I enjoy following your journey and wish you well. However, it was surprising not to hear you say you executed the race very poorly by overbiking and as a result running terribly as with several other pros. I guess the impression you are giving is that your strategy was all or bust.
Overbiking could have played a role. My bike fitness has been great and while I pushed the pace at certain points, none of it was way above my ability. I think this is a case of death by a thousand cuts between prep, taper, execution of pace/hydration and heat. I could have sat further back in the pack and been more conservative, but with how my bikes have gone this year overall, I think there could be something more underlying in prep potentially. There’s always the what if I had gone ultra conservative, but that climb and descent from hawi is always a place where the pace gets hot, and again, I was a bit closer to 70.3 watts, but not overly pushing it.
@ I really appreciate you taking the time to reply and that you, of course, know far better as to the causes for the performance. In watching the video and the run times of so many other athletes, I felt the need to share a slightly different perspective. Congratulations on your first Kona World Championships Ben, here’s to a higher finish next time round. Best of luck in Dubai tomorrow! 👍🤞Cheers, Sandy from Scotland 🏴 PS I’ll be in Oceanside and Nice (first Ironman World Championships) as an Age Grouper in 2025, hope to see you there!
Great recap. As always, honest, transparent and to the point. Best of luck in the last race.
What is the blue cooling vest from?
Gotta love that porter pottie coke 🤣
atta boy, Ben!
Ben, you need to produce in Dubai, at least a top 8 placing! And place in front of Slow swim sammie long! You can do it!!!! All Da best on Sunday!!!
Thanks! Goal is always to be at the front!
Who’s the new coach?
You’ll have to stay tuned!
I enjoy following your journey and wish you well. However, it was surprising not to hear you say you executed the race very poorly by overbiking and as a result running terribly as with several other pros. I guess the impression you are giving is that your strategy was all or bust.
Overbiking could have played a role. My bike fitness has been great and while I pushed the pace at certain points, none of it was way above my ability. I think this is a case of death by a thousand cuts between prep, taper, execution of pace/hydration and heat. I could have sat further back in the pack and been more conservative, but with how my bikes have gone this year overall, I think there could be something more underlying in prep potentially. There’s always the what if I had gone ultra conservative, but that climb and descent from hawi is always a place where the pace gets hot, and again, I was a bit closer to 70.3 watts, but not overly pushing it.
@ I really appreciate you taking the time to reply and that you, of course, know far better as to the causes for the performance. In watching the video and the run times of so many other athletes, I felt the need to share a slightly different perspective. Congratulations on your first Kona World Championships Ben, here’s to a higher finish next time round. Best of luck in Dubai tomorrow! 👍🤞Cheers, Sandy from Scotland 🏴 PS I’ll be in Oceanside and Nice (first Ironman World Championships) as an Age Grouper in 2025, hope to see you there!