Consistency Brings Results | M65 Ironman World Champion

In this episode of The Endurance Lab Podcast, I sit down with Neil Hunter, the 2025 Ironman World Champion (Men 65–69), to explore what long-term consistency, smart training, and trust in the process can achieve, regardless of age.

📌 “Get fit. Stay healthy. Be happy.” — Neil Hunter

Neil’s story is extraordinary. At 65, he didn’t just win the Ironman World Championships, he also:
• Won the European Duathlon Standard Distance Championship |
• Won the European Triathlon Middle Distance Championship
• Finished 4th at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships

But beyond the medals, this conversation is about something deeper:
- Consistency beats intensity.
- Endurance is built slowly — and it lasts.
- Aging does not mean decline if you train smart.

In this episode, we discuss:
• How Neil trained for years with one clear long-term goal in mind
• Why repetitive, “boring” training builds world-class endurance
• The real meaning of the 80/20 training principle
• Why most Ironman athletes walk the marathon — and how to avoid it
• High-intensity training after 60 (yes, VO₂ max still matters)
• How Neil structures his weekly training (swim, bike, run, strength)
• Recovery strategies that actually work (including walking the dog)
• Why moderate exercise beats medication for long-term health
• The mindset required to perform at a high level as you age
• How endurance training improves physical and psychological health

🧠 Key lessons from Neil Hunter
- Consistency over years matters more than perfect sessions
- Most endurance events are aerobic — train accordingly
- Don’t chase “sexy” workouts — chase repeatability
- Train with structure, but don’t obsess over metrics
- Moderate exercise is one of the most powerful health interventions
- You don’t need to be extreme to be consistent — just patient