🏊♂️🚴♂️🏃 In this episode of Tri2Thrive, Chris and Dennis share their full race-day experience from the Ironman 70.3 Kraków — a home race filled with epic highs, frustrating lows, and plenty of lessons learned. From the scenic swim in Zakrzówek Lake to a hilly bike course and a crowd-charged run through the city center, they break down every stage with honesty, humor, and insider detail.
Together, Chris and Dennis unpack key topics including:
The unbeatable race-day atmosphere: live music tents, a Polish freestyle rapper, and endless crowd support
Swim challenges in tight starting conditions and how they navigated the chaos
The bike leg’s hills, drafting penalties, and the confusion over race-day road rules
Aid station frustrations: closed bottles, tricky gels, and missing litter zone signs
The run course energy — and how stomach pain (Chris) and muscle cramps (Dennis) almost derailed their races
Lessons learned on nutrition, gear placement, and drafting awareness
Constructive feedback for organizers to make a great race even better next year
Whether you’re planning to race Ironman 70.3 Kraków, curious about what it’s like to take on your first half Ironman, or just love a good race story, this episode delivers a mix of practical takeaways and heartfelt moments.
