James' Triathlon Comeback At 40 | Did He Win?!

James is back! Back in Austria at Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee - the triathlon he raced and won 11 years ago. Now he wants to find out how well he can match his past performance after all these years. Rouvy’s stepped in to help him with his training …but will it be enough to get him into tip-top shape?
In association with Rouvy 🤝 rouvy.com/
00:00 James is Back!
00:32 Race day is here! Swim
01:29 Returning to Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee
02:13 James’ Training
02:43 Bike
08:20 Run
10:00 Mid-Race Reflections
11:33 Final Stretch!
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How did you think James would do? 🤔 Did he surprise you? 🚀 Let us know in the comments!
Watch more on GTN...
📹 James' Comeback At 40 | Can I Qualify For The Championship?! 👉 • James' Comeback At 40 ...
📹 Watch our Editor’s Choice Playlist 👉 gtn.io/editorschoice
📹 Watch our weekly show, The GTN Show 👉 gtn.io/GTNshowPlaylist
Photos: © Triathlon / Getty Images
🎵 Music - licensed by Epidemic Sound 🎵
Baby Release Me (Instrumental Version) - Of Men And Wolves
Formula Uno - Forever Sunset
No Need to Fear - Will Harrison
On the Trail - Tigerblood Jewel
So Casual - Tigerblood Jewel
The Hardest Punch - Got Happy
Going for a Ride - Benjamin Carey
Never Is a Long Time - Alfie-Jay Winters
Just Don't Care - Sven Karlsson
Alpha Code - Tellsonic
#gtn #triathlon #swimbikerun #swim #bike #run #walchsee #race #comeback #swimming #cycling #running
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[@gtn]

How did you think James would do? 🤔 Did he surprise you? 🚀 Let us know in the comments!

[@ekie7361]

Passing them running (seemingly in zone 2 😅)with a camera in your Hand you talking in to and asking how it's going is next level motivation. 😂 Congrats, great comeback🎉

[@gtn]

Once you have style you don't loose it

[@22ccor]

Filming yourself while running a sub 7min mile pace after putting up a super solid bike leg is impressive! You’re a beast at 40!

[@gtn]

He's still got it 💪

[@juanperez-mm8ml]

10th In the age group with a 4:37 time? Dang. Are those age groupers about to become pros? 😂

[@gtn]

Some big results are coming out of the age groupers 🤯

[@karstenmeinders4844]

When looking at James' result, my first thought was that swim split and run split times do match the bike splt. Then I looked up and found out that 90 km comes with 1140 m of elevation which I consider a tough one. Kudos to James for taking the Challenge (no punt intended) with such little training.

[@gtn]

He smashed this challenge 🙌

[@kajet666]

Pretty sure it's actually 85 km. Look at the Strava segment.

[@Thrash155]

TBH: The 40+ Age Group is very competitive. Generally, Your still young enough to really go hard and old enough to have your kids somewhat independent enough you can dedicate time to train. Well done.. I hope to get back into tri shape, I just turned 56.. :)

[@Cookefan59]

OUTSTANDING YOUNG MAN! What a great story. I have been using Rouvy the same way for about 4 years. It’s gotten better each year. You really did a great job! Very inspiring!

[@gtn]

Awesome! Has your fitness improved with Rouvy?

[@Cookefan59]

@@gtn I bounce between Rouvy and Zwift. Rouvy is great to prepare for rides just as James was showing. It takes the anxiety level about the course down for me so I see it as part of my psychological preparation. They used to have the feature of uploading custom rides. Zwift is a more fun, engaging, beautiful and adventurous game platform that I cam create workouts for plus it has the run option. I love them both. I just wish Zwift would use the bottom of the screen the same way Rouvy does. Many of us have been asking for that for a few years now.

[@handreterreblanche4226]

Loving the SA socks and the Jonkershoek poster. You represent us well🇿🇦

[@gtn]

He loves to represent 🙌

[@ngdawgs1]

Way to go James!! You’re giving a lot of motivation to many 40yr olds 🥳! .. and thanks Mark for signing him up. Don’t go too easy on James next time 😜

[@gtn]

We hope this has inspired you to enter some races 🙌

[@suttonfarms2343]

James' inner dialogue while on the course is just the best 😃😍

[@winklertribe5268]

What a great video James! Thank you for taking us on your training journey, and for the race too!

[@tobi_tri_vegan]

Love the race... finished 90s down and 11th in AgeGroup. congrats, well done

[@TommentSection]

Well done James! I've really appreciated your contributions to GTN, and it was great to see you hit this race hard. I'd guess it can feel a little vulnerable for many people who were once on top to come out and show a 10th place age group finish, but you're still an absolute monster! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@eugeniomorevaldes4392]

Well done, what is learned well is not forgotten

[@desroin]

The man is still an absolute unit. Congrats!

[@gtn]

He's still got a beast mode 🙌

[@jgduke63]

I enjoyed watching, this I am using Humango and Rouvy myself and I find it very usefull and enjoyable. I prefer Rouvy exactly for this reason, you are riding in real environment, seeing real courses. It is great, Saw that at 11:44 you passed one of my teammates from the Eintracht Frankfurt Triathlon team.

