I’ve always believed we can all become the “expert-of-ourselves” when it comes to reaching new heights in our pursuits. That’s why self-coaching resonates so strongly with me: it’s about trusting your own intuition, gathering insights along the way, and building on them. No one embodies this spirit of self-reliance quite like Lionel Sanders. If you follow IRONMAN 70.3 St. George results, you might already know his nickname: “Mr. No Limits.”

In a world where many triathletes look outside themselves for validation, Sanders urges us to cultivate an internal focus—insisting that confidence and success often arise from our own experiences. This is a refreshing reminder that sometimes, the most powerful breakthroughs come from tuning in rather than looking out.

Finding Your Inner Drive: The Power of Mental Preparation

Throughout my time in triathlon training, I’ve learned how critical mental toughness can be. Sanders echoes this sentiment, emphasizing mental preparation as much as physical training. He creates a low-stress environment before race day and harnesses his inner momentum—something I’ve tried to emulate at big events when nerves threaten to sideline me.

This approach isn’t limited to physical endurance; we can apply it to our professional lives, too. Just like carefully re-checking the final details of a business pitch, visualizing a perfect race start helps us stay locked in when the day’s intensity spikes.

Starting with Urgency: Why It Sets the Tone

In performance enhancement, beginnings matter—a theme Lionel underscores by practicing ten race starts mentally. He knows that if you want to excel in an increasingly competitive field (particularly where races start to look more like ITU races), you need to set the pace. I recall my first triathlon, nervously bobbing in the water, letting the front pack get away from me. Sanders would say that moment was critical: when the gun goes off, you either take immediate charge or spend the rest of the race chasing.

Pushing Hard from Start to Finish

Another guiding principle from Sanders is pushing hard through every segment—swimming, biking, and running—no matter who’s ahead or behind. That might sound obvious, but maintaining “urgency” can be challenging when you seem to have open road in front of you. I used to breathe a sigh of relief whenever I found a gap during the bike, but it turns out that holding onto that fire is what creates real momentum.

He reminds us that in major races, you’ve got to get to the front at all costs. It’s an outlook I like to borrow in personal projects, too. Solving big problems often requires working tirelessly, even when no one’s watching—doubling down, sharpening your competitive mindset, and not easing up just because you feel comfortable.

Never-Ending Improvement: Continual Growth in Triathlon

Despite clinching the top spot at IRONMAN 70.3 St. George, Lionel Sanders remains convinced he can do more. He’s enthusiastic about enhancing his swimming and generating higher power on the biking portion. Above all, he’s consistently fine-tuning his stride while running.

To me, this is a potent lesson about progress: once I started seeing improvement, I realized it wasn’t a static milestone. Each valuable race strategy learned, each moment of perseverance, each stage of mental preparation, only opens the door to more possibilities. Much like investing, where compounding interest can exceed our wildest expectations, consistent micro-improvements add up over time.

Celebrate Every Effort

For Sanders, the result becomes secondary when you know you’ve given your best. I like to think of it as “paying yourself first”—putting in the effort during training and letting the race day reflect that investment. And just like with a well-diversified financial portfolio, you’re likely to see long-term dividends if you layer that kind of consistency into your approach. After all, when you trust yourself, commit wholeheartedly, and remain open to pushing beyond perceived limits, you’ll find more wins than you ever expected—both on and off the course.

Source: IRONMAN 70.3 St. George / Lionel Sanders Interview