Giving up is not an option for some pro triathletes.
But unfortunately, Patrick Lange's journey to Ironman success has been anything but typical,
from nearly leaving his sports life to becoming the fastest man in Hawaii history.
So, in today's video, we'll go through some of Patrick Lange's finest triathlon races.
Stay with me until the end of the video because we'll be sharing some advice and tips from
Patrick's experience as a triathlete!
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Partick Lange, born in the central German city of Bad Wildungen in August 1985, is one
of his country's – and the sport's – best competitors.
Patrick was the first person to breach the fabled eight-hour barrier in Kona when he
won the IRONMAN Global Championship in 2018 — his second world championship after winning
Hawaii a year prior.
That triumph brought him national acclaim, as he was voted German Sportsman of the Year
for 2018.
Patrick was following the lead of fellow triathlete Jan Frodeno, who won the award in 2015, and
Lange's boyhood hero Michael Schumacher, who won it in 1995 and 2004.
Lange's skills are on the bike and the track; he was a talented duathlete who won the German
National Championship three times from 2010 to 2012.
Patrick is always a danger to run down his opponents, regardless of the course, and he
excels in hot weather.
So that he put on those two masterclasses in Kona comes as no surprise.
He holds multiple course records in the final discipline across the world and is capable
of running a sub-2:40 marathon to finish full-distance competitions.
Results and Past Record
Patrick finished ninth in the Brno European Cup in the Czech Republic in 2008, his first
top-10 performance in the professional ITU divisions.
He was one of the German team that won the Military World Championship in Otepää, Estonia,
the same year before winning the German Duathlon title three times in a row.
Lange, on the other hand, made a name for himself on the German triathlon circuit in
2013, winning races in Mussbach, Bamberg, and Römerman Ladenburg and taking the overall
title in the Rhein-Neckar Triathlon Cup.
With the addition of the HeidelbergMan championship, he would replicate his exploits in Römerman
Ladenburg and the Rhein-Neckar Triathlon Cup in 2014.
In addition to triumphs at the Yas Marina Triathlon, Erdinger City Triathlon, and Frankfurt
City Triathlon, the IRONMAN 70.3 Rügen victory in 2017 was followed by a first global title
over the full course.
Patrick made his IRONMAN World Championship debut in 2016 after qualifying for Kona with
a stellar result at IRONMAN Texas.
He was a minute behind eventual victor Jan Frodeno out of the water but battled to keep
up with others around him on the bike, sliding to the back of the pack ahead of the run.
Then, on his route to an improbable bronze medal, he ran a scorching marathon split to
conclude the race, shattering the run course record with a timing of 2:39:45.
Lange returned, aiming to improve the color of his medal, and he did not disappoint.
His day followed the same pattern – a good swim, followed by a middle-of-the-pack bike
split, set him up for a sub-2:40 marathon when he sped past Lionel Sanders and Sebastian
Kienle to win his first race on the 'Big Island.'
Lange returned in 2018, seeking to regain the prized crown, and he did so with a bang.
A strong swim leg was combined with a significantly better bike split to create an exciting marathon
with seven or eight major contenders.
On the other hand, the German had other intentions, showcasing his virtually unrivaled sprinting
skills to win by more than four minutes.
Moreover, he became the first person to complete the IRONMAN World Championship course in under
eight hours in the process.
In 2018, a win at the Waldecker Edersee Triathlon and a second world title in Hawaii capped
a string of podium performances.
In 2019, he won IRONMAN 70.3 Asia Pacific, but the worldwide COVID-19 epidemic ended
the majority of his 2020 campaign.
Lange's third journey to Kona in 2019 ended in disappointment as he attempted to capture
his third world title in a row.
Unfortunately, his training for the race was thwarted by flu-like symptoms, causing him
to withdraw from the bike leg after a competitive swim.
Aside from winning, Lange is known for his vegetarianism, racing tactics, and a marriage
proposal at the finish line, although he claims none of it is done to stir up controversy.
However, after crossing the finish line in Kona, the extremely public marriage proposal
appears to have extended Ironman's notoriety beyond endurance athletes to the checkout
line.
Despite his marathon time from 2016, Patrick still holds the run personal best at Ironman
Hawaii.
His favorite bib number is the one he used to win his first world title in Hawaii in
2017.
If Patrick Lange's past races inspire you, these are some of Patrick's advice and tips
that can help you go through your triathlon journey:
#1.
Find a coach.
You'll benefit from a running coach who can teach you proper form.
Efficiency is the key to a quick and enjoyable Ironman run, and the best way to achieve it
is to seek independent guidance.
#2.
The self-assurance to be calm
The secret component for a good run is still not going out too soon at the outset.
We all know it's difficult, but sticking to your pacing plan is essential if you want
to run your greatest marathon.
#3.
Get your cycling nutrition basics down
In my opinion, seventy-five percent of the carbs for the whole race should be consumed
on the bike.
It's critical to pace the run right because you can't eat a lot of carbs during the marathon
if your stomach is jumping around.
Lange has developed a tough attitude to keep going, whether it's getting up early for morning
training or finishing the last miles of an Ironman marathon.
Here are his top three recommendations...
#1.
You must like what you do.
Triathlon is a simple swim, cycle, and run event, but if you want to prepare well for
Ironman, you must love what you're doing.
#2.
Every day, be appreciative.
"The sun is bright, and I'm itching to get out and workout since I still like the sport.
When I'm sick and can't work out, it serves as a reminder of how important exercise is
to me."
Says Lange.
#3.
Complete what you've started
Whether training or racing, the sense of success that comes with completing a task reminds
us why we do it, there's nothing quite like completing your first Ironman.
Keep that notion in mind.
That ends my video for today!
What are your thoughts on Patrick's past races and his public marriage proposal?
Leave a comment below to let us know!
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