Drunk Running, Life Time Heads North, MVR crashes but finishes, Best Winter Mtn Bike Destinations, and more…

👋 Good morning and happy Friday! Hopefully this weeks newsletter doesn’t get caught in a sea of bullsh*t Black Friday offers. Click here for the full version.

Years go fast.

You hear it all the time, but it’s still hard to believe we’re about to tackle the final month of 2024. For much of this week, I’ve leaned into reflection—taking time to be thankful for the people and moments that make life rich and meaningful. It’s a small pause in the whirlwind, but an important one.

Life moves fast.

Often faster than we realize. Without moments of calm to process it all, we can breeze past the lessons hidden in our triumphs and challenges. Reflection isn’t just about looking back; it’s about understanding how far we’ve come and using those insights to move forward.

As I write this, I’m sitting in a familiar room of my house, the fireplace roaring, watching my family—a living, breathing snapshot of how quickly time flies.

Another year has passed, and my kids are no longer the tiny, helpless individuals they once were. Now, my son is obsessed with playing catch, and my daughter is devouring a book a day. It’s surreal to think how much they’ve grown in just a year.

The room hasn’t changed, but they have.

They’re still sweet and innocent (for now), and while they don’t need my constant watchful eye anymore, I find myself marveling at the people they’re becoming.

You see, reflection gives us the chance to recalibrate—to celebrate what went well and to learn from what didn’t.

It’s like a mental tune-up, clearing the clutter and revving us up for what’s next.

By taking stock of the good and the growth, we not only give thanks but also set the stage for a more grounded, intentional year ahead.

So, as December approaches, I’ll be grabbing a notepad and getting honest with myself: What’s working? What isn’t? What do I want from 2025? It’s my way of ensuring the next year is purposeful, impactful, and filled with even more to be grateful for.

Will you join me in doing the same?

For my Team USA family, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are unwinding with loved ones this weekend. Let’s savor these moments as we prepare to turn the page to December.

Here’s to finishing strong!

Stay moving…✌🏼 – Scott

Headlines

🏊🚴🏃 Racing in Mexico: Last weekend saw athletes head to IRONMAN Cozumel to take on the heat, humidity, and newly-crowned T100 champion Marten Van Riel. But all did not go according to plan as the champ, who led after the swim and most of the bike but then crashed out (into a little girl, above), all but taking himself out of contention. MVR would go on to finish the race and head to the hospital after. Bart Aernouts and female Anne Reischmann (GER) took the wins. Read more…

🚴 Unbound headed North: Following in its 2024 footsteps, Unbound Gravel will again head North for a second year. What is considered to be the “harder” course, last years weather made it simply delightful during the 100 miler. Alas I will say, it did get hot but that really started for me at mile 70 or so. What will 2025 hold?

🏃 JFK Crowns 50 mile Winners: It was a historic day of racing at the 62nd edition of the JFK 50 Mile, a historic American ultramarathon, one of the U.S.’s oldest ultras. This history tends to draw elite runners looking for 50-mile PRs, podium places, and if possible, course records which winners Rachel Drake and David Sinclair did. Read more…

🚴 Pidcock may skip the Mountain Biking: The lightning rod of drama has shared that he may skip mountain bike racing in 2025 if it conflicts with his road racing plans. Read more…

Meanwhile

Other happenings in the world of endurance.

🚴 Gravel (Event) Goes Mainstream: *A must read*. Follow the journey of a small grassroots event that’s decided to go mainstream and join the UCI Gravel World Series. For two-time Unbound winner Amanda Nauman and her partner David Sheek, creating Mammoth Tuff in 2022 has come with struggles. Next year, they’re trying something different. Read more…

🏊🚴🏃 Crushing it at 40: After a nine-year break to start a family, the “old” triathlete now leads the women’s Ironman Pro Series competition. Read more…

🚴 Best. Year. Ever: That’s what Lance Armstrong recently said about Tadej Pogacar’ 2024. On, The Move podcast, the *insert how you feel about Armstrong* host was very clear that no one in history has done what the Slovenian of UAE Team Emirates has done this season. Read more…

🏊🚴🏃 Sanders banged up, calls it a year: After getting into a bike crash, Lionel Sanders has decided to forfeit the IRONMAN 70.3 Championship in New Zealand and instead focus on 2025. Read more…

🚴 The Best Winter US Mountain Biking Destinations: Beat the cold and head to what are considered the best mountain biking areas this winter – Moab, SoCal, Sedona, Windrock, Texas, and Nevada. Read more…

🏃 Drunk Running – New York City Marathon Edition: I don’t quite understand this one but ok. Justine Huang, 26, ran the marathon drunk. “As a competitive person, I have the mindset that I want to run as fast as I can,” Huang said. “But forcing myself to slow down this time — spending time with spectators and friends who came out to support me — made this experience so much better than I thought.” Read more…

🚴 Shorter Crank Arms Gaining Momentum: Yes, the pros are doing it but should you? The answer depends on your height. The benefits can be magical. Read more…

Creatine on the daily: Creatine is commonly associated with athletes and bodybuilders, but the popular supplement seems to have broad benefits on everything from aging to brain function. Plus. It is cheap! Read more…

🎁 Holiday Deals & Steals

Drop down and set your savings on.

Rapha: The UK brand has price dropped pretty much everything on its website by an impressive 25%. Use code BF2024 at the checkout.

USA: Rapha website

UK: Rapha Website

47% off – Beats Studio Buds: $79, $150

20% off – Garmin Forerunner® 955: $399 $499

25% off – Garmin Varia™ RCT715: $299 $399

25% off – GoPro HERO12 Black: $299 $399

22% off – Garmin EDGE 840: $349 $449

31% off – Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells: $379, $549

15% off – Insta360 X4 Standard Bundle: $424, $499

17% off – WHOOP 4.0 with 12 Month Subscription: $199, $239

50% off – Sunny Health & Fitness Performance Treadmill: $394, $790

33% off – ASICS Men’s Gel-Kinsei MAX Running Shoes: $119 $180

25% off – ASICS Men’s Gel-Nimbus 26 Running Shoes: $119, $160

20% off – CEP Men’s Crew Cut Athletic Performance Running Socks 4.0: $15 $20

33% off – RAW Replenish, Premium Electrolytes Powder Recovery Formula: $26 $40

20% off – BPN Pure Creatine Monohydrate: $31 $40

28% off – RAW Fuel, Premium Endurance Supplement Powder: $28 $40

Training Tips

Because training is life.

🏊🚴🏃 Does Triathlon *Actually* Start On The Bike?: In this edition of the GTN Coach’s Corner, questions on racing in the heat, swimming, recovery, heart rate zones, and tyre set ups are answered!

🏃 How To Run Faster (WITHOUT RUNNING MORE): It is possible.

🏊 The Only Swim Drills Triathletes Actually Need: With just three effective swim drills, you can improve your technique, build confidence, and crush your next triathlon swim leg!

Rewatchables

Content for long training days inside or just everyday life.

🏃 UNBELIEVABLE!! The 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships Were WILD: Epic finishes with amazing speed.

🚴 Trust – Descending the Dolomites w/ Safa Brian: An adrenaline-fueled film with epic, speedy descents, speed, and crew-wide trust.

🏃 I Ran the NYC Marathon to Find Out How Marathons Make Money: The NYC marathon is the largest in the world that spans all 5 boroughs and is a tentpole event for the city. But how do marathons make money?