The RTS Fam at the IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz
In this issue:
IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville & Santa Cruz
Cozumel Camp
A new RTS Community, RTS Racing
An RTS Exclusive Chat with Adam Popp
Where You Can Find Us
Femur Fails
RTS Media of the Month
RTS Podcast Highlights
IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville
Dominika Yamnicky ended up in a wheelchair in an effort to fend off a hard-charging Jeanni Metzler, former World 70.3 Champs runner-up, for the podium at the IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville. Placing 4th “just 3 seconds shy of the podium definitely stings, but it also lights the fire,” Dominika said after the race. With temps in the high 80s with 80% humidity, the run was “all about survival tactics: ice, sponges, water every chance I could get.”
Alex Frank placed 17th pro on the men’s side.
Liz Licea, 16th, and Dominika, 4th, at 70.3 Lou-sizzle
“[The heat was] unreal. The kind that wraps around you like a blanket and doesn’t let go. It felt like we were running through a furnace out there.”
-Dominika Yamnicky on IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville Full Louisville 70.3 results here.
IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz
Andy Krueger “loved the light-up disco buoys” at the IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz…or shall we say Sand-a Cruz after the athletes were sent running on beach-like surfaces during the run course! He went on to place 7th, Jackson Laundry placed 6th, and Lisa Becharas (who led off the bike!) placed 5th.
Here’s what our squad thought about the IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz and what they’d have a well-trained parrot do for them:
Andy | Lisa | Liz | Jackson | Rachel | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best part of racing in CA? | I loved being able to drive to a race. Living in the PNW there are very few pro races within driving distance. | The scenic views! It’s beautiful!!! | Perfect weather and at sea level | The weather is stellar | Found a sea otter post-race! Also the beautiful course. |
Santa Cruz or Oceanside? | I love both races, but I would say Santa Cruz is more fun than Oceanside. | Swim and bike at Santa Cruz, run at Oceanside! | Santa Cruz because the water is warmer and the bike course is more fun and beautiful | Have to give the nod to Oceanside just because the bike course is a bit tougher, both are great. | Never done Oceanside so let’s say Santa Cruz. |
If you had a pet parrot that could yell things at you on the course, what would you train it to say? | YOU LOOK AMAZING | I would train it to swoop on anyone sitting on my wheel 😂 or maybe I would make it tell me jokes! | Nobody cares, swim/bike/run harder | I’d train it to fly around the course and tell me who’s coming for me on the run. | Maybe have it give me time gaps? Not sure I’d trust it for that. |
What’s your next planned race? | Ironman Chattanooga in less than 3 weeks! | Augusta 70.3! | San Diego Tri Olympic | Ironman 70.3 Augusta | Possibly Portugal 70.3 but may be on hiatus for the rest of the year |
RTS Cozumel Camp
We’re returning to the island of Cozumel for the third time in our annual camp. Don’t miss the fun, Z2 training (seriously, it’s January), info sessions, and a chance to get in volume with friends at an all-inclusive resort while everyone else is lamenting about the winter!
Camp Details
Dates: January 12 - January 19, 2026
Location: A high-end, all-inclusive hotel in Cozumel, Mexico.
What's Included: Training with RTS Pro Athletes, educational seminars, all meals and drinks at the resort, pool rentals, and group taxis to and from pools. RTS will also cover mechanical support on rides and professional photographers.
Family-Friendly: The camp is designed for athletes and their families. Kids from 0-11 years old stay for free when sharing a room with their parents (one child per adult). Special rates can be negotiated for family and friends who wish to attend but not participate in the camp.
Pricing
Single Occupancy: For one person, the cost is $2,950.00 USD.
Double Occupancy: For two people, the cost is $4,200.00 USD (which comes out to $2,100.00 per person). This option is for roommates or couples. If you're opting for a roommate, one will be paired with you.
The combination of professional training, relaxation, and a family-friendly atmosphere makes this a unique and appealing experience. You can focus on your training while knowing your loved ones are enjoying a top-tier vacation.
(NEW!) RTS Racing
Join RTS Racing and thrive with the team all year long.
Just $100/year = nonstop perks:
HUGE giveaways (frames, wheels, shoes & more)
Members-only webinars + Q&A
Insider partner discounts
Shout-outs on the pod
RTS merch discounts & random swag drops
An RTS Exclusive Chat
With Master’s Degrees in Rehabilitation and Clinical Counseling and Sport & Performance Psychology, Adam Popp is a mental performance coach, eight-time Guinness World Record holder, and has completed 5 100-Mile Races (which is five more than all of the RTS Pros combined 😉)…while being an above-the-knee amputee.
Join us as on Thursday, September 25th at 8pm ET/7pm CT/6pm MT/5pm PT, as he specializes in igniting “inspiration and encourages others to transcend challenges in order to unlock their full potential.”
Where You Can Find Us
September 27 | September 28 |
|---|---|
9/27 XTERRA Worlds: Ali O’Donnell, Sam Teller | 9/28 IRONMAN Chattanooga: Garrick Loewen, Alexander Frank, Andy Krueger 9/28 Augusta 70.3: Lisa Becharas, Jackson Laundry, Vant Lammers, Tom Robey, Lauren Courtway |
Femur Fails
Our crash course champion Nick Chase fully fractured his femur during a bike ride, and Marc Dubrick is healing from an upper femoral stress reaction.
More on Nick’s Injury:
More on Marc’s Injury:
RTS Media of the Month
We had a photo shoot in the French Riviera to showcase our podium picks for the Men’s IRONMAN World Championships in Nice, France! (📷️credit to Lisa Becharas for the stunning editing!) (And good luck to RTSx athlete Levin Veale tomorrow!)
Instagram post
The Real Triathlon Podcast
Recent episodes of the Real Triathlon Podcast:
August 3: Hipocalypse Now: Jackson's Injury Crisis, Roth Drafting DATA, & the Pursuit of Breast Milk on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube
August 9: Race Ranger: Changing The Game In Triathlon And Ending The Wheel Sucking on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube
August 17: Ripping on Marc and Not So Rapid Fire Questions on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube
August 25: A Conversation About Doping on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube
September 2: Triathlon Injury Update: Nick Chase's Setback + Training Insights for Santa Cruz & Marbella 70.3 Worlds on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube
September 10: Coffee Enemas?! The Real Tri Squad Plays Pass or Smash (Triathlon Edition) on Apple and Spotify
Partner Discounts
Support our partners who make our work possible!
Zoot - Code RTS for 20% off |
BlueSeventy - Code RTS2025 for 25% off |
BiSaddle - Code RTS15 for 15% off |
FAST TT - Code RACECHASE10 for 10% off |
Sunwarrior - Code RTS2024 for 20% off |
Ventum - Code RACECHASE20 for 20% off |
Cadomotus - Code RTS-Tri-with-Wings for 20% off shoes |
RunningWarehouse - Code AU33ER6 for clearance shoes & accessories |
Rythm Health - Code RTS For 30% off |
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