That Triathlon Life Podcast · That Triathlon Life

Paula races the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain

·1 hr 1 min

The episode starts with the familiar group banter and a quick note on the show nearing its 200th episode. Paula, Eric, and Nick then move into a post-race debrief from Paula’s Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Marbella. Jet lag comes up fast, and so does the simple fact that resetting after overseas racing is no joke. From there, the discussion turns to the weekend and the race setting in Spain. Marbella comes across as an event worth attending, with affordable accommodation and easy access from much of Europe. The atmosphere around the race clearly meant a lot to them, especially seeing the event grow and watching the two founders there as Yelly crossed the line. They also talk about the feeling of seeing that kind of effort and the people behind it come together in one moment. That part of the weekend lands as one of the most memorable pieces of the trip. The bike course becomes the main practical concern. They say the highway section was especially worrying because of the traffic. Pre-riding the course on a quieter day felt manageable, but trying again later was terrifying because of the trucks and the lack of shoulder. That contrast makes the course sound fine in one setting and sketchy in another. They note that race day itself went better than the practice rides suggested. The conversation also turns to Paula’s next steps after the race. She says she changed her travel plans instead of continuing on to Dubai. Rather than forcing another long-haul trip, she chose to go home, see her PT and doctor, and stay in a familiar environment. The choice is framed as the better move if she wants to potentially line up for Qatar in four or five weeks. The episode keeps that candid tone throughout, moving from race review to recovery planning without pretending either part is simple. It closes with appreciation for Paula’s perspective and a jokingly brutal final grade that the YouTube cut will soften for the crowd.

As heard by us

A candid Marbella race debrief that favors the messy reality over a tidy finish.

Paula Finley's Marbella race is handled with a steady, practical eye here: the result, the jet lag, the highway section on the bike course, and the strain of racing a world championship while already thinking about what comes next.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a post-race debrief from Paula's Marbella 70.3 Worlds.

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