Romance - you can find it at TheFeed

In this issue:

• Oceanside 70.3 Recap

• Next Webinar: “How to Avoid Common Mistakes that Ruin Races”

• Where You Can Find Us

• RTS Podcast Highlights

Oceanside 70.3 Pro Series Recap: Questionable Roads, No More Speed Limits, and a Stingray Strikes Again

Oceanside last last weekend, on March 28, felt less like a coastal triathlon and more like a proving ground for the third stop of the Ironman Pro Series. The first Pro Series race in the US featured a deep field, warmer-than-usual conditions (even the water felt suspiciously comfortable), technical roads that looked like they hadn’t been repaved since tubular tires were popular, and tactics that mattered as much as fitness.

Jackson Laundry threw down a 7th overall against one of the deepest fields of the early season, backed by the 3rd fastest bike split on a setup that looked like it came straight from a mission to the moon: full Enve disc in the rear, 100mm Enve up front.

Marc with a similar bike setup to Jackson

This also permanently secures his status as the course record holder of the speed-limited version of Oceanside, a distinction he should mention more on an other (non-RTS) podcast 😉 

Getting out of the water just 1:40 behind the leaders, Jackson moved up throughout the bike to set up the run, where patience paid off as more aggressive starters came back to him. As he put it: you'll regret it later if you don’t give it your best now.

He did not regret it.

Jackson ran the fastest he had since he won Oceanside in 2022!

Jackson en route to a 1:11 half marathon and 7th place finish

Marc Dubrick put together maybe the most complete RTS race of the day: 9th pro male and first out of the water, controlling the front end of the race from the start. From there it was a steady, disciplined day. Classic Marc: swim fast, race smart, say something understated afterward like “you're having a great day, let’s keep it going.”

“I am really happy with the run time vs my run training at the moment. I wanted to stick to my pacing goal, 3:20-25 [per kilometer]. I could see Jackson and Ben and at mile 10 I tried to give it everything I had. I just wasn’t enough.” -Marc

Marc leading the Oceanside 70.3 swim

Meanwhile Nick Chase finished 35th pro male in what might quietly be the toughest performance of the group: his first race back after breaking his femur, minutes faster than he’s ever raced Oceanside.

He and Jackson also drove nearly five hours from Vegas to Oceanside, because they don’t make Nick’s secret weapon in a travel size…Nick credits part of his performance to what may be the most unexpectedly practical pro tip of the weekend:

Rain-X on the helmet visor.

Fog? Ocean air? Marine layer? Nick was having none of it. He came prepared like he was detailing the windshield before his road trip.

Nick brought his Rain-X for mid-bike touch-ups 😉 

David Reynolds, racing his first event in the RTS kit, finished 27th pro male after deciding the best run strategy was essentially controlled chaos. Instead of his usual conservative opening mile, he just went for it and trusted he could hold on. “I was a little frustrated with how my bike went and just decided to go out hard […] the 20m draft altered the race more than I expected. I couldn’t see the [Race Ranger] light with my head down in aero and I found it hard to slow down enough when passed without putting anyone behind me in my draft and forcing them by.”

Marc, Jackson, David, and Nick

Not everyone there had a bib number. Annie and Lisa fully committed to support crew duties, with Lisa especially taking her job seriously enough that reports came in of her cheering like crazy from the top of a hill, the exact place where athletes are most vulnerable to both encouragement and existential questioning.

And finally, we have to address the incident.

Picture intentionally blurry so it doesn’t end up on FootFinder.

Despite Nicole very clearly warning everyone about the famous Oceanside stingrays (based on personal experience) and specifically recommending the stingray shuffle, Jackson ignored this advice and got stung anyway two days before the race. Luckily, it didn’t go too deep and no barbs were left behind!

All in all, it was a very RTS kind of day: front-pack swims, smart racing, comeback stories, strong debuts, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.

Oh, and a little bit o’ dancing.

Put a finger in the air if you love RTS and aren’t planning a wedding!

Oceanside 70.3 YouTube

RTS Custom Bambu Werx Store

For your feet and for your head, our friends at Bambu Werx have socks and hats for you!

“How to Avoid Common Mistakes that Ruin Races” is the Next Webinar for RTS Community Members

The next webinar for our RTS Racing Community is Thursday, April 23rd at 5pm PT / 6pm MT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET and it’s covering how to prevent common pitfalls that can derail a race.

Join RTS Racing to get the invite to our webinars - you’ll also be entered for big giveaways, insider discounts, group chat access, pod shout-outs, and merch perks!

Where You Can Find Us

The Real Triathlon Podcast

Recent episodes of the Real Triathlon Podcast:

• April 8: Motivation is a Lie - How to Train on Your Worst Days on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Editor note: I reallllly enjoyed the honesty here - this is evergreen advice on a podcast worth saving and listening to more than once!

• April 2: Oceanside Showdown — Stingrays, Draft Zones, and a Chaotic Bike Course on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

• March 26: Oceanside 70.3 Countdown on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

• March 9: Ben Kanute on Power Myths, Race Chaos, and Why Pros Need to Stop Making Excuses on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

Partner Discounts & Webinars

Join RTS Racing for all-access to the discount codes and monthly webinars!

That's all! Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up for our newsletter!

Need a coach? Check out EndureAll Coaching!

Some teams take themselves very seriously. We prefer to think of ourselves as somewhere between a space program and an art project.

Our Zoot race suits have been astronaut-inspired since last year. A little nod to embracing the journey, a little nod to the idea that showing up to a start line should feel like a launch sequence. When you zip into the P1X, it’s hard not to feel like you’re on a mission, that you’re not surrounded by RTS Teammates on their own journey to commit to the wave, go full send, and earn the calm that comes later.

Minttu, Marc, Emma, Liz, Jackson, Nick, David, and others have already put the P1X through its paces this year, proving two important things:

1. The Zoot kits are race ready, with ultralight, ventilated, seamless, fast-drying material and a wind tunnel-tested fit.

2. Astronaut energy improves performance and style. You can have both!

Meanwhile, the new Zoot bike and run kits bring a new design this year. The watercolor designs look both fast and artistic; less “corporate team uniform” and more “someone who trains hard but also appreciates good design.”

It’s a fun contrast: space-inspired race suits for when it’s time to go to work, and creative, watercolor-style bike kits for the long miles that get us there.

The collection is performance-driven and full of personality, what better way to describe RTS itself? It’s got just enough space-program inspiration to reflect how seriously we take training, paired with run and bike apparel that balances focus with creative watercolor designs. The bike kits are available in both black and white, so everyone can choose their version of fast. 🚀

Your support of the Zoot store and every RTS kit we see out on course reminds us why we do this. Thanks for being part of the mission. To the moon!

Go one more…taco

In this issue:

• Cozumel Camp

• Get to Know the Pro

• RTS Racing

• Where You Can Find Us

• RTS Podcast Highlights

But first! A Limited Run of the Oversized RTS Hoodie!

Oversized and pigment-dyed, this super cozy RTS hoodie is perfect for travel and available for pre-order for a very limited run - don’t wait, jump on this!

