About this episode

Ben Kanute discusses his recent race experience and the mindset of professional athletes in chaotic conditions.

This week on The Real Triathlon Podcast, the crew is joined by Ben Kanute fresh off a 2nd place finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Dallas Little Elm, a race defined by a shortened swim, brutal winds, and plenty of chaos. Ben dives into what it actually felt like racing in those conditions, how time-trial starts change the dynamic of a race, and why pros need to rethink how they talk about performance. The conversation gets deep into: The reality of bike power vs speed (and why chasing watts might be holding you back) How aero, efficiency, and race execution matter more than big numbers The danger of “if-then excuses” in race recaps Bike safety, race logistics, and the risks athletes face on open roads Plus, things get weird (as always) with: Wind riding excuses vs bike handling reality IV drips during races (??) Probiotic sodas, hot tub etiquette, and drive-thru patience And a classic Pass or Smash segment It’s equal parts high-level performance insight and absolute chaos with one of the most experienced athletes in the sport. Head to pillarperformance.shop or TheFeed.com/pillar and enter code REALTRI15 for 15% off first-time purchases. If you want to go above and beyond consider supporting…

People in this episode

Hosts: Garrick Loewen, Nicholas Chase, Jackson Laundry, Lisa Becharas

Guest: Ben Kanute

Topics covered

• race performance
• athlete mindset
• race logistics
• bike safety
• power metrics
• chaotic race conditions

Keywords

• Ben Kanute
• IRONMAN 70.3
• race chaos
• bike power
• performance excuses
• race execution
• athlete safety

Sponsors

Pillar Performance, TheFeed.com

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IRONMAN

More episodes of The REAL Triathlon Podcast

• IRONMAN Texas, The BEST Olympic Tri in North America And…Farts · April 24, 2026 · 1h 15m
• The Middle-Class Pro: Prize Money, Injuries & Who Gets Paid in Triathlon · April 19, 2026 · 1h 1m
• Motivation Is A Lie - How to Train on Your Worst Days · April 9, 2026 · 1h 8m
• Oceanside Showdown — Stingrays, Draft Zones, and a Chaotic Bike Course · April 2, 2026 · 1h 23m
• Oceanside 70.3 Countdown · March 26, 2026 · 53 min
• Ironman New Zealand Was INSANE, Trevor Foley’s Arrival & Nicholas Chase’s Sleep Advice · March 15, 2026 · 48 min

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