Russell Sergent has always had a passion for running, which led him to take part in his first marathon in 2007. A year later he completed his first Ironman distance triathlon, covering 140.6 miles in the process, and has since gone on to complete four more, all of which he completed in less than 12.5 hours. While your preparation for Ironman races is crucial, there are also a number of issues that you will need to deal with on the day of the race itself. The following are all useful tips for ensuring you are ready for what you will face when the race starts.
Russell Sergent
Get Fueled
Make sure you enjoy a nutritious breakfast that includes everything your body will need to withstand the rigors of such a long race. Avoid foods that may lead to you feeling bloated during the race and make sure that everything you consume has something valuable to offer. A poor dietary plan will leave your body feeling unprepared for the race, so take the time to construct a plan and follow it on the day of the race.
Pace Yourself
You may head into the triathlon with a full head of steam, but this enthusiasm can cause issues later on in the race. Many who are new to ironman races make the mistake of burning themselves out by trying to be as fast as possible on the biking sections, which results in them not being able to maintain a consistent pace during the marathon portion. Understand your body’s limits and don’t try to exceed them. Instead, create a plan of action for the entire race and run through it in your head during the race itself so you don’t push yourself too far too early.
Be Careful With Food During The Race
You will need to refuel at various points during the race to ensure your body has what it needs to compete, however, you need to be careful of eating too much. This is a common issue when exiting the water and heading into the biking section of the Ironman race, as many look to refuel quickly once they are on their bikes. Remember that you don’t need to replace all of the calories that you burn during the race, so create a race day nutritional plan that will ensure your body gets what it needs, when it needs it.
Have Fun
Nerves can have a disastrous effect on your performance. To counteract this, remember that you are taking part in the race to have fun and push yourself to your limits. Don’t worry about what other racers are doing and focus on your own performance.
Russell Sergent is an experienced Ironman triathlon competitor who has completed a number of races.
Russell Sergent 