Notes From IM 70.3 Chattanooga
Paula Findlay used a race-best bike and run combination to take a 5:17 victory at IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga. Findlay’s moves on the rolling bike course saw her emerge from T2 with a more than five minute lead that she refused to give up ground on, claiming her first victory of 2023. Danielle Lewis and Jeanni Metzler battled throughout the run, with Metzler making what appeared to be a decisive move near the end of the first lap of the run. However, for the second race in a row, Metzler faltered a bit in the final few miles, with Lewis able to re-pass to claim second place. Metzler held onto third, but only just, with a fast-closing Sarah True and Skye Moench just another 20 seconds behind.
Findlay, following her victory, said, “I never take it for granted winning a race, especially with the quality of women’s racing today. It wasn’t perfect timing with all the travel I’ve done, but I made this race a priority and it worked out.”
“This is a strong athlete’s course. I haven’t raced many of these women yet this year and I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to get off the bike solo so I could avoid a head-to-head battle on the run.”
Women’s Results
1. Paula Findlay 4:09:44
2. Danielle Lewis 4:15:02
3. Jeanni Metzler 4:15:37
4. Sarah True 4:16:01
5. Skye Moench 4:16:08
6. Jackie Hering 4:16:59
7. Rach McBride 4:21:25
8. Meredith Kessler 4:22:39
Notes and Comments
Outside Watch’s glitches return. Unfortunately, after a very good week at Gulf Coast, this week it was nearly impossible to watch all of the race without issues. First, I was stuck on an endless loop of Matt Lieto hosting an infomercial about the Kona Village for more than 30 minutes before finally cutting over to live coverage. Then once actually on race coverage, it froze no fewer than 10 times, resulting in having to go back through the loop of Outside’s own ads. (Yes, I get it, the next time I’m in Montana I should visit Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.)
Is Paula Findlay the best female 70.3 cyclist right now? She put lots of time into the likes of Skye Moench (herself no slouch on the bike) and keeping Danielle Lewis and the rest of the chasers at bay. And then a dominating run to close out the win. We’re talking “gave up no time to anyone not named Sarah True” run. An extremely well-balanced performance for her first victory in six months.
The Battle of Jeanni Metzler and Danielle Lewis I’d thought that Metzler’s uphill breakaway from Lewis on the first lap of the run was the single strongest move of the day. And then Lewis kept clawing her way back, passing Metzler back over the final bridge with just a mile left to run. Still, for Metzler to be backing up her victory in St. George just a couple weeks ago on another difficult course with yet another strong performance should remind people that she’s absolutely world class and a threat come August.
Danielle Lewis needs a break. This is her fourth race in seven weeks, including IRONMAN Texas and her well-earned third place at 70.3 St. George. After having to chase on the bike, she came through the entire chase field to enter T2 with Skye Moench. And then she had the cat-and-mouse battle all run long with Metzler before taking second place decisively in the final mile. That has to be exhausting. She had a somewhat similar schedule on the front-loading of 2022, skipping all of June, before returning with a win at 70.3 Oregon last July. Take the time off!
The Return of Sarah True True had a relatively quiet day, finding herself in the second chase group on the road after the bike, alongside Jackie Hering and Meredith Kessler. She ran for a long time with Hering as well, before making a huge push in the final 5K to chase down Moench, who’d run almost all of the half marathon in solo fourth. A good start to the 2023 racing season, especially given how long the winter had been here in the northeast (True is even further north than Slowtwitch’s Tundra division outpost).
On Commentary Being an IM commentator is a thankless job. And for the most part, Matt Lieto is really good at being able to talk in an entertaining way for four plus hours. Good insight, humor, and conversation usually flows quite well with co-host Dede Greisbauer. That being said, some homework on tossing to the (far too many) breaks would help polish the broadcast more. There were a few times where he simply tailed off on speaking, and the next break started, rather than being able to say that a break was coming up. It’s the last polishing act we could look for out of the current broadcast product.
Well, beyond the stream always working.
On the Course Chattanooga is a world class race venue that needs a more challenging swim. A downhill swim simply disadvantages athletes with above-average swims in a way that does not happen on bike or run courses. At least make athletes swim further out into the river to have to fight current a little before then turning downstream. The rest of the course is everything you might ask for in an IRONMAN: city so plenty of lodging options, still scenic, and those bridges on the run are iconic.
Images: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images for IRONMAN