[@Eleanor_Runner_102]

That run time Incredible work! Watching this has made me decide to sign up for my first triathlon - thank you!

[@SnaxNoCo]

Rouvy is awesome. I started using it this winter, and my summer fitness has never been better. So many beautiful places to ride in Rouvy!

[@gtn]

Whoop whoop! 🙌

[@brucebartlett6536]

Very inspiring - a wonderful swim-bike-run!

[@andrewmetcalfe9898]

So last year you did a half ironman distance on ZERO specific training. This year you did one on 4 weeks training. I’d love to see you continue through to the same race you did last year (Challenge Samarkand?) and see how you’d go on a full 3-4 month training block.

[@atlosass]

Amazing & inspiring work!!

[@isaacplaysbass8568]

Just casually passing the other triathletes whilst videoing yourself and talking to the camera, sweet!

[@atlantaswelder]

That's awsome and id never heard about Rouvy 👏👏

[@Jeff-yt3qp]

Great video. Well done looks like you passed a lot on the run. Loved all the banter 👍🏃‍♂️

[@tedeschoy87]

Yeaaahhhh! Outstanding performance by James!!! 🎉 congratulations James!

[@SBoots29]

Bravo James. It never gets easier, you just find a way to have more fun. Cheers

[@leegmann2282]

Amazing work out there--both behind and in front of the camera! I really liked your bike set up. Could you share more about it?

[@clairecaulkett4452]

Well done James!

[@marie-louisekarlander2366]

So well done 🙌🙌🙌👏👏👏💪💪💪Very inspiring, great tips with the indoor training. For sure you are one easy trained person, but really good work. HumanGo the running workouts are really inspiring, fun to do. And they are in right level. It’s the best with that program. Nice video. And I been waiting for this video 😉. Marie-Louise

[@Crojach]

I know it's physically impossible but I would love to see a race video of you guys every week. These things are so well made and your commentary was inspirational, funny, and just from the heart. Awesome effort! I am 37 and racing with 3 kids and a full time job and now I think I might do this for another decade :D

[@gtn]

We would love to go to as many races as possible 🙌 Any races we should check out next?

[@adamfergie87]

​@@gtnI think you guys should go and do The Brutal in September, it's going to be the last one too.

[@jthomp1254]

amazing! such a wonderful challenge video

[@gtn]

We loved filming this one 🙌

[@Jos-P]

JAMES!! That was truely amazing. What a champ you are. Well done, you should be so proud of yourself. 🎉

[@gtn]

Always a classy racer 🙌

[@DavidC-rt3or]

Nicely done! I might be starting the run in that tine 🤣 training wise I agree with using Rouvy or Fulgaz and riding the routes. Fulgaz also has an option to set wind speed/direction, which I've used to prep for expected 28mi tailwind (pacing) to 28mi headwind (slow grind/mental) conditions of 70.3 TX.. Rode all/parts of 70.3 CdA, but it wasn't my day that day to experience it in real life. Maybe another time.

[@danemishler8658]

Great Job James! That looks like an awesome race.

[@gtn]

It was a great event 🙌

[@Oue22]

Big fan of Rouvy, been using it since about 2019 👍

[@aronanlife9039]

Brilliant Sir!

[@JustKeepFlowingYes]

Wow what a fast run!!

[@gtn]

So speedy! 💨

[@nickorton2611]

Awesome!

[@Scholli_1988]

yep, we have some beautiful spots here in austria xD well done old men 😋👌

[@f.c.truter4602]

Love your socks James! Hulle het jou vinnig laat hardloop. Yster! 💪🇿🇦

[@CoelhoSports]

Good work!

[@andreemurray7039]

Thank you James gives me hope at 60 I'll come out of retirement 😊

[@gtn]

You'll smash it! 🙌

[@loulew07]

Nice socks James . Think if you had used same bike and running shoes and kit as you did 11yrs ago. Maybe closer to 5 hrs . Beautiful area . Good effort , try it again in 20 yrs 😜Even more tougher .

[@SheriffsSimShack]

great stuff

[@adamfergie87]

Fantastic content and what an effort to run a 1:25. I'd love to see you guys at The Brutal in September. It's the last one they are going to put on due to dwindling numbers. It's an incredible event too.

[@dylanburns9381]

Great video

[@jascollinscork]

WELL DONE James….. knew you could do it 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 greatly system for training there!! Is there many Triathlon/Ironman routes on it?? Also your Ski’s/tri bars are too low AND not aero enough…. You need to talk to Ollie about them 🤔😁

[@far_out_travels]

Nicely done 👍🏼🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@bekycsenge]

Great video! Well done James! Could you please add subtitles next for the dialogues for better understanding? Thanks!

[@chrisotc6832]

Well done!! James what size are the cranks(mm)on your bike? Thanks in advance!!

