Lionel Sanders has been here before – once again, all roads lead to Kona in October.
‘No Limits’ will again bid to conquer the ‘Big Island’ on October 26 after qualifying for the IRONMAN World Championship by finishing third behind Trevor Foley and Matthew Marquardt in Lake Placid recently.
With qualification secured, the countdown officially starts here as the 36-year-old Canadian superstar prepares to take on Kristian Blummenfelt, Sam Laidlow et al in what should be a mouthwatering showdown.
‘No Limits’ reveals his limits
This week Lionel released his latest YouTube update (watch the full episode at the foot of this article) – and as ever, it provided a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the sport’s enduring stars. In it, ‘No Limits’ talked about his actual limits and what he believes is possible for him when he lands in Hawaii. Not winning, just what is possible for him as an athlete.
He explained: “I’m done with saying I wanna win, I wanna win. I’m doing this so long – I want to achieve what I think is possible, the winning part’s not relevant to that.
“The part that’s relevant is I think I can swim low 50s, I think I can push 310 to 320 on the bike and I think I can break 2:40 on the run. I think that’s within me. That’s really hard for me, if I put together all those three, that’s like the limits of my capacity.
“And if you achieve the limits of your capacity, you achieve the limits of your capacity! And if it’s good for the win it’s good, and if it’s not, it’s not. What more can you do, what more can you ask?”
Lionel goes solo
Sanders also spoke about his training, and one particular thought which is now etched in his mind. He needs to go solo.
Lionel explained: “I don’t think it’s valuable for me to train with people. It impairs my capacity to listen to my body. I’ve been out here with Trevor [Foley] a million times and he’s running away from me and I’m pushing too hard. It’s too hard, it’s maladaptive stimulus, it’s too much stimulus.
“You can’t train where you wanna be, you’ve gotta train where you are. That’s the only way training works. Today I listened to my body, here I am, I’m in good shape – mentally and physically – it’s hot, I probably lost 4lbs even though I drank 1.3 litres in running fast. And I am where I am.
“Do I wish those were 3-minute Ks? Of course. I think I was like 3:15, 3:20, 3:15, 3:20, 3:12, 3:19, 3:14, 3:21, 3:17, 3:22. That was ish what they were. That’s me listening to my body, not pushing it too hard but giving it a nice zone 4 stimulus. In these conditions, that’s where I am.
“I think I can break 2:40 off the bike. I’ve run 2:40, I’ve run 2:42, both off pretty hard bikes. I think it’s within me to break 2:40, that never had anything to do with anybody else, like nothing. It never did.”
Sanders confirms next race
Now the final countdown to Kona is well and truly under way and Sanders confirmed that he will take in one more Ironman race before heading to Hawaii for the greatest test of all.
“Am I gonna do another Ironman? Yeah, IRONMAN Canada.”
Save the date, two weeks today, Sunday August 25. IRONMAN Canada-Penticton. It will, as ever, be box office…
Are we in a triathlon boom, or hurtling towards burnout? Laura Siddall on the growth of the sport
