebody said it's well over.
Speaker A:It's well over 10%.
Speaker A:It's not long.
Speaker A:It's not long, but it's.
Speaker A:And it is.
Speaker A:Yeah, it's pretty legit.
Speaker B:So that I could see people going over above and beyond to stay with a leader or something on this.
Speaker B:On that section, like I think it might not.
Speaker B:I don't know if that section will necessarily break things fully apart.
Speaker B:Because then there's like a bit of a plateau after that, Correct?
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:And then you get a long 2 to 3% climb for quite a while.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:I'm just trying to think like how it would play out.
Speaker B:Maybe, I don't know, maybe on that first climb, because it's so steep, somebody might attack and that's where they make their movement.
Speaker B:But you could also see them staying together along that plateau.
Speaker B:And then what is it looks like mile 15 or so when it starts to kick up again, people will be putting the pedal to the metal and that could shed some bodies as well.
Speaker B:Meanwhile, you have the athletes like a cat.
Speaker B:Matthews, Solvec, Laura, Philip coming from behind, looking to chase.
Speaker B:I'm curious, are they going to be able to see when are they going to be able to see each other on the course.
Speaker A:So there is this epic climb that goes.
Speaker A:Looks like a Tour de France climb.
Speaker A:It's like one of these climbs that is multiple switchbacks up.
Speaker B:Oh, wow.
Speaker A:It's amazing.
Speaker A:So you, it looks like you will be able to see the climbers above and below and it's a fairly long road, so you will be, you should be.
Speaker A:I, I'm going and I'm going to ride the course next week, so I'll let you know.
Speaker A:But that's my sense is just looking at the video that I saw today, it looks like you should be able to see people on that switchback climb.
Speaker B:Yeah, it looks like at mile 20 there's an out and back section, so maybe they'll be able to see them.
Speaker A:Oh yeah, that too.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:And then at mile 30 there's another out and back.
Speaker B:So there's a few chances to see each other and then athletes will be gauging on how things are playing out.
Speaker B:If you have a big group, you go through the first 180, you see where you're at.
Speaker B:If a big group goes through the second 180 at 30, 30 miles there and they see they've gained time, man, they're going to, they're going to keep pumping because they're going to sense that they're coming back.
Speaker B:But if they can feel like the leaders are getting away, that'll be trouble.
Speaker B:That'll be trouble for them because who's going to want to put their nose in the wind and be out in front to chase when.
Speaker B:Especially if you have all these great runners sitting behind.
Speaker B:So those dynamics will be interesting.
Speaker B:I'm looking at the course again after that 30 mile turnaround.
Speaker B:Not long after, it looks like I've started for another long climb.
Speaker A:It's a long climb and it's again, it's a 2 to 3, it's a 2 to 3% grade.
Speaker A:It's apparently it's not like what we're used to.
Speaker B:It looks like there's little sections that kick up though.
Speaker B:Like it looks like there's little peaks in there.
Speaker A:Yeah, there are, but it's not like Colorado where you're riding like 6, 7% and then you'll hit 9, 10%.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker A:From what I've been told, it's 2 to 3% continuously and then little kicks up to 6, 7%.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:Awful.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's just long in duration.
Speaker A:But it's long in duration and I'm.
Speaker B:Just looking at the Profile here.
Speaker B:So after that long climb that'll take you to about 45 miles or so and then.
Speaker B:And then the descending and Jackson was saying like, the descent will be quick.
Speaker B:He said something about if there's motos, like there's not really that a ton of room for them, so maybe that could come into play too.
Speaker B:We could see, especially if there's a group off the front, they got all the camera motos and stuff and maybe they're getting a little help there.
Speaker B:It's just.
Speaker B:It'll be really interesting to see how things look starting that descent because it's just.
Speaker B:It looks very fast, it.
Speaker B:But not technical.
Speaker B:So it won't change that much in terms of people losing time because of their inability to corner.
Speaker B:If they're not technical dissents, then people are just gonna.
Speaker B:They rip it up.
Speaker A:Yep, yep.
Speaker A:I think so too.
Speaker A:I think so too.
Speaker A:I think it's gonna be.
Speaker A:The last 10 miles are just gonna be about getting your legs back and getting in some last calories because your heart rate's gonna come down as you're descending and not pedaling quite as much.
Speaker A:And it's a chance to get in more calories just before you get to the run.
Speaker B:Do you think that long climb, it might be worth it for someone to attack if they're in.
Speaker B:If they're in a big pack?
Speaker B:Do you think it could be worth it for them to just.
Speaker B:Bottom of the hill to attack?
Speaker B:It's not steep enough for it.
Speaker A:It's not a steep enough climb to really put the hurt on anyway.
Speaker A:But I think if you.
Speaker A:If your legs are feeling good and it's a long climb, you could certainly ratchet up the watts by 10, 20 watts and see how it goes and drop.
Speaker B:Yeah, we should be paying attention to that section for sure then.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think so.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I think that's where a break could easily be made.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Once we're on the run.
Speaker A:It's the only issue I have with the run.
