Search
shop

‘We had a bit of a crazy plan’ – Lisa Norden on unconventional Roth build-up

Swedish star looking to put an epic gravel racing brick session to good use as she bids to make her mark at stacked Challenge Roth.
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

She was in the top six at both Kona and last year’s rescheduled IRONMAN World Championship in St George, is #16 in the world rankings and yet Lisa Norden seems to be coming into Challenge Roth relatively under the radar.

Part of the reason is the fact that the Swede, second behind Nicola Spirig in that stunning Olympics finale at London 2012, has only had the one low-key, indoor race this season.

But as we found out when we caught up with her in Roth, that doesn’t mean she comes into this short of fitness.

She told us: “I actually did the Arena Triathlon indoors in Sweden three months ago which was a super-short event with qualifying in the morning and then the final in the afternoon.”

But that saw the emergence of a calf issue which would ultimately rule her out of her early-season target of the PTO European in Ibiza and has since led to an unconventional build-up in swim, bike and run.

Advertisement

Unusual brick session

She took part in an open water swim race at the Stockholm Simfestivalen and then on two wheels headed to her first-ever gravel race in Finland – an up-and-down 177km which she followed the next morning with a 34km run!

“We had to regroup a little bit after Ibiza in terms of the plan for Roth, which was always one of my big races,” she explains.

“We had bit of a crazy plan, but I think it turned out quite well with three weeks of altitude in Livigno then we needed to do something productive with that window afterwards. It was like, okay, let’s go to Finland gravel. At 177k it was like an Ironman distance and then followed by the long run afterwards. It was my first gravel race and I met Ruth Astle and India Lee on the startline which was nice.

“It was a mass start and super tough and to be honest beforehand I was standing there feeling my collarbones and wondering if I was about to do something stupid!

“I’ve done some road races in the past, big ones too. But this one was crazy because it had everyone together, the pro men and women. It was undulating trails in the forest and very technical – but I had some massive power numbers so it was a great workout and then I recovered enough to do the run.”

Lisa Norden (SWE) wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2022

‘Such a change in the dynamic’

Norden says she’s been focussing on her cycling, which was a strength anyway, but adds: “I’m very aware my marathon time has to come down too and that’s also what we’ve been working on simultaneously.”

And she knows that with the stacked field on Sunday – all the IRONMAN world champions since 2015 and six athletes from the top 16 in the world – she’ll need to be on the top of her game.

But with her ITU background, the best racing the best is sonething she’s very used to: “Coming from World Triathlon racing, every race you turn up to has a good field.

“Full-distance is a bit trickier because you can’t really race ‘no limits’, you have to calculate what you’re doing.

“It used to be that my coach told me, you can do Ironman when you’re old and slow, don’t do it now. But now you have such a change in the dynamic.

“You have such a big pool of talent and everyone can swim, everyone is in the wind tunnel. Everyone is doing all the details as well. So every year it gets better and better at the top and the midfield gets better too. And it’s making for really good races.”

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
tri-fit vortex tri suit review
TRI-FIT VORTEX tri suit review – race day approved performance
Maja Stage Nielsen Kat Matthews Jocelyn McCauley IRONMAN Texas 2023 podium photo credit IRONMAN
PremiumRacing to keep up: Is social media making us train harder?
Cadomotus chronos aero triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Wahoo ELEMNT RIVAL
PremiumTraining to heart rate vs power on the bike
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
latest News
Morgan Pearson run T100 San Francisco 2025
Morgan Pearson born to run – ‘maybe I’m the T100 X Factor with a lot to prove’
Georgia Taylor Brown smiles Supertri Toronto 2025
‘It might take a miracle but I’ll give it my best shot’ – can GTB repeat Supertri Chicago win?
Sam Renouf CEO of the PTO
T100 Valencia replacement announced as PTO chief acknowledges “challenges” with 2025 calendar
ironman hamburg 2025 podium laura philipp kat matthews solveig lovseth
Matthews and Løvseth clash again in star-studded IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See
Jonny Brownlee with bike transition Supertri Toronto 2025
Supertri Chicago 2025: Date, start time, how to watch live and who’s racing
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...