Oversized RTS & Chill Hoodie - Pre- Sale

Delivery Late March 2026 We wanted to travel in style, relax casually and enjoy the RTS vibe wherever you feel you need the warmth. Stand out, represent and get in on this LIMITED run. Streetwear elevated...introducing the Urban Pullover Hoodie. Pair with the Urban Joggers, for a fresh all day uniform. At 10 oz, this h

realtrisquad.myshopify.com/products/oversized-rts-chill-hoodie-pre-sale

Cozumel Camp: Second Winds and Sunsweats

The third year of the RTS camp in Cozumel, Mexico brought 24 campers (plus 4 significant others and 2 children!), 10 of which were camp first-timers, to make lasting memories, matching tanlines, and endless references to “threshold farming.” 😝

Hundreds of tacos fueled a dozen training sessions across 7 days and 6 nights on the island last month. Six epic group dinners preceded 4 insightful presentations with an equal amount of fully sagged rides.

If camp had one defining smell, as Annie Fuller put it, it was tacos. But if it had a defining feeling, it was the motivation of a shared effort, the kind that builds over miles, speedbumps, and random rain showers until you realize you’re part of something bigger than your own training plan.

We love a poolside (coffee) drink!

For Mike Olson, that momentum started in the pool. “Practicing kick sets is something I typically skip,” he admitted. But after learning how to kick properly, he hasn’t skipped one since returning home. Camp, he said, “is an experience that jump starts your season on the best note possible. It energizes your body and prepares you mentally for the work ahead. Camp shows you where you can improve with all aspects of triathlon.” What began as a new focus in the water became a shift in approach.

On the bike, the standard was just as high. Caleb Judd remarked “I came to camp thinking I’d only be able to sit in the group, but I left thinking I was a lot stronger than I thought and I could push at the front.” Michelle Lanouette reflected, “I’ve done a lot of group rides, but not with the caliber of athletes that I rode with at camp.”

Will they return dry and parched or wet and…also parched?

Will Denis, attending his third camp (the most of any non-pro; someone get this man a punch card!), expected to hear ideas familiar to years past in Nicole’s talk. One idea reframed everything: mental fatigue doesn’t come from hard work; it comes from too many low-value decisions. “You don’t need better time management, you need fewer decisions.” It was advice for training, sure, but also for work, family, and the quiet mental clutter that drains performance long before intervals begin.

But campers enjoyed more than the shop talk about watts, splits, and mental frameworks. They soaked in the in-between moments along with the mocktails and PF&H (and tequila!)

Three hours into a four-hour ride, Dominika Jamnicky and her group stopped at the beach for coconuts. They laughed, sang, and somehow found extra energy for the miles ahead. “It felt light and almost silly at the time,” she said, “but it captured what camp was about for me: shared effort, new friendships, and making the hard work feel fun together.”

A couple of nut jobs taking a break 🤣 

While Nick's party playlist ran and the sun was setting, Lisa and Annie warmed up the dance floor. Many followed, sunburnt, tired, and fully alive. At the time, it felt like just another joyful moment for Shyanne McGregor. Looking back, she realized it marked something deeper: the visible proof of friendships formed through shared suffering. “What makes this team special is the people in it.”

Carter Wehrer noticed it not while belting Taylor Swift and Nelly lyrics with others on the boat, but in conversations between sessions. Different stories, same themes: injuries, setbacks, doubt, and over-ambition. The realization that we often think we’re alone in navigating obstacles, when in reality, we’re mostly battling the same obstacles. “It’s rare that you can take 30 people from all across North America, put them in the same place, and it feels like they’ve been lifelong friends.”

Boat hair, don't care, we're used to swim caps, helmets, and hats anyway

And that’s why Scott Parkinson summed it up best. He arrived hoping it would be as great as the year before. He left calling it his favorite vacation of the year…again!

But more than anything, it was a week that reminded everyone that through training, conversation, and shared effort and ceviche platters, that progress is lighter, and far more powerful, when you don’t do it alone.

Get to Know the Pro: Marc Dubrick

RTS Racing is Live

Join RTS Racing and thrive with the team all year long - it’s where you can find the discount and webinar info too!

Just $100/year = nonstop perks:

• HUGE giveaways (frames, wheels, shoes & more)

• Members-only webinars + Q&A

• Insider partner discounts

• Access to exclusive WhatsApp group

• Shout-outs on the pod

• RTS merch discounts & random swag drops

• *We are NOT exclusive, so please feel free to join even if you are part of other clubs or teams!

Where You Can Find Us

The Real Triathlon Podcast

Recent episodes of the Real Triathlon Podcast:

• February 5: 20 Meter Draft Zone, Hip Surgeries & Parasites | Bike Fitting Episode 3: Shorter Cranks, Custom Bikes, Bike Fit As We Age on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

• February 12: Riding The TT Bike Again is Hard….WHYYY??? on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

• February 26: How to Lock in On Your Training for Spring Races on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

Partner Discounts & Webinars

Join RTS Racing for all-access to the discount codes and monthly webinars!

Thanks for getting this far! Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up for our newsletter!

Need a coach? Check out EndureAll Coaching!

On Thursday 26th February at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, 6pm MT and 5pm PT we are going to talk about the swim. January was all about strength and kicking the season off the right way. This month we are going to dial in the swim.

• How much swimming should you be doing?

• What do most of us get wrong?

• What are the fundamentals that we all need to be thinking about?

Join us for a fun and informative chat.

You must pre-register for this event using the button below so you can get the link to join the Zoom.

This will be live on Zoom

Thursday February 26th 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT

Are you a squad member?

Yes we have pros, Yes we have an elite age group squad, and now Yes we have an age group squad for everyone!

RTS Racing has officially launched. Just $100 for the year and you can be a REAL part of what we do.

Members will be eligible for some awesome giveaways (framesets, wetsuits and more…) early camp access, chat groups, webinars, meet ups etc.

This is a non-exclusive membership, so you can race for another team and still be a part of our amazing community.

Being a part of this team helps support us, and enables us to keep doing what we do. While connecting us with you on a deeper level.

We REALLY enjoy the journey that we are on, and we want you to be a part of it too.

Without a doubt the most fun team in triathlon (and OK maybe we are enjoying AI image creation a little too much)

Use code REALTRI15 at The Feed for 15% off our new partner Pillar Performance

On Thursday 29th January at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, 6pm MT and 5pm PT we will all get together for a January kick off meeting. Get the low down on what we will be up to this year and what changes have been made.

We are going to talk to you about how you can plan your year the right way and to help with that we will have a chat with strength and conditioning coach Sammy Blackman. Sammy is one of our Endure All coaches and he’s going to talk us through some essential strength work to help you stay strong, injury free and race fit in 2026.

You must pre-register for this event using the button below so you can get the link to join the Zoom.

This will be live on Zoom

Thursday January 29th 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT

Save the date:

RTS swim camp in Saint George

Did you miss the Cozumel camp? Don’t worry. We will be hosting a swim camp in Saint George on February 12th-16th. We will host indoor group swims, video analysis, drills and fun.

Utah Tech Facility - St. George swim camp

On Thursday 29th January at 8pm ET, 7pm CT, 6pm MT and 5pm PT we will all get together for a January kick off meeting. Get the low down on what we will be up to this year and what changes have been made.

We are going to talk to you about how you can plan your year the right way and to help with that we will have a chat with strength and conditioning coach Sammy Blackman. Sammy is one of our Endure All coaches and he’s going to talk us through some essential strength work to help you stay strong, injury free and race fit in 2026.

