The Intersection of Sports and Business - My Ironman 70.3 Experience

I set a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal- shout out to Jim Collins and Built to Last) in January to complete my first half Ironman 70.3 (70.3 = 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run) and then quickly move on to a full Ironman (140.6 total miles). It was classified as a BHAG in my mind because I could not swim more than 25 yards without being absolutely taxed, my swim technique was terrible, and it felt like I was fighting for my life to move forward. I was told my ankles lacked the flexibility to propel me forward (more like anchors) and my kick clearly resembled my running background. Swimming in a relatively calm manner for 1.2 miles appeared impossible after my first few sessions in the water in February.

As I settled into my Ironman training plan, I found myself often pondering during long workouts about the connection between sports and business and how achieving goals translates between the two. The training provided clarity around the importance of ensuring the proper plan and systems to actually achieve a goal are in place, and this is applicable across both disciplines. This seems like common sense, but I would wager that I am not the only one ever guilty of setting a goal and then not backing it up with a coherent and comprehensive plan. Although it may not be as straightforward in business, I along with other business leaders can learn from sports.?

For this post, I am focusing on a subset of key connections between sports and business and I will not be covering other general benefits typically gained by a tenured sports career (i.e., leadership skills, strategy, teamwork, work ethic, competitiveness, dealing with failure, control, etc.). Following are some of the takeaways from my Ironman experience that crossover to business:

— Know when to engage an expert. An Ironman was foreign territory for me, and I knew if I was going to be ready for a half Ironman in five months, I needed help. Engaging a proven Ironman coach and joining a Masters swim class not only accelerated my learning and progress in the triathlon domains, but ensured I had the right tools (equipment, nutrition, training and race plan, and technique) to have the best shot at achieving my goal. It is common that we try to go it alone when we really should engage the people (e.g., mentor, expert in the space, colleagues, etc.) that can guide us to the most efficient and effective path. This often takes resources, and you will have to run your own cost-benefit analysis to determine if it makes sense to leverage support in your particular case.?

— Develop a viable roadmap. I had no clue where to start with Ironman training. I obviously knew I needed to include swimming, biking, and running in my programming, but was uncertain about volume, frequency, intensity, how to taper appropriately as I approached the race, if and how to incorporate weight lifting, and so on. My seasoned Ironman coach swiftly developed a training program specific to my needs, working backwards from the Ironman event date. How often do we set annual organizational goals, yet fail to prepare a feasible plan, develop the necessary underlying processes and systems, and put forth the effort required to achieve the aim? Could a sports training approach help us??

— Be disciplined. Follow the plan. You cannot procrastinate or cut corners and expect to do well in an Ironman, especially if you are someone like me. If I tried to cram in all the training into the last month leading up to the event, I highly doubt I would have made it through the swim, and if I did, I would have been miserable for the rest of the race. Sometimes we cram or do a “dive and catch” to hit our targets, instead of a consistent, systematic approach that can be hardwired into our businesses. The toll of operating in a chaotic state adds up quickly, performance suffers, and ultimately it is not sustainable.?

— Reinforce goal-oriented habits. Related to discipline, our actions, time and attention management, and environment either helps or hurts our chances of achieving our goals. Building systems that help us get better and move in the right direction toward our goals are critical. I often think of James Clear’s approach on getting 1% better every day, which he lays out in the exceptional book Atomic Habits. Mr. Clear covers practical methods to change and build positive habits at work and home and stresses the importance of building the right systems. Goals are good for setting direction, but systems are best for making progress and continuity. A question I periodically reflect on is “Do my habits support who I want to be and what I am aiming to achieve?”

?—Find a role model. Learn from the best. Who can you emulate? I started following some top triathletes for inspiration and to learn how they operate- their training, nutrition, mindset, lessons learned, and gear choices. This one easily translates to business. What business books are you reading? What podcasts are you listening to? Which business leaders and innovators are you following on social media? These are cost-effective ways to grow and learn.

— Address weaknesses. There is literature within the business community stating we should focus and maximize on our strengths, and I understand the point, but we also must shore up or mitigate weaknesses when they are detrimental to overall performance. Beyond “developing” as a swimmer with technique (a nicer way of saying I suck at swimming coined by my swim instructor), I had a fundamental underlying weakness with my inflexible ankles, which I learned is common for runners and non-aqua athletes. In an effort to not let my weakness derail my performance, I incorporated drills and stretches to loosen my ankles, placed a heavier focus on the upper body pull, and minimized the leg kick. This helped reduce drag and inefficiencies while also preserving my legs for the bike and run. I focused on my strength (upper body pull) while simultaneously mitigating my weakness (kick). In business, the equivalent weakness to inflexible ankles is something that cannot be ignored, and a leadership team will need to evaluate the resources, tools, and effort required to address or reduce the impact of the weakness on overall performance.

By engaging experts, acquiring the right equipment and tools, and being consistent with the training and nutrition plan, I completed my first half Ironman 70.3 in Lubbock, Texas on June 27th. Surprisingly, I felt better than anticipated and my time of five hours eight minutes and change for the 35–39 age group was barely good enough to secure an age group slot at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah this fall. Rather than competing there, I will be taking on my first full Ironman in Chattanooga, Tennessee in September in the attempt to finish the final step of my BHAG.?

Although initially intimidating, the Ironman training has generated several benefits in my own life including stress reduction, fitness and energy, overall health and weight, replacement of some bad habits, and insights into how I can improve as a business leader. Have sports positively impacted your professional career?