Chapter Five: Run Your Race
“In Ironman, feeling good at mile 40 just means the decisions are about to get harder.”
The Veteran has seen it play out a hundred times.
A blur of carbon wheels flies past him halfway through the bike. Shoulders low, cadence high, legs full of beans. The rider looks strong. Feels strong. Maybe is strong. But if they’re riding someone else’s race?
It won’t last.
He doesn’t chase.
He’s not ignoring them out of pride or fear – he’s choosing discipline. Because long ago, he learned the difference between racing others and racing well.
It starts before race day.
A clear plan. Pacing numbers. Nutrition timing. How it should feel at mile 30. And 80. And 112.
How it should feel when the marathon starts and your brain tries to trick you:
“You’re fine. You could go faster.”
And how it will feel 10 miles later if you do.
That plan – it’s not just a guide. It’s a lifeline. Built from experience, from training data, from hours spent getting the body ready and rehearsing the mental game.
Because in a race this long, the biggest mistake isn’t going slow.
It’s forgetting who you are when the noise gets loud.
He remembers one race clearly. Midway through the bike, a guy he knew came past hard. They’d trained together a bit – similar speeds, different strategies. The guy was pushing big watts early, hammering into a headwind, and shouting encouragement like it was a local sprint.
The Veteran gave a quick wave – and let him go.
He stuck to the plan. Ate on time. Soft-pedaled the downhills. Checked his ego every 10 miles.
A few hours later, he passed that same athlete – walking at mile 10 of the run. Blistered, bonked, unravelled.
It was a quiet lesson, but it stuck.
“You don’t win Ironman in the first 40 miles,” the Veteran says. “But you can sure lose it there.”
That’s why he races with blinkers. Stays in his lane. Not because he lacks courage – but because he knows what it takes to finish well.
And for him, that means this:
Stick to your plan.
Race your race.
And don’t trade the finish for the feeling of the first hour.
Another mile behind. Plenty more ahead.
Coach’s Corner: Race Smart From The Start
One of the hardest things in endurance racing – especially Ironman – is not getting swept up in other people’s races.
Here’s the truth:
- Someone will overtake you early. That’s not your concern.
- Someone will seem stronger than they are. That’s their problem.
- Someone will burn their matches in the first 60 minutes. You don’t have to join them.
What you can control:
✅ Your pacing strategy
✅ Your fuelling and hydration
✅ Your mindset
Preparation breeds confidence. Know your numbers. Know your plan. Practice it in training. On race day, execute like it’s your job – because it is.
You’ll thank yourself at mile 20 of the marathon.
Race brave. But race smart.
The best races come when heart and head work together.
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