After an impressive tenth place finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside, fans were eager to see Joe Skipper shine at IRONMAN Texas, anticipating a showdown with rivals like Patrick Lange and Braden Currie for the IRONMAN Pro Series title.
Unfortunately, Skipper’s hopes were dashed as he had to withdraw during the run portion of the race due to feeling unwell. Sharing his disappointment on Instagram, Skipper expressed his intentions for his next full-distance race.
Reflecting on his performance, Skipper acknowledged his disappointment with his swim but found solace in parts of his bike performance. Despite a slow start in the swim, he was surprised by his ability to catch up during the bike leg, eventually positioning himself among the top athletes. However, his hopes were dashed when he started feeling ill and bloated during the run, despite his legs feeling strong.
Feeling progressively worse as he transitioned from the bike to the run, Skipper ultimately made the difficult decision to withdraw from the race.
He described feeling even worse during the run, realizing that pushing through would be futile in his condition. The decision to DNF was tough, especially after dedicating considerable time and effort to preparation for the race.
Looking ahead, Skipper expressed doubts about continuing in the IRONMAN Pro Series but decided to give IRONMAN Cairns a try before making any definitive decisions.
Despite the disappointment of his recent performance, he emphasized his desire to enjoy racing and execute a satisfying race at Cairns, leaving the future open for reassessment based on his experience there.
