Weekend Recap from Zurich, Nice, and Ibiza!
by: Olivia Vallone
by: Olivia Vallone
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New TTL Show on the YouTube Channel!
This week's show is a look at training at the Swiss Triathlon Training Center in Sursee, Switzerland! Eric and Paula checked out some Swiss rural roads, quaint coffee shops, and an unreal swimming facility.
This is only part 1 of TTL's time in Switzerland! Part 2 will showcase Zurich, ON Running HQ, and TT course recon. You won't want to miss the scenic adventures captured through Eric's lens, so be sure to subscribe to the channel!
Or...
You can watch the videos BEFORE they are posted to YouTube through the new TTL app!
TTL App Available to Download NOW from the App Store!
Thank you to all of you who have been a part of getting
TTL to this point, to everyone who has been beta testing, and also a huge shoutout to Jake S, who has been working all day to push this through! Right now, this app is only compatible with iOS devices, but don't worry - the Android version is coming soon!
If you run into any bugs or issues, feel free to contact developer@thattriathlonlife.com and we'll address them right away.
Despite traveling around the world, Eric and Paula and the rest of the team have been absolutely grinding behind the scenes to introduce something really exciting to TTL Naysh, and ultimately the triathlon community as a whole. We hope this app helps everyone connect on a deeper level and also brings as many new people together as possible. Go download it now to your phone and you can get early access to videos, post a discussion, and buy/sell gear! We have a few more surprises coming as well 👀
Download to join the party!
Podcast
PODCAST 🎙️
We had a bit of tech difficulties this week. The pod was a bit abbreviated, but we still got some great convo in there and answered some questions!
Last week on the Pod, we discussed:
📲 Our new App! Ft. Jake, the developer!
🏊How do Aussie exits Influence a swim?
💿 Is a disc wheel worth it on a hilly course?
🥱 How to stay entertained during 3 hour indoor training rides
📊Is a plateauing FTP normal?
🗓️When is the best time to register for a race
⚡Electronic shifting on mountain bikes
👋The courtesy of waving to people on runs and rides
Paula Raced ITT at Cycling World Champs!
This past Sunday, Paula raced the Individual Time Trial at the UCI Cycling World Championships!
If you’re unfamiliar with competitive cycling, an ITT, or individual time trial, is a race where cyclists compete individually against the clock for the fastest time, rather than directly against other riders. Cycling time trials are similar to running a fast 10k - it’s not a sprint, but it requires maintaining an intense, near-sprint effort for an extended period of time. Energy management is crucial as athletes balance power with endurance to sustain a high speed over the entire distance. Time trials are solo endeavors where everyone begins their race individually, with a few minutes in between each rider. There are no race dynamics or drafting. Time trials are a test of pure speed, power, and aerodynamics… Intense!
This year, the World Championship ITT took place in Zurich, Switzerland. It was a scenic, but challenging 29.9km / 18.5 mi course for a time trial, consisting of punchy hills and technical corners. The best cyclists from around the world came prepared to throw down some serious watts, and amongst them was one Canadian triathlete.
Despite battling a stomach virus that threw off her training for the past ten days, Paula crushed it, finishing 18th overall with a time of 42:45 - that’s 42.3 kph / 26.2 mph!
Paula was also the top Canadian finisher despite this only being her 2nd time competing in ITT at the World Championships. Similar to last year's time trials, she competed with an illness and in the middle of a stacked triathlon schedule. Despite the less than ideal circumstances surrounding the trials, Paula not only crushed it, but had a blast! Which is a major win for any athlete, regardless of the results.
I seem to be cursed with big TT races 😢. I was really at some of my lowest lows leading in (stomach bugs while traveling are no joke). I wish I could do more of this kind of racing, it’s my favorite ever, and I just want to get better at it.
Beijing International Triathlon (Beijing, China) ✅
ITT World Champs (Zurich, Switzerland) ✅
Virus (Paula's Stomach) ✅
It's been a massive month for TTL, but we're still not done yet! Next weekend, Paula will be competing in her 3rd T100 race of the year in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza! It's going to be hot, fast, and epic!
T100 races are very accessible. You can follow the action by streaming the event live through PTO+ (subscription), HBO MAX app (USA), Discovery+ (Europe, Asia-Pacific), or for free, no subscription required on YouTube!
Photo via @jackiemhering on Instagram
Women's Ironman 2024 World Champs
Nice, France
Huge congrats to all of the women that raced Ironman World Championships this past weekend in Nice, France! The brutal yet beautiful course hosted an entertaining pro race that our good friend, Jackie Herring, was a part of. This was Jackie’s THIRD full Ironman over the span of a few months! Talk about high volume! Jackie finished in 9th and we are so stoked she had such a great race. Despite getting off to a rocky start in the water, Jackie did what amazing triathletes do best: She persisted.
"My whole plan was to just do my own day... Not worry about the other people"
A great message from a great athlete - congrats, Jackie!
Brief Recap of IMWC
Two factors dominated the pre race discussions: Water temp and Lucy Charles Barclay. LCB made the wise but unfortunate decision to withdraw from the race due to a muscle strain. This move caused race discourse to erupt with uncertainty - who will lead the swim? Will the swim even be wetsuit legal? Will LBC's absence alter the bike pack dynamics?
Kat Matthews (GBR) and Chelsea Sodaro (USA) posted some remarkably strong swims, exiting the water just 30 seconds behind the leaders, Fenella Langridge (GBR) and Marta Sanchez (ESP). Laura Philipp (GER) and Anne Haug (GER) exited the water about three minutes back. After a quick T1, the two Germans exited transition together, but only one made it to the bike course. About 200 meters out, Anne Haug tire suffered a nasty puncture. After some confusion and waiting for over twenty minutes for a mechanic that would never arrive, Haug pulled out of the race.
Marjolaine Pierré stood out on the bike course as she opened and closed gaps, chasing down the leaders and stretching the distance from the chasers. Pierré eventually built a 3 minute gap between her and Matthews when, somewhat by surprise, Phillipp caught up with Matthews. Refusing to get dropped, Matthews stuck with Philipp, and the two eventually caught and dropped Pierré on the descent. The two would end up finishing the bike with Pierré seven minutes behind, followed by Sodaro, ten minutes behind.
Philipp and Matthews ran together for a bit, both with heavy legs from smashing a monstrous bike course. Laura seemed to be accelerating when suddenly a cramp halted Matthews in her tracks. She appeared to be in a good amount of pain, and it was questionable if she’d continue - but this was the World Championships, she pushed through it. Despite losing Philipp, Kat Matthew’s resurgence was arguably the most impressive move of the day.
Philipp put on an impressive overall performance as she became the 2024 Ironman World Champion, posting a ridiculous 2:44:59 marathon split after a massive effort on the bike. Matthews hung on to her position and finished about 8 minutes back in 2nd place, and Chelsea Sodaro claimed 3rd place about 10 minutes later.
Photo via @ironmantri on Instagram
Stay stoked,
-Eric & Paula
(and Olive, the intern)
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