we have a world champion!
Congratulations to our Women’s 65-69 World Champion, Judy McNary!!!
how does nice compare to kona?
2024 marks the second year that Ironman has held a split World Championship, with one race in Nice and one in Kona. How do the two venues compare? Coach Julie provides a comprehensive comparison in this article. For now, here’s the TL;DR version:
The 2023 Ironman World Championship took place in Nice, France, marking the second time the event has moved away from its iconic venue in Kona. The previous shift occurred in 2021 when the event was hosted in St. George due to COVID restrictions. This change has sparked considerable debate among athletes and fans, but the race unfolded in Nice, and as someone who has raced in Kona six times (and also in St. George), I was admittedly skeptical about this transition.
The differences between the two venues offer unique experiences that cater to various preferences. Each location has its own advantages and disadvantages, making it challenging to choose a favorite. Looking ahead, the question remains: will the Ironman World Championship continue to be held in Nice? With only 1,270 female participants this year, sustainability is a pressing concern. If a relocation is considered, it will need to be an extraordinary venue that meets the high standards of a World Championship, as both Kona and Nice possess their own distinct magic.
Initially skeptical, I now believe that Nice truly embodies the essence of a World Championship event, both in its vibrant local atmosphere and the course itself. It’s crucial to recognize that comparing it to Kona is difficult; each offers a unique experience that is hard to replicate. Nice, in particular, has its own special charm and flair that sets it apart from the rest.
what to read / watch / listen to:
Coach Alison:
Watch: “Young Woman and the Sea” (Disney+/Hulu) – If you love swimming, or people chasing big, scary goals, or women proving they are just as strong as men, or just any great sports movie, you absolutely have to watch this one.
Listen to: If you aren’t listening to “Nobody Asked Us with Des & Kara” you are missing out on some fabulous track and field / distance running analysis and commentary. Des Linden and Kara Goucher bring years of experience, insight, and informed opinions into their conversations along with a healthy dose of fun and laughter. I especially enjoyed their Olympics coverage, and thought the perspective they lent to Dakota Lindwurm’s Olympics experience was particularly insightful.
athlete win of the month:
Coach Julie: TWO Athlete Wins - Celebrating Our Champions!
Judy McNary: Judy qualified for the Ironman World Championships at Ironman Arizona with one ambitious goal in mind: to WIN! 🎯 Together, we focused on what it would take to achieve this, analyzing every discipline—swim, bike, run—along with nutrition. Judy was all in, creating note cards that read “Ironman AG World Champion” to keep her mental game strong. She showed unwavering dedication, consistently putting in the work, embracing recovery days even when it was tough, and returning stronger each time. Her commitment to nutrition was top-notch, and she never strayed from her training plan.
Coach Julie believes in setting process goals over outcome goals, so we established specific swim, bike, and run targets. If everything fell into place, an age group win was within reach. Judy was determined—while she wanted the win, she was focused on racing to her potential and leaving it all on the course.
On race day, Judy approached with confidence and patience, and she nailed it! Congratulations to our Ironman Champion in the 65-69 age group!
Tracey Hayes: After her performance at Victoria 70.3, Tracey approached Coach Julie with a desire to elevate her game and qualify for the 70.3 World Championships. Juggling a demanding job as a veteran with long hours, Tracey was ready to tackle the challenge. We identified key workouts for the week, focusing on her biggest area for improvement: cycling. While she loved her road bike, we knew a time trial bike was essential for competing on the big stage—enter the Cervelo P5!
Nutrition was another focus. Tracey committed to increasing her caloric intake to fuel her performance and unlock her full potential.
Race day at Tri Cities 70.3 was a breakthrough moment! Tracey achieved a massive personal record in swim, bike, and run, and for the first time, she found herself on the podium, finishing 4th and earning her ticket to Worlds!
did you know?
Coach Shana: Tire Pressure Calculator
What pressure do you use for your tires? There can be a lot of variables to consider including the type of tire, wheel/rims, and road surface to be ridden. For a quick reference point try the Silca Pro Tire Pressure Calculator.
Consider the pressure guide as a starting point recommendation. Also be sure to not to exceed your specific wheel’s max recommended pressure (such as for hookless rims).
meet a teammate:
Teammate: Stephanie Gianneschi, coached by Coach Alison, resides in Basalt, CO with her husband, Matt, her pup, Honey Bear and Kali the cat (empty-nesters!).
- Favorite race: the one I just finished!
- Walk-out song: Girl on Fire
- 3 Words that family/friends would use to describe you: thoughtful, detail-oriented, caring
- Worst style choice you’ve ever made: a bi- level haircut in the 7th grade. It was like a girl version of a mullet in 1986.
- If you could have an unlimited supply of 1 thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Cookies!