July 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

July has been another absolutely jam-packed month of triathlon (and we aren’t even including the Olympics in that!)! As we do our best to do justice to the many exciting and varied race experiences of our athletes, we are moving quite a bit of content onto our BLOG with links to the stories from this Newsletter. We strongly encourage you to follow the links to the hear more of each story!

This month, we particularly want to emphasize the value that we see in striving for big goals, even when we fall a little bit short. We cannot push out the ceiling of what we can do without putting ourselves out there and going for it. That can mean huge rewards when we do achieve great goals. But it can also mean dealing with the difficult (sometimes devastating) emotions of throwing your mind, body and heart into something and failing to achieve your ultimate goal. It’s important to feel all of the ups and downs. But it’s also important to know that, cliché as it can sound, in this sport, it IS the journey that has the most value and it DOES matter that you tried - that is where the long-term value and lifelong memories reside!

In that light, we want to draw particular attention to Domi’s article on missing Paris by one spot HERE!

In this month’s edition:

(Please note: internal links may not work on some platforms (including Gmail). Until we are able to resolve this, simply click “Read Online” in the top right corner of this email to view the online version of the newsletter in which the links should work. Thanks!)

• Feature Story: Nick takes on Challenge Roth! He fell short of his time goal, but came home pretty fired up about this iconic event and hungry for more time to focus in on his training. Hear more about it HERE!

• Our Network: We want to connect! Click HERE for some easy tips on how to stay involved. NEW Don’t miss some extra NOTICE BOARD announcements HERE!

• RTS Pro: Jackson earns his first ever Kona qualification with a strong day at Ironman Lake Placid! Tamara places 6th at T100 London with another fastest run split! Nicole is back in the game at 70.3 Maine. And Garrick has a good day at Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz! Click HERE for more! This is also where you’ll find a summary of RTS Pro results and upcoming races.

• RTSx: After pouring her mind, body and heart into her goal, RTSx’s Domi missed the Paris Olympics by ONE spot in the world rankings. She reflects on the agonizing reality that in sport sometimes we fall just short of hard-fought goals HERE! This is also where you’ll find a summary of RTSx results and upcoming races.

• On the Pod: What’s new on the Real Triathlon Podcast and Real Triathlon Video Podcast? Click HERE!

• Partners and Discounts: Don’t miss the sponsor links and discount codes at the very end of this email to save money on triathlon products used by our pros. Click HERE!

FEATURE STORY

Nick Takes on Challenge Roth

Having raced in Iceland, Patagonia, Switzerland, Austria and almost every possible North American race location in his day, Nick has seen a lot of the long course triathlon circuit. Now he can add Challenge Roth to that list!

On July 7, Nick placed 32nd in the pro men’s division with a time of 8:35:52. Although he missed his goal of racing sub 8 hours, Nick came away energized about the sport.

Here’s what Nick had to say about it:

How did my race go? As much as I wish I could say it went even 90% to plan, I can say having taken 2.5 years away from this distance, I lost a few key strokes of previous success in painting an adequate build at leas on the marathon…I can, however, reflect with a VERY positive manner on the overall love and respect for this experience, and I will be back in 2025. I fell short by 5-10% on each leg, but am overall happy to have fought well, shared so many smiles and represented Real Triathlon Squad which is gaining a world-wide level of recognition.

Read Nick’s full update HERE!

PRO TIP

In the journey of personal and athletic development, there’s always something you can work on. It’s not about being overly positive all the time, but, with practice, it’s about switching to a growth mindset faster.

Whether your career is as a professional athlete or you just have a goal of completing your first triathlon, there will always be setbacks (busy days, sickness, lost bikes, flat tires, weather, traffic, or just ‘it’s been that kind of day’). Focusing on what you can improve rather than what you can’t control is crucial.

Instead of dwelling on the limitations or thinking ‘This just isn’t my day’, redirect your energy to small process goals. My favorite question to ask myself is, ‘At the end of the day, what did I let stand in the way of my goals?’

~ Marc

RTS PRO

KONA, Full-Distance Racing, T100 Joy and Showing Those Stingrays!

Check out the results below from a busy month of pro racing!

Particular highlights included:

Jackson punched his ticket to KONA!! in only his 2nd ever full-distance Ironman by placing 7th in a stacked field at Ironman Lake Placid! Garrick is also making excellent progress in his full-distance racing, succeeding in another strong run split at Ironman Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain (also Spanish post-race ice cream looked excellent!)

Nicole is BACK!!! While she’s still rebuilding her run, we loved seeing photos of her out smiling on the run course at 70.3 Maine after the Stingray-injury odyssey she has had to live through in the first half of this year.