You must pre-register for this event using the button below so you can get the link to join the Zoom.

This will be live on Zoom

Thursday January 29th 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT

Save the date:

RTS swim camp in Saint George

Did you miss the Cozumel camp? Don’t worry. We will be hosting a swim camp in Saint George on February 12th-16th. We will host indoor group swims, video analysis, drills and fun.

Utah Tech Facility - St. George swim camp

Paul of The Balanced Runner has had great success with everyday and world-class runners by providing subtle, yet transformational, cues. Join us tonight to talk about how to refine run technique, prevent injuries, and run faster this Thursday, November 20, at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 6pm MT / 5pm PT.

You must pre-register for this event using the button below so you can get the link to join the Zoom!

This will be live on Zoom tonight!

Thursday November 20 at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT

RTS Custom Zoot Store

The RTS custom Zoot store closes this Saturday!

Instagram post

Zoot kit IRL!

You may know him from his Instagram because of running, but the Melbourne-based technique coach is a former semi-professional hockey player. Paul of The Balanced Runner will join us to talk about how to refine our run technique, prevent injuries, and look more pro this Thursday, November 20, at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 6pm MT / 5pm PT.

You must pre-register for this event using the button below so you can get the link to join the Zoom!

This will be live on Zoom

Thursday November 20 at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT

RTS Custom Zoot Store

Going to Cozumel Camp or just want something to keep in your pain cave when you need inspiration for your trainer session? Order from the Zoot store by Friday, November 22!

Zoot kit in the wild!!

Photo by Zoot

In this issue:

• Women’s IRONMAN World Championships in Kona

• IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Marbella

• The RTS Zoot Store is Open!!

• Cozumel Camp

• RTS Racing Community

• Where You Can Find Us

• RTS Podcast Highlights

Literal Goats at the Women’s IRONMAN World Championships in Kona

We’re not talking about Jan and Daniela, but rather actual goats that RTSx athlete Natalie Stewart had to stop for on the Queen K! “I would have hit them otherwise,” she says. She didn’t hit any goats, but she did hit some warm, carb-loaded water as hard as possible while the heat was beating down on her. She offered extra gels when a hard-charging Savanah Gibbs came by, who obliged. “What a gem! 💎”, Savanah extolled.

Savanah would later have a rollercoaster of the day, which came to a head when her face and hands started to tingle at mile 22. Would she finish? Read the full RTS Kona blog here!

Savanah battled strong winds and oppressive heat in Kona

Chicago is an unlikely place to train for Kona, which is why Colleen Krob née Baker “raced with logic.” The heat and strong winds (being a smol person especially) led her to ride conservatively and keep it smart, which paid dividends during the run. Miss consistency passed “over 40 women” on the run - but did she finish sub-11 hours? Read the full RTS Kona blog here!

How many carbs/hour did the RTSx women take in? How’d they get through their lowest points, and what was their first post-race “real” food? Read the full RTS Kona blog here!

Instagram post

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships

Lisa Becharas and Jackson Laundry increased their hot coffee intake by 300% while in Spain to power them to 27th and 44th place finishes, respectively, in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Marbella, Spain this past weekend.

Lisa runs straight into offseason! Photo by Mark Goddard

There was a sign of relief from the men’s pro field when Marc Dubrick announced through a picture of rice-for-breakfast that he would have to withdraw from the race. The pyrotechnician set off one fewer firework at the swim start and the ashes of Marc’s colored swimcap are floating in the Puerto Banús alongside some other…materials. We wish him a fast-healing tummy and rapid recovery so he can race the T100 Dubai this weekend!

Pro poses on the promontory. Photo by Zoot

Lisa and Jackson compare notes at their experience in Marbella, Spain:

RTS Custom Zoot Store

Get what you need for Cozumel Camp or something to keep in your pain cave when you need inspiration for your trainer session!!

All of this and more are for sale in the RTS Custom Zoot Store!

RTS Cozumel Camp - 2nd Call!

We’re returning to the island of Cozumel for the third time in our annual camp. Don’t miss the fun, Z2 training (seriously, it’s January), info sessions, and a chance to get in volume with friends at an all-inclusive resort while everyone else is lamenting about the winter!

Camp Details

• Dates: January 12 - January 19, 2026

• Location: A high-end, all-inclusive hotel in Cozumel, Mexico.

• What's Included: Training with RTS Pro Athletes, educational seminars, all meals and drinks at the resort, pool rentals, and group taxis to and from pools. RTS will also cover mechanical support on rides and professional photographers.

• Family-Friendly: The camp is designed for athletes and their families. Kids from 0-11 years old stay for free when sharing a room with their parents (one child per adult). Special rates can be negotiated for family and friends who wish to attend but not participate in the camp.

Pricing

• Single Occupancy: For one person, the cost is $2,950.00 USD.

• Double Occupancy: For two people, the cost is $4,200.00 USD (which comes out to $2,100.00 per person). This option is for roommates or couples. If you're opting for a roommate, one will be paired with you.

The combination of professional training, relaxation, and a family-friendly atmosphere makes this a unique and appealing experience. You can focus on your training while knowing your loved ones are enjoying a top-tier vacation.

(NEW!) RTS Racing

Join RTS Racing and thrive with the team all year long.

Just $100/year = nonstop perks:

• HUGE giveaways (frames, wheels, shoes & more)

• Members-only webinars + Q&A

• Insider partner discounts

• Shout-outs on the pod

• RTS merch discounts & random swag drops

• *We are NOT exclusive, so please feel free to join even if you are part of other clubs or teams!

Where You Can Find Us

What Saved Jackson and Marc 4 Watts in the Wind Tunnel?

You’ll have to watch to find out! Just kidding - no clickbait here. It was the Zoot P1X, which you can order in our custom Zoot store by November 22!

The Real Triathlon Podcast

Recent episodes of the Real Triathlon Podcast:

• October 18: Kona Is The Bastion Of Our Sport And ONLYFANS Sponsorship???? on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

• October 26: Should We Adjust Our Race Mindset? Plus Is Garrick Retiring and Nicole Injured? on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

• October 30: Jackson Laundry Breaks Down The IRONMAN 70.3 Worlds Course + Norwegian Vibes on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

• November 5: Healing a Broken Femur with Scott Tindal Co-Founder of Fuelin on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube

• November 8: Triathlon Truth Bombs: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same on Spotify and Apple

Partner Discounts

Support our partners who make our work possible!

That's all! Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up for our newsletter!

Need a coach? Check out EndureAll Coaching!

Savanah staying in aero despite the strong winds on the bike 

Literal Goats at the Women’s IRONMAN World Championships in Kona

We’re not talking about Jan and Daniela, but rather actual goats that RTSx athlete Natalie Stewart had to stop for on the Queen K! “I would have hit them otherwise,” she says. She didn’t hit any goats, but she did hit some warm, carb-loaded water as hard as possible while the heat was beating down on her.

Natalie stayed as strong as the heat would allow on the bike. “The bike cost me more than I had planned. I did a century a few weeks ago with a NP 30W higher than I put out for the race. I needed to stay on my nutrition more and should have grabbed gels from the aid station.”

Natalie calls out her aquaforlorn mishap

Adjusting to the conditions paid off in the run, however. “Coming out of the energy lab, I passed many people beginning to walk or just letting up hard. While I would have loved to go faster, I had just gotten over a months long hip injury so wasn’t able to hit my beginning of the year goals on the run.”

