Happy post-Thanksgiving, legends (and happy random Friday to everyone outside the US who just watched us stuff our faces on Instagram). Turkey coma is fading for some, festive lights are going up everywhere else, and the end-of-year chaos is officially here. That means one thing worldwide: it’s “sneak runs between holiday parties, family dinners, and way too much food” season. Black Friday deals are screaming louder than your 5 a.m. alarm, and base miles are calling your name. Time to dust off the trainers, load the cart with gear guilt-free, and remind your legs what suffering feels like before 2026 shows up swinging. Let’s get after it.

Lucy Charles-Barclay’s Kona vlog is a rollercoaster of grit and grace. She stormed the swim, led the bike, and duelled Taylor Knibb to the run—only to crash into a wall of thirst, chills, and confusion. Dehydrated, disoriented, and deep in the Energy Lab, she knew she was done. Husband Reece made the call to pull her off, a “smart, informed decision” that saved her from worse. The verdict? Likely hypernatremia—too much salt, not enough sense. Yet four weeks later, she clawed back to win 70.3 Worlds in Marbella. Heartbreak is just the setup for a comeback.

Solveig Løvseth, the Norwegian triathlon ninja, leaped from short-course sprints to IRONMAN glory, snagging her first World Championship in Kona 2025 like a boss — passing rivals Lucy Charles-Barclay and Taylor Knibb mid-race when they DNF'd. "Surreal" doesn't cover it; she went from "did that really happen?" to plotting a 2026 repeat. "Inspire the next gen? Absolutely, especially more girls crushing it!" - Read more

Jan Frodeno, arguably the triathlon GOAT who's snagged Olympic gold, three IRONMAN Worlds, and two 70.3 crowns, was ringside in Dubai's T100 commentary box when chaos erupted. Picture this: elites blow past T2 for an extra 8km bike lap—Frodeno calls it on them—then the run lap count implodes. His key takeaways? Gut instinct trumps confusion—trust that inner voice when the world's gone sideways. Decisions under fire are half smarts, half survival instinct. Hustle smart, stay sharp, and when in doubt, do the math... or run an extra lap. 

Arthur Horseau’s Cozumel win? Pure comeback gold. Bib 42 screamed underdog, but he flipped the script—snagging the lead at 10km into the run and leaving rivals choking on his dust. After a brutal 2024 DNF at Kona, back pain, and a year of doubting his triathlon soul, he clawed back with calm training and a laser focus on this race. No drama, just relentless forward motion.

Courtney Dauwalter, the ultrarunning Phenowoman who snagged the 2023 triple crown (Western States, Hardrock 100, UTMB), is swapping endless trails for a "26.2-mile sprint" at the California International Marathon on December 7. At 40, she's coaxing speed from those ultra legs—fresh off a 2:49:54 seventh-place finish at Twin Cities in October, her marathon debut spot from 2009 as a middle school teacher (3:18:14 back then). Why CIM? It's the "Fastest Course in the West"—point-to-point, net downhill 366 feet, Boston qualifier, starting in Folsom foothills to Sacramento's Capitol. She's a rookie at road marathon training, loving the leg-melting experiments. Goals? Squeeze out a PB amid Valencia's showdown. Watch this ultra queen turn pavement into a playground!

Over 3,400 runners are storming the trails across 100 Miles (KosciMiler), 100km, 50km, and 30km distances, with tight races promising drama, elevation smackdowns, and alpine vibes that’ll make your quads sing (or scream). Newcastle’s Stephanie Auston, silver medalist the past two years, eyes her first win after 2025 domination. Men’s? Local hero Mike Carroll, top-ranked and Snowy Mountains native, bounces back from last year’s DNF, and challengers like Eric Conce (fresh 100M UTMB Australia champ) and Robin Fournier (UTMB Mont-Blanc beast) add international spice. Who’s lacing up?

Next season's calendar is calling—here are two we've toed the line on and still daydream about. Destination vibes? Check. PR potential? Double check.

Challenge Sir Bani Yas offers triathletes the unique opportunity to take a swim-bike-run on the wild side and experience what’s got to be one of the ultimate destination races on the entire race calendar. From the luxury cruise ship providing the ultimate stress-free accommodation and the race hub. To the breath-taking scenery of Sir Bani Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, with its incredible nature reserve – home to over 17,000 free roaming animals. Challenge Sir Bani Yas is a race for the ages, that you won’t want to miss. Register Here

Slovakia's x-bionic®Sphere ignites again: Hit your next personal best at Challenge Family’s iconic flagship event, where a lightning-fast course meets a unique venue to create a race experience like no other. Alongside the qualification-only Championship race and the open middle distance event. Triathletes also have the option of participating in sprint and Olympic distance races, a ‘Tryathlon’ pool-based super sprint race for beginners, or a dedicated kids’ run for the inspired next generation. With the opportunity to train and race alongside some of triathlon’s top middle distance pros in a world-class Olympic sporting facility, Challenge Šamorín and The Championship offer an incredible experience for competitors and triathlon fans alike. Register Here  

Wahoo KICKR RUN Smart Treadmill: 25% off this indoor beast—RunFree mode auto-adjusts to your pace (hello, 4:00/mile sprints), dynamic tilt for that "real road" wobble, and Zwift/Peloton integration to banish boredom. Train like a pro without leaving the couch. Crush winter miles!

Zwift Cyber Weekend Bundle: Save $150 on the Wahoo KICKR CORE 2 with Zwift Cog & Click, plus 2 free months for newbies. Virtual shifting, steering from your bars, and endless routes from Alps to beaches. Join the million-rider party—race, train, or just spin away the holidays. Ends Dec 1!

BornBound Skärvatten Pro LD Suit Early Bird: This speed demon LD suit is turning heads in the pro peloton. Buoyancy boost + sleek aero = your next PB secret weapon. Don't sleep on this Nordic ninja.

November 2025 – and Grace Norman just reminded the world why she’s the queen of para-triathlon.

The 27-year-old American (born with a congenital condition that left her right leg shorter and her right hand partially formed) has been stacking medals like most of us stack excuses. She’s the reigning Paralympic champion (Paris 2024 gold in PTS5), two-time world champ, and the fastest para-triathlete on the planet. But this month she dropped something even bigger than hardware: her off-season plan is to race able-bodied pro fields in 2026.

Grace told reporters this week: “I don’t want to just win my category anymore – I want to race the best women in the world, period.” She’s already signed with the BMC Pro Triathlon Team for 2026, the same squad that has Anne Haug and Ashleigh Gentle. Her coach? None other than 4x World Champ Daniella Ryf.

Her message to every age-grouper grinding away this winter? “Disability is just a detail. The real limiter is how hard you’re willing to work when nobody’s watching.”

As the holidays roll in and the sofa starts whispering sweet nothings, let Grace be your reminder: the only thing that actually stops you is the story you keep telling yourself.

The Daily Split Crew

#Together, we go the distance. 

P.S. Forward this to the mate who swore they were “just taking December easy.” They’ll either thank you… or block you. Worth the risk. 😏