Becoming and Ironman
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2427 days
Tribro posted 4 years ago.
You go man! I too intend to do a full Ironman one day. Depending on how much training I can squeeze in this winter, I'll either shoot for late 2005 or 2006. Keep me posted on how your training comes along.
494
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1692 days
trainDaBrain posted 4 years ago.
After this year's Big Kahuna, my plan is to start the training program for a 2005 fall Ironman. Haven't picked one yet. Any recommendations for first time racers? Also it looks like there will be a 2 1/2 month period where I won't have consistent access to a bike (Jan -Mar). But I will have swimming and running. I'm trying to find an exercise that I can do with minimal equipment that will approximate biking. Any suggestions out there?
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Deejay posted 4 years ago.
Ever since I first heard about the ironman triathlon, I knew that one day I would do one. If others can do it, I know that I can also. I just graduated school and I feel like now is the time in my life when I finally have the time to train propperly. I am doing 1/2 ironman in about a week, and my plan is to sign up for the 2005 WI IM which should officially open Sept. 13th.
It must have been at least 10 years ago that I first heard about it or saw them showing the Hawaii IM on TV. It is absolutely insane to take on such a challenge and I cannot wait to make my dreams become a reality.
Im not sure yet how i am going to go about training. I have a few training schedules from books, but I am considering getting a coach if I can find something reasonably priced.
"Tough times dont last. Tough people do."
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1694 days
jeslol posted 4 years ago.
never thought I'd say this...but yes, it's starting to creep into my goals. Next year it's 1/2IM and we'll see how that goes. My biggest fear is actually climate. I train really high and really dry. IM Florida sounds like my worst nightmare! Probably looking at CDA or AZ.
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1600 days
NYCTriGal posted 4 years ago.
I don't think anyone here will think you're crazy to want to do an Ironman - we're triathletes afterall! We might not want to do it ourselves but I don't think we think others are crazy to want it.
I just wonder how a person could have a full-time job (especially an office job), a relationship (and forget about a family!), a social life, and still train for an Ironman. Is there anyone here who's done it? Or who knows someone who's done it?
Just training for a sprint, I feel like I've had to make choices to not socialize, not spend some time with my S.O. (we don't live together), and not work late when I probably should. It hasn't totally taken over my life but it definitely has to be scheduled around.
But an Ironman? How do people do it? It seems like there wouldn't be enough hours in a day to do it all.
143
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1780 days
Deejay posted 4 years ago.
Luckily for me i do not have kids or anything and im not in a relationship either. Im also only working part time for now. As for having a family and working a full time job, i dont know if it is possible to train adequately. Im sure you can do it, but sacrifices must be made on your part and other people's. I know there are ppl out there that have done it, but I think its a lot easier when you don't have so many other things going on in your life. The thing is that unless you are a pro, i dont think you can ever train 100% for it. Part of it is a big leap of faith on race day that you have the mental capacity to push through the pain and and