Hello and welcome back to the Daily Split. This weekend, we have another jam-packed newsletter bringing you the very best in news, analysis and features, as well as a cheeky glimpse at some of the fun stuff going on behind the scenes as our pro athletes continue their preparations for the new season.

There is race news from Hong Kong, and we also preview the iconic Arc of Attrition by UTMB, with the 80km race due to get underway this morning on the coast of Cornwall. From ultramarathon to triathlon prep, we’ve got it all covered. Enjoy… 

🚴🏻 Drafting debate latest: Should drafting rules be introduced for the swimming and running sections of the triathlon? Jelle Geens and Aaron Royle have been discussing the hot topic on the latest edition of their ‘All in Triathlon’ podcast. Read HERE.

🐝 Smith is ‘buzzing’ after win: Kiwi Kyle Smith returned from a broken collar bone to win his first race of the 2026 campaign, crossing the line first at last week’s Waitoa Half Marathon – despite suffering a bee sting in his oesophagus!!!. Read HERE.

💪 Baekkegard bouncing back: Multiple IRONMAN and 70.3 winner Daniel Baekkegard admits he thought about retiring after a torrid 2025 saw him dropped by two ‘dream sponsors’… but has now vowed to battle back and fight for a Kona podium. Read HERE.

❄️ A chilly way to warm up: American triathlete Jackie Hering has ‘warmed’ up for the new season by competing in – and winning – the World Snowshoe 10km Championships and a 5km US National race, which were held in Wisconsin. Read HERE.

🥾 An ultra-inspiring winner: Montane Winter Spine Race winner Anna Troup hopes that by putting herself out of her comfort zone to achieve her long-held ambition, she will help inspire others to follow in her footsteps and compete in ultra events.

“I got the fairytale ending, the back-to-back double… If just one more person feels they can attempt ‘their Cross Fell’ because this old lady has shown them ‘it’s possible’, then I will be so thrilled.”Anna Troup - winner of the Montane Winter Spine Race 2026

The first race of the 2026 UTMB World Series season, Arc of Attrition by UTMB, kicks off the calendar on England’s southwest coast this week. Held in the heart of winter, this 11th edition (the second as part of the UTMB World Series) offers four race formats – Arc100 (161 km), Arc50 (80 km), Arc25 (41 km), and Arc12 (24 km) – all traversing the South West Coast Path, an iconic trail winding along Cornwall’s cliffs, beaches, and exposed headlands. The combination of season and location creates a truly unique challenge, with often extreme conditions – wind, rain, mud, and long nights – and a terrain renowned for its demanding, exposed character.

✍️ Best of luck to anyone taking part this weekend… please do send us in your pictures and stories, we’d love to share your experiences in our next newsletter.

Hong Kong 100 race week opened with a spectacular win for Mexico’s Miriam Morales in the 30km women’s event. Morales, a member of the Mexico Imparable (“Unstoppable Mexico”) team and of the Mixteca indigenous group, ran shoulder to shoulder with China’s Fan Kaili to the East Dam aid station at 9km, then gradually built a lead to win by two minutes in a new course record of two hours and 47 minutes. The presence of the Rarámuri, Maya and Mixteca runners from Mexico has been one of the stories of this year’s event.

There was some really promising news to start the new year as both IRONMAN and Challenge Family announced that record numbers of younger athletes took part in triathlons last year, and that the number of women also continued to increase.

Participation figures released by both organisations also highlighted a significant increase in the number of first-timers taking the plunge and having a go at triathlon in the 2025 season, which can only be a good sign for the future of our sport.

The increase in both categories has been described as a ‘dynamic shift’ in the athlete demographics, especially as there has been a major push by all bodies to encourage both females and younger athletes to take up triathlon.

An IRONMAN spokesman stated: “While there is still work to do, these milestones underscore the momentum behind making triathlon more accessible and inclusive for women worldwide.” Read More

For many, social media and its many guises could be classed as a handy training tool. No, we are not talking about all the many and varied coaching apps, we mean for those times when you simply need a little bit of inspiration to keep on going.

