Triathlon News and Notes: XTERRA Moves Worlds Date, Rev3 Makes a Comeback, and More

XTERRA Pushes World Championships to December

To allow for the maximum amount of time for global vaccination roll-out and relaxation of COVID-related restrictions, XTERRA announced this week it is pushing the XTERRA World Championship from Oct. 31 to Dec. 5, 2021. Additionally, the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship will move from Oahu to become a part of the weekend of events in Maui. Will the famed post-race Halloween party still take place? That has yet to be announced.

Daniela Ryf gets personal, announces coaching change among other revelations

Four-time Ironman World Champ Daniela Ryf opened up about several personal and professional issues in a Q&A published in a Swiss magazine as well an interview on Breakfast with Bob, both posted on Friday. Noting that the pandemic forced her to take a deeper look into her life without triathlon, she says, among other things, that she is no longer working with long-time coach Brett Sutton and is coaching herself (“Brett and I didn’t fall out,” she said in the article. “And I am eternally grateful to him. But I wanted to develop myself further.).

The article also highlights how Ryf is pursuing an advanced degree in business psychology, is building a new home, and also “rediscovered love and thus, to a certain extent, myself” through a relationship with a woman. The response from the triathlon community has been overwhelming supportive.

Rev3 roars back with pro race in Williamsburg

Veteran race organization Rev3 is making a resurgence on the pro scene this summer. After focusing solely on local and age-group racing pre-pandemic, the Northern Virginia-based company announced a partnership with the Professional Triathletes Organization (PTO), which will help furnish a $15,000 pro prize purse for the Williamsburg Half on June 27 (the two-day event will also include an age-group sprint, Olympic, and half, as well as a kids duathlon). So far, pros Andrew Starykowicz and Angela Naeth have committed to the event, with the former posting, “Rev3 revolutionized triathlon a decade ago. Not only did they put on a superior experience on race day, the Rev3 family drew the greatest names in triathlon to every race. I am super excited to be back racing with Rev3.”

Angela Naeth joins UESCA as partner, director of content

Summer Rappaport shares a look into her buildup to Tokyo

Katie Zaferes returns to training after her father’s death

BMC Pro Triathlon Team teams with Zen8 to provide coaching plan

No pool? No problem. In a new partnership, BMC Pro Triathlon Team is now offering an extensive coaching plan utilizing the Zen8 swim trainer. The plan, which features videos and specific workouts, draws on the expertise of BMC pros like Chris Leiferman, Chelsea Sodaro, Kat Matthews, and Kristian Hogenhaug, feature warm-up exercises, drills to improve technique, core and balance exercises, mobility routines, shoulder stability exercises, cool down routines, and bonus extra tips and drills. It’s available for a 14-day free trial and runs from around $50 to $200 per year depending on the level you select. 

More pros pick up CBD deals

After Sam Long chatted about incorporating Miraflora CBD products into his recovery routine, other pros have since shared their own experiences. Recently, Holly Lawrence signed with Beam, and this week Ben Hoffman shared his partnership with Champions + Legends, with the dad of two (including a newborn) saying that the products help him with “decreased anxiety and a relaxation boost which assists ushering out body into restful sleep, but ready to go if a baby needs you.” (Pro triathlete Tim O’Donnell is also on Champions + Legends sponsored athlete roster). 

Street in Hopkinton to be named “Hoyt’s Way” in honor of Ironman, marathon legend

A street in Hopkinton, Massachusetts–the town that serves as the starting point of the Boston Marathon–will soon be named “Hoyt’s Way” after the legendary Dick Hoyt, who passed away last month. This week, a board approved the motion, which will honor the Ironman Hall of Famer who became famous for pushing (and pulling) his son, Rick, who has cerebral palsy, through several marathons and triathlons. 

Podcast Notes

• Scottish speedster Beth Potter continues to make the media rounds, this time featured on World Triathlon Podcast where she rehashes her world-record-setting road 5K, her precarious start to triathlon, and her plans for the season. 
• The World Triathlon Podcast also brought on U.S. Olympic hopeful Taylor Knibb, who offers an update on what she’s been up to lately (graduating from college and joining a new training squad, for starters).
• Andrew Starykowicz joins The Triathlete Hour to talk about his 13-month sanction from Ironman for using a banned inhaler after getting pneumonia—and the circumstances surrounding it.
• Gwen Jorgensen may be a pro runner now, but she can’t outrun tri podcasts: The Inside Tri show brings on the 2016 Olympic gold medalist for a candid talk about her days in multisport, including exactly what she said to Nicola Spirig during her race in Rio, failure and how she misses winning, and her goals for the track trials in June.
• Purple Patch Podcast closes out its month-long Triathlon Takeover with an episode about race day performance, encompassing mental tactics, pacing, fueling, and more. Previously this month, Purple Patch coach Matt Dixon has posted episodes on overcoming open water swimming, dialing in the bike, smart running off the bike, and more.
• Katie Zaferes heads to Endurance Planet for a fuel-focused chat, outlining what she eats throughout a training session and races, sprinkled with fun tidbits like how she visualizes when she is going to take in her sports nutrition.
• The Working Triathlete podcast brings on age-grouper Miguel Mattox, a collegiate swimmer who won his age-group in his debut 70.3 in Florida last weekend.
• Tim Don is on the Zwift PowerUp Tri podcast this week to talk about his storied career and his recent go at short-course racing in the Super League Arena Games last month.
• Aussie pro Ellie Salthouse, who’s on a hot streak with several wins in 2021, shares her story with Yogi Triathlete. (Fun fact: She first found out about triathlon from an ad on a cereal box.)