204: Things I've Changed For This IRONMAN TEXAS Build
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In this episode of Inside The Big Ring, host Steven Brand reflects on his preparation for Ironman Texas, emphasizing a mindset shift toward smarter, more purposeful training. He shares key changes in his approach, including drastically reducing easy runs to prevent injury, relying heavily on treadmill running for precision and control, incorporating strength-focused incline intervals, and prioritizing data-driven feedback to stay motivated. He also discusses common mistakes athletes make in the final weeks before a race—overtraining, undertraining, overcomplicating nutrition, and focusing too much on external factors like competitors or weather. The episode concludes with actionable advice: creating a detailed race-day checklist, practicing visualization, and trusting the process without testing fitness excessively during taper. Steven expresses excitement for Texas, the pro race, and what comes after, underscoring that the journey and preparation are just as important as the finish line.
Reduce easy runs to prevent injury—focus on purposeful, high-quality efforts instead.
Use treadmill training for precision, consistency, and injury prevention.
Incorporate incline strength runs to build running resilience and form.
Shift from chasing fitness to sharpening in the final weeks before race day.
Simplify race nutrition: focus on liquid, sodium, and carbs—nothing more.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome & Excitement for Ironman Texas
“I'm not going to be defined by how the race goes. And of course I have goals... but I'm just excited to go out there and just showcase what I've put in.”
My Evolution as an Ironman Athlete
Steven shares his journey from a strong first Ironman in 2010 to years of underperformance, culminating in his best race in 2024—14 years later. He reflects on how age and experience have shaped his current mindset, and how this block of training feels different due to higher CTL and better injury management.
Key Training Changes for Texas
“I'm not flooding my week with easy runs to get volume and I still accomplished almost every week was always 25 to 35 miles a week off of four runs a week and I loved it.”
Common Mistakes Before Big Races
“Don't chase fitness. Go after sharpening like the blade, okay?”
What Actually Matters on Race Day
“You cannot try to do too much race week or even the week before. You doing that... it's the best way to get injured.”
“Don't chase fitness. Go after sharpening like the blade, okay?”
“You cannot try to do too much race week or even the week before. You doing that... it's the best way to get injured.”
“I'm not going to be defined by how the race goes. And of course I have goals... but I'm just excited to go out there and just showcase what I've put in.”
Host
Guest
Steven Brand
person
Ironman Texas
other
Chattanooga
other
YouTube
other
GoWOD
product
70.3
other
other
Tailwind
product
First Endurance
product
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