Before hopping on a plane to compete in his first 70.3 in Panama on Sunday, Lance Armstrong graced the triathlon media with a call to discuss his newly-announced level of participation in the sport. Not only will he be racing a number of 70.3′s, but he’s got his sights set on Ironman France and the world championships in Kona. Here are a few highlights from our conversation with the seven-time Tour de France champion. Don’t miss Jay Prasuhn’s Op-Ed on what this means for the sport, here.

On mindset

The test in all this begins on Sunday in Panama. I have to be very conservative. I’ve never even done a half-Ironman before. It wouldn’t be prudent for me to have huge ambition or goals in terms of performance at this stage. I just need to go in and feel my way through it.

On training partners

I swim and run with others, but I tend to ride alone, or with our Bontrager Livestrong team. Some of the other athletes I swim with include James [Bonney], Brandon and Amy Marsh, Patrick Evoe, and some former UT swimmers. I run a couple of days a week with a group of runnners and triathletes.

On mentorship

Jimmy Riccitello is definitely mentoring me. It’s an exciting project but also daunting. There’s lots of stuff I’ve completely forgotten or that has changed, whether it’s equipment or training. For example, I had a long dialogue with Greg Welch yesterday just getting some background on people. With this race on Sunday, it will be good to know just where I might fit in.

On particular anxieties

I’m most worried about anything run-related. It’s the one I’ve been away from the longest. In adding volume and intensity comes injury. The one thing that could derail all of this would be a nagging injury I couldn’t get over. The run is the most important part of this thing. In golf they say you drive for show and you putt for dough. In tri, you bike for show and run for dough—I’ve gotta get that run or I’ll be a middle-of-the-packer.

With this in mind I’ve tried to ramp up intensity once a week, and do longer runs once a week. Those runs not only are getting easier and easier towards the end, but the after effects—at night or the next morning—are not a problem. Typically with plantar fasciitis you have a lot of pain. I don’t have that anymore, and hopefully—and I say that with a view in the rearview mirror as I had with other things in my life—it won’t come back.

On swimming

I’ve made the mistake before in thinking the swim was a relevant part of the race. I’m not saying it’s irrelevant, but all that extra effort staying at the front of the pack, it’s just not worth it, over staying in a pack of 20 or so and waiting for the bike and the run.

On injury

It’s important to remember that I basically have a full-time person for physical therapy, massage, etc. That’s the stuff I’ve been blessed to have around me with the team. In terms of what triathletes can do for themselves, you can go on any running blog and see the simple steps people take: the roller, tennis ball, not walking around barefoot … I’ve done all of those things, and it’s seemed to work for me so far.

On body weight

When you get into that marathon, every pound matters. As my running has ramped up my body weight has come down. In the tours I’d start at 164-165 pounds. For these long events, Ironman France and hopefully Kona, I’d have to be back down to that.

On nutrition

I don’t have a great answer. That’s why I’ve said I need to be very conservative and feel my way through this. And what I’ve heard is that this is very different than a full Ironman. You have to consume enough to power the body, but it has to be a consumption you can tolerate. In Kona every year, 50 percent of competitors said they had stomach issues. I’m fully aware and respect it completely, but I don’t think I have the answer. We’re talking about a four-sport event here: swimming, biking, running, and eating. If you screw up the last part, it’s done.