Tamara is also BACK!!! as far as her T100 racing is concerned. After such a tough start at T100 Miami, Tamara placed 6th at T100 London, snagging fastest run split again, and matching the European Open in Ibiza last Spring for her best PTO-event placing to date. She had the smallest time gap to the podium in her PTO racing so far and is getting excited for the rest of the tour!

Read more about their experiences HERE!

Other Results:

• Tamara - 6th T100 London (fastest run split!)

• Nicole - 12th IM 70.3 Maine (finally coming back from that Stingray injury!!)

• Jackson - 7th IM Lake Placid (Kona spot!)

• Nick - 32nd Challenge Roth

• Garrick - 24th IM Vitoria-Gasteiz

Up Next:

• Nick - Break until September racing

• Jackson - Ironman Frankfurt

• Tamara - IM 70.3 Tallinn

• Nicole - IM 70.3 Michigan

• Lisa - Leadville 100km MTB

• Lesley - IM 70.3 Tallinn

• Garrick - IM Canada

• Marc - IM 70.3 Tallinn

RTSx

RTSx’s Domi Reflects on Missing the Paris Olympics by One Spot in the World Rankings

An alternate for the Canadian team at Tokyo, Domi poured her heart into trying to qualify for Paris this Summer, but missed qualification by one place in the World Rankings. If there had been 56 women in the Olympic triathlon last week, Domi would have been there. But there are spots for 55, including New Flag athletes.

Showing her strength, in the midst of her disappointment, Domi hoped right onto the podium, placing 3rd at the inaugural Challenge Cap Quebec on July 21.

Domi’s experience is deeply relatable for most of us in sport, and particularly high-level sport. We have to put ourselves out there to go after big goals, and, sometimes, no matter how talented and hard-working we are, we fall short. But we don’t stay down.

Here’s what Domi had to say about it:

There were moments within my control and others that were not. I reflect on what could have been done differently, recognizing that it ultimately came down to subpar performances when it mattered most this spring. Falling short by such a slim margin is undoubtedly the hardest part to accept.

Currently, I am allowing myself the necessary time to heal. Being with my community and loved ones has been a source of strength. I am grateful to everyone who supported me along this journey. The encouragement and belief have meant everything.

Read Domi’s full reflection HERE!

Other Results:

• Dr Steve Rosinksi - Busy Training

• Flacca Guerrero - 6th AG 70.3 Oregon and a 2025 70.3 WC spot

• Dominika Jamnicky - 3rd at Challenge CAP Quebec

• Batya Beard - Busy Training

• Michael Gannon - Been having a lot of fun gravel racing

• Rachel Mensch - DNS at 70.3 Ecuador due to sickness

• Vant Lammers - 5th at 70.3 Ecuador

• Alexander Frank - Busy Training

• Amanda Macuiba - Busy Training

• Shyanne McGregor - Busy Training

• Sam Teller - 12th at XTERRA Quebec, read a special report here!

Up Next:

• Dominika Jamnicky - TBD

• Ali O’Donnell - Injured :-(

• Colleen Baker - RTS Wisconsin Camp

• Flacca Guerrero - IM Cozumel

• Michael Gannon - TBD

• Rachel Mensch - WI State Road Race

• Vant Lammers - TBD

• Alexander Frank - TBD

• Amanda Macuiba - RTS Wisconsin Camp

• Sam Teller - XTERRA Czech

• Shyanne McGregor - RTS Wisconsin Camp

• Batya Beard - TBD

• Dr Steve Rosinksi - IM Frankfurt

ON THE POD

If you aren’t already listening to the Real Triathlon Podcast hosted by Jackson, Nick and Garrick (with some guest appearances by other team members) - go check it out!

Where to start? Check out Nick’s recent interview with Skye Moench on balancing pregnancy with pro triathlon and about HER new podcast!

Listen HERE!

Or watch the Real Triathlon Video Podcast on our Youtube Channel HERE!

OUR NETWORK

We want to hear your stories! (We REALLY REALLY DO!)

Please always feel welcome to reach out to us at [email protected] with information about where you will be racing and recaps of races to share with our community. And never feel shy to say hello at races! Extra cheers for anyone rocking RTS gear 🙂 

Staying Connected:

Keep track of us and our unique RTS community wherever you do what you do: Strava Club, Zwift Club, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Any questions on Zwift/Strava/FB/AG issues please contact Adam:

[email protected]

PARTNERS AND DISCOUNTS

Zoot - Use Code RTS for 20% off

BlueSeventy - Use Code RTS25 for 25% off

Precision Fuel & Hydration - Use Code TM-RTS15 for 15% off

BiSaddle - Use Code RTS15 for 15% off

FAST TT - Use Code RACECHASE10 for 10% off

Sunwarrior - Use Code RTS2024 for 20% off

Athlete Blood Test - Use Code NicholasChase20 for 15% off

Ventum - Use Code RACECHASE20 for 20% off