That is according to Canadian professional triathlete Luke Dragstra, who has returned to Wanaka with the goal of regaining the title he last held in 2007.
Challenge Wanaka is a 226km race comprising a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run.
Dragstra has completed 20 since 2001.
Unlike most of the 300 or so individual athletes who are aiming to finish and not worried about what others are up to, Dragstra believes he has five or six men to keep an eye on during the race, particularly during the swim.
New Zealand's Keegan Williams (30), Denmark's Jimmy Johnson (32) and Courtney Ogden (38) were among those he said he needed to match in the water, while he regarded Challenge Wanaka regular Petr Vabrousek (37), of the Czech Republic, as a "dark horse" who could be on the podium if he has a good swim.
"It is very key to do your own race.
"You can think - will I keep those guys within riding distance or will I let them break away or will I try to break away myself? But you have to listen to your own body ...
"The race starts in the last 10 minutes," he said on Sunday.
"I've never felt good in the last 10km.
"It is about surviving.
"But the key to ironman is being strong at the end.
"That is when you make the big finish," Dragstra said.
Dragstra is a consistent top-10 performer in international races and has visited Wanaka three times, winning in 2007, placing fourth in 2008 and sixth in 2009.
He was prompted to return this summer to atone for his 2010 European season.
"It was pretty average. The season went by so fast and I caught a cold early and I kept racing and should have taken time off.
"I came right before [Challenge] Copenhagen and had a good race two weeks before.
"I went in confident but had a puncture and penalty call [to finish 10th].
"That's why I wanted to come south, because I felt I had a unfulfilling season and my objective is to win another title before I retire," Dragstra said.
Dragstra (probably 34) resists being defined by his age, but has conceded he was born in the Year of the Dragon, which would be either 1976 or 1988.
He is candid about wanting to retire - but says that is probably still four or five years away.
As part of his transition to life after triathlon, Dragstra - who is proficient in languages - recently took on part-time paid employment as a translator for his sponsor, Magic Sport Food, and reproduces product information in English.
"Some guys keep going until they are 41 or 42, but I hope to be earning my millions by then," he said.
