For age-group triathletes who want practical triathlon tips, honest stories, and race week advice from Team Saunders Tri. Useful, human, and never taking the sport too seriously that we forget to have fun.
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Race Season, Texas Feelings, and Chattanooga on the Horizon
Published 15 days ago • 3 min read
Race Mighty Memo || Issue #2 - 05.05.26
Race Season is in Full Swing!
Hey Reader!
We're still buzzing from our time spectating and supporting at Ironman Texas a couple weeks ago. We love this time of year. Not only does springtime bring warmer weather and more outside training activities, it is a reminder that there's a full schedule of triathlon on the horizon.
One of our favorite annual excursions is to Chattanooga, Tennessee. We fell in love with the city and the Ironman vibe there when we first raced there in 2021 and we're always excited to share what we've learned from racing there across the years.
One Smart Thing
If Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga is on your calendar, this is a good time to start visualizing your day across the course. The time you spend mentally preparing now will help ease the nerves and bring you to the start line ready to rock.
Just getting familiar with the pieces that can make race week feel calmer: where to park, what the swim layout looks like, how the current can affect the day, what to expect on Andrews Hill, how to tackle two rounds running up Battery Hill, and when to burn every last match as you head toward the finish line.
We filmed a course tips video last year from actual points on the course, and we’ll be sharing those clips again over the next couple of weeks over on Instagram. If you want to check it out in full, it’s here on YouTube.
If this is helpful to you, we’d love it if you’d share it out in the world across social media - and tag us so we can make sure to send cheers your way on race day!
One Real Thing
Ironman Texas gave us a little bit of everything: early morning nerves, pro race energy, age-group grit, weather, big finish-line emotion and a lot of reminders that being in the energy is truly one-of-a-kind.
That’s why we love it.
Whether we’re cheering, volunteering, or racing, it’s always special to share the day with this community. Someone asked us on race day if we had any athletes racing. Without missing a beat, our response was, “Yeah. About 2,500.” That’s how we approach every event. It’s a privilege to support others as they chase down their goals.
The canal to the finish was buzzing as usual. It's always a treat to take in the sights and sounds lining the waterway.
We pulled together our Ironman Texas race-day footage into a new YouTube video, and it’s less of a traditional recap and more of a look at what the day felt like from across the course.
Read the official Athlete Guide. It’s not just a slogan, it’s good, practical advice.
Even if you’re a seasoned veteran, even if you’ve done the race before, there’s still value in being in-the-know with insights from the race director.
If you’re racing IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga, bookmark the official Athlete Guide page now…then read through it while you’re trying to figure out what to do with all your extra free time during taper.
Our course tips are meant to help you understand what the race feels like from the athlete side, but the official guide is where you want to check the fine details: schedule, athlete check-in, transition information, race rules, logistics and any timely updates before race weekend.
This is also a good habit for any race: watch the course tips, ask athletes who have been there and then read the actual athlete guide before race week brain starts doing too much.
One Fun Thing
A normal training week in triathlon includes at least a few of the following:
second breakfast
a third round of laundry before Wednesday
opening the fridge and realizing it’s mostly fuel
one moment of real confidence
one moment of “why am I doing this again?”
at least two water bottles left in random places
obsessively checking the weather
being tired for reasons that are, technically, self-inflicted
It’s a lot sometimes.
It’s also pretty great.
Because yes, this sport can ask a lot from us. But we GET to do this.
One More Thing...
Bring Out the Orange Energy!
Our custom Team Saunders 2026 Jakroo Performance Store is open if you want to bring some TST orange energy to your own training or race day.
We do receive a small commission through the store, but the bigger joy is seeing more bright, positive TST energy out on the course.
And just like that, we're crossing the finish line for Issue #2.
Whether you’re headed to Chattanooga, still riding the energy of Texas, or keeping your training on track, we’re glad you’re here. Thanks for letting us be part of your triathlon world.
If you know a tri friend who’d enjoy Race Mighty Memo, share this link or forward this email their way. That really helps us grow this little corner of the triathlon community.
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Team Saunders Tri
The most fun newsletter in triathlon.
For age-group triathletes who want practical triathlon tips, honest stories, and race week advice from Team Saunders Tri. Useful, human, and never taking the sport too seriously that we forget to have fun.
Issue #4 - 05.19.26 Chattanooga, You Were A Lot...in a GREAT Way! Hey Reader! Chattanooga is officially in the books. And whew. This race always has personality, but this year asked a little extra from everyone. The swim was slower than expected for a lot of athletes, the heat was turned up, the sun was not shy and there was not much wind offering a break. If you crossed that finish line, you earned the medal. Actually, let’s amend that. You earned the medal and a badge of honor. This week,...
Issue #3 - 05.12.26 It's Race Week, Chattanooga! Hey Reader! IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga is almost here, which means there are probably a few athletes out there staring at a gear pile and wondering if triathlon is a sport or an elaborate packing test. Respectfully, it is both. This week, we’re talking about organization, nerves and why Chattanooga continues to be one of our favorite race experiences on the calendar. Because yes, it’s hot. Yes, it’s humid. Yes, there are hills. Yes, the road out...
Issue #1 - 04.28.26 Welcome to Race Mighty Memo Hey Reader! Welcome to Race Mighty Memo. We're glad you're here. This is our little corner of the inbox for triathletes who want practical help, honest perspective, and a reminder that this sport is allowed to be fun. The plan is simple: each issue, we’ll bring you one smart thing, one real thing, one useful link, and one fun thing from the world of Team Saunders Tri. Let’s start with something we’d absolutely tell a friend before race week. One...
