Training for my first full Ironman has been one of the most humbling, transformative journeys of my life. It’s a constant test of discipline, endurance, and resilience. Every week brings new physical and mental challenges, and along the way, I’ve realized how closely the lessons from training mirror the realities of running and scaling a business.
Recently, I hit a wall—twice. Both times, it was my calf that stopped me. Both times, it was preventable. And both times, it reminded me that whether you’re training for an Ironman or growing a company, the way you respond to setbacks defines how far you’ll go.
The Calf Cramp That Changed My Perspective
In Week 7 of training, I was wrapping up a pool session when my calf cramped so hard it seized up completely—right before my cool down. It forced me to miss my long run that weekend, which is one of the cornerstone workouts in any Ironman build.
The following week, instead of learning from it, I doubled down. I pushed harder. I crammed all three disciplines—swim, bike, and run—into one day, then topped it off with a strength training session. Predictably, my calf cramped again, and I lost another long run.
When I looked back, the problem wasn’t just the training volume. It was everything I didn’t do. I hadn’t fueled myself properly. I hadn’t hydrated enough. I wasn’t intentional about electrolytes, recovery, or respecting my body’s limits. I wasn’t giving myself what I needed to sustain that level of output.
Sound familiar? Because the same thing happens in business.
The Business Parallel: Growth Without Fuel
As entrepreneurs, we get addicted to the hustle. We pile on new cases, expand into new markets, hire more people, launch new initiatives—sometimes all at once. And for a while, it feels like progress. We’re moving fast, we’re pushing limits, and we’re doing more than we ever thought possible.
But just like in endurance training, growth without proper fueling doesn’t last.
- Fueling in training = proper nutrition, hydration, electrolytes, recovery.
- Fueling in business = clear vision, strong systems, sound financials, and a healthy culture.
If you don’t invest in the right foundations, the cracks eventually show. In training, that looks like a calf cramp that sidelines your progress. In business, it looks like burnout, broken systems, turnover, or stalled momentum.
The truth is simple: you can’t outrun bad preparation.
Missing the Long Run vs. Missing the Big Picture
In Ironman training, the long run is crucial. It’s where endurance is built, both physically and mentally. Missing one isn’t ideal, but missing two back-to-back? That’s a warning sign. It means you’re not managing your training properly.
In business, the “long run” is your vision—the big picture of where you’re headed. If you’re constantly sidelined by short-term fires, if you’re too busy hustling to stop and plan, you miss the endurance-building work that makes a company sustainable.
When we chase short-term wins without fueling the bigger picture, we risk sacrificing long-term growth.
7 Lessons from the Calf Cramp (and Business Growth)
Here’s what my setback taught me—lessons that apply just as much to training as they do to leadership and entrepreneurship.
1. Listen to Your Body (and Your Business)
My calf didn’t cramp out of nowhere. It was telling me something long before it seized. Tightness, fatigue, dehydration—they were all signals I ignored.
Businesses send signals, too. High turnover. Declining margins. Burnout on the team. Missed KPIs. If you’re paying attention, you’ll see the signs. The question is whether you’ll listen before it’s too late.
2. Fuel the Effort
I was training hard, but I wasn’t fueling properly. Without enough water, electrolytes, and calories, my body couldn’t handle the load.
In business, effort without fuel looks like long hours without systems. It’s growth without strategy. It’s scaling revenue without scaling infrastructure. Hard work matters, but without proper support, it leads to exhaustion and collapse.
3. Recovery Is Part of the Plan
I thought skipping recovery meant I was being tough. In reality, it made me weaker. Recovery isn’t optional—it’s where the actual adaptation happens.
The same is true in business. Rest periods—whether that’s refining systems, evaluating priorities, or pruning unnecessary projects—aren’t wasted time. They’re the foundation for stronger future growth.
4. Don’t Stack Everything at Once
Doing all three disciplines plus strength training in one day wasn’t impressive—it was reckless. I stacked too much volume without proper preparation.
Leaders often make the same mistake. They try to scale revenue, expand offices, hire leaders, launch new products, and rebrand—all at once. The result? A cramp. Systems break. People quit. Cash flow dries up. Sometimes less really is more.
5. Discipline Is About Doing the Right Thing, Not Just Doing More
Skipping my long runs was painful—not because I lacked motivation, but because I lacked discipline to train smart. Discipline isn’t just about showing up. It’s about showing up the right way.
In business, discipline isn’t grinding 80 hours a week—it’s making the hard calls. Saying no when it’s easier to say yes. Protecting culture when it’s tempting to compromise. Sticking to core values even when growth opportunities dangle in front of you.
6. Short-Term Setbacks Protect Long-Term Goals
Missing two long runs felt like failure. But in reality, skipping them was the smarter move. It protected me from turning a minor injury into something that could jeopardize the entire race.
In business, pulling back on short-term opportunities, letting go of toxic clients, or pausing an expansion plan can feel like a step backward. But those decisions often protect the long-term vision.
7. Resilience Comes from Recovery, Not Perfection
Setbacks are inevitable—in sport and in business. You’re going to cramp, miss targets, and stumble along the way. Success isn’t about avoiding setbacks—it’s about learning to recover stronger every time.
From Setback to Setup
Ironman training has taught me something simple but powerful: setbacks aren’t interruptions to the journey—they’re part of the journey. The cramps, the missed runs, the forced rest days—they’re feedback, not failure.
The same is true in business. Every mistake, every misstep, every moment when things don’t go as planned—they’re opportunities to adjust, refuel, and build resilience.
Growth—whether physical or professional—isn’t linear. It’s a series of pushes, setbacks, recoveries, and breakthroughs. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is endurance.
Final Takeaway
Whether you’re training for an Ironman or leading a company, the lesson is the same: you can’t go the distance without fueling yourself properly, respecting recovery, and keeping your eyes on the long run.
Setbacks aren’t signs to quit. They’re reminders to train smarter, lead stronger, and build the endurance it takes to finish the race—and build something that lasts.
👉 Question for you: In your own journey—whether in fitness, business, or life—what’s your version of the “calf cramp”? And more importantly, how are you fueling yourself to keep moving toward your long run?
