That Triathlon Life Podcast Botox in triathlon, racing injured, and choosing the right time to race a full ironman
Mar 12, 2026
News rounds from LA Marathon, Strade Bianche and Ironman New Zealand kick off lively race analysis. They debate the new 20m draft rule and how it reshapes swim and bike tactics. Practical talk covers timing a jump from a 70.3 to a full Ironman and whether to race while injured. Fun tangents include wetsuit tips for Alcatraz swims, flying mounts, refurbishing old bikes, quick van-friendly meals, and a Botox cycling anecdote.
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Do One Full-Distance Swim Before Your First Sprint
- Minimum swim prep for a sprint: at least one full-distance swim in a pool wearing a wetsuit to confirm you can finish and feel confident in race conditions.
- If swimming feels hard in practice, race adrenaline usually makes race swimming feel easier, so prioritize one rehearsal and wetsuit technique.
Practice Key Sections Not Entire Local Race Routes
- If you live locally to a race, avoid repeatedly riding the full course; instead rehearse tricky segments like the back half and preserve excitement by not over-practicing the entire route.
- Use home-course familiarity for race-day comfort, crowd support, and logistics rather than exhaustive on-course rehearsal.
Don't Base Training Decisions On Strava AI Recaps
- Treat Strava Athlete Intelligence as entertaining but not authoritative; don't change training plans based on its summaries.
- The hosts call it overly positive and sometimes inaccurate, and recommend disabling it if you dislike the AI copy.