Lionel Sanders reveals his strategy for Kona: “Train Insane but Undertrain”
Lionel Sanders, the Canadian triathlete, prepares for his assault on the World Championships HOMBRE DE HIERRO in Kona with a new strategy that he himself calls “Train Insane but Undertrain”.
Sanders, who came in second behind Patrick Lange In 2017, he is seeking his first victory in the most important event in triathlon. In 2022, he openly admitted that he tried to copy the Norwegians' training style. Kristian Blummenfelt y Gustav Iden, under the tutelage of Gustav's brother, MichaelHowever, this approach did not work for him in Kona, leading him to finish in 34th place.
"I've spent a decade learning about myself, and then I spent the last three or four years copying others.“Sanders said in a video on his YouTube channel.
"PBut I already knew what I needed to do for myself, I had already done it, but I didn't stick with it. There's an inherent risk in everything, if you want to push yourself to your limit. Basically, what we're trying to do is train like crazy, but undertrain. Because if you're 1% overtrained, you're going to fail.
So you need to train like crazy, but undertrain, and that's almost a contradiction. It's extremely difficult to achieve, but that's what we're trying to do.".
Sanders explained that using metrics like lactate, heart rate and core sensors is precisely what balance is sought.
"That's why people are using lactate, heart rate, and the core sensor, all these different metrics, because they're trying to train like crazy, but not overdo it.
And sometimes you overdo it, and there is no coach in the world who knows how to prevent that from happening from time to time.".
Sanders acknowledges that all great athletes struggle with that balance.
“TAll great athletes have been injured: Jan Frodeno, Kristian Blummenfelt, Lucy Charles-Barclay…everyone has great coaches. Because nobody knows exactly, and sometimes you don't hear the signals, etc.
This is the culmination of a decade of learning and experience, this is what I trust, and this is what you need to do.
You have to trust your program, you have to believe in what you're doing, that what you're doing will make you the best you can be. And then you need to execute it.".
Sanders faces the task of finding that perfect balance between intense training and the rest necessary to avoid injuries and arrive at Kona in peak physical shape.
His “Train Insane but Undertrain” strategy is risky, but if Sanders can execute it successfully, it could give him the edge he needs to finally take victory in Kona.
