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The Lonely Triathlete - triathlon training and motivation for the massesAuthor: Todd Sauder
An age-grouper with 25 years of experience overcomes a life altering brain injury and starts hitting the podium. Be motivated and inspired as he recounts the daily grind of an amateur triathlete and join the growing community on Patreon. You don't have to be a lonely triathlete anymore! Language: en-us Genres: Running, Sports, Swimming Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Being Race Ready
Sunday, 21 June, 2026
Getting race ready requires a plan and patience. It requires consistency. It requires boring determination. Then you have to show up on race day and swim, bike and run to the best of your ability. Simple, isn't it?Are you a member yet? Check membership options at www.patreon.com/thelonelytriathleteTRANSCRIPTHappy Fathers Day and Welcome back to The Lonely Triathlete.Well… this is it.Eight months of training comes down to this.In just over a week, on June 28th, I’ll be lining up at the start line with a goal that, honestly, would have seemed pretty ambitious a few years ago.I’m going to attempt to qualify for the Triathlon Age Group World Championships.And the funny thing is… I actually think I have a shot.Now, before anyone thinks I’m getting ahead of myself, let me explain.Last year at this same race, I finished first in my age category.Which sounds pretty impressive.Except there’s a small detail.I was the only person in my category.So technically, yes, I was first.But I was also first because I was the only one.And that’s one of the funny things about endurance sports. You can prepare, you can train, you can execute — but there are still so many things completely outside your control.Who shows up.Who is having the race of their life.Who has been training specifically for that event.And that’s why I’m trying not to obsess about the competition.That said, I do think there are a few things that could work in my favour.This qualifier has not been heavily promoted. In fact, even knowing that this was a qualification race, I had trouble finding much information about it.So maybe that means fewer people are chasing those qualification spots.Maybe someone fast shows up and beats me — but they didn’t realize there were extra steps required to actually qualify.Who knows?The other thing is there is a potential rival I’m watching.He beat me by about a minute at the Vancouver Standard distance race in 2024.A minute.That’s not a huge gap.That’s the difference between a good transition and a slow one.A slightly better swim.A smarter bike.A stronger run.But he is also racing at the World Championships at the Sprint distance in Spain later this year, so it’s possible he won’t be targeting this Standard distance race.Again though — all of that is speculation.And that brings me to the only thing I actually control.The preparation.So what have I done since October to give myself the best possible chance?Number one: consistency.I started training back in October and I have put in six days a week of training consistently.And that is the thing I’m probably most proud of.Not one huge workout.Not one heroic training week.Just showing up.Week after week.The swim sessions.The bike sessions.The runs.The recovery.The boring stuff.Because that’s where endurance fitness is built.The race is just the final exam.The work happened months ago.The second thing I’m really excited about is my bike fitness.My FTP is the highest it has ever been.I’m sitting around 270 watts.And my watts per kilogram is also the highest it has ever been — around 3.43 watts per kilogram.For me, that’s a huge milestone.Because the goal isn’t just to be fit.The goal is to be fit enough that I can swim, bike, and still run well.That’s the challenge of triathlon.Then there are the little things.The marginal gains.Because if you’re a triathlete, you know exactly what I mean.At some point you start looking for every possible advantage.This year I added aerodynamic calf sleeves.Will they make a difference?Hopefully.Maybe they save me a few watts.Maybe those few watts add up.I’ve also got a new pair of Speed Laces ready for my race shoes.Because it makes absolutely no sense to spend eight months training and then waste 15 seconds in transition tying your shoes.I am fully aware of how silly it is to spend money on marginal gains but the reality is, as a mid or back-of-the-packer while these things don't matter, once you've done everything in your power to hit the podium and yet fall 1 minute short, it is an option to try and squeeze that minute from a slightly faster pair of shoes or by shaving your foreams or by getting those extra massage sessions. What else? Well, I’ve also got my new pair of TheMagic5 Vector goggles ready to go.A leak-free swim and clear vision is a pretty good way to start the race.And nutrition is another big focus this year.I’ve switched to Precision Fuel and Hydration.I’m loading more electrolytes before the race, and I’m carrying more electrolytes with me on the bike and run.Now, can I say for certain that electrolytes were a limiter for me?No.Especially at the Olympic distance.But I strongly suspect they hurt me during my 70.3 last year.So this year I’d rather go into the race slightly overprepared than underprepared.Speaking of things outside the plan…If you follow my Patreon, you’ll know I had a bit of a scare two weeks ago.I hurt my back.I think it happened during swimming, and for about three days I was in significant discomfort.It affected my sleep.It affected my ability to train.And the decision I made was probably one of the hardest decisions for an athlete:I stopped.I took eight full days completely off training.And in hindsight hat was the right decision.I’ve also seen a chiropractor twice.And I’ll admit — I’ve had reservations about chiropractors in the past.That’s probably a topic for another episode.But I have to say, I’ve been really impressed with the care I received.Not just the treatment itself, but the exercise recommendations and stretching protocols afterward.That homework has probably been just as valuable as the treatment.The other little experiment I’ve added is supplementing with 200 milligrams a day of Ubiquinol.This is the more bioavailable form of CoQ10.There are some studies suggesting potential benefits for endurance and recovery.Now, the frustrating part is that these things take time.Apparently four to six weeks for meaningful levels in the body.So I’m probably not going to see some magical transformation before race day.But if it gives me even the smallest advantage?I’ll take it.At this point, there really isn’t much more I can do.Other than one thing.Stay calm.There is a fine line between preparation and obsession.Between having a plan and trying to control every single variable.The weather.The competition.The exact race conditions.You can’t control those things.You can only control how you respond.Im happy to see that at the moent the forecast is looking pretty ideal.Cool temperatures.Blue skies.A great day for racing.So my goal for the final week is to be Zen about the things I can’t control.I want to show up prepared.I want to execute my race.I want to challenge myself.Yes, I want to qualify for Worlds.That’s the goal.But at the end of the day, the reason I do this sport is bigger than a result.It’s the feeling of pushing myself.It’s being surrounded by other people who live this strange triathlon lifestyle.It’s knowing that I gave my best.And regardless of the outcome, I know I’ll come away with either satisfaction, insight, or both.And why does any of this matter to me as a 58 year old amateur? Because as I age it is becoming increasingly clear that life is not forever. Every day brings a headline that a childhood hero or celebrity has passed away. More and more often I'm hearing of friends with sudden health issues. Personally, I'm experiencing injuries at a higher rate than ever. I realize that our time in this sport has a limit and while we never can never know where that limit is, it's out there somewhere on the horizon.So…The countdown begins once again.June 28th.Let’s see what happens.Until next time, peace
