This week’s conversation is with Javier Gómez, a Spanish triathlete.

Since 2006, Javier has accumulated one of the best records in triathlon history.

Javier is a 5x International Triathlete Union (ITU) World Champion, 2x Ironman 70.3 World Champion, a 9 time world ITU number 1, and won a Silver medal for Spain at the 2012 Summer Olympics in men’s triathlon.

Simply put, he is a legend in the sport.

Javier is currently in the final stages of training for the Ironman World Championship, which will take place on October 13 in Kona, Hawaii. You can learn more about Javi’s pursuit to win Kona here.

For those unfamiliar with the Ironman, it consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile marathon run.

No matter how you slice it, this endurance event is rugged, and that’s why I was so excited to talk with Javier about his experience preparing and training for it.

Last year’s winner completed the race in just over 8 hours.

That’s a lot of time for your mind to wander if you aren’t disciplined – and it’s something we discuss in this conversation.

Javier shares how he manages positive and negative thoughts, his process for remaining calm, and how he overcomes intense pain during competition.

So much of what goes into training and succeeding in endurance sports is applicable to other aspects of life.

It requires persistence, an appreciation for the process, and a willingness to play the long game.

“If you don’t have the passion and really like what you’re doing, you won’t last long.”

In This Episode:

  • What Ironman is… longest distance in triathlon… 3.8 (2.4miles) km swim, 180 (112 miles) km bike, 42 km (26.2 miles) run and Kona traditionally the most important.. official World Championship is intense environment
  • Why he’s doing this to himself… started swimming as a child and was introduced to idea of triathlon
  • What makes Kona a unique course for the Ironman
  • What he’s trying to understand, unlock, and experience through Ironman
  • How he’s learned to remain calm in difficult situations
  • His process for dealing with and overcoming pain
  • What he does with negative thoughts
  • How his family structure as a child helped support his progression
  • His philosophy: hard work + passion
  • Being his best vs. the best
  • The advice he would share with next generation
  • How he thinks about mastery

 

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Quotables:

“In a long competition you go through so many emotions. You feel good and tend to push too hard, and then feel bad. The negative thoughts come to your mind and you slow down. It’s a rollercoaster.”

“Overcoming problems is what drives me.”

“It’s important to know what you want in your life.”

“Things that seem impossible, they’re not. With the right work and with a lot of passion and effort you might achieve things that you thought you wouldn’t.”

“The one who can hold the pain for a bit longer is going to be the winner in a professional sport.”

“I don’t consider myself a super talented athlete. I have some talent, but I work hard and I have a lot of passion about what I do, so for me, that’s the most important.”

“Whatever you choose to do has to be something that you’re passionate about. Put in the effort and the work, and things eventually will work out.”

 

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Triathlete |

Since 2006, Javier Gómez has accumulated one of the best records ever achieved in triathlon history 5x ITU World Champion, Olympic Silver Medalist in London 2012, Ironman 70.3 World Champion, 3x ITU European Champion, X-Terra World Champion, ITU Half distance European Champion, and 2x Champion of the prestigious Hyvee Triathlon.