The 2025 Ironman Pro Series kicks off in North America on April 5th with Ironman 70.3 Oceanside in Southern California. The event has its challenges because of the weather. The water is cold, the morning starts off chilly and by the time athletes start the run, the weather is perfect. Racing in cooler temperatures presents unique challenges for athletes but with a few adjustments to your fueling, hydration, gear and pacing plan, you can set yourself up for success. 👊
After 19 consecutive years of long distance triathlon, it's crazy to think that I am preparing for my 24th Ironman distance triathlon. 😮 I can tell I'm carrying around a lot of fatigue but if I would have listened to my body (and mind) every day this week, I wouldn't have finished any workout (let alone started the session). Fatigue is an important component of endurance training but it can be a slippery slope. You need to endure challenging workouts and accumulate training stress to optimize fitness but if you push your body too much, you put yourself at risk for getting injured, sick or overtrained. While some athletes are guilty of ignoring noticeable signs that the body is experiencing unexpected fatigue, others are guilty of constantly skipping and modifying sessions during times of good (and needed) fatigue. Are you good at knowing when to push through and when to back off?