2020 Race Schedule: the whens and the whys.

April 5: 70.3 Texas

Why we chose it: The decision between Oceanside and Texas was an early season puzzler for us, with each race providing significant advantages. Oceanside offers arguably a more beautiful and iconic course, likely better weather, and more competition at the pointy end of the race. Texas offers a course more suitable to our strengths, a course we’re familiar with, and likely less competition at the pointy end. So if more competition is both a pro and a con, why head to Texas? This year is about racing as much as possible for us, which means we need to take the finances of each race into account. While the money at Oceanside runs deeper than Texas, the odds of a top 3 finish are significantly higher at Texas based on the field that usually shows up to Oceanside. The prospect of a potential top 3 finish is a draw big enough to swing the scales. We’re ready for a fast, flat, and windy opener in 2020.

May 17: 70.3 Chattanooga

Why we chose it: A little over a month after Texas, Chattanooga is a perfect stop, literally, on our trip back home to Virginia. While neither of us have ever done Chatty 70.3 or full, I did race 70.3 Worlds there in 2017 on a much harder course than the annual one. It’s a beautiful area where we have a number of friends available to host us, and a course that potentially plays to our strengths well (medium bike, medium-hard run). After making the drive to Chattanooga, we’ll continue on home to Charlottesville where we will be based out of for at least the rest of 2020.

June 14: 70.3 Eagleman

Why we chose it: Despite the disappointment of the swim cancellation last year, Eagleman is a great venue, close to home, and has the potential to be a scorcher of a race (both weather wise and speed wise). Eagleman had an unusually strong pro field last year, with a number of south-westerners making the trip. I don’t expect it to have the same pull as last year though, primarily due to the race schedule of the following weekend. Lets take a look:

6/14 – Eagleman 70.3 ($30,000 purse)

6/21 – Mont Tremblant 70.3 ($50,000 purse)

6/21 – NA Champs Des Moines ($75,000 purse)

6/21 – EU Champs Elsinore ($75,000 purse)

With two big money races in North America the following weekend, and another in Europe, it can be assumed that many of the pros will pick one of these races. While it wouldn’t be impossible for some pros to do back to back weekends, I suspect that this early in the season, we won’t see a ton of that. The hope is that Eagleman and Coeur D’Alene on 6/28, have less top-heavy fields, increasing the possibility of top 3 finishes again. Not racing Des Moines also frees us up to attend a wedding that weekend. Now of course there is a chance that every other pro is thinking the exact same thing…

June 28: 70.3 Coeur D’Alene

Why we chose it: As discussed above, CDA fits nicely into the schedule around the NA and EU championships. I’ve also heard it called one of the most beautiful courses in the country which would be enough reason itself. It is worth noting that this will be the first time we’ve ever raced two weeks apart, so it’ll be interesting to see what that does to both Eagleman and CDA.

August 1: 70.3 Boulder

Why we chose it: Boulder is in my opinion, a near perfect 70.3 course. Aside from a boring run, the swim is a comfortable, wetsuit illegal temp, and the bike is a perfect combo of rolling hills and fast roads. This field is usually one of the more loaded events for pros, as Boulder is the Mecca of triathlon, and with a standardly low purse of $30,000, this one is more for the scenery, competition, and comradery than anything else.

September 27: 70.3 Augusta

Why we chose it: I’m still not entirely convinced we won’t head back to Santa Cruz 70.3 in mid September, but Augusta is driving range of Virginia which makes a big difference in associated costs. At this point, we’ll be pretty used to racing in the heat from the rest of the schedule, so the prospect of some hot weather in Georgia could be to our benefit.

Here is where it gets a little funky… the only thing we know for sure, is that Summer is about to shake up the 140.6 world.

November 7: 140.6 Florida – Women Pro Only

Why we chose it: It’s no secret that 140.6 fields can sometimes feel a bit, shallow. In a nonzero number of races, all someone must do to finish on the podium is finish. That doesn’t mean the races are non-competitive, it just means they’re shallow. Summer spent a few years racing marathons, with two Bostons among her four total marathons, she is aware of the requirements and unique stresses of long-distance racing. With a year of pro races under her belt and more volume than ever, she’ll make the jump to the full distance with a women’s pro only field at Florida. I’ll be there as moral support. Still no desire for me to make the jump yet.

December 6: 70.3 Indian Wells La Quinta

Why we chose it: Whether or not Summer will feel up to this one won’t be known until after Florida, but Indian Wells has become a bookend for our season. An overall fantastic race in a temperate area, we’ll be back to hopefully improve upon our finishes from the past two years and celebrate the end of a long 2020 season.

The unknowns: Of course plans are always subject to change. Maybe we’ll end up at Santa Cruz instead of Augusta, maybe both. Maybe someone pays us to fly to China for a race. Maybe we head back to the rough roads of Waco. Maybe one or both of us qualifies for 70.3 worlds in New Zealand and we end up in Taupo for the end of November. Whatever comes, we’ll be ready to roll with the punches.