Am I gonna have what it takes at IMOO?
Continue with your training plan and observe the taper. On race day, pace correctly, eat right, and have just a bit of luck on your side (no mechanicals, no accidents, no injuries) and you'll finish absolutely fine.
Training is about more than just doing centuries and 4k swims. Have you been consistently following your plan and recovering? If so, don't sweat what you haven't done in training. Just make sure that when those workouts are on your plan in the next 4 weeks you do them. I've only done 1 century so far this season per my plan. I have 3 more to go. I have yet to do a 4k swim either, though those are definitely coming up.
FWIW, my HIM PR last year was 5:37 and I finished IMOO in 12:36.
I'm not really following a "plan" per se, but I've read a bunch of plans and know that I need to get nuts over the next 4 weeks. I'm looking at maintaining my weekly schedule and getting in some serious (sat.BIG bike short run, and su. short bike, BIG run) combos. I know I shouldn't be going this blind but between grad school and working full time... I've been getting in 8-12hrs a week all summer.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
Your training sounds right where mine is for IMC. Come race day, my longest bike will be 90 miles, swim 3600 meters (not a straight effort) and run is 17 miles. I only raced one sprint and one HIM this year and just focused the rest of time on my IM training. Race day success will be more about nutrition and pacing than whether or not I rode an extra 10 miles on my bike just to say I've ridden a century. IMC will be my first 2.4 mile swim, my first century and my first marathon. Based on your post I would say you are right on target for race day.
Remember that the first IM should be about having fun and finishing strong. It sounds like you've been focusing on training because you had good results for your HIM. Continue to follow your training plan, hit your taper and on race day have faith in your training and enjoy the pay off.
"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever." Lance Armstrong
You will finish with no problem if you follow above advice and watch your nutrition and pacing. Speaking of pacing, in your HIM you did a 2:34bike and a 2:04 run. Your run is slow compared to your bike time. Did you push hard on the bike and have trouble holding pace on the run? If so, you should definitely take the bike easier in the Ironman. Otherwise the marathon will be a big problem.
Oh yeah, the bike was really going well so I thought I'd push it a bit. I figured the run would suffer. At the IM I want to keep it cool and come in off the bike around 6hrs and have something left for the run. I know I shouldnt speculate as to my finish time so I wont... I just want to get it in the bag.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
jhudalla-
I am right with you there. I am doing IMOO soon and this is also my first IM and I am a little nervous myself since it is a really long distance. I have yet to do a 2.4 mile swim or any of the other distances yet; I did do a HIM recently at 5:37 and I felt strong afterwards still. But I am following the current training program on this site.
But I guess there is always uncertainty when we go for another distance especially for an IM. I guess the fun part is the "not knowing"...
You will finish with no problem if you follow above advice and watch your nutrition and pacing. Speaking of pacing, in your HIM you did a 2:34bike and a 2:04 run. Your run is slow compared to your bike time. Did you push hard on the bike and have trouble holding pace on the run? If so, you should definitely take the bike easier in the Ironman. Otherwise the marathon will be a big problem.
+1 That 2:04 half will balloon significantly for the last 13.1 miles at IMOO if you overcook the bike--even for someone with your running ability.
Oh I'm sure.. I was cruising for the first 7 miles of the run, but couldn't do anything more than a run walk for the last 6 or so. If that was 6 + another half.. good grief.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.











HIM results from yesterday
#351 - S 35:42 T1 04:25 B 2:34:48 T2 01:02 R 02:04:39 TTL 05:20:37.4
http://www.itiming.com/raceresults/531-chisago-half-div09.pdf
So what does it all mean? I am currently in prep for my first (gulp!) IM(OO) in about 7 weeks. I am stressing a bit as I'm yet to ride more than 100 miles, or swim the complete 4k in any single training session. I've run 2 marathon (3:41/3:37) in the past 3 months and am planning on 1 more race between now and the big day ( a 12hr MTB race in Blue Mound, WI ). I guess my question is... am I gonna be an IRONMAN!
Thank you for your advice in advance. I'm getting kinda nervous.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.