It’s all in the planning

 When you get to your first Ironman race, the most important tool is planning. You can train for an entire year but if you don’t put in the planning ahead of the race the wheels will come off. A well planned race will get you to the finish line even if you don’t feel physically ready. 

A badly planned race at your fittest will see you struggle to get round. It’s not just about the day itself, it’s the build up to race day, nutrition, fueling, hydration, equipment, strategies and psychology. 

Get it all squared away and you’re home and dry. Before race day you need to have nutrition and meals planned out during taper phase and the days and hours before the race. You need to have tried and tested all of your race day nutrition in order to avoid any digestive issues on the way round. When I competed in Ironman Vichy I hit the run and my fueling went wrong leaving me with horrible indigestion that nearly cost me the finish line. 

Make sure you have a plan for each discipline during the race. How will you start the swim, when you exit the swim into transition what are your considerations before you get on the bike. Swimming too hard and then going out hard on the bike can just leave you struggling to get your composure for the rest of the race. 

The bike is your longest leg of any race so this is where you need to control your out put and fuel properly for the run. Psychologically it’s a game changer, to ensure during training you’ve primed your brain and body to cope with long periods of boredom, you may laugh but it’s essential to have the ability to zone out and yet keep up the physical output. Coming off the bike into the run is the most challenging part mentally and physically. You’ve now got the hardest slog ahead of you. However if you’ve planned and fueled properly it will be easier. Not easy, but easier. Most Ironman routes on the run are laps, which can be mentally tough, but develop ways of breaking down the race to tackle each one. Keep hydrating and fueling till the finish line. With all the will there is rarely a race without a hitch even with planning, but account for what you can to give yourself the best possible chance! 

For more help planning and training contact me.