Leo Martellotto, JA Worldwide's Chief Development Officer, Competes at the 2023 Half-Ironman World Championships
August 25, 2023
On Sunday, August 25, our own Leo Martellotto—Chief Development Officer at JA Worldwide and veteran Ironman and Half-Ironman (70.3) competitor—will be competing in his biggest race of the year. We sat down with him to talk about the upcoming race.
JA Worldwide: Tell us about the race this weekend. Where is it, how long is it, what events are included, and so on?
Leo: It is the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, a long-distance triathlon that includes a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) swim, a 56-mile (90 km) bike ride, and a 13.1 mile (21 km) half-marathon run. From 120 qualifying races held around the world, 2500 athletes will participate at the World Championships on Sunday in Lahti, Finland. This will be my fifth time participating at the World Championships, and I am excited about it!
JA Worldwide: Whew! That’s a lot of miles. What does your training schedule look like, and how do you fit it in with your family and a demanding job? Does your family come with you to these global races?
Leo: Finding the time to train is definitely a balancing act! Having a family that supports me, as well as having flexible working hours, are critical. Here’s how I make it work:
Swim during lunch time (that means eating snacks while stopped at traffic lights on my way to the swimming pool).
Run in the late afternoon, usually while my wife, Mili, manages bath time with my two daughters.
Wake up early every (every!) Saturday—whether it’s -3C or 45C—to ride the bike and be back home as soon as possible.
Forget about watching TV. I think the last series I watched was Lost!
While traveling for work, run at 4am, having just landed in Hong Kong, or at 1am in Madrid while others are chatting after a JA event, so as not to miss a training session.
Having Mili and the girls come with me to races is important not just for me (finishing a race and seeing them shouting and supporting me makes me cry . . . 100% guaranteed), but also for them to see firsthand how passion and hard work combine. My girls get to see me overcoming challenges and what it means for me, spiritually and physically. At races, they understand the reason behind all the effort my whole family puts in.
JA Worldwide: Well, now you’ve made us cry, too!
You’ve been competing for well over a decade now. Why drives you to keep competing and performing at this level?
Leo: It is about exercising the “muscle” of considering something “impossible,” and then showing yourself it’s “possible” thanks to mental and physical training. It’s about exposing me to uncomfortable experiences and finding ways to make those comfortable and even enjoyable. It is about building a community/group of friends with whom I share the same passion, even though we are all from different backgrounds. Once a commitment like this becomes part of who you are, you realize you need it to remain at 110% energy level. Training is key for the many things I love doing, including having extra energy to lose myself in playing with my girls at the end of the day or traveling intensively for JA.
JA Worldwide: And we understand you’ll be sharing your JA connection in the race. Tell us more about that.
Leo: JA and triathlon are both a huge part of my life, shaping the way I think, act, and commit to things that I care about. They not just a job and just a sport I participate in. Both are a way of living, shaping my attitude toward life. They connect my purpose to the impact I want to bring to the world. I hope to raise JA flag to celebrate every one of us has “boundless potential!”
JA Worldwide: Since we’ll be following your progress on Sunday, tell us about your pre-race preparation (any pre-race meal, stretching, fuel during the race, etc.)
Leo: I always think that what you do five days before the race is less important than what you have done during the previous six months. Of course it’s important to rest and eat well as you get close to the race, but there is no magic trick. This year’s location—Finland—and my home country—Argentina—are far apart, so traveling will be challenging. We will have three flights, two of them 9+ hours, and 6 hours of time difference when we arrive. So resting and eating healthy will be part of the adventure. But the beauty of being a total amateur is that I don't depend on my results to make a living. So, given the craziness of the past four months—including my new role with JA Worldwide and all the traveling I’ve been doing—I won’t be there for a personal record, but to enjoy the experience and share it with my family!
Read more about Leo in this post from five years ago. And follow his progress on Sunday at ironman.com/live.