Knibb out of Singapore

[Lurker4]

Ya, I actually think Ash could do pretty well at Ironman distance. Her 3rd at 70.3 Worlds would suggest that if she focused on the Ironman Pro Series she’d do pretty well assuming she could go long. I don’t see any reason why we would assume she can’t go long.

[ThailandUltras]

@Lurker4

Ya, I actually think Ash could do pretty well at Ironman distance. Her 3rd at 70.3 Worlds would suggest that if she focused on the Ironman Pro Series she’d do pretty well assuming she could go long. I don’t see any reason why we would assume she can’t go long.

Yep…Some pro triathletes just don’t want to move to Ironman’s as they find the grind something they don’t want to do. We will just have to wait and see.

[BDoughtie]

We might have an old adage off. You could say that their “strike while the iron is hot” strategy will then result in “you can only go to the well so many times”.

That’s not saying it’s not smart to do what they are doing. It sorta reminds me of the Norwegians. I would be SHOCKED if those dudes were still around racing when they turn 40 (which is sorta becoming the near norm these days). The amount of stress and toll they seemingly have already put on their body / mind / soul, you can only do it so many times.

And that’s not to say it is wrong strategy. I think if your an unicorn type of athlete, you basically go all in on that and I’ll finish with another old adage “til the wheels fall off”.

[sciguy]

Well played;)

[kajet]

@ThailandUltras

Which is one of the reasons I am so impressed with what Ash Gentle is doing. She won over half a million dollars (AUD) last year and was 3rd female and 4th overall on the 2024 money earners list on TriRating all without having to chase the Ironman hype. Josh here could tell us what their plans are but it seems to me that they have decided that while the T100 cash cow is still around that is where they are going.

I do appreciate her being there (and kicking ass), and credit should also go to Tamara Jewett for sticking with her T100 contract last season, even though she hated the racing and was doing terribly.

[SheridanTris]

Knibb out of Singapore

What other option do you think Gentle had? Why on earth do you think we need “Josh” to tell us what her ‘plan’ is? Her metier is middle distance and she’s only bested by a phenomena. The IM Pro Series is designed for athletes who want to race long distance. Gentle will race 6 T100s, a 70.3 (before 30th June) and Marbella. Plan: Gentle will race most of the T100s but not Lake Las Vegas in October and will plan not to race Dubai. She has to get a start for Marbella and there are 8 weeks betw…

Is that your opinion or inside knowledge?

Ash is racing intelligently. T100 distances are perfect for her. Limiting her weaknesses and playing to her strengths. She races well in heat so I would expect her to use that to her advantage. She doesn’t generally race well in cold conditions (SF last year for example) so maybe she will cut races based on that.

She is competitive but sensible. She earns a good living doing what she is good at and enjoys. Why not reap what you can sow.

[Ajax_Bay]

@kajet

@ThailandUltras

Which is one of the reasons I am so impressed with what Ash Gentle is doing.

I do appreciate her being there (and kicking ass), and credit should also go to Tamara Jewett for sticking with her T100 contract last season, even though she hated the racing and was doing terribly.

I too am delighted that Gentle is racing T100 this year. But, frankly, she had zero rational option, with $300k on offer in T100, and a commitment compatible with a bit of IM money (and kudos) for Marbella (Option A).
I have never heard Gentle aspire to racing ‘full distance’. And even if there’s a Damascan moment she’d have had to either ‘not sign’ a T100 contract and try to race 3 Ironmans competitively off no experience (Option B: (estimate) $100k), or race the T100s and race a couple of IMs. Option C: (estimate) $200k if IMs (a KQ plus IMWC) both went very well and do not affect her T100 races.
@BDoughtie has it right: don’t change a winning formula until you need to. Another adage: ‘Make hay while the sun shines.’

I too applaud Jewett for honoring the 2024 T100 contract she signed (unlike others). But she, unlike Gentle, can’t make decent money in T100 and also wants (or has decided to go long) and therefore the IM Pro Series is ‘in scope’. I wish Jewett all the best for 2025 - she’s an amazing runner - and hope her bike is next step up so we can see her chase feature in the last 10 miles.

[Ajax_Bay]

@SheridanTris

Knibb out of Singapore - #40 by Ajax_Bay

Is that your opinion or inside knowledge?

Ash is racing intelligently. T100 distances are perfect for her. Limiting her weaknesses and playing to her strengths. She races well in heat so I would expect her to use that to her advantage. She doesn’t generally race well in cold conditions (SF last year for example) so maybe she will cut races based on that.

She is competitive but sensible. She earns a good living doing what she is good at and enjoys. Why not reap what you can sow.

Agree with every point you make (supporting my assertion of no other sensible option).
No inside knowledge. This schedule is the one I’d recommend for her (and pretty close to how it’ll pan out: feel free to point out how wrong I was after Marbella).
Replicates her race schedule these last two years.
https://stats.protriathletes.org/athlete/ashleigh-gentle
Of course we don’t know how amazing Gentle might be in a full distance. Maybe we’ll never know. No IM would not detract from her career achievement: heading to be one of the best MD athletes ever, though it’s only a 3 full seasons since leaving SC.