IRONMAN 70.3 CHATTANOOGA - race weekend and recap

After a long and busy 6 weeks in Nashville with our team, Working Triathlete, we capped off the trip with Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga. Despite this not being a primary race for us, we still managed to have a fantastic day. Jenna placed 1st in her age group (by 20 minutes!) and 6th overall. Miguel got on the podium with another 3rd overall finish (2nd in age group).
The swim was a fast downstream warmup into a hilly, but beautiful bike course. The run was also hilly and the southern heat and humidity started to take its toll on a lot of athletes. As a bonus Team Working Triathlete finished first overall in the club competition!
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ABOUT US
We’re Jenna Haufler and Miguel Mattox-
With humble roots as college swimmers, we’ve worked hard to become two of the country’s leading age-group triathletes, and are now on a mission to become professional athletes while still having fun along the way. We swim-bike-run together, eat together, sleep together, and make videos together for our own (and hopefully your) enjoyment.
Throughout our documented journey, watch how a couple of ambitious 20-something-year-olds work towards their life goals in a disciplined yet untraditional, not-so-serious manner.
We live for adventure and hope to inspire our viewers and subscribers to seek out the same.
Follow us:
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Jenna's Instagram: / jennahaufler
Miguel's Instagram: / miguelmattox

[@NickGoldston]

That feeling Jenna is talking about “you could slow down right now, it doesn’t really matter” is something I think about all the time. I think knowing that and still continuing to push is what makes a lot of people feel like they conquered something bigger than themselves. Great job all of you!

[@newbluerugby]

Summed up perfectly. Can’t imagine training, paying & completing the race via coasting & still feeling the achievement of conquering

[@Zinezey]

I couldn’t imagine taking all the time to train, pay for the gear, travel expenses, and not want to push to my best.

[@xander0901]

I really appreciated how you two spoke about the mental aspect of triathlon, because it was something I definitely underestimated when I did 70.3 Oceanside. That was my first 70.3 race and my first triathlon since 2019. I thought I was physically prepared for the race, but I struggled during the run. I ended up missing the time cut and received a DNF. After reflecting on the race for a while, I realized I had the physical ability to do more in my run but mentally I was already defeated. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences with these races.

[@FreestyleTri]

The mental aspect is SO IMPORTANT, and something that isn’t talked about or trained enough. Hope you have another race on the docket to give it another go!

[@IBXRunning]

Wow!! Jenna absolutely crushed it!! Congrats to everyone!

[@FreestyleTri]

Thank you! Proud of how well our whole team did 🥰

[@cerocdevon5049]

My first ever 70.3 tomorrow...this was the perfect pre race prep!

[@FreestyleTri]

So glad it was timely! How’d it go??

[@troycollett8540]

Amazing effort guys , I was watching you guys on the tracker along with Aussie Steve McKenna who got 5th in the pro field

[@bretgreenfield1511]

Wow!!! Both of you are inspiring me,,, way live your dreams!

[@triholl]

It was so nice to meet you two at Alcatraz last weekend-I was the older lady "squad mom". Your video is 10/10! Your video and editing are great!! So real! Keep up the great work & if you get to San Diego, well, you'll have a squad mom here for you too!

[@johnrwilker]

Congrats to you both! I did my second sprint triathlon today. First open water swim that I was definitely not comfortable with and struggled greatly. I thought about quitting a couple times and asking one of the kayakers to bring me in. No one would have cared except ME. So glad I toughed it out so I could enjoy the bike and run and wound up missing my goal by only 3 minutes. The swim felt like it took forever. Need more practice before the next time. I really felt the mental aspect today.

[@FreestyleTri]

Yesss congrats to you too John! When you’re able to tell yourself to keep going instead of quit and refocus your mind in the race, you’ve already accomplished so much. Next race, you’re going to CRUSH your goal time 💪

[@arendpryor4051]

This video was so much fun to watch. Can’t wait to see more!

[@Barhighendurance]

Yesssss guys great work! Your editing is on freaking point as well! Also not mad about no drone shots 🤣

[@oliverc1293]

My first attempt at a full 70.3 today - just doing it for myself with a pool swim into a familiar bike route and half marathon. Nervous, but this video brings the good vibes!

[@FreestyleTri]

How’d it go? Can’t imagine doing a 70.3 alone-you’re made of something else!

