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28 MAY 2026

Every few years, there’s a new “marathon.” In the 1980s, that new marathon was...the marathon. The running craze had seized the United States and the world beyond. Regular citizens were running for fun and fitness, U.S. athletes challenged for the Boston Marathon win, and joggers everywhere thought maybe I could do that. In the late 1990s Ironman became the new marathon, fueled by Mark Allen, Dave Scott, and Outside Magazine. By the 2010s the focus shifted again, to ultra-running, SwimRun, or cyclocross. Often many multisport athletes returned to triathlon, sensibly finding that three sports kept them motivated, engaged, and generally fit for anything. In the 2020s, gravel is the new Ironman, and if you have a long distance triathlon habit in your background, there’s a good chance you’ll find gravel crunching under your 40mm tires before you know it.

Uniquely Suited

70.3 and Ironman-distance triathletes are uniquely suited to gravel racing. First of all, though, what’s gravel in the first place? Well, they’re bike races, sort of. Unlike traditional bike racing, with its categories, unwritten rules, and gnostic behavior, gravel racing sets few barriers against entry. Races tend to start all at once rather than in categorized waves, and all are welcome: world tour riders and grandmas alike. Gravel races often challenge their participants through a combination of length and terrain on a combination of surfaces, including pavement, dirt, trail, and (of course) gravel. The atmosphere at gravel events is much more grassroots triathlon than downtown criterium, so you’ll probably feel at home. Here are six reasons why you, triathletes, are going to crush this style of racing...[read more] ​

CAMP CAMP CAMP CAMP

It's too late for 2026, but 2027 Camp Registration opens in ONE WEEK. If you're experiencing a little SAHMO (sadness at having missed out) then you can correct it for 2027.

Camp is a fantastic way to build your summer racing fitness (which will, in turn, inform your fall racing fitness), learn from some of the best coaches and professional triathletes in the world, make new friends and build community, and basically just eat sleep train repeat for five glorious days in Bend, Oregon, a multisport Mecca.

And we offer our biggest discount of the year from the end of camp through June 30th: $300 off, which is more than a 10% discount. The price will never be this low again (even on Black Friday) so if you're gonna come...get in now.

As always, thanks for reading.

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—The Counselors at Campfire Endurance

Presented by Campfire Endurance Coaching

Today's newsletter is presented by Campfire Endurance Coaching.

We help endurance athletes improve their results (get FASTER), find more joy in the process of getting faster (get HAPPIER), and achieve lifelong wellbeing through sport (get HEALTHIER).

Our company has two major services:

• ​One-to-One Coaching: fully customizable, high-touch coaching built for your life and your goals. Our coaches carry a maximum of 15 athletes so you know you and your goals are always a prioity.
• ​Training Camps and Clinics: immersive multi-day and single-day events aimed at getting you the most improvement in the shortest amount of time.

If any of those sound like something you would like to take advantage of, you should consider booking a 45-minute FREE coaching and training consultation with us​