“I’ll See You at the Next One”: Lionel Sanders Sets Sights on Ironman Lake Placid

“It’s a beautiful sport, [and] it’s a humbling sport,” Lionel Sanders shared in his most recent post-Ironman Texas YouTube update.

As those who follow Sanders know, the race did not unfold as planned. Yet support for him remains constant – driven by his relatability, his honesty, and the way he invites fans into every part of the journey, making the professional side of the sport feel human and accessible.

There was relief, too, in hearing that this does not mark the end of Sanders’ Ironman ambitions. While he joked that he told Erin during the race to “soak it in” because he was never doing an Ironman again, the emotion of the moment has already given way to renewed focus.

Instead, Sanders is regrouping and setting his sights on Ironman Lake Placid, where he will look to secure a qualifying slot for the Ironman World Championship.

What Areas He Plans to Focus on and Improve

“Durability” was the key word Sanders returned to repeatedly throughout the video. As fans know, he has never lacked the willingness to work hard, suffer, and push his limits. His three wins over the 70.3 distance in 2025 pre-injury and early 2026 also suggest the fitness is very much there.

What Sanders believes is missing is durability across the full Ironman distance. Roughly 2:45 into the bike, he said his ability to produce power began to fade, with more than an hour of riding still to go before even beginning the marathon.

Importantly, he did not frame the issue as cardiovascular strain. Instead, he described it as muscular durability: the ability to keep producing output as the race progresses. Sanders noted that his heart rate remained comparatively low throughout the day, sharing figures of around 115 early on the bike and 125 early in the run. By comparison, he said he typically races the 70.3 distance closer to 150bpm.

That distinction matters; it suggests the limiter was not his engine, but resilience deep into a race lasting seven to eight hours.

What’s Next

“Will I message [Mikal] and ask him to coach me again? Probably,” Sanders shared.

He also spoke about the importance of more outdoor riding, noting the difference in muscular load created by undulating terrain compared with the indoor trainer, and the need to better prepare for those race-specific demands, while still acknowledging his continued concerns about road safety.

Most of all, fans will simply be glad he is giving it another shot. While the Ironman distance has at times been less consistent for Sanders than the 70.3, where he has long excelled, his two runner-up finishes at the Ironman World Championship (2017, 2021) remain proof of what is possible when the pieces come together.

Sanders has also intermittently alluded to retirement, which only adds perspective to moments like this. Supporters know there will not be endless chances to watch one of triathlon’s most compelling athletes race, and that makes every start line feel meaningful.

In classic Sanders fashion, after reflecting on disappointment, problem-solving, and what comes next, he chose to end not with defeat, but with encouragement for everyone who lines up to test themselves at the distance:

“Congrats to everyone…Ironmans are freaking tough. They are freaking tough. So, hats off to everybody. I don’t care if you didn’t finish. Hats off for starting. Hats off for trying. Hats off for finishing. And let’s keep going… I’ll see you at the next one.”