Natalie runs a solid marathon to finish her 3rd Ironman ever!

Taking it back to the bike for a second; Natalie offered extra gels when a hard-charging Savanah Gibbs came by, who obliged. “What a gem! 💎”, Savanah extolled. Natalie reigned it in on the bike to have a strong run to cap off a race where she PR’d the swim(!) “This was my third full distance race, but since the swim was cancelled at Chatty last year, I only have my swim time from IM Texas.”

Instagram post

Nothing can reverse a launched bottle with 400g carbs in it 😭, even though battling strong winds and fearless descending from Hawi were high points for Savanah. “The strong winds were so brutal mentally but they also played to my advantage. A lot of athletes were out of their aero bars and I was able to stay in the majority of the ride. Getting out of your aero bars on that bike course will cause you to bleed time very quickly.”

Savanah is hair goals 😍 

“Thoughts of not finishing were in and out starting on the bike,” but the run is where things really went sideways. “Around mile 5, my stomach started churning and I had my first porta potty stop at mile 6.” She proceeded to stop at 7 more porta potties amongst vomiting and getting the chills.

Being carried away from the finish line by volunteers wasn’t the ending she imagined, but it showed a deeper kind of strength - the reason we call her “Savage” in the first place: she finishes the races that try to break her.

Savanah in the BlueSeventy swimskin

Chicago is an unlikely place to train for Kona, which is why Colleen Krob née Baker “raced with logic.”

“Sitting in the hot tub/ sauna helped, but I do not think anything but spending time in Kona for a couple of weeks prior to race day would be the best way to go about it. The heat really affected my power on the bike and pacing on the run. No need to be a hero or try to break PRs- just keep it smart out there.”

Colleen with everyone’s triathlon uncle, Bob Babbitt

The heat and strong winds (being a smol person especially) led her to ride conservatively and keep it smart, which paid dividends during the run. Miss consistency passed “over 40 women” on the run and had a sub-11 hour finish.

It’s hard to believe that Colleen didn’t look at her watch once during the entire race! Why is that? She says, “1) because it was coated in sunscreen and 2) because I knew that looking at the time was irrelevant. I was out there to enjoy the experience and to see how well I could do while feeling good out there.”

Colleen passed over 40(!) women during the run!

Comparing carbs, lows, and post-race food:

Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up for our newsletter!

Need a coach? Check out EndureAll Coaching!

This is how we “Zoot”

This will be live on Zoom

Thursday 23rd October at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT

Learn more about Zoot Sports

Zoot Sports

Zoot is the leading triathlon sports brand, providing quality triathlon, running, and cycle apparel and wetsuits.

zootsports.com

This will be live on Zoom

Thursday 25th September at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT

Learn more about Dare 2 Tri and Victory Lap

Dare2tri - Home

Dare2tri, an Illinois-based non-for-profit organization, enhances the lives of individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments by building confidence, community, health, and wellness through swimming, biking, and running.

dare2tri.org

Learn more about Adam Popp

Adam Popp

Discover Adam's inspiring journey from combat veteran to ultramarathoner and Paratriathlete. Learn how he empowers others to overcome adversity and achieve their goals through mentorship and advocacy

adampopp.com

This will be live on Zoom

Thursday 25th September at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT

Learn more about Dare 2 Tri and Victory Lap

Dare2tri - Home

Dare2tri, an Illinois-based non-for-profit organization, enhances the lives of individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments by building confidence, community, health, and wellness through swimming, biking, and running.

dare2tri.org

Learn more about Adam Popp

Adam Popp

Discover Adam's inspiring journey from combat veteran to ultramarathoner and Paratriathlete. Learn how he empowers others to overcome adversity and achieve their goals through mentorship and advocacy

adampopp.com

The RTS Fam at the IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz

In this issue:

• IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville & Santa Cruz

• Cozumel Camp

• A new RTS Community, RTS Racing

• An RTS Exclusive Chat with Adam Popp

• Where You Can Find Us

• Femur Fails

• RTS Media of the Month

• RTS Podcast Highlights

IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville

Dominika Yamnicky ended up in a wheelchair in an effort to fend off a hard-charging Jeanni Metzler, former World 70.3 Champs runner-up, for the podium at the IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville. Placing 4th “just 3 seconds shy of the podium definitely stings, but it also lights the fire,” Dominika said after the race. With temps in the high 80s with 80% humidity, the run was “all about survival tactics: ice, sponges, water every chance I could get.”

Alex Frank placed 17th pro on the men’s side.

Liz Licea, 16th, and Dominika, 4th, at 70.3 Lou-sizzle

IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz

Andy Krueger “loved the light-up disco buoys” at the IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz…or shall we say Sand-a Cruz after the athletes were sent running on beach-like surfaces during the run course! He went on to place 7th, Jackson Laundry placed 6th, and Lisa Becharas (who led off the bike!) placed 5th.

Here’s what our squad thought about the IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz and what they’d have a well-trained parrot do for them:

RTS Cozumel Camp

We’re returning to the island of Cozumel for the third time in our annual camp. Don’t miss the fun, Z2 training (seriously, it’s January), info sessions, and a chance to get in volume with friends at an all-inclusive resort while everyone else is lamenting about the winter!

Camp Details

• Dates: January 12 - January 19, 2026

• Location: A high-end, all-inclusive hotel in Cozumel, Mexico.

• What's Included: Training with RTS Pro Athletes, educational seminars, all meals and drinks at the resort, pool rentals, and group taxis to and from pools. RTS will also cover mechanical support on rides and professional photographers.

• Family-Friendly: The camp is designed for athletes and their families. Kids from 0-11 years old stay for free when sharing a room with their parents (one child per adult). Special rates can be negotiated for family and friends who wish to attend but not participate in the camp.

Pricing

• Single Occupancy: For one person, the cost is $2,950.00 USD.

• Double Occupancy: For two people, the cost is $4,200.00 USD (which comes out to $2,100.00 per person). This option is for roommates or couples. If you're opting for a roommate, one will be paired with you.

The combination of professional training, relaxation, and a family-friendly atmosphere makes this a unique and appealing experience. You can focus on your training while knowing your loved ones are enjoying a top-tier vacation.

(NEW!) RTS Racing

Join RTS Racing and thrive with the team all year long.

Just $100/year = nonstop perks:

• HUGE giveaways (frames, wheels, shoes & more)

• Members-only webinars + Q&A

• Insider partner discounts

• Shout-outs on the pod

• RTS merch discounts & random swag drops

An RTS Exclusive Chat

With Master’s Degrees in Rehabilitation and Clinical Counseling and Sport & Performance Psychology, Adam Popp is a mental performance coach, eight-time Guinness World Record holder, and has completed 5 100-Mile Races (which is five more than all of the RTS Pros combined 😉)…while being an above-the-knee amputee.

Join us as on Thursday, September 25th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT, as he specializes in igniting “inspiration and encourages others to transcend challenges in order to unlock their full potential.”

Where You Can Find Us

Femur Fails

Our crash course champion Nick Chase fully fractured his femur during a bike ride, and Marc Dubrick is healing from an upper femoral stress reaction.

