7 business lessons I learned from running the Ironman

In 2005, I heard the words I had long been dreaming about. “You are an Ironman!”

I made it to the Lake Placid finish line in 11 hours, 42 minutes and 52 seconds. Not to mention 10 months of grueling training and years of racing, running, spinning and swimming.

That race gave me lessons I keep relying on for business, and often when I have a big day ahead, I look back on the preparation that I took, the mental toughness, the physical training, and the execution. I’m ready to share these lessons with you to help you achieve that big goal you’ve been dreaming about.

1. Start with getting the best tools and support. If you can, hire an expert or coach, buy the textbook, or find a group. Sourcing a coach to help you with your plan is critical, ideally it would be someone who has experience with the level of project you’re trying to tackle, and not just words of advice on the subject! Find people to hold you accountable — I will never forget how my training group got me farther than I ever could have taken myself. It’s tough out there, but you’re not alone.

2. Find out your sustainability factors. When you run Ironman it’s at a precise heart rate that you can maintain for 12 (or so) hours. Mine was 162 beats per minute. It couldn’t be less, or I wouldn’t be performing at my capacity, and not more, or I would crash. So apply this to your workweek — figure out your ideal heart rate, (your pace) and train to keep it. Learn what pace you can maintain before you crash, daily, weekly, monthly.

3. Visualize race day. Months, weeks, days ahead of your big day, from board room presentations, or as a
brain surgeon, or litigator, walk through each step. I did this for every race so that in each leg I had felt I had been there before. My heart didn’t race with unknown territory, and I knew what was going to happen, or if something would go wrong (flat tire, unexpected accidents, or even rain) I knew I had a game plan.

4. Gain speed when others might not be. Most people rest at the top of a big hill. My strategy was to hammer on every downhill, making the most of gravity, when others were catching their breath. I’m competitive (it is a race after all) and I was going for it. Aren’t you?  Find a way to shine where most of your field isn’t; it feels good to have the wind in your hair.

5. Smile. I’m not going to lie to you, it hurt out there. But smiling made it feel better. It made other people
smile and cheer me on. And that fueled me even more. I’ve learned to smile through almost everything. It’s not a fake thing; it truly helps me feel better.  It makes you enjoy the moment (even if it’s hard) and gives confidence to those around you (which by the way isn’t a bad thing!)

6. When all else fails, put one step in front of the other. If you feel like you can’t go on, think of one step that you could take to get you ahead, just one, then another, and then momentum will slowly build again. Some steps are excruciating, but some are a breeze. Just keep going.

7. And, celebrate the journey. Race day, game day, court day, pitch day, event day, they are all celebrations of your work; it’s your opportunity to show how hard you’ve tried for that moment. Enjoy every step because you are ready.

What’s your “race day” plan? Do you know what you’ll eat for breakfast before a big meeting? What shoes will make you shine, or which power suit you can breathe in? What is your game day song or podcast that gets you pumped to step up to the starting gate—or podium—and give it your all?

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