On the Ground at Ironman 70.3 Happy Valley

There is always a certain buzz when you drive up to the Athlete Village and start to feel the pre-race energy among both age-groupers and pros. Today in Happy Valley was no different.

This marks the seventh stop of the 2026 Ironman Pro Series, as well as the Ironman 70.3 North American Championship. Here are the key storylines and insights that emerged from the pro panel ahead of tomorrow’s race.

Men’s Race

Athletes like Marc Dubrick – nicknamed “The Shark” for a reason – are expected to set a quick pace in the swim. Among those looking to go with him will be Justin Riele, who recently made the leap to racing professionally full-time, leaving behind his corporate career to pursue his goal of becoming a world-class triathlete. (More on that soon, as we sat down with Riele for an in-depth interview.)

The large professional men’s field should also help athletes like Sam Long and Trevor Foley stay closer to the front out of the water. Once on the bike, expect that duo to get straight to work. Long recently recorded the fastest-ever Ironman 70.3 bike split, riding 1:49:32 at Ironman 70.3 Gulf Coast last month on his way to the win.

During the pro panel, Foley said he hopes to establish a bike breakaway alongside Long in an effort to distance themselves from some of the fastest runners in the field, including Jason West, Morgan Pearson, and Matt Hanson.

Speaking of Hanson, the phrase most frequently used to describe him during today’s pro panel was “the veteran,” prompting laughter from both the audience and his fellow competitors. Yet despite now being in his forties, Hanson remains far from an afterthought. Earlier this season at Ironman New Zealand, he posted the fastest marathon of the day (2:34:49) and, at one point, looked as though he might run his way all the way to the front.

Foley and Matthew Marquardt are both arriving in Happy Valley with perfect 5,000-point Ironman Pro Series scores from their first Ironman victories of the season in New Zealand and South Africa, respectively. Foley shared that he has been focusing on improving his higher-end run speed with coach Sean Jefferson, while Marquardt acknowledged that the full distance remains his specialty but is eager to see whether he can find another gear over the shorter format.

Long, meanwhile, revealed that the Ironman Pro Series is not his primary focus this season. After a disappointing performance in Texas, he noted that having already raced the Ironman World Championship in Nice last September and Ironman Arizona to secure early qualification for Kona, it would be unrealistic to expect his body to complete six Ironmans within a 13-month span (Nice, Arizona, Texas, two additional Pro Series races, and Kona).

Last but certainly not least, Pearson and West are arriving with excellent momentum after fourth- and fifth-place finishes, respectively, at last weekend’s San Francisco T100. Pearson produced the fastest run split of the day in 58:15, with West only two seconds slower at 58:17.

Women’s Race

On the women’s side, Lydia Russell is returning as the defending champion on this course, while Paula Findlay is arriving having won the past two Ironman 70.3 North American Championships. Findlay remains one of the strongest athletes on the 70.3 circuit and undoubtedly enters the weekend as one of the pre-race favourites.

She is also set to make her full-distance debut next month at Ironman Lake Placid, a revelation that drew cheers from the audience during the pro panel. Like Long, however, Findlay noted that she is not actively targeting a top finish in the Ironman Pro Series this season. While she intends to accept a Kona slot should she secure one at Lake Placid, taking on her first Ironman already represents a significant enough challenge without committing to the additional full-distance racing required to contend for the Pro Series.

Grace Alexander arrives with perhaps as much momentum as anyone in the field after back-to-back victories in May at Ironman 70.3 Gulf Coast and Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga. If she can continue that form, she could prove difficult to beat.

Tamara Jewett, renowned for her run speed, will also be one to watch. If she can stay within striking distance through the swim and bike, few athletes in the sport are capable of matching her on foot. Hannah Berry enters as another athlete who can never be overlooked, having built a reputation as one of the most consistent performers in long-course racing.

Other notable names include Grace Thek, Jackie Hering, and Danielle Lewis.

We look forward to bringing you updates from the ground here in Happy Valley Pennsylvania.