{"id":29512,"date":"2026-10-17T06:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T05:01:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-10-03T12:42:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T11:42:13","slug":"mark-allen-on-mastering-the-long-game-the-rule-of-thirds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/groupevolution.com\/nl\/mark-allen-on-mastering-the-long-game-the-rule-of-thirds\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Allen on Mastering the Long Game: The Rule of Thirds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Also on Substack: read this article there<\/a> or subscribe<\/a> to get new articles by email.<\/p>\n

In the heat of an Ironman, a common mistake athletes make is dividing the race in half. We tell ourselves, \u201cI\u2019ll control the first half and hammer the second.\u201d<\/em> But as Mark explains in this video, the \u201csecond half\u201d of an Ironman leg is a daunting, often insurmountable distance that leads many to \u201cdie\u201d well before the finish line.<\/p>\n

The solution? The Rule of Thirds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

By breaking both the bike and the run into three distinct phases, you shift from a mindset of survival to a mindset of hunting. Here is how to execute the perfect build:<\/p>\n

1. The First Third: Conservative Discipline<\/strong><\/h4>\n

This is the hardest part of the race\u2014not physically, but mentally. While everyone around you is riding or running like they are in an Olympic distance race, your job is to stay steady.<\/p>\n