Let's delve into this thought a bit.

We see it ALL THE TIME. The idea that if I do "X" performance this year, then to do "X+1" performance I have to do MORE or DIFFERENT training. This idea is a fallacy. Being healthy, consistent, and having mild progression is what makes you better. There is no secret "block" of workouts or "strategy" that re-define how you place in a long distance triathlon. Just doing the same thing, over and over and over, will get you to where you need to be.

Take Cody, for example. Cody did nothing weird or strange in his leadup to his first IM. He did consistent work over a long period of time (years) and executed on race-day. He trusted in the process, and was able to seek advice and counsel when he had questions or needed his path re-directed or altered.

But far too often athletes simply believe that because they want to improve next year they have to CHANGE something. This is simply not true.

Once you're quite good at something, you don't make large percentage leaps anymore. You make tiny, tiny gains. Not through weird shit like sizing down a frame to be more aero.