Six members of the Team Rocket Tri Club flew this week from Huntsville to southeast France to compete in the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
It’s about 4,500 miles from the Rocket City to Nice, the second largest French city on the Mediterranean coast. It is the city of luxury, sun, sea and getaways, nestled between Cannes and Monaco, part of the ohh-la-laa and frou-frou of the French Riveria. Steeped in history, today Nice is a UNESCO Heritage site and this week, again, plays host to some of the top athletes in the world.
Saturday and Sunday, the men and women will hit the course and begin with a 1.2-mile swim in the Mediterranean Sea. After transition, they’ll ride 56 hilly miles through the scenic Alpes-Maritimes that include a testy climb near the end. The event finishes with a flat 21-mile run on the Promenade des Anglais between the sea and city.
The tri club members in Nice include Ruth Marie Oliver, Carolyn Sanders, Jennifer Smith, Ashley Wells and Matt McMillian, all of Huntsville, and Cynthia Mitchell of Athens. They departed Huntsville about five days ago. After getting settled, it’s been a busy schedule of locating event venues, picking up bibs, tags and swag, runs and rides and swims, giant bowls of pasta and enjoying a few sights.
Last weekend, McMillian finished double- and triple-checking everything he’d need. The 41-year-old Huntsvillian secured his bike and packed a wetsuit, shoes and other gear. He’s familiar with the routine but it never gets old. Just a few weeks ago, he knocked out a second-place finish in the TRTC’s Rocketman Triathlon, one of the city’s oldest continuous events.
McMillian has completed three IM 70.3 championships. He finished in 5:09:49 last year in Marbella, Spain. Sanders completed that one, too, in 7:22:51. McMillian also finished the 2023 championship, in 4:24:39, and the 2021 event, in 5:12:36.
Podiums and solid finishes are familiar to the group in Nice, and this weekend should be another stellar showing for all. Before departing, we caught up with all but McMillian to get a few quick thoughts from each:
Carolyn Sanders
Carolyn Sanders, D.M., M.Ed., is the Professor of Music, Emeritus, at the University of Alabama in Huntsville
How long have you been a triathlete, and why did you get into it? I started participating in triathlons in my mid-40s, almost 25 years ago. I was very active in local and regional short course races for six years, then dropped out until around five years ago, at age 64. When I retired as a UAH professor three years ago, I decided to jump into Ironman distance races for the first time.Others described training for an Ironman distance race as involved as a full-time job, and I needed a new one, so it was a perfect fit!
I have always loved to swim and swam on a team for a few years in elementary and middle school. I learned to appreciate cycling while working at a music camp during college, in the beautiful mountains of northern New Mexico. I never liked to run, but realized the only way to be involved in triathlon is to learn to dislike it a little less, which I have accomplished! I started when friends were involved in training for the local Mountain Lakes race in Guntersville, so at that point I decided to jump in literally, and never looked back.
How many times have you qualified for the 70.3 World Championship, or is this your first? How about the full Ironman championship? In the last three years, I have competed in one Ironman 70.3 World Championship, last year in Marbella, Spain. I also competed in the 2024 Ironman World Championships in Nice and the 2025 Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.
What’s your favorite of the three (bike, run, swim) and why? I love to find excitement anywhere I can. So for me, the bike offers the greatest thrill factor of the three activities, especially on a hilly route like the Nice bike course.
What are your expectations or goals for Nice? I try not to put too much pressure on myself. I hope to be able to put all of my months of careful training to use, execute my plan on race day to the best of my abilities, and have fun while doing it.
Anything else you’d like to add? Since I retired three years ago, I’ve competed in nine full or half Ironman races nationally and internationally, including the upcoming race in Nice. I’ve been blown away by the kindness and generosity of the triathlon community. The tireless efforts of our local Team Rocket Triathlon Club in giving back to the North Alabama region through directing races, as well as in supporting each individual athlete in their journey, has been amazing.The opportunity to interface with other athletes from all over the world at these races, who all share the common bond of pushing themselves to the limit through endurance racing, has truly been life changing for me!
Ashley Wells
How long have you been a triathlete, and why did you get into it? I did my first triathlon in 2022, the Mountain Lakes Sprint. I wanted to do a triathlon to get into shape and complete a fun goal. I was hooked immediately after the first race.
How many times have you qualified for the 70.3 World Championship, or is this your first? How about the full Ironman championship? This the first time I have qualified for the 70.3 World Championship. I have never qualified for Kona.
What’s your favorite of the three (bike, run, swim) and why? My favorite part is the run. If I have made it to the run I know there is a good chance I will finish the race!
What are your expectations or goals for Nice? My goal for Nice is to finish and have fun.
Ruth Marie Oliver
Oliver is president of the Team Rocket Tri Club.
