XRCEL: You had the second fastest marathon time overall, 2:45:59. After what you considered not to be your best swim and bike, how did you pull off such a fast run?

Scott DeFilippis: It’s been a long time since I’ve had a marathon like that, but with nearly a year of uninterrupted training, I knew no matter what happened in the first half of the race, I had that sort of effort in me.  I carried two XRCEL’s out of T2, drinking the first immediately and then sipping off the other one during the first 21 kilometers. The Nice course is a four-lap run, so I was able to stop on laps two and three to get the other two bottles I had left in my special needs bag.

Last year you were injured and watched Carrie Lester race Ironman France from the sideline. How did spectating last year propel your personal goals for this race?

This race is very special for me as it’s the site of my very first Ironman finish. Ever since that day in 2010, I’ve dreamt of running like I did this year, but I was zero for three in previous attempts, completely melting on the run. This year, my main objective was to have a good marathon.

Watching the race last year was motivating, but it was also very educational to watch as I saw how the race unfolded and witnessed many of the guys buckling on the marathon.  Coming off the bike this year, even though I had lost a good 15 minutes more than I had expected, I knew if I could nail the run, I’d finish in the top 10.

Why was it important to you to not give up heading into the run, knowing you weren’t having the best day, when many times pros will save their bodies and not finish a race if they aren’t feeling “on?”

First of all, my entire family was there. They came “across the pond” to celebrate my parents 50^th wedding anniversary.  Trust me, I contemplated pulling out nearly the entire bike ride as I had not had a bad day like that on the bike all year, but I kept thinking of my nephews and I didn’t want to have to explain to them why I quit.  Secondly, I knew with a top 10 finish, I would earn a paycheck and, as a professional, as hard as it is to make a living in this sport, I was fighting to cover some costs of the trip. Finally, in terms of beating up my body, I knew the distance of the Ironman, and the marathon, wouldn’t beat me up as it has over the past few years when I didn’t have such a big base of fitness.

How does being a coach to your KIS athletes play a role in how you react during your races, whether things are going well or poorly for you?

This is a special point in my career because I am still racing at a high level while I continue to hone my coaching skills. With every training block and race I learn something new.  Ironman France was no different and hopefully I proved to my athletes that triathlon is three sports, it’s not all about the bike, like many think. At the end of the day, the marathon makes or breaks your race.

You have lived and trained in Switzerland regularly over the years. What makes training and racing in the region so special, in your opinion?

This is my eighth summer in Switzerland, so naturally it feels like a second home. I absolutely love riding my bike in the Alps as it makes me feel like a little kid when I ride here. There’s nothing like coming to the crest of a mountain and then flying down the other side. You get that same sensation of skiing, only on a bike.

Racing here is also very special!  So many races around the world have become too easy, with two and three lap bike courses without a hill in sight.  This may sound harsh, but some of these races should be called “Easyman” not Ironman, but not in France. The French people are not afraid of a challenge.  Every weekend, all summer long, there are races where the organizers found a body of water and then looked for the biggest hills or mountains to make the bike as challenging as possible. They are passionate about suffering, that’s for sure!  I think their country’s history, having fought two World Wars here, could have something to do with this mentality, and I plan on racing in Nice again next year!

What’s your next big goal for the season and what will you take away from this race?

I’m pretty certain I felt so terrible because of how I tapered for this race, so I am currently working this out. Next up will be Alpe d’ Huez Long Course in early August, followed by the “Grand Daddy” of all full distance racing, Embrunman in mid-August. I also plan to race Ironman Chattanooga at the end of September.  I’ve recovered well, so I know I have a few big efforts left in me this season.  I’ll be swinging for the fences in every race I start until the end of the year!

XRCEL: What was enticing about Ventouxman and made put it on your race schedule?

Carrie Lester: We wanted to race a half distance race about three weeks out from Ironman France and this race was perfect. The difficulty of the course and racing over the mythical Mt. Ventoux was what really enticed us to the race and knowing what this would do for our preparation made the decision easy.

