In this episode of the IRONMAN Insider, host Matt Lieto is joined by two top contenders for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona: Taylor Knibb and Lisa Perterer.
First, Taylor Knibb offers a candid look into her race week mindset, emphasizing her need for quiet and solitude to conserve her high energy for race day. She reveals her love for reading as a key distraction, sharing that her current non-fiction pick is Mastery. Taylor reflects on the “naivety” that helped her in her first Kona race and discusses how a humbling experience at IRONMAN Texas has given her a “healthy dose of fear and respect” for the distance. While she remains focused on her own process, she shares a key tactical insight learned from Daniela Ryf’s 2018 course record: the race can be won on the challenging return from Hawi.

Next, first-time Kona competitor Lisa Perterer shares her excitement about finally experiencing the legendary race atmosphere. The Austrian powerhouse, who thrives in hot and humid conditions, is hoping for a challenging day. Lisa reflects on a tough past year and how she has rediscovered the joy in racing, an attitude that was on full display when she received a penalty at IRONMAN Lake Placid but continued to smile and wave to the crowd. While she still has goals of a top-five or even a podium finish, her primary focus is on having a “solid day” to defend her third-place position in the IRONMAN Pro Series standings.