How Canadian pro Tamara Jewett is taking Ironman all the way

Canadian pro triathlete Tamara Jewett is going all the way this year. After five years running down her competition at the Ironman 70.3 she’s stepping it up to the full distance.

Jewett said she’s committing to the Ironman Pro Series in 2025 after a busy season last year mixing it up with the PTO T100 Triathlon Tour and a top 10 finish at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Taupo, New Zealand. Her curiosity for the full Ironman has been building for a few years. 

“I don’t know whether or not I will like the distance, and I want to find out to inform my career and racing decisions going forward,” explained Jewett. “I really wanted to try a full distance last year, but between a T100 Tour focus and 70.3 Worlds as a big focus so late in the season, there wasn’t a good time to make it fit.

Changing up her training

Making room for the extra training and recovery required for the Ironman is key in planning her season this year.

“I don’t know yet what my recovery process and timeline will be like for that distance. As a result, last year, I didn’t want to risk a slow recovery disrupting other racing. After such a positive experience and wonderful atmosphere at 70.3 Worlds in Taupo this past December, I decided that I wanted Ironman racing to be a big focus in 2025. I have breathing room this year to try the distance and see what I think and how it goes.”

She is most excited about wading into the unknown as she tackles the new challenge. Regarded as one of the best runners on the circuit she has yet to test her prowess at the marathon distance. Doubling down on the run and bike mileage will be a big shift in her training.

“I am most excited for the newness of this distance. I have never run a marathon. I have only rarely biked for 180 kilometres in training. It’s going to be a whole new challenge. I’ve raced the half distance as a pro for five years now and am excited to try something a little bit different.” 

Strong focus on nutrition

With excitement also comes trepidation. While adding volume to her training plan is relatively simple, sorting out her nutrition has proven more complex. Pivoting from the demands of 70.3 to the whole enchilada isn’t as straightforward.

“Recently, nutrition has been my biggest concern, both in training and an in-race nutrition plan for such a long race,” she said. “Although I worked with Rachel Hannah (a registered dietitian and marathon runner) on my fuel plan for half distance racing, it has been a long time since I have done a really detailed audit of what I eat around training.

“I am usually a very intuitive eater. More attention to fuel has become a big focus this year. I am very afraid of under fuelling negatively impacting the gains I’m trying to make putting in so many hours of training. We’ve already found that I’m probably not taking in quite enough calories and particularly carbohydrates around some bigger training efforts, and I feel like I eat so much!  I’m also very aware that in-race nutrition takes on many extra layers of importance and complexity in such a long race.”

Ramping up her long rides

Jewett has more clarity on the season training plan as she builds to the distance. She will increase mileage moderately with longer rides and runs. So far this training block she has been focusing on getting her long ride up to between 150 and 180 kilometres. It’s a significant jump from her typical 90 to 110 kilometre ride for the half distance.

“I’ve already done five hours on the trainer for the first time ever. I still need to work intensity into my training plan to be ready for the half distance races also in my schedule. But we are lengthening some sessions with more moderate work mixed in around the intensity. That and the increased focus on fuel!”

Assuming she enjoys the distance, despite fears of getting bored midway through, she is eyeing up a future that includes racing in Kona at the Ironman World Championships. Her first stop in getting there is likely through cowboy country.

Going on the way

“I want to go into the full distance with confidence, but also with humility. I know that I will have a lot to learn. I wanted to do Ironman Texas because it is a late enough start that I have time to prepare after downtime post 2024 70.3 Worlds. But it is also early enough that we can get information about how I perform and what we have to work on early in the year.”

As with most Ironman races it’s prudent to expect the unexpected and be prepared to change course when necessary.

“Ideally, I will be able to qualify for Kona and make that a big focus. If not, I will still have another opportunity to try to qualify this year. We’ve kept some of our goals and planning fluid this year because the most important goal is to try this thing strongly and learn about it,” added Jewett.