Speaker A:Course is going to be amazing for spectators because it's pretty condensed into a small area and so spectators can see you go by many times.
Speaker A:The only issue I have with it is there's four or five U turns each each lap.
Speaker B:Interesting.
Speaker A:And as a pro, you guys run a lot faster than we do.
Speaker A:Your U turns a pain in the butt for you as much as they are for us.
Speaker B:Yeah, they're not as enjoyable, for sure.
Speaker B:Especially if there's five of them or whatever.
Speaker B:That sounds like overkill per lap.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:So it's going to be that's what is your advice to age groupers who might be listening who are racing next week?
Speaker A:How do you handle those U turns with that?
Speaker A:Because you don't want to be coming into them and breaking hard and then you don't want to be taking off out the other side.
Speaker A:So how do you manage U turns?
Speaker B:Yeah, there's nothing crazy.
Speaker B:I think it's kind of like cycling where you want to take a wide, like, entrance into the U turn.
Speaker B:So you don't want to just be hugging the middle of the road and then do the U turn.
Speaker B:You want to be on the outside a little bit so it smooths out the jarring turn, so to speak.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:You can carry momentum a little better.
Speaker B:I would say if there's five U turns per lap, you're definitely not wanting to have any kind of big spikes in terms of pushing out of them like that.
Speaker B:That's just not worth it.
Speaker B:You just want to keep a fairly smooth effort the whole time, I would say.
Speaker A:And then there's two hills.
Speaker A:The hills look like they're a little bit punchy.
Speaker A:They're not particularly steep.
Speaker A:Sorry, they're not particularly huge amounts of elevation.
Speaker A:But they do look like they're a little bit steep.
Speaker A:They happen at the same place each lap.
Speaker A:They're in a park.
Speaker A:I'm going to go scope that out next week, too, to see what that's all about.
Speaker A:But I would imagine that that can be a place for a runner to get away, maybe an attack, especially on the second.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:I'm asking you because you're a much stronger runner than I am.
Speaker A:So when you're running, if you know that there's a hill coming and that hill is.
Speaker A:I think, if I remember correctly, that hill comes three miles from the finish.
Speaker A:So it's a 5K from the finish.
Speaker A:Is that a good place to try and drop someone?
Speaker B:It's more like what's going on if you're in a group, if you're with someone else, can you sense if they're hurting?
Speaker B:Are they really hurting or are they just sound weird?
Speaker B:Like you have to make adjustments on the fly or analysis on the fly based on that.
Speaker B:But if you know someone is hurting, you know that you're good to go for the next 5k to lift it up a little bit.
Speaker B:It could be worth putting a dig on the hill because ultimately there's more stress on an athlete just going up the hill.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:So we could see that in the race, especially if it's a run battle.
Speaker B:Maybe there's A big group coming off the bike in the front and they're all sticking together.
Speaker B:People are hanging on for dear life.
Speaker B:But then one or two people, they know they can go on that hill and break things up, so they might do that.
Speaker B:It's definitely a point in the race where you can expect some action to happen.
Speaker A:All right, who do you see doing well?
Speaker A:So I'm not going to make you pick 1, 2, 3.
Speaker A:I think.
Speaker B:No, I'm going to.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker A:Are you going to.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:All right, we need to.
Speaker B:I got to put my picks out there and then it honestly feels like a bit of a curse.
Speaker B:Now.
Speaker B:My picks, because I pick them and they don't really do that Hot.
Speaker B:Sorry, gang.
Speaker B:Whoever I'm picking here.
Speaker B:But really it's hard because I want to figure out how is this race going to play out.
Speaker B:I just don't know if there's going to be that lone breakaway, that lone person off the front.
Speaker B:There's a lot of power coming up from behind.
Speaker B:There's the wetsuit swim factor which brings it closer together.
Speaker B:If you can have a motivated chase group that can see the athletes more frequently, maybe it'll come down to bigger group or maybe a front group will have a little bit of a gap, but nothing that the people behind can't chase.
Speaker B:I think my picks are going to be.
Speaker B:Sorry, people.
Speaker B:For the win, I'm going to pick Cat Matthews.
Speaker B:I think someone like this thrives on a course like this.
Speaker B:Clearly she is an incredible form on the bike and on the run, especially the run with that Kona course record.
Speaker B:I just see her thriving in a race like this and I just don't know if the front people will be able to get away necessarily like they did in Kona because it's not as out of sight, out of mind in some ways.
Speaker B:So I'm picking Cat Matthews for the win.
Speaker B:I've got Taylor Nib as second tbd if she's going to be there even, but just a great racer.
Speaker B:I think she's great on the hills too.
Speaker B:So I've got Nib second.
Speaker B:Maybe she's out front.
Speaker B:It gets caught at the end kind of situation.
Speaker B:And then third place, Paula Finley, Canada.
Speaker B:Got to put her in there.
Speaker B:And my third place picks have been good.
Speaker B:So if she wants to get on the podium, this could be it.
Speaker A:All right, I'm going to give you five names.
Speaker A:Stick to my tradition of over naming and hoping that three of them make it.