Whether you are in the middle of a tough gym session, have just found a cafe that is open during your Sunday morning cycle, or just looking to enjoy a little downtime, ‘tri-scrolling’ can often provide that little moment of inspiration, humour or intrigue that you have been craving; giving us the strength to complete those final few reps, or to hop back on the saddle and set off on the ride home.

One of our favourite accounts here at the Daily Split is that of IRONMAN and Challenge Roth legend Sam Laidlow. If you are not already following him on Instagram, then get on it right now, because the guy is simply a gift that just keeps on giving with his witty take on the world of pro triathlon, offering a much-needed release just when you need it.

Here are three examples of just what to expect, as he takes on the Beckhams, reveals what it is like to be overtaken by an age grouper, and gives his predictions for 2026 – with just a few cheeky digs at some of his colleagues along the way.

With the latest participation figures highlighting the increase in first-timers, our brilliant social media guru and IRONMAN athlete, Emily Bell, put together this very handy list of the ten things you need to know before your first triathlon. Click it, read it, and keep it safe… it might just save you some heartache later this season.

If triathlon cold turkey is making you miserable this winter, then what better way to rid yourself of those pesky off-season blues than by starting to plan your next big adventure on the circuit? There are certainly plenty of amazing races to pick from.

We’ve picked out some of our favourites from the confirmed 2026 calendar, which should be enough to get that competitive blood pumping and make sure you are feeling all fired up and motivated during your off-season training.

Here are four of our picks for 2026…

Taiwan might not be the most obvious race-cation destination, but a trip out to experience the magic of Challenge Taiwan in April (25th-26th) is definitely worthy of your 2026 triathlon to-do list. The largest long-distance triathlon in Asia, each year the small city of Taitung welcomes 10,000 triathletes for a true festival of multisport. The course itself is one not to be missed – combining beautiful ocean roads and tropical rainforest for an unforgettable experience. But with a huge expo, incredible atmosphere and an opportunity to experience the warm local hospitality and culture. This race is probably one of the most underrated, bucket-list worthy long distance triathlons going.

Planning to do more than one race this year? Plan a couple of Nordic adventures, and you’ll earn yourself a special Viking of the North medal to level up your bragging rights. If you complete one of the Nordic IRONMAN 70.3s and a full IRONMAN in the same season, you’ll earn your status as a Viking. Start with either IRONMAN 70.3 Elsinore or 70.3 Jönköping and finish with either IRONMAN Copenhagen or IRONMAN Kalmar. As long as you register for both races before mid-July, you’ll have a special Viking of the North badge on your bib number at both races. And once you’ve completed the second race, you’ll be able to collect your Viking medal at the finish line.

If you want to do something a little bit different, why not consider Challenge Samarkand as a road less travelled destination race? The course sets the stage for fast times – but the rolling bike leg means you won’t ever get bored. And it’s the ultimate way to experience the unique UNESCO World Heritage-listed scenery and architecture of this ancient city in Uzbekistan, where rich history and centuries of culture are contrasted against the ultra-modern Silk Road Samarkand complex.

No triathlon to-do list would be complete without the addition of the notorious IRONMAN Wales. Famous as much for the insane race day atmosphere as it is for the insanely tough race course. Triathletes looking to ramp the challenge of a full-distance race up a notch should head to the town of Tenby and get ready to slay the dragon. While this event is now sold out, if you missed out, you can still enter with either an IRONMAN Experience powered by Nirvana Europe or a GoFundraise charity place to get yourself on the start line for Sunday 13th September 2026. All places are very limited!

Every athlete has a story worth telling. Whether it’s your first sprint triathlon, a comeback from injury, a breakthrough race, or the quiet consistency that keeps you showing up – we want to hear it. We regularly feature athletes from the 247Endurance community in The Daily Split to spotlight real journeys, lessons learned, and moments that matter. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Together, we go the distance. — @247_endurance 🏃‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️