oh, i'm not saying that this predicts failure. i'm a big brownlee fan and hope he blasts it.

i'm just saying that i think for elite OD athletes, the big shift to IM isn't really about fitness. the strength and depth in the ITU field is just crazy these days. instead, i think the big shift is the stuff i mentioned.

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https://lshtm.academia.edu/MikeCallaghan

http://howtobeswiss.blogspot.ch/

I'm sorry but you will all have to stop speculating about his motivations for doing this race vs Leeds and Tokyo. Just read what he says about it himself, instead :-)

https://www.thesun.co.uk/...-triathlons-in-2020/

Warning: The Sun is a total shitrag and you might not like some of the other content on the web page.

60F. ??? Scorchio !
We're in shorts and tee shirts at anything about 50F

Sorry for the off topic, but in Newcastle upon Tyne (where I'm from), it has never been recorded above 30°C/86°F ever. It has also been colder than -8°C/17.6°F.
It'll be similar for Leeds. Extreme temperatures aren't our thing!

As for Johnny being the real Ironman in the family, he struggles with the heat just as much. I guess everyone still remembers him being carried over the line by his brother in a hot race.

Lastly, for the people saying you can’t train for lc and sc at the same time, look at kejelcha running fast 1500 and HM within weeks, which arguably is a lot more different than sc and lc

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Give me examples in triathlon of athletes going back and forth between IM and ITU within the same year and it working out really really well.

Even Gomez is giving up LC training for next year and a half to focus on Tokyo prep. I’m guessing he goes back to LC post Tokyo.

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Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II

Macca might disagree - remember his "olympic dream"?//

You mean when he was at the end of his career, well past his sprinting prime?? Listen, you could throw out a whole bunch of names to support your point of view, but it is one person we are talking about here, the greatest sprint triathlete of all time, still within his prime age wise. Mark Allen was able to switch from top sprinter to ironman within the season. As I recall he would take about 4 or 5 months to focus on Kona after a sprint season. He did pretty well. Greg Welch was another that could almost flip a switch from sprint to ironman.


I'm not saying he is going to win Kona, not at all. I just think he can give it a good go, and no one really knows if you are going to be good at that particular venue, until you do it. And sometimes it takes a few starts to know that too. I think Frodo nailed it right away, he just had some bad luck in his first try. Gomez had something going on he needs to figure out, but he got to see what it is all about at least. Maybe it won't be for him, like Lessing, or Spencer, or a lot of world champions that moved up. It will be fun to see if just the distance will suit Ali, without all the Kona variables thrown in. That is kind of the first test, isn't it? Just do 8 hours of solid racing and fueling, with the proper pace, then we can talk about Kona..


I just dont think it is out of the ordinary for him to try this if he chooses, he will be following a long line of great athletes who raced before him. And in his mind, no reason to think that he is any less capable than any of the past champions, in fact, he can believe he can go even further...

Really curious to see how his achilles will not blow up? Especially on long course / marathon.
His achilles have been a problem in the past and I'm wondering how he can maintain his toe running stride.

Umm you need to go back and look at Javiers results.


Oh yes - I considered all of that. Maybe he has not put in the time, and garnered the experience needed to consistently race well at the FULL IM distance.

My point is that, as someone else mentioned, there are WAY more variables involved in the FULL IM.

He is an extraordinary triathlete. What I find odd is that unless you win Kona, you don't get the GOAT moniker - at least here anyway!

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

although he might have been poorly suited to Kona.


With the Kona obsessed, this needs to be addressed, and worth talking about. The Kona course all combined, is very selective. If you don't go well in the heat and humidity. If you can't hold BIG sustained watts on the bike. If you can't swim within x-minutes of the main front pack. You are going to be working behind the 8-ball in Kona!

Of course it's the same for everyone, and there's no secret here. EVERYONE knows what it's like. However, I've often asked this question. Take the top-20 from Kona each year and put them on a cooler weather course or one with some decent climbs on the bike and the run - what would the Top-20 look like in those latter scenarios? How different would it be?

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

The only thing I can see getting in the way is his ability to deal with the heat. He's one of the best swimmers, bikers and runners. Not many top guys can tick all 3 boxes, plus he races with such motivation and aggression. Physically, mentally and strategically he's got it. Against the top LC guys in the world he would win in an Ironman, it just might not be Kona. I'd expect him to finish top 5 in his first Kona, most likely podium, but not sure about the win.

Agree with you. Heat won't be much a problem for him in Ireland.

Maybe the IM WC needs to rotate out of Kona so Brownlee and others have a better shot? just kidding a little

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Indoor Triathlete - I thought I was right, until I realized I was wrong.

Gomez just loves to race. You can see it on his face at every event he takes part in.


I'm with you. Personally, I'd like like someone to beat the Germans in Kona.

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From Yorkshire to Kona part 1

Why? What have you got against "the Germans"?

Because they bombed Pearl Harbor?

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Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”

HA! Good one!

It was the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbour.

Now that Anne Haug is going to Kona there is a good chance Germany will have three or four athletes between the men's and women's podium this year. It will be good to get some different countries into the mix and spice things up. I hope that there will be break through performances from a few athletes and a changing of the guard.

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He who understands the WHY, will understand the HOW.

Pink?

That was the Japanese for one thing and regardless, I'm pretty sure none of those involved in WWII are currently doing triathlon at that level.
As regards holding a grudge against nationalities for past actions by their governments or their representatives, there are plenty other countries arguably as guilty as Germany and Japan, but for most people it all comes down to perspective and which side their country has been on. Britain, USA, Russia, France, Germany, China, Japan, Mongolia, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, and plenty others have all been murdering bastards on a massive scale at one time or another. Most, if not all, have also participated in state sponsored slavery, religious intolerance, racism, drug trading, and more.....
If you're going to hold anyone responsible for the historical crimes of their home country, consider where you stand yourself.

Fat drunk and stupid is no way to go thru life son...

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Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”

Don’t stop me, I’m on a roll...

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Eric Reid AeroFit | Instagram Portfolio
Aerodynamic Retul Bike Fitting

“You are experiencing the criminal coverup of a foreign backed fascist hostile takeover of a mafia shakedown of an authoritarian religious slow motion coup. Persuade people to vote for Democracy.”

Above poster obviously had a 0.0 GPA.

Slowman is about to put you on double secret probation......

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Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II

Definitely some Flounder candidates on this board, that's for sure.

I am always amazed at the number of people who don't get that movie reference, and then give the obvious correction. It should be required viewing.

I don't think there's anything wrong with having friendly rivalries with countries in Sport , in football England Vs Germany/Scotland/Argintina have always been historical rivalries (being English)

Having said that for me it doesn't really translate to individual sports as they're not really representing there countries, I can understand someone not wanting athletes from a perticular country to dominate and have a bit of a changing of the guard, they've won the last 5 Konas is it?

Nothing to get all hissy over I don't think.