Speaker A:So I've got five women that I think are potentials for the podium.
Speaker A:I Am not going to include Taylor and Lucy because I think both of them, if they show up, are not going to be racing in top form.
Speaker A:That's just my feeling.
Speaker A:I could be completely wrong.
Speaker A:They could both show up and end up 1, 2.
Speaker A:But my sense is after what we saw in Kona, I think they need more time to recover.
Speaker A:So we'll see.
Speaker A:I agree with you about Kat.
Speaker A:I think Kat's up there.
Speaker A:I agree with you about Paula.
Speaker A:That's.
Speaker A:I think Paula's definitely up there.
Speaker A:And then I'm going to pick some.
Speaker A:Some red herrings.
Speaker A:GTB Georgia Taylor Brown.
Speaker A:I think that she's going to get off the bike close enough to run some people down.
Speaker A:I think Jess Lurmuth also, she's been so strong this year on the T100.
Speaker A:I definitely can see her doing something.
Speaker A:And then my fifth woman is Laura Philip.
Speaker A:God, I forgot about that for a second.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Laura Phillip.
Speaker A:That's my fifth.
Speaker B:I am looking forward to this Laura Philip, Kat Matthews subplot in the.
Speaker B:In this phrase who's going to be the season winner there?
Speaker B:But it's funny.
Speaker B:None of the.
Speaker B:None of us rather picked Solvag.
Speaker B:Why is that?
Speaker A:I think part of it is because I think like you said, she's a marked woman.
Speaker A:Part of it is because I am just not familiar enough with her at the 70.3 distance.
Speaker A:I was much more familiar with her at the Ironman distance and I felt very confident that was a distance she would do well at.
Speaker A:I just don't feel like I know what she's capable of at 70.3, which is an absurd thing to say about the woman who just won the Ironman championship.
Speaker A:But yeah, I don't know.
Speaker A:I just.
Speaker A:It is a different race, right?
Speaker A:70.3 and Ironman are very different races.
Speaker A:People who do well at one don't necessarily do well at the other.
Speaker A:But she's here, so obviously she's definitely a threat.
Speaker A:But why didn't you take her?
Speaker B:I didn't take her for the same reason.
Speaker B:I'm not going to pick Casper Stornez for the men.
Speaker B:I just think that Kona hangover, it's long.
Speaker B:There's the spotlight that's on you after something like that is so intense.
Speaker B:And for a lot of these people, they're not really spotlight people to begin with.
Speaker B:We don't do triathlon because we weren't going to get famous.
Speaker B:I think it's just takes its toll and so I think by the time they show up to 70.3 worlds, especially after achieving something like Kona when it was a surprise.
Speaker B:I just think psychologically they're going to be a little cooked.
Speaker A:That's a good point.
Speaker A:Really good point.
Speaker A:Matt, we are interested in what you think.
Speaker A:We hope that you will go over to the Talk Tempo Talks Facebook group and leave your opinions there.
Speaker A:We would love to hear what your picks are for this race and of course next week, Friday, November 7th, we will be back with our men's preview show.
Speaker A:If you want to opine in advance of that of who you think is going to be on the podium or in top five for the men, please leave your opinions now.
Speaker A:We will be very interested to read them and to comment on them as they come across.
Speaker B:I'll leave my picks and shred them to pieces on that.
Speaker A:There you go.
Speaker A:Any, any final thoughts before we finish up this one?
Speaker B:Talking about this again, it's getting me fired up.
Speaker B:It's going to be great racing.
Speaker B:I'm going to have to set my alarm wake up a little earlier, I think, but it'll be worth because all these races have been exceptional.
Speaker B:Actually, we should talk about maybe briefly.
Speaker B:Hopefully the broadcast is going to be better.
Speaker B:Maybe they've done something in between.
Speaker B:Maybe.
Speaker A:Hopefully the what?
Speaker A:Oh, the broadcast.
Speaker B:Broadcast.
Speaker A:I Not holding my breath.
Speaker A:Not holding my breath.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:But anyways, I won't be watching it because I will be there live.
Speaker B:You'll be living it.
Speaker B:You'll be living it.
Speaker A:Living it.
Speaker A:Yep.
Speaker A:All right, Matt, another great episode.
Speaker A:Thanks for being here with me.
Speaker A:Thanks to all my list, all to all our listeners for listening.
Speaker A:We appreciate you so very much.
Speaker B:Yes, thank you for listening.
Speaker B:Good fun.
Speaker A:Tempo Talks is a production of the Triathlon Performance Hub and is produced and edited by Jeff Sankoff.
Speaker A:The music heard at the beginning and end of the program is rock by Henry Graggart.
Speaker A:Matt and Jeff sincerely hope that you will do them a solid and leave them a rating and a review wherever you download this content.
Speaker A:And if you really want to earn your haggis, send it to a friend who may never have listened.
Speaker A:Tempo Talks will be back again next week with a new episode, but if you can't bear to go that long without your fix of triathlon news, then head over to Facebook and join the Talk Tempo Talks Facebook group where you can leave your comments, ask questions and join the conversation.