More on Nick’s Injury:

More on Marc’s Injury:

RTS Media of the Month

We had a photo shoot in the French Riviera to showcase our podium picks for the Men’s IRONMAN World Championships in Nice, France! (📷️credit to Lisa Becharas for the stunning editing!) (And good luck to RTSx athlete Levin Veale tomorrow!)

Instagram post

The Real Triathlon Podcast

Recent episodes of the Real Triathlon Podcast:

• August 3: Hipocalypse Now: Jackson's Injury Crisis, Roth Drafting DATA, & the Pursuit of Breast Milk on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• August 9: Race Ranger: Changing The Game In Triathlon And Ending The Wheel Sucking on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• August 17: Ripping on Marc and Not So Rapid Fire Questions on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• August 25: A Conversation About Doping on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• September 2: Triathlon Injury Update: Nick Chase's Setback + Training Insights for Santa Cruz & Marbella 70.3 Worlds on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• September 10: Coffee Enemas?! The Real Tri Squad Plays Pass or Smash (Triathlon Edition) on Apple and Spotify

Partner Discounts

Support our partners who make our work possible!

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Need a coach? Check out EndureAll Coaching!

The RTS Fam at the T100 Vancouver

In this issue:

• Custom Zoot Store Closes TONIGHT at 8PM ET!

• T100 Vancouver Quadruplayers

• Two iconic fulls: Challenge Roth & IRONMAN Lake Placid

• An RTS Exclusive Chat with Enve

• Where You Can Find Us & Boise Ice Cream Meetup

• RTS Media of the Month

• RTS Podcast Highlights

Custom Zoot Store - Black & Gold - Closes Tonight at 8PM ET!

The custom Zoot store - Black & Gold Edition - closes tonight at 8PM ET/7PM CT/6PM MT/5PM PT!

Nick, Jackson, Cassie, and Mike look bonkers good in the Black & Gold kits

RTS Sends Quadruplayers to T100 Vancouver

The people demand a quad box, but what about the quad boss of a group that showed up representing the Real Tri Squad at the T100 Vancouver race?! Lisa, Dominika, Marc, and Jackson all had different days (well, they’re four different people!) on June 14th.

It was Lisa Becharas’s 5th race in 37 days in pursuit of securing wedding funds, yet she still declined to entertain the idea of a full Ironman. “I’ll send myself into kidney failure!” she says.

Lisa was fueled by Tim Hortons at the Vancouver

Dominika, who DNF’d on a tough day, was surprised by how fast the weekend flew by at her first T100 race. “The whole weekend is on from the get go. The pacing, the structure, the excitement. I felt like royalty the way we get taken care of. I’m grateful for the experience and hope to redeem myself in the future!”

Marc Dubrick was happy with a “real swim unlike San Francisco.” He was 2nd out of the swim (by 5 seconds) and had a solid bike and run to finish 12th. Anyone watching the run would’ve seen Marc going the opposite way, then Jackson Laundry entering the frame just 10-20 seconds later. Jackson, who had rode solo, says, “Marc passed me right at the end of the first lap. He said “stay strong” which for some reason motivated me to try to stay with him, I guess I thought he was assuming I couldn’t run with him (which happened to be right).” Check out this YouTube clip or look below to see the intra-squad chase!

All 18 of you voters like the short-form Q&A, so we’re keeping it going!

Two Iconic Fulls: Challenge Roth and IRONMAN Lake Placid

Two iconic fulls two weeks apart started with Nicholas Chase & Garrick Loewen in Roth. They placed 26th and NB (nicht beendet, or DNF) and when asked for comment, referred to this video recap:

A fortnight later in the homeland, Andy Krueger, Nicole Falcaro, and Amanda Macuiba placed 13th, 16th, and 24th, respectively, on a wet, tough day at IRONMAN Lake Placid. Nicole earned a Kona slot but turned it down due to being 2 for 2 in genuinely not enjoying the full IRONMAN experience. “The thought of recovering and rebuilding for another race in less than three months didn't feel right in my heart nor body,” she writes on her Instagram. Nicole will be back to racing 70.3s with the squad once she recovers! Full results here.

Nicole, Amanda, and RTSx Pablo Casuso at 5:05am race morning!

Mile 2, when things were still smiley for Nicole.

An RTS Exclusive Chat

We’re inviting Enve Composites on Thursday, August 14th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT to talk about:

• Tires and tube(less)

• How the right wheel and tire selection can transform your racing

• Expert insights on the latest in tire tech

Where You Can Find Us

IRONMAN 70.3 Boise Ice Cream Meetup

The STIL has unique ice cream flavors to suit every palate - vegan, boozy, and plain ol’ vanilla. Meet us at 786 W Broad St (0.3 miles from the finish!) at 2:30pm MT post-race!

Marc won’t be in Boise, but he LOVES vanilla ice cream.

RTS Media of the Month

Lesley Smith and Lisa Becharas won the “blonde ladies of Colorado over 30” division at the FOCO Fondo over the weekend! (Just kidding, they placed in the top two!)

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The Real Triathlon Podcast

Recent episodes of the Real Triathlon Podcast:

• June 12: Racing Fog, Flat Roads, and Fairness: Garrick & Nicole Recap Eagleman 70.3 on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• June 20: Draft Zones, Burnout, and Back-to-Back Racing: Inside the Realities of Pro Tri Life on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• June 27: Challenge Roth is Coming! on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• July 5: Challenge Roth is HERE! on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• July 10: Nick Crushes Challenge ROTH!!! on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• July 17: Ironman Journeys: Nicole Falcaro's Lake Placid Prep & Marc Dubrick's Injury on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

Partner Discounts

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Need a coach? Check out EndureAll Coaching!

The RTS Squad at Eagleman

In this issue:

• Eagleman 70.3

• T100 San Francisco and IM Brazil

• An RTS Exclusive Chat with Addra

• Where You Can Find Us

• Poll Results: Cash ‘Stache is King

• (New!) RTS Media of the Month

• RTS Podcast Highlights

Eaglemania Prompts Rule Change Demands for the Pro Field

“Probably a bike PR, but […] Alice Alberts and I got pulled along by two pro men the whole bike. I hope IRONMAN is paying attention and we have some rule changes, e.g. a 10-minute gap between pro men and women, a 20m draft rule, and/or a rule where if you’re [a male pro who is] passed by a pro female on the bike, your day should be over!” - Lisa Becharas

Lisa and Jackson are careful not to mix up 5th place plaques at the Eagleman awards ceremony.

To continue her North American tour, Lisa Becharas did her third race in 30 days and had the 2nd fastest bike split at the Eagleman 70.3 after towing around some ladies and eventually catching and passing eventual second place finisher Chelsea Sodaro. She hung on to finish 5th, because she wanted to go to another awards party and join Jackson Laundry (and his dad), who also placed 5th!

Lisa cranking after getting" “the sh*t beat outta me at the beginning [of the swim]!”

“I think it was a PB bike split for me by about one minute. Definitely super fast and flat! I have done more power several times, but with the group dynamics, it made the most sense for me to not be always pushing hard at the front.” - Jackson Laundry (We were thrilled to see Jackson clock a 1:14 run split after a 1:18 in Chattanooga - only one more race and he’s back running 1:10s!)

