CONQUER IRONMAN WITH PATRICK LANGE
June 2019 / / 39LANGE’S IRON
MINDSET
Whether it’s rising early
for morning training or
completing the final
miles of an Ironman
marathon, Lange has
built a resilient mindset
to carry on. Here are his
top three tips...
01
Love what
you do
Triathlon is a
straightforward swim, bike
and run, but you must
enjoy it if you’re going to
train effectively for
Ironman. I’ll never tire of
hearing the bike chain
running over the pulleys
on my bike.
02
Be grateful
every day
The sun is
shining, and I want to go
out and train because I still
feel the love for the sport.
When I’m ill and can’t train,
it’s a reminder how much it
means to me.
03
Finish what
you start
Whether it’s
training or racing, that
feeling of accomplishment
at finishing the job is a
reminder of why we do it.
There is little better than
finishing your first
Ironman. Hold on to
that thought.
code, there’s not enough incentive to change from
the winning formula he instantly struck on for
debut in 2016. Like his race tactics, Lange’s entire
season is founded on unshakeable patience that
culminates with surgical incision in October. You
could argue the same for other specialist Hawaii
performers such as Australian Mirinda Carfrae, or
Scotland’s David McNamee.THE GERMAN PRESERVE
Not that Frankfurt isn’t a priority. For 2019, Lange
will return to renew rivalries with compatriots
Frodeno and Sebastian Kienle and potentially
Canadian powerhouse Lionel Sanders, but will also
be content to see attention focussed elsewhere.
“Some guys grow in the spotlight, I think Jan or
Lionel are like this,” he says. “But I like to be in
the background and just race as hard as I can
against the best – and win against the best.”
As for being the best, it firmly remains the
German preserve. Frodeno and Kienle have shared
the past four Frankfurt titles and their nation has
provided every Ironman world champion since
2014, with a legacy stretching back over two
decades through Normann Stadler, Jurgen Zack
and Thomas Hellriegel.
“I don’t know the reason we’re so good,” Lange
admits. “It’s maybe that we also have a strong
second and third tier so even to win prize money in
a small local race you really have to up your game. I
also think we are benefiting from knowledge that
former Ironman champions give us.”PROTEIN & PROPOSALS
Aside from winning, Lange is also notable for his
vegetarianism, race tactics and a finish line
marriage proposal, but says none of it is designed
to court controversy. “I just feel I recover faster,”
he says of his diet. “When I eat meat, it stays a
long time in my digestive system. From a
macronutrient standpoint I need to get enough
protein, iron and folic acid and that’s maybe the
toughest challenge, so I have to supplement. I also
check my blood levels every two to three months
to make sure everything is fine.”
As for the very public proposal of marriage after
crossing the line in Kona last year, it seems to have
stretched Ironman’s reputation beyond endurance
junkies to the supermarket checkout. “I meet
people shopping who didn’t know anything about triathlon,
but knew that there was some guy who proposed after winning
a world title,” Lange says. “It was so public in Germany and
there was a lot of positive feedback.” Including, thankfully,
from his now-fiancée, Julia.
As Lange tunes back into racing, even without Frankfurt
success, far fewer will be writing him off for Hawaii this time.
If he does win again, he’ll join Alexander and Canadian Peter
Reid in illustrious company on three titles, with Scott and
Allen’s total of six a long-term aim.
“I definitely have the ability to win again,” Lange says. “But
how many more times I don’t know. Alexander won aged 39
and I see a lot of parallels between Crowie and myself. He was
also a physical therapist and, if you start late with Ironman
racing, you can extend your career. I’ve six Ironman races in
my body now and still a lot to learn and improve at.”