Issue 65. It's Just Dessert, baby
Garmin Connect+ is Unpopular, Hook Em, Ditlev dominates, and more...
👋 Good morning and happy Friday. I’m Scott and feel free to reach me here.
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SB
It’s Just Dessert, baby
It’s here. And maybe you’re just a runner, or just a cyclist but this week starts the beginning of another Triathlon season.
With Oceanside 70.3, Galveston 70.3, and T100 Singapore, the whole world is back on the starting line, anxiously ready to send it.
So let’s talk about ONE BIG THING.
No matter where you are in your journey; whether it’s your first race (congrats) or your 50th (you’re insane) — the butterflies are always there, and there is something you need to hear and remember because it is reality.
Race day doesn’t always go as planned.
For some of you, the finish line will feel like the ultimate reward. Every early morning, every painful interval, every sacrifice will have been worth it as you look up and see that finish line time. You’ll cross that line, PR in hand, and soak it all in. You did it! You’ll laugh, smile, and feel rejuvenated.
For others? You’re going to be disappointed. Maybe you won’t hit the time you trained for. Maybe something completely out of your control—like a flat tire, a messed-up nutrition plan, or an unexpected battle with the porta-potty—throws off your day.
You’re going to be hurt, sad and probably angry. You’ll question your “why” and you might even cry out of frustration.
And that’s just how this sport works. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
But. Let’s zoom out for a second to better help you lock your mindset into the right place.
You’ve already done the work. You’ve slogged through training sessions where your legs felt like lead, where every mile felt impossibly long and never finished.
You’ve had those workouts where your body just didn’t show up—where your pace was off, your energy was gone, and you questioned why you even signed up in the first place.
You’ve climbed hills that felt like they might actually kill you.
You’ve battled the cold winter. The wind. The rain and the inner voices telling you to quit.
You’ve peeled off sweat-drenched gear, collapsed on the floor, and thought, How the hell am I supposed to do this on race day?
And yet—you showed up again, and again, and again.
It is because endurance sports aren’t just about one day. They’re about the fight to get there.
The
54 a.m. alarms.The long, silent slogs on the trainer, staring at the garage wall.
The wet and cold group rides where you barely hang on, then get dropped, then swear you’ll never ride again—until you do, and you get stronger.
The open water swims where panic creeps in, but you keep moving forward.
The friendships built over miles and shared suffering, the unspoken bond of people who just get it.
You see. Just getting to the starting line shows you’ve already won.
You’ve already done what so many people won’t.
You’ve put in the work, embraced the grind, and transformed into something tougher than you were yesterday.
On race day, anything can and will happen. So be ready. But also, be kind to yourself.
Do results matter, sure! But the race. That’s just dessert, baby. Enjoy it.
Good luck. Be safe. Keep moving.
The Biz
Garmin Goes Paywall with Connect+: Break out your tar and feathers because the world has not so kindly told Garmin what they think of their new subscription paywall. That’s right. A new subscription service which Garmin stressed all existing features will remain free with the Connect app, the new tools will cost users $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year, and the Garmin user base is not happy about the subscription service. A post on the Garmin subreddit called for users to boycott the new service. As of write this, it has 10,000 upvotes, with many commenters saying the introduction of Garmin Connect+ will put them off buying a Garmin watch in the future. IMO this feels like classic internet outrage. I would be PISSED if Garmin is putting everything behind a paywall but as long as they commit to keeping all the existing features free, then you now what, don’t pay for the new thing. Read more…
Meanwhile
Other happenings in the world of endurance.
Reischmann Commands IRONMAN South Africa: Germany’s Anne Reischmann made it back-to-back IRONMAN wins as she followed up last November’s victory in Cozumel with a hard-fought success in South Africa, which doubled as the African Championship. Read more…
Ditlev shatters bike course record in dominant win. Beats Van Riel: What a difference a year makes. Magnus Ditlev who crashed his bike in training leading up to the 2024 season was dominant in his first 2025 race. He really put the hammer down to beat the old bike course record by more than seven minutes and by T2 he’d opened up an advantage of over six-and-a-half minutes from Van Riel and Schomburg. Read more…
HOOK EM: The University of Texas Men’s Swim team are your 2025 NCAA Division I Champions, scoring 490 points to officially earn their 16th NCAA Title, and their first under Bob Bowman. California (471), Indiana (459), and Florida (315) would round out the top 4. Read more…
Rewatchables
Content for long training days inside or just everyday life.