Amanda Macuiba placed 10th, carried by optimism and tired legs from training through to Lake Placid. “On top of moving into a new home in the last two weeks, I knew I was going to be tired but was still optimistic it could go well. I just tried to keep pedaling as best I could manage, and thankfully with a little caffeine I found my legs again on the run.”

More highlights: Greg Harper, a.k.a. Poseidon🧜, led out of the water and would later place 14th; Lauren Courtway in her first pro race in 24th; Garrick Loewen in 21st, belly still full of exotic electrolytes from IM Brazil just 7 days prior😳.

Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, and Dodge at the 100 San Francisco (Ok, mostly diving)

There are so many races to report on, with two of them having a pair of RTS athletes, so we’re doing a side-by-side Q&A for these next two that happened on the same weekend.

Marc enjoys one of the few flat segments of the T100 course. Gif adapted from 📽️ by Daniel Castaneda

Lisa demonstrates a perfect U-Turn. Gif adapted from 📽️ by Daniel Castaneda

On-course peanuts, a next-level expo, and murky rules at IRONMAN Brazil

Meanwhile, many latitudes south and a day later on June 1, Andy Krueger and Garrick Loewen met IRL for the first time after a combined 40 hours in travel each way(!!) to the city of Florianópolis. They finished 11th and 12th place, respectively, and were permitted to leave the country despite never having heard of caipirinhas.

Your 2nd Canadian & 1st American at IM Brazil

An RTS Exclusive Chat

We’re having a talk with Addra Labs this Thursday, June 12th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT to talk about:

• Understand your unique protein needs as an endurance athlete

• Learn the role of leucine, an amino acid, in muscle protein synthesis and why it's crucial for recovery and muscle growth

• Chat about Addra has formulated their bars based on scientific research and athlete feedback to maximize recovery and training adaptation, and performance

Bookmark the Next One!

Sean O’Mahony from Precision Fuel and Hydration will join us on Thursday, July 10th at 8pm ET to talk all things hydration in the peak of summer.

Where You Can Find Us

Poll Results: Who Wore it Better?

Nick won the better ‘stache poll by a landslide, but when you consider the fact that the hundreds of you who didn’t vote because you just couldn’t pick one, he didn’t win by much!

The Real Tri Store

The perennial RTS Store is always open with a new Simple RTS white sock, a bucket hat, and tees! (Heads up: Our 💫custom💫 Zoot store is reopening very soon!)

RTS Media of the Month

The St. George 70.3 VLOG includes the leadup to the final-for-now event, closeups of Jackson’s feet, a tour of Marc’s house-on-wheels, and the race itself:

The Real Triathlon Podcast

Recent episodes of the Real Triathlon Podcast:

• May 19: St. George 70.3 Showdown: Heat, Hustle, & Hilarious Chaos on Apple and Spotify

• May 22: Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga Recap, Project 8 Training Plan & Triathlon Race Strategy Breakdown on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• May 30: Traveling to Races, Dangerous Bike Courses & Lisa’s National TT Champs on YouTube

• June 6: Eagleman, T100 Chaos, and Too-Early Kona Predictions on Apple and Spotify

Partner Discounts

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Need a coach? Check out EndureAll Coaching!

In this issue:

• St. George 70.3 Special

• An RTS exclusive chat with Rythm Health

It’s Not Goodbye, it’s See Ya Later for the IRONMAN 70.3 St. George

The Real Tri Squad saw more plaque than a dentist on Saturday, May 10th, where Colin landed the last podium spot in 3rd, Lisa and Jackson got a pair of 7ths, and Nicole and Marc got a pair of 10ths at the North American Championship!

Woody

Before we get to the racing, there were some fun meetup opportunities before the big day. There was a Snow Canyon loop recon ride, an open water swim meetup, and a Chipotle dinner for RTS family and friends.

Nicole, Casey, and David at the top of Snow Canyon

Caleb, Vilis, and Nicole before the Snow Canyon descent

RTS Live: Making Waves at Quail Creek

Nick making tears shed at dinner (or were the tears from the tomatillo red chili salsa?)

Nick, Jackson, and Mark from Zoot conduct a Zoot Bike Course Recon on the IRONMAN Main Stage

Now, onto the racing!

“I was completely on the limit the last few miles. I knew if I made it to the top of the 2nd [run] lap, I had a chance of making it. I knew [Kevin McDowell] was closing, but I also knew I’d regret it if I didn’t fight for every second.” -Colin Szuch, who ended up 3rd, just 20 seconds in front of the next finisher during his “all-in effort.”

Instagram post

“The heat was not bad for the pros. I did feel like on some of the climbs, but overall it was not a huge factor.” -Marc Dubrick, who apparently heat-trained better than the rest of us!

Maybe the first time Marc trying to not be hot.

“Since I was recovering from St. Anthony’s and didn’t realize it would be THAT hot, I ran out of time to prepare for the heat! I was hot 10 miles into the bike, so I had to do my best to manage my effort and body temp the whole race!” -Lisa Becharas

“I was hot the second I got off my bike. I felt like I was trudging the whole run. The initial 1.5 mile uphill will do that to you! I nearly stopped dead coming out of T2 because I was still carrying a water bottle I got at the top of Snow Canyon on the bike. I didn’t have enough hands to put on my bib number, which was silly!” -Nicole Falcaro

“Last year my blips fell out on Telegraph [St.], so getting past that part was a relief. I passed lots of people early on, but after about 40K, I felt a bit off and went through a rough patch, then rallied on Snow Canyon and rode well to the end. The bike was a bit of a roller coaster of emotions 😂” -Jackson Laundry

Jackson on his longest run in 9 weeks ;)

“I did a lot of heat prep before this race. I go to the sauna 3-4 days a week and I honestly didn’t feel like it was hot. I know a lot of athletes complained about the heat, but I think my heat tolerance was perfect. The problem with the dryness is that it destroys your lungs by the end of it. It was a bittersweet end because this was the last race for the foreseeable future here. All the conversations of “I’ll see you next year!” are muted because there is not a next time, so it’d be nice to bring this race back.” -Nicholas Chase

Nick, looking fresh after placing 22nd, couldn’t get enough time on the hot tarmac; he went back out and cheered on the athletes.

An RTS Exclusive Chat THIS THURSDAY with Rythm Health 

Robby Wade from Rythm Health joins us this Thursday, May 22nd at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT to talk about:

• Markers that matter most for performance and health

• The importance of consistently monitoring hormones and metabolic health

Lisa conducts a Rythm blood test

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Need a coach? Check out EndureAll Coaching!

In this issue:

• Return of Happy Feet and all the primes at St. Anthony’s Triathlon

• IRONMAN Texas, Lima 70.3, & XTERRA Weston Park

• An RTS exclusive chat with Rythm Health

• Where You Can Find Us / St George Meetup!!

• Poll: Cash ‘Stache is King

• (New!) RTS Media/Pro Tip of the Month

• RTS Podcast Highlights

Return of Happy Feet with Marc Defending the W; Lisa 2nd at the St. Anthony’s Olympic Distance Triathlon

“Marc led the first half after the most ridiculous starting procedure I’ve ever done.” - Greg Harper

The turn buoy 50 meters into the swim after a shin deep start was an exciting start to the St. Anthony’s Olympic Distance Triathlon on Sunday, April 27, where not only did Greg (who later got 4th!) edge out Marc for the swim prime, but Marc got his second consecutive overall win (blog post)!