[@mitchatkins7402]

Champion🎉

[@sinancetinkaya]

Honestly I never thought you could see the finish line, James :)

[@jhdrocks]

What an amazing result and story I recently downloaded HumanGo for offseason training and sustainment so this was a real vote of confidence for the app. Also curious what bike James used for the race?

[@bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

made up that you practised with Rouvy (I think they have some sort of sponsorship deal with the Challenge Tri Series - same with the Vuelta GT). Currently at level 80. Few things I have learned from experience. Bike choice makes a difference. each bike has 1 to 5 stars for aero and weight. 5 being the fastest / lightest. When viewing a route profile - anything less than 3% average and no climbs - the TT bikes tend to save a few seconds. Routes with small climbs but majority of the route being flat then the bikes with a slight aero advantage such as the madone fare best whilst all out climbs tend to be served on rouvy with the lightest bikes such as the Festka or Giant TCR SL. example. col du tourmalet. 4 w/kg constant power Giant TCR SL 1-13-51 Festka 1-13-55 Madone 1-14-17 Specialised Shiv 1-19-01 Cube Aerium 1-19-06 Whilst the Challenge Kaiserwinkl route with the same 4/kg constant Trek speed concept 1-04-16 Shiv was 2 secs slower Madone was 40 secs slower than the Trek whilst the Festka and Giant Revolt are both 2 to 3 mins slower no drafting rouvy route analyser - rouvyanalyzer.azurewebsites.net/RouteAnalyzer

[@nathanielyoung3479]

BRICK SESSIONS?! that tone says it all 🤣🤣🤣

[@juliesmith8644]

I'm really curious how you liked racing as an age grouper. I see other pros retire and then race age group and I can't help but wonder what they think. Some are so close out of retiring that they win and set age group records, which is a whole different conversation. Do you find satisfaction from going back to race age groupers? Is it something you'd want to keep doing? Is it weird going back and knowing you were a pro but aren't now... So many questions!

[@bekycsenge]

Great topic for a video! I’d also love to know!

[@marcuswills6569]

I'm in the M40-44 Age group and occasionally race against Stuart Hayes (London 2012 Olympian with the Brownlee Brothers), he's usually up by 3mins on the swim alone for 750m 🤣

[@juliesmith8644]

@@marcuswills6569as a competitive athlete, I just wouldn’t find that rewarding. I’d want to find a new challenge. But maybe it’s just me…?

[@claudia-tn4jq]

Ñ 12:59 ​@@juliesmith8644

[@ianmoore3785]

40+ age group is savage, I’m glad to be leaving it next year 😂 Challenge do some fantastic events for less than half the price of Ironman, definitely worth considering them before a red dot.

[@rockinroman412]

How does your nutrition work for triathlon training. My first triathlon on October, is it mainly carbs few protein or do you still need protein for the repair and

[@RossouwJacques]

🇿🇦 Best sock selection 👌 🇿🇦

[@altiste1]

#GTNCoachesCorner I'm preparing for the St. George marathon, which has a significant elevation drop over the course of the race (+- 770 meters or 2500 feet). I understand downhill repeats will be important to include in my training, but what should they look like and how often should I do them? Even better, a video on how to prepare for downhill marathons would be great...

[@jsselman]

5:22 “I should HAVE practised that more”.

[@99cya]

Doing my first half ironman next year. Already looking forward to it. Im trying to figure out the clothes. As a first timer, should i go with a triathlon suit? Its no problem for me to spend a couple minutes in the changing zone. Do amateurs use a normal bike suit and then change for running? As im not chasing any second, that seems fine to me?

[@inz_uzi]

Nudity is not allowed so you'd have to go to a toilet to change your clothes. If you really want to you can do it but a tri suit is a much better option. Just less of a hassle. I've done just two 70.3s so I'm not an expert but I can't remember anybody wearing running shorts.

[@99cya]

@@inz_uzi ok thanks. that makes sense. ill get a proper tri suite then next year 🙂

[@P_Izenberg]

4:37:05?! are you kidding me! Amazing job!

[@gtn]

Smashed it 🙌

[@frederikziebell]

11:09 With the cap at the run, I just realized that if James was bald, he'd look like Arjen Robben

[@BlogWanderer]

This run time tho 😱

[@jwtfpv8957]

Great video. What were the distances for each leg?

[@funkyfinnegan]

1.9k swim, 90k bike, 21.1 k run

[@jwtfpv8957]

@@funkyfinnegan Much appreciated. 👍

[@landoengelbrecht3517]

James SA all the way

[@jerometaguet1670]

amazing for an old man. 1H25 half marathon filming and talking. congratulation no wonder you won it

[@donishcushing8223]

10th in age group

[@alisonwilks302]

😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@Takaya2131]

You aren’t a South African runner without Versus Socks, 🤪😂

[@DP-sh3nk]

Umm…..I’ve been here for years! LL Cool J

[@bergerniklas6647]

That flapping number probably cost 15W on the bike...

[@kajet666]

Well done, but less Rouvy please next time.

[@lord1999ful]

Whining too much.

[@valejul]

Well done James!