Western States 100: Lehkonen puts faith in ‘miracle’ power watt monitor for pacing at famous ultra-marathon
- Henri Lehkonen swears by the power meter he attaches to his shoe to ensure he is not going too fast too soon
- He finishes 11th at Ultra Trail Australia as he builds to the famous California race and goes for a course recce
Henri Lehkonen is more prepared than ever for the Western States 100 mile (WSER100, 161km) ultra-marathon on June 29, but it is one gadget that he thinks will give him the edge.
The Hong Kong-based Australia will run with a power monitor attached to his shoe and will stick religiously to a predetermined wattage.
“It’s been a revelation. If I lost the thing, I’d buy another tomorrow,” he said. “It’s a miracle way to control yourself in racing.”
Lehkonen believes it is better than other similar metrics, like heart rate, because it removes variables like excitement or altitude.
“I’ve done enough races now when I’ve not followed the watch and I’ve blown up, and when I’ve followed the watch and I’m tearing past people at the end,” he said. “I follow it for the first third – that’s where the damage is done if you over exert yourself. Then you get the adrenaline from passing people.”