While Marc couldn’t quite pull off a mustache, he did pull off a triumphant return after being sidelined with a foot injury, as did Jackson Laundry and Annie Fuller, who placed 8th and 4th, respectively!

Marc the Shark FINishes first

Annie was a big fan of the swim start, however! “They started us in shin-deep water which was great for my long legs. I could actually run for a while so I ended up leading for 100 meters.”

Jackson stunned the field by tying the fastest bike split ever on the course and riding the fastest bike split by 36 seconds on the day. On the run, he “felt stuck at 70.3 effort but managed to hold on for 8th. Great cobweb scraper to get me ready for St. George!”

Annie, Marc, and Jackson all had healthy, happy tootsies at St. Anthony’s Triathlon after battling foot injuries!

Lisa took over the lead on the bike like a Florida gator chomping at the bit and fought to hold off a hard-charging Grace Alexander, who eventually overcame her a mile into the run. “It’s always my most favorite race of the season because of the community and grassroots feel.” With a bike time 1:30 faster than the next fastest woman, Lisa had a great payday between the bike prime and getting 2nd place 🤑!

Lisa scouts the course the day before the race

Dominika Jamnicky (unknowingly) sacrificed a $500 run prime for some high fives! “Not slowing down [the 4 seconds] for finish line high fives could have made the difference but definitely made the race experience,” the 5th place finisher says. (Editor shout-out: Dominika - you would’ve won the T1 prime if there was one!)

Shyanne McGregor escaped cold and windy Minnesota to make this race a lot of firsts: her first ever Olympic distance race, first time racing before May, and first outdoor ride and swim since September. While she had a crash due to a sneaky curb, she finished the race and only has a little road rash left as a souvenir. Colin Szuch did his 27th race of the year to finish 10th. Full results can be found here.

The Lone Star Pros at IRONMAN Texas

The day before the St. Anthony’s Triathlon, racers went 4x as long at IRONMAN Texas. Despite looking the most possibly-from-Texas of anyone on the Real Tri Squad, Garrick Loewen had to pull out at the ~100K mark due to numbness in his leg that prevented him from putting any power down.

Amanda Macuiba was the lone (star) pro from RTS. She got to enjoy the perks of her first pro race: pro porta-potties, more room for bikes in transition, and…a lightning fast swim.

“I’m used to having to climb over people, but in this race it felt like I got dropped immediately (time to improve on that!)”

After placing 14th out of 25 starters (huge W in overcoming nausea that had been an issue in prior races), Amanda satisfied her inner frat bro and had “beers, pizza, and ice cream” to celebrate a lot of hard work post-race.

IRONMAN 70.3 Lima; XTERRA Weston Park

Andy Krueger had a warm for-him, cold-for-Peruvians day at IRONMAN 70.3 Lima and placed 8th. Sam Teller placed top American (okay, only American) in his 19th place finish at XTERRA Weston Park in Weston-under-Lizard, UK (Editor note: I fact-checked this location. Then I fact-checked if ‘fact-check’ has a hyphen. It does. Perfectionism is fun.)

“Training was certainly fairly down this off season…but it was a really amazing experience hanging out with all the other elites in this huge country home. That’s a memory I’ll have forever!” Sam “Telly” says with a British accent he brought home with him😉.

An RTS Exclusive Chat

Marc demonstrates doing a Rythm health test…and how to flex his deltoid

Robby Wade from Rythm Health joins us on Thursday, May 22nd at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT to talk about:

• Markers that matter most for performance and health

• The importance of consistently monitoring hormones and metabolic health

Where You Can Find Us

St. George Pre-Swim Meetup

Some of us are swimming at Quail Creek on Thursday, May 8th at 3pm MT. It is not the site of the St. George 70.3 Swim, so it will be less chaotic! We love the insider tip of our St. George local, Nick Chase.

Thursday, May 8, 3pm

Quail Creek State Park

472 N 5300 W, Hurricane, UT 84737

Don’t let Nicole swim alone! Join her and others!

During the race, we’ll be set up in a tent near 10 Diagonal St on the run course. Swing by and cheer on our RTS athletes!

Poll: Who Wore it Better?

RTS Team Store

The RTS Store is always open with hats, socks, tees, and bottles! (Heads up: Our custom Zoot store is reopening in June!)

RTS Media of the Month / Pro Tip

This month’s media of the month is also the pro tip of the month! Marc discusses how he mixes his rotors with leftovers (and other pro tips!)

Instagram post

The Real Triathlon Podcast

Recent episodes of the Real Triathlon Podcast:

• April 18: IRONMAN Texas and St. Anthony’s Triathlon Showdown on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• May 4: St. Anthony’s & IRONMAN Texas Recaps on YouTube

Partner Discounts

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Need a coach? Check out EndureAll Coaching!

This one meant a lot! Not just because of the result, but because it was my first time defending a title.

Going in, this fitness was a bit of a question mark. It was only my second hard run in the last seven weeks due to two partially torn tendons in my foot. But I kept showing up, focused on what I could do, and trusted the work I was able to put in. The run actually surprised me—in the best way—and reaffirmed that there are multiple ways to get better at running: one is running more, and the other is getting stronger and faster on the swim and bike.

There’s always something to work on. For me lately, that’s been swimming, dialing in the bike, and staying mentally sharp. It all paid off on race day.

Race recap

🏊The swim start was only 50 meters to the first buoy—not ideal, but it worked in my favor if I could get there in a good position. I hit the turn in first and set the pace for the first 600 meters, pushing to force a break. My teammate Greg came around (a little later than expected) and led the rest. I came out second and got on the bike first. Job done.

🚴There are only two spots on the course where you can really gauge time gaps. The first is at mile 5, so I pushed hard until then. Greg and I had a solid gap, with two others about 20 seconds back. That duo eventually bridged up a few miles later. I knew Magnus Männer was motivated, so we rotated 5–10 minute pulls at the front (we averaged 28 mph—so yes, there’s still a benefit even at 12 meters, especially with some headwind). We rode aggressively but smartly, knowing the gap could be decisive. I didn’t hear the split coming into T2, so I made it a priority to get to the 5K U-turn with a gap that would break the others' confidence without crushing myself for the rest of the run. 

🏃I started the run somewhat conservatively, aiming to build into it. I actually felt better than expected and really found my legs around 4K, which helped me lift the pace. Honestly, with so little hard running lately, I expected a crash-and-burn. I saw Matt only about 30 seconds back, and for a moment, I caught myself being okay with the second place. But I snapped out of that quickly and lied about how he could have been hurting as much as I was. Turns out…he was. 31:20 for 10K. Job done.

Marc with his parents post-race

I’m moving out of Tucson this week and heading back to Boulder—with a detour through St. George (still on the fence about racing there…it’s a brutally demanding run course for where I am at now). Either way, I’m excited to keep building on this win, and I will see you guys there!

This past weekend, the Real Tri Squad had Greg and Lisa leading the respective men’s and women’s IRONMAN Pro Series Races - we’ll dive into that. We also have another chat coming up and a St. George 70.3 meetup in the works! By the time the next newsletter comes out, there will be another six big races completed by the RTS.