XRCEL: Going into the race, what was your goal, knowing it’s such a tough course and that it would be a barometer of your fitness?

CL: The goal was really just to make the race a good, hard effort and add it to the fitness bank for Ironman France. Climbing Mt. Ventoux took me about an hour and twenty minutes and, the fact that I felt stronger as I went up and was able to have a strong run at 4500 feet, was a good indicator of fitness for sure.

XRCEL: What was your nutrition plan and how did you utilize XRCEL throughout the race?

CL: The plan was to not be in a deficit before starting the climb up Mt Ventoux. The first 60 kilometers of the bike was rolling and pretty quick, so this was when I made sure to fully-fuel myself well enough to start the climb by drinking and taking in calories. I had two XRCEL plus fluid on the flatter sections and then another two XRCEL during the climb along with a chocolate bar.  I took two more XRCEL’s during the 20 kilometer run.

XRCEL: At what point in the race did you believe you were going to win and how did you stay focused for the remainder of the race?

CL: I was in the lead after the swim and knew I was riding well when I started catching some of the men on the climb up Mt Ventoux. I didn’t know where the next female was, but I couldn’t see anyone during the one out and back on the run, so I assumed I was safely in the lead (which I know you should never do). This was good for me heading into the run as it was at 4500 feet, through wet and slippery trails. I didn’t want to have to push myself with Ironman France only a few weeks away.

XRCEL: When you crossed the finish line as the winner, when did you realize that Scott had won too?

CL: The last time I saw him on the run course, he was close to the lead male and I knew he would have been able to run him down, but I didn’t know he had won for sure until I hugged him at the finish line. I didn’t care that I had won because I was so happy for him. He was holding the finish tape for me, which was really special. To find out he won, I was so happy for him we both started crying. He deserves every win as he works harder than anyone I know.

XRCEL: How does the dynamic as “coach and athlete” help you in your training and racing?

CL: We certainly have our stressful moments, as every athlete/coach would, but we show a lot of respect for each other and we always manage. We just get the work done, but still make sure we are both enjoying what we do and have a balanced approach to training, racing, and life in general.

XRCEL: What does this win do for you as you as you prepare to defend your title at Ironman France?

CL: Win or not, it was a great race to add to the fitness bank. We have both had a great training block since then and I feel we are both heading into Ironman France in really good shape. There is stronger competition this year on the women’s side, but I am racing just as fit, if not fitter, than last year. If I put down the performance I am capable of, I will be happy with wherever that places me, but the win would be a dream.

XRCEL: What is it about the training in Leysin that helps you prepare for the second half of your season, including two Ironmans?

CL: Leysin is at about 4500 feet of altitude and we can swim and get in some run sessions here as well, which is a big fitness benefit. All of the riding is hard as every ride includes some form of climbing, so you always have to push yourself. After 10-12 weeks of this, it builds a lot of strength and, add the difficult races we do, and it all carries through to the end of the year.

XRCEL: How do you use your win at Ventouxman to get mentally and physically prepared to compete for the Ironman World Championships?

CL: I we still have to race Alpe d’Huez Triathlon and Embrunman and then have a short rest before the final build for the world championships. Those races. for me, are the physical and mental preparation I need for Kona. They add so much strength at the end of our trip and also allow us to have a more “relaxed” Kona build. I don’t need to bury myself with long sessions every single week until the race because all of the work has been done here.  It’s a matter of taking some time after the trip to rest up and then just enjoy the final four weeks of preparation.

XRCEL: How did you and Scott celebrate your huge, double win at Ventouxman?

CL: We spent a night in Annecy on the way home and then enjoyed dinner with friends back in Leysin. We didn’t do anything crazy and jumped straight back into the training for Ironman France. After the Ironman, we will have one week with Scott’s family, who are coming over for the race, so that will be a week of celebrating both races along with his parents 50^th anniversary.