How long have you been a triathlete, and why did you get into it? I have been involved in triathlon for 14 years. In 2012, I did Wet Dog and by 2014 I was racing IRONMAN distance races. I started to get invovle with TRTC as a volunteer in 2013. I got into triathlon to get back in shape. I was 35 and overweight. I have been working long hours and not taking care of myself. Triathlon had helped me become more phyically and mentally healthy.
How many times have you qualified for the 70.3 World Championship, or is this your first? How about the full Ironman championship? This will be my second 70.3 World Championship. I competed in the 2025 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain. I qualified for that race at Gulf Coast 70.3 in May of 2025. I qualifed for this WC at Muncie 70.3 in July of 2025. I qualified for IRONMAN World Championship in KONA, Hawaii in 2023 throught the Legacy Program. I hope to qualify for the 2027 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga.
What’s your favorite of the three (bike, run, swim) and why? I enjoy biking the best, but I really enjoy the full sport of triathlon the best.
What are your expectations or goals for Nice? My hope is to enjoy the race experience to the fullest. This is my chance to enjoy the hard work I have put into the sport. It is like triathlon prom!
Anything else you’d like to add? I feel grateful for the endurance community in Huntsville. It is very rewarding to see some many athletes chase their dreams in different ways.
Cynthia Mitchell
How long have you been a triathlete, and why did you get into it? May of 2021, my mother in law called and asked if I was serious about trying an Ironman one day. I said sure! She asked me to sign up for Augusta 70.3 that year. I hung up the phone, signed up and promptly called her back, freaking out a bit, saying I needed to buy a bike!!
How many times have you qualified for the 70.3 World Championship, or is this your first? How about the full Ironman championship? This is my first 70.3 WC. I qualified at Muncie with Ruth but didn’t stay for roll downs! So let’s go 2026! I placed 3rd in my age group at IM Florida last year, but sadly didn’t get a slot for Kona.
What’s your favorite of the three (bike, run, swim) and why? I came to the sport having a strong running background in my 30’s-40’s. I swam growing up, so that was a big help. And I’ve fallen in love with cycling! So, I’m truly mediocre at all 3, and actually like them all.
What are your expectations or goals for Nice? I’m excited to swim in the Med, but that bike course is going to be difficult! So enjoy the swim, survive the bike and crush the run! I’d love to have a sub-2-hour half marathon in a 70.3, I’ve been just seconds off. So maybe Nice?
Anything else you’d like to add? I’m beyond lucky to have the support of my family and to be heading to Nice with some other amazing athletes. The support that we get from our teammates on TRTC, as well as training together, truly make this a remarkable experience. I can’t wait to share the course with all the pros and who I consider the local pros!
TRTC members Wells, Mitchell, McMillian, Oliver and Jennifer Smith (from left) at the airport before departing for France.
Jennifer Smith
How long have you been a triathlete, and why did you get into it? My first triathlon was the Huntsville Sprint Tri in 2025. That was just one week before 2025 Louisville 70.3, where I qualified for the 2026 70.3 World Championship in Nice. I’m a late bloomer.
I originally got into triathlon because I had become an “Ironman widow” when my husband started training for them in 2023. As a lifelong competitive runner, I felt confident about that part, so I began accompanying him during his training. Then, about two years ago, after watching my husband compete in Chattanooga 70.3, I caught the racing bug again. Not long afterward, I came home to find a road bike (thanks to the assistance of Ruth Oliver) waiting for me with a bow on it. I thought, “Well, I guess I’ll be doing even more training with him.”
After several months, I figured I might as well sign up for a race. Mind you, when my husband first signed up for an Ironman, I thought he was crazy. So I guess that makes two of us! We raced Louisville together and had an absolute blast.
How many times have you qualified for the 70.3 World Championship, or is this your first? How about the full Ironman championship? This is my first time qualifying for anything Ironman-related.
What’s your favorite of the three (bike, run, swim) and why? As a lifelong runner, running will probably always be my favorite. My dad said that as soon as I learned to walk I started running everywhere, and not much has changed.
I was a Texas state cross-country champion in high school and continued running for fun afterward. Running is my meditation: it clears my head, keeps me grounded, and has always felt like a natural part of who I am.
That said, once I started cycling, I quickly grew to love it almost as much. I love the challenge, the speed, and—most importantly—the incredible, supportive community I’ve found through the tri club’s cycling group.
What are your expectations or goals for Nice? As a newer triathlete, my goals are simple: finish, have fun, and hopefully not come in last!
Anything else you’d like to add? Becoming a member of TRTC has had such a positive impact on my life. This is a community that truly cares about and supports one another, and I’ve met so many talented people whom I admire and look up to. My only regret is that I didn’t join sooner!
One thing I’ve learned along the way: never say never, or you may end up doing a half Ironman!
Ruth Oliver, Cynthia Mitchell, Ashley Wells and Carolyn Sanders (from left) qualified for the Nice championship during the Chattanooga 70.3 event this year. Chattanooga will host the 2027 world 70.3 championship.