In this issue:

• Nick’s savage race at IM South Africa

• Lisa, Liz, Colin, Andy, and Greg’s Races at IM 70.3 Oceanside

• An RTS exclusive chat with Greg Harper

• Races you can find us / St George Meetup

• Pro Tip

• (New!) RTS Media of the Month

• Get to Know the Pro, Jackson Laundry edition

• RTS Podcast Highlights

Savage IM South Africa

“Over half the pro field did not finish.”

Nick Chase battled huge waves and currents that would’ve cancelled any race in North America at IRONMAN South Africa on March 30. Still, the chaotic swim conditions left him feeling “very sub-strength on the bike,” but he never had any bonks on the run, which was a “massive win”. A 17th place finish reflects the consistently amazing effort he gave.

“I planned the safari to try to lift the spirits of Matt and Cody since they didn’t have the race experience or finish they invested in…my highlight was seeing the mighty dung beetle and the most kind eyes I have ever seen, which belongs to the elephant.”

“The most kind eyes I have ever seen.” -Nick Chase

Watch more about Nick’s buildup in this video and more buildup in this video!

No Coasting at Oceanside

Ouch!!, epic, dynamic, hard, and demanding: are we describing Hyrox or the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside? LOL it’s definitely the latter.

Lisa, Liz, Colin, Andy and Greg may have been riding along the Pacific Ocean, but there was no coasting happening while they ripped through the naval base at Camp Pendleton on Saturday, April 5th. Sherpa’d by Marc Dubrick and Adam Meredith, the quintet placed 7th (Lisa) and 28th (Liz) in the Women’s race and 11th (Colin), 31st (Andy), and 32nd (Greg) in the men’s race.

Greg leads Oceanside 70.3

Greg Harper had more screen time on Saturday than the average teenager, leading most of the swim and coming out of the water first in 22:48! Lisa Becharas took the lead at mile 46ish of the bike and led the race for the first 2+ miles of the run. The two cheered for each other, or rather Lisa attempted to cheer back but “only had some finger points" in her.

Lisa leading for 12 miles of the race! Photo by Mark Goddard

Colin Szuch sought redemption after a DNF at IM New Zealand. With an 11th place finish, he did just that and cheered for Andy and Greg along the way. He was fired up to have Adam and Marc cheering on course.

Colin thinking about his post-race burger and milkshake. Photo by Mark Goddard

Andy Krueger had a “super fun” time racing with RTS teammates and is going to squeeze in some changes to his bike fit and top end speed before Ironman 70.3 Lima on April 27. With her RTS debut, not only did Liz Licea start out her day great by meeting Lisa before the swim start, but she found a bathroom 20-30 minutes before the start, which is always a good sign!

Andy looking relieved at finding gluten-free pizza for lunch. Photo by Mark Goddard

You’ll find all of these athletes (except Andy, who’ll be in Peru) racing again at IRONMAN 70.3 St George!

An RTS Exclusive Chat

Our Very Own Greg Harper on Wetsuits, Workouts, and Open Water Swimming

Greg demonstrates proper body alignment in a session at camp in Cozumel

You may know him as the guy who dominated the first half hour of the broadcasts of the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 Worlds and Oceanside 70.3 last week when he lead the race out of the water, but we know him as our swim sweetheart. We are bringing our very own Greg Harper on Thursday, April 17th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT to talk about:

• Why your 100m free time matters in the open water

• The top three drills all triathletes should be doing

• That time he raced Michael Phelps

Zoom Details: Meeting ID: 914 1829 1479 Passcode: 372328

Where You Can Find Us

At least 10 pros are signed up for IRONMAN 70.3 St. George, so we will have a meetup the day or two before. We will send out details in our newsletter and on socials as the date gets closer.

Triathlon Trivia Time!

Pro Tip (Essay) of the Month

From Marc Dubrick:

Sometimes there’s no chance for a swim warmup. When that happens, your wetsuit needs to fit perfectly—no mid-swim adjustments, no tight shoulders, just smooth strokes from the gun.

Here’s how I get it right every time.

A shark approaches dry land

1. Know Your Wetsuit - Before Race Day

Swim in your wetsuit 1–2x a month. Open water is ideal, but a pool works too. Get used to how it fits when everything’s firing.

Sometimes the suit is the problem. Sometimes it’s just fatigue. But you won’t know until you’ve tested it outside of race day.

2. Use Landmarks

After a good wetsuit swim, note where the suit hits:

• Ankles: Just above the ankle bone

• Wrists: Watch bump or ulna bone

• Shoulders: Any logos or seams you can consistently line up

For me, my Blue70 Helix sits at the bottom of my calf, and the silver “H” hits right at my deltoid when it’s dialed.

3. Step-by-Step

Legs first:
Pull the legs up to mid-calf. Use socks if needed. Put your timing chip under the suit.

Work it up slowly:
Smooth out wrinkles. No air pockets in the crotch.

Arms next:
Sleeves should sit just behind your wrist bone. Smooth around elbows and shoulders.

Shoulders are key:
Have someone pull the suit up and together behind you before zipping. This makes a huge difference in how your shoulders feel.

4. Final Check

Zip up, do a few arm swings, streamline overhead, and twist your torso. If something feels off—adjust it now. It’s worth the extra minute on land.

In Short: Get familiar with your wetsuit, learn your landmarks, and follow a consistent routine. When you nail the fit, you can skip the warmup and still feel ready to fly.

RTS Team Store

The RTS Store is always open!! Give Lisa some excitement by ordering hats, socks, tees, and bottles!

RTS Media of the Month

Not only did Greg’s leading out of the swim earn him lots of camera time in T1, but Lisa getting some love in T1 was an omen of great things to come!

Get to Know the Pro

Jackson Laundry shares his childhood celebrity crush, his unlikely choice for who would play him in a movie, and what he originally thought he wanted to be when he grew up.

What's your favorite food during a long ride? Granola bars

Who would play you in a movie? Danny Devito

What weird rabbit hole have you gone down on YouTube/Instagram? Dudes catching huge fish in rivers

What's your triathlon super power? Forgetting about the run while I’m on the bike (also a weakness)

What did you want to be when you grew up? Pro hockey player

If you could switch bodies with one person on RTS for a day, who would it be? Any of the women just to gain some perspective (don’t make it weird)

What's your favorite race course? Swim - Oceanside, Bike - St. George, Run - Mont Tremblant

With whom on RTS would you want to stranded on a deserted island? Anyone, RTS has only gems

What's your go-to mantra? Embrace the pain

What's your favorite thing to do after a hard workout? Eat a lot of food and lie on the couch

What was your first job? Hockey Referee

Who on RTS would you appoint to be your personal shopper? Depends if it’s my money being spent or theirs; Nick Chase if it’s not my money; Marc Dubrick if it is.

What's your favorite piece of sponsor equipment that you would pay real dollars for? My Ventum Tempus (Bisaddle a close second)

Who was your childhood celebrity crush? Vanessa Carlton (Editor note: probably because Jackson covers A Thousand Miles weekly!)

♪♫ “If I could fall, off of the boat.” ♪♫

The Real Triathlon Podcast

Recent episodes of the Real Triathlon Podcast:

• March 28: When to Train HARD vs Chill Out - IM South Africa Predictions on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• April 3: Pro Talk: Bread & Butter Workouts on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

• April 10: Lisa’s IRONMAN Oceanside 70.3 Dominance & Nick chats IRONMAN South Africa on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube

Partner Discounts

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