[@oliverc1293]

@@FreestyleTri Thanks for the message... Ummm, not well! 20mph headwinds on the bike leg and then a bolt snapped on my rear mech, which knocked all my gears out of line, which meant 84km without my 4 lowest gears. Absolutely killed my legs having to grind out every hill at an insanely low cadence, which made the run a huge challenge! Eventually staggered home in 6:52:49. I was only aiming for 6hrs - I'm not a fast person - but the extra hour on the bike leg ruined me.

[@michaelgriffin7889]

Congrats to the whole team! Did Chattanooga 3 years ago and loved this race!

[@FreestyleTri]

It’s a great course isn’t it?? We’d never been down there and it’s so beautiful!

[@ninjatraderengineer]

I went to college in Chattanooga. Wish I knew about that first swimming hole. Congrats on the race. This is the best marketing for working triathlete! Making me wanna join.

[@FreestyleTri]

It’s so beautiful down there! DM us if you want to learn more about the squad-our team is the best :)

[@ellengarcia3467]

Thanks for posting this! Its very inspiring :)

[@FreestyleTri]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@irondistance4313]

Well done you both crushed it. Awesome job and fun video as always

[@rbcism]

Another great job!!!!

[@alexandragoeringer1713]

Love (re)watching this and reliving the day - you captured the excitement and community feel of this event so well. Who would think a finisher chute could get any more exciting?! Enter Jenna, Miguel and the best, loudest team of people (and smiliest pup mascot) to uplevel it even more!!

[@FreestyleTri]

Watching your determination and palpable joy during the race was the icing on the cake of a great weekend!

[@MichaelRuger]

tracked you guys during the race. Awesome job!!!

[@FreestyleTri]

Thanks michael!

[@Alex_8809]

Nice job guys

[@kristyb5326]

I absolutely love your videos!!! You guys are awesome!!

[@FreestyleTri]

Thanks so much for watching Kristy! 💕

[@jaychu3850]

You guys are so awesome….that is all!

[@FreestyleTri]

Thanks jay!

[@gilbertamthor5098]

You two are awesome, such great videos

[@FreestyleTri]

Thanks Gilbert!

[@cristiansan]

nice video guys!! thank you for sharing:)

[@FreestyleTri]

Thanks for watching!

[@leslie7922]

We are proud jenna

[@FreestyleTri]

Thank you Leslie 🥲

[@untypical7404]

Big Day Oats - the most dramatic segment of the video.

[@FreestyleTri]

BDOs lend themselves to drama-can you blame them?

[@nberger6984]

Excited to watch this video. Side note, what does it take to become pro. I saw you won Florida.

[@FreestyleTri]

There are a few ways to qualify for your pro card in the US-Miguel qualified a few ways last year (Florida was one of them), but didn’t take his license for this season.

[@davidarmitage6935]

You guys are adorable.

[@mojuy11]

Great race both of you!! Quick question, how long does it take to recover from this race? I did a race a little over a week ago and am still feeling it a bit and I’m just antsy to get back at it

[@FreestyleTri]

Great question. Always longer than you think. It’s common to feel good less than a week later but if you jump back into it too quickly it’s easy to get injured. Depends on fitness level and race exertion, but full strength doesn’t typically come back until 3-4 weeks later

[@mojuy11]

@@FreestyleTri thanks for the response Jenna and/or Miguel! Felt good but then tried to go for a weekly long run and my legs weren’t having it

[@smb06]

The guy who left his timing chip - they often (at least in races I've done) have had chips available at the start of the race...

[@irvhh143]

The post race pig-out is what it's all about 😁

[@FreestyleTri]

The whole reason why we do this sport

[@Steven-ko6ky]

Sorry if this was answered in another video, but I was just curious why Miguel isn't racing pro? I thought I saw in another video that he got his pro license. Or maybe I'm mistaken.

[@FreestyleTri]

He qualified last season but decided not to take it this year-maybe next!

[@stevecollins5700]

Me: Yikes! That looks gross. Miguel: I shouldn’t film this. This looks gross.

[@gabeduran8321]

Jenny & Mickey ya'll rocked @ Chat TN., ya'll just need to apply for Pro status, no joke your respective times would have placed you within the Pro rankings not that far from RVB (3rd podium). He stated that course was too easy. Your thoughts on that Mickey? Ya'll can be within the top 200 placings in the PTO rankings. GG!

[@kevdogy]

Noice

[@danielgrrll]

That coach is really camp

[@rajeshrawal1681]

The results again proved Jenna is better athlete than Miguel