Julie Derron knows she may have ground to make up when she starts the marathon at Saturday’s IRONMAN World Championship. But the prospect of chasing her rivals does not faze one of triathlon’s strongest runners.

The Swiss star arrives for her Kona debut after finishing second to Taylor Knibb at September’s IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice, where her outstanding 1:13:04 run helped secure silver.

Hawaii presents a different challenge, with twice the distance and demanding heat and humidity. Yet Derron believes her biggest weapon can keep her firmly in contention.

Speaking to TRI247’s Laura Siddall in Kona, she explained: “Coming off the bike with a bit of a deficit isn’t something that worries me too much because I know about my strength in the run.”

‘I try to be as close as I can’

That confidence does not mean Derron intends to concede time freely during the opening two disciplines.

She discusses potential scenarios with her coach, including the gaps she might be capable of closing on particular rivals. But her preference is to start the marathon with as little work to do as possible.

“With my coach I discuss a bit the race tactics and he sometimes tells me, ‘You can give this person that many minutes off the bike’,” she said.

“Usually I think he does it to keep me calm.”

She added: “In the end, I don’t like to be in a deficit coming off the bike. I try to be as close as I can and then play my strength, my run.”

Her Nice performance demonstrated how effectively she can pursue athletes ahead. Reproducing that over a full marathon in Kona is another test, but Derron is clear about her approach.

Racing without a watch

Perhaps the most striking detail is that Derron does not wear a watch when she runs.

Rather than pursuing a prescribed pace or finishing time, she judges what she believes she can sustain and responds to the race unfolding around her.

“I don’t think about times when I approach a race,” she explained. “Obviously, I know what I’m capable of, but you have to race the race ahead of you.”

That was the case in Nice, where the remarkable run split was a consequence of her pursuit of a medal rather than a target she had set beforehand.

“In Nice, I wasn’t worried about running a 1:13. I was just worried about getting on the podium and getting as close as I can to Taylor, and it ended up being that time.

“I don’t run with a watch, so I don’t know how fast I’m going. So I just run to the level that I believe I can sustain and try to take care of myself during the run.”

Running to feel has particular relevance in Kona, arguably more than at almost any other major championship venue. Heat, humidity and the accumulated demands of the swim and bike can make a pace that looks manageable on paper unsustainable on the day.

Recognising how the body is responding – and adjusting before the effort becomes too costly – can be crucial across the exposed stretches of the Queen K and Energy Lab.

Derron’s approach is therefore an intriguing fit for Hawaii, although her first appearance will test that judgement over the full distance.

‘A whole different ballgame’

Derron believes she can improve on her previous full-distance marathon performances (2:51 is her PB from three races), but she is not making a time prediction for Saturday.

“The step from half marathon to marathon, obviously it’s more than just double,” she said. “It’s different, especially in a triathlon, especially in an IRONMAN.”

Instead, she is focused on delivering a strong run within the circumstances of this particular race.

And despite the encouragement of her Nice silver, she recognises how much changes between the two championships.

“I’m super excited to be here. Obviously, I had a good race in Nice, but I think this race is a whole different ballgame. Different distance, different conditions, different field.”

Our women’s Kona preview runs through the full field she will face, with defending champion Solveig Løvseth, Knibb, Lucy Charles-Barclay, Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews among the leading contenders.

A debut a year later than planned

Derron had intended to race Kona last year but withdrew shortly before the championship following health problems after a bike crash.

While her sister Nina competed in Hawaii, Julie watched from China, where she had returned to training.

This year their roles are reversed. Nina has withdrawn with a foot injury, leaving Julie to make her first appearance with her sister supporting from afar.

“Now it’s the other way around with Nina, which is a pity,” Julie said. “But I know she’ll be cheering for me from home.”

She has also been able to draw on Nina’s experience when considering how to approach the race.

That continues a family dynamic which helped shape her sporting development. As the youngest of three sisters, Julie grew up watching what the others achieved and following their example.

“I benefited a lot from the experiences from my sisters,” she explained. “I could always see what they achieved, and then to do the next step was kind of logical for me.

“I had my role models right ahead of me and could always just follow.”

Both her parents are in Hawaii to support her this week.

Finally experiencing Kona for herself

Derron had spent about two weeks on the island when she spoke to Siddall, giving her time to train, learn the course and settle into the conditions.

Staying outside Kona initially allowed her to prepare in a quieter setting before the intensity of race week.

Now the race she has followed for years is almost here.

“I’ve been watching this race for so long,” she said. “So to now experience it for myself is super exciting.”