Harness the mental prowess of an Ironman

I could have quit that first race back in 2007 before I ever started. Four-foot waves crashed on the shores of the mid-Atlantic, washing grown men onto the sand after they failed to get past the breakers. I trembled on the beach, eying them — these triathletes who looked so much more experienced than I was. They had it all: the tri suits, the nice goggles, the chiseled bodies.

Then I went out. I dove through the waves. I swallowed some ocean. I completed that swim, and, after the bike and run segments, I crossed that finish line and cried. That was a sprint triathlon. My first ever. Since then I’ve competed in countless races of all distances.

It was around then I remember someone asked me, “Would you ever do an Ironman?” to which I replied, “No way.” But sometimes you find your dreams, and sometimes your dreams find you. Either way, never stop looking.

As a noun, the Ironman is both a race distance, and a title earned by those who complete it. The first Ironman was held in 1978 and since then, it’s estimated only .01% of the world’s population has completed an Ironman, or 1 in 10,000. This author of Inc. speculates the Ironman is an entrepreneur’s ultimate test and estimates completion rates are closer to 1 in 1,000.

Ironman triathletes have some of the greatest mental stamina, bar none, and their thought processes apply everywhere — athletics, work, school, personal endeavors, and more.

Non-athletes and athletes alike can learn from an Ironman’s success by understanding the simple truth: if you believe you can, you will. So, consider how you might apply these themes to pursue your own goals.

If you believe you can, you will.

First Things First — Triathlon Basics

A triathlon involves the following activities: swim, bike, and run (in that order). There are several standard triathlon distances (metric), each roughly doubling the distance of the former, including:

• Sprint — 750meter swim | 20k bike | 5k run (avg. 1–2 hrs)
• Olympic — 1.5k swim | 40k bike | 10k run (avg. 3–4 hrs)
• Half Ironman (70.3)—1.9k swim| 90k bike| 21.1k run (avg. 5–7 hrs)
• Ironman (140.6)—3.8k swim | 180k bike | 42.2k run (avg. 10–14 hrs)

Let’s break that down in imperial terms. The Ironman is a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run. You probably think of Kona in Hawaii— the competition for top global athletes who qualify, like the Boston Marathon for its sport — but there are many Ironman races around the world each year. Each offers its own unique challenges, from hills or mountains to ocean swims, to flat courses requiring constant bike pedaling. But there is something besides the distance and topography that attracts us to these races.

The Why

I can imagine what you’re thinking: ‘Why would anyone want to race for 10–14 hours?’ Ironman triathletes all have their own unique stories and motivations, but there are several common qualities I believe you’ll find in them all.

Mostly I believe we want to push ourselves. To test our limits. There are certainly competitive athletes in this sport, and you’ll know them when you see them, but for many of us, we’re trying to beat our own best times. We are our own biggest competitors.

The How

An Ironman is not afraid of failure. He/she/they know Did Not Finish (DNF) is better than Did Not Try (DNT). They don’t let fears hold them back. They commit. Then, they persist.

They don’t always have the fanciest gear; they have what they need to get the job done. When warranted, they upgrade, but first and foremost they prioritize their mental and physical stamina, because that is what will get them across the finish line.

The IronMentality — A Growth Mindset

Believe me when I say completing the Ironman on race day is not the hardest part of the process. In my opinion, maintaining consistency in your training and staying committed to your goals is the hardest part. It requires discipline and commitment. Objectively evaluate everything, from how you spend your time to how you spend your thoughts, cultivating things that bring you closer to your goals and relinquishing those that don’t.

Here’s how to apply an IronMentality to crush your goals, be they personal or occupational.

1. Learn

Be curious and willing to learn. An Ironman realizes over time that he/she/they are capable of great things, then they find a path to make it happen. They are open to personally challenging themselves, because they know life isn’t over ’til it’s over. Until then, time is a gift and you can be whatever you want when you grow up.

They learn about the distances, techniques, gear, and training. They learn how to prepare for each phase of the race, as well as the transitions. They learn how to push themselves to perform longer, better, and faster, and eventually they learn they are capable of doing more than they realize.

From there, the sky is the limit. An Ironman is only tempered by his/her/their natural fears — fears which can be overcome by asking the simple questions, “Why not?” and “How can I be better?”

2. Commit

You have to want it. To commit to a physical endeavor as significant as the Ironman requires the maturity to understand the mental commitment that accompanies it. This is true for any major feat you’re aiming to tackle: to be successful requires mental fortitude. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t be a challenge.

It begins the day you register, when you realize the clock is ticking until race day, and you have to mentally prepare. Every day you think about it, considering not, “What have I done?” but instead, “How will I do it?” An Ironman approaches everything with a growth mindset, per #1. Then, they answer their own questions with a plan.

3. Plan

Fueled by excitement and well-directed energy, an Ironman gears up. They find an appropriate training program (even if it’s self-created), and then they execute it. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and it can be written in chicken scratch on the back of a napkin, but you need to know what you need to do so you can mentally prepare for it.

It’s akin to preparing for a large presentation at work — you wouldn’t walk in empty handed. You’ve prepared your materials (in this case, your gear) and you’ve rehearsed (in this case, your mind). You know what it will take to execute your training, and you tackle it one minute at a time.

If it helps to find a friend or group to motivate you, make it happen. You know yourself best. Hold yourself accountable. Make your plan SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. For example, my longest training workouts are an 18-mile run, a 90-mile bike ride, and a 75-minute lap swim three weeks before race weekend. Those are SMART goals, and ones I achieved with the right planning and mental preparedness.

4. Execute

Once there is a plan, you follow it, adapting as necessary and listening closely to your body. It requires sacrifice — turning the lights off early for a good night’s sleep, skipping the extra drink with friends, or losing a few sleep cycles in the morning to rise before dawn and go the distance.

Training takes a very serious commitment. Other priorities constantly tug you away from your goals, but you stay strong and complete your workouts on time. This requires a stand-out support crew (namely, your family or close friends) and a mind of steel. It also requires a thirst for adventure.

• So it’s snowing one morning when you’re due for a training run? Don your gloves and beanie.
• So it’s 70% humidity one summer day when you’re biking? Freeze your water bottle the night before.
• So your kid has to be on the bus at 8:30AM? Start your long run in the pitch black darkness at 4:45AM to be back before 8AM.
• So your community pool only has one lap lane? Be there first.

Nothing stands in the way once you’ve committed to your goals, because by staying true to your training, you show you’re taking yourself and your commitments seriously. Plus, it prepares you for race day.

5. Celebrate

And oh, how glorious race day is. The race IS the celebration — a culmination of your willingness to learn, try, and grow.

Yes, you sometimes get kicked in the face as you’re swimming. Yes, the bike saddle can be painful after a while. Yes, the run can be a slog (especially with no music), but I bet you’ll smile multiple times during those long hours on the course. Because you’re proud of yourself. You’re elated to surround yourself with like-minded people. With your participation, you hope to inspire others in your life to reach their fullest potential.

And of course, you know that waiting for you at that finish line are your family or friends, plus a very good reason to toast to your achievements. Whether you crawl, walk, or run, crossing the finish line of an Ironman is something only 1 in 1,000 (or 1 in 10,000) people will do, so cheers!

Summary

Adopting the IronMentality takes curiosity, faith in yourself and your ability to create and follow a plan, grit, persistence, and above all, a zest for life. Push your boundaries, challenge yourself, and you might find yourself crossing a finish line you never thought possible, until you tried. And when someone asks you what you’ll do next, never shut the door on your own potential.

#triit #noregrets

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