31st March 2025
What can a 70.3 Ironman Triathlon teach you about work (and life)?
My 19-year-old daughter Ruby is currently training for a 70.3 (or Half) Ironman Triathlon. This will be her fourth triathlon and the first step up to the longer distance. As I observe her commitment and training, I’ve been thinking about the life and professional lessons this experience might give her.
Training for and completing a 70.3 Ironman Triathlon is a huge achievement. The race itself is a grueling combination of a 2km swim, a 90km bike ride, and a 21.1km run. But the real value lies in the months of preparation—where you learn things that go well beyond endurance sport. Whether it’s building discipline, staying focused, or pushing through when it gets tough, those lessons tend to show up in other parts of life too.
Here’s what training for and completing a 70.3 Ironman might teach you about life.
The Power of Planning and Goal Setting
Achieving something as monumental as a 70.3 Ironman requires meticulous planning. Every aspect—from scheduling training sessions to balancing nutrition and recovery—has to be thoughtfully laid out. You set a goal months in advance and work backward, breaking it into manageable milestones. This lesson translates seamlessly into life.
Whether you’re striving to advance in your career, tackle a major project, or even save for a big purchase, the ability to plan effectively is key. A clear roadmap allows you to measure progress, adjust when needed, and avoid feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of your goals.
Discipline outlasts Motivation
Motivation can be fleeting; some days, you’ll wake up ready to conquer the world, while other mornings, the idea of even putting your running shoes on will fill you with dread. What carries you through is discipline—the ability to show up and put in the work, even when you don’t feel like it. In life and work, discipline is what propels you forward when the excitement of a new goal wears off. It’s what keeps you committed to studying for exams, working on personal development, or sticking to long-term commitments.
Training for a triathlon teaches you that discipline isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistency.
Embracing Mental Toughness
A 70.3 Ironman isn’t just a test of physical endurance: it’s a battle of the mind. Any athlete knows there will be moments during training and the race when you’ll want to quit—when your legs are lead, you are completely wiped of energy and you will feel like all hope is lost. Pushing through these moments builds mental fortitude. Mental toughness extends beyond triathlons. In life, we all have times when doubt creeps in, when challenges seem insurmountable, or when setbacks threaten to derail your progress.
The ability to stay focused, adapt, and persevere in the face of adversity is what sets apart those who achieve their dreams from those who give up.
Learning to Overcome Challenges
Training for a triathlon is rarely a smooth path. Injuries, weather disruptions, and moments of self-doubt are par for the course. The key is learning how to overcome these challenges rather than letting them derail you. Ruby has had to bounce back from a multitude of niggling injuries and issues over recent months. Similarly, life is filled with obstacles, and success often depends on how you respond, resilience allows you to learn, adapt, and grow stronger.
Triathlon training teaches you to view obstacles not as roadblocks, but as opportunities for growth.
Building a Growth Mindset
Perhaps one of the most profound lessons of triathlon training is the shift from a fixed to a growth mindset. When you start, you might not believe you’re capable of such a feat. But as you log the kms, improve your times, and conquer fears, you begin to see yourself in a new light—as someone who can actually do this. In life and professional fields, embracing a growth mindset unlocks your potential.
It teaches you to focus on effort over innate talent, to value learning over immediate results, and to see failure as a stepping stone to success.
The Joy of Pushing Limits
Completing a 70.3 Ironman shows you that you’re capable of far more than you thought possible. The human body—and spirit—has an incredible capacity to endure, grow, and thrive when pushed to its limits. Crossing the finish line is proof that stepping out of your comfort zone leads to extraordinary accomplishments. In life, it’s easy to settle for comfort and familiarity. But the I know from experience, and I see Ruby discovering this too, that most fulfilling experiences often come from challenging oneself, whether it’s starting a new venture, traveling to unfamiliar places, or learning a difficult skill.
Triathlons teach you that the limits you perceive are often self-imposed—and breaking through them is where the magic happens.
The Importance of Community
While a triathlon might seem like a solo endeavor, it’s rarely achieved alone. Training groups, coaches, friends, and family all play an integral role in supporting your journey. From sharing advice to providing encouragement, the community around you makes the process more enjoyable and sustainable. Similarly, life is enriched by the connections we forge. Surrounding yourself with people who uplift you, challenge you, and celebrate your successes is invaluable.
Just as you can lean on your triathlon community, you can lean on your personal and professional networks to achieve great things.
Conclusion: A Journey Worth Taking?
Training for and completing a 70.3 Ironman is not just about swimming, biking, and running—it’s a life-altering journey of self-discovery and growth. The lessons you learn—planning, discipline, mental toughness, resilience, and more—extend far beyond race day. They equip you to tackle life’s challenges with confidence and determination.
So, whether you’re considering a triathlon like Ruby or simply looking for inspiration, remember this: every step you take outside your comfort zone brings you closer to realising your true potential. And that finish line? It’s only the beginning of what you can achieve.
Glen Petersen
Categories: General
