When I first set my sights on the Iron Man World Championships in Kona, I treated the journey like an investment portfolio. My "principal" was every mile I ran and pedal stroke I made; my "interest rate" was determined by consistency in training. Week after week, I stacked long-distance runs and rides—my version of compound interest in athletic conditioning. This steady accumulation of endurance paid off when I needed to summon every ounce of stamina on Hawaii’s lava fields.

Heat acclimation became the linchpin of my preparation. Lanzerati, with its crushing humidity and sun-baked roads, served as my training kiln. Each blistering session on the treadmill or parched pavement forged my heat tolerance, so by race day in Kona, the furnace felt more like home than hazard. In long-distance racing, acclimating to temperature extremes isn’t optional—it’s fundamental to maintaining your split strategy under duress.

Equipment optimization was my next frontier. I invested hours dialing in my bike position—test rides at dawn, metric after metric logged—until every watt translated into forward motion without wasted energy. My training suit was custom-fitted, a second skin that reduced drag and maximized comfort. In a sport where seconds separate podium spots, marginal gains from tailored gear can be as decisive as any workout.

But no athlete stands alone. Partnering with Mar Lane transformed my solo slog into a dynamic duet. We mirrored each other’s pace, cheered each breakthrough, and sharpened our competitive training through shared sweat and support. In competitive training, a reliable partner becomes a mirror for your discipline, an accelerant for your commitment.

Finally, I never underestimated the mental game. I treated every doubt like an opponent to be out-trained. By reframing pre-race anxiety into excitement, I built the mental resilience needed to navigate fatigue and unexpected challenges—flat tires, nutrition hiccups, or a momentary loss of focus. Believing in your capabilities is the ultimate race strategy, one that transforms pressure into performance.

My Kona preparation combined the art of consistent training, the science of heat acclimation, meticulous equipment optimization, the power of partnership, and unwavering mental readiness. The result? A performance that felt less like chance and more like the inevitable payoff of a well-executed plan.

Ready to dig deeper into any aspect—be it heat training protocols, race strategy, or gear selection? Let me know which element you’d like to explore next!