It’s a bit of a rule among spouses that train for triathlon: it’s better to train separately. Count South African pro triathlete Jeanni Seymour among them. She and husband (as well as fellow pro triathlete) Justin Metzler live together, eat together, grocery shop together and relax with a good coffee together. But when it comes to training, they’re on their own programs.

“It’s funny,” Seymour says. “When we were first together and in a bit of that honeymoon phase, we were excited to be with one another, all the time, and we did train together. But physiologically, it wasn’t great for either of us; I was training too hard, and he was going a little too easy.”

Metzler chimes in with a laugh. “We decided it was best for us to have different coaches, train separately, and treat our professional relationships and personal relationships as two separate things—we get up, go to work, and come home in the evening.

She summarizes it succinctly: “We’re constantly together and intertwined, but we have the division of work—and it works.”

One of those intertwinements is a welcome change in the new year, as Seymour joins the Quintana Roo family beginning in 2021. She joins her husband Metzler, who’s been part of the QR family for the past year.

Photo Credit: Kenny Withrow

At age 28, Seymour’s start is only beginning to shine. Turning pro in 2012 pro, her first Ironman 70.3 victory came in 2015. Since then, she’s been putting hash marks on her rifle, amassing a total of nine Ironman 70.3 victories since then, and scored a rewarding top 10 finish at Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Johannesburg, South African-born powerhouse is now one of the most successful (and feared) racers at the half Ironman distance on the pro circuit.

But while the last few years has seen her focus at the middle distance, she’s in the midst of her step up to the Ironman. In 2019 she made her Hawaii Ironman debut after a podium result at Ironman Texas that year, and aims to make a Kona a centerpiece to her 2021 race season—along with a spate of Ironman 70.3 appearances, of course.

While born in South Africa, Seymour lives full time in the tri mecca of Boulder, Colo. In order to focus year round on her centerpiece target: Kona. With one sip from the Kona cup during her 2019 debut, hers is a thirst that has yet to be slaked. As anyone with the lofty goals of performing to a top 10, a top 5 (or dreaming bigger, a podium or win), Kona requires practice, and patience, so every appearance on the Queen K is critical.

“I want to get back there and improve,” she says. “Of course 2021 is still somewhat uncertain and I plan on being ready for anything, but for me, qualifying for Kona is going to be my main goal.

Seymour still plan on sharpening her blade at the middle distance. “I absolutely want to do Ironman 70.3 Worlds in St. George, Utah,” she says. “I really love that course.

The prospect of racing in 2021 (fingers crossed!) has us all excited, but for Seymour, her excitement is supplement by the addition to a new tool in her arsenal: Quintana Roo’s flagship ride, the PRsix2. For her, the bike is not a place to sacrifice.

“I have to make decisions that put me in the best position to win, I want to be on the best equipment, and the PRsix2 is one of the fastest bikes out there. I want to win big races, and equipment can’t be a limiting factor,” she says. “I’ll be going to the wind tunnel to dial things in. To have the opportunity to ride the PRsix2? I’m stoked.”

And of course, Seymour’s partnership with QR allows her to join her husband, and bring it all in the family. The training remains separate, but the end goal is shared—at day’s end.

“I know we both want to get out there, ride the bikes really fast and win races,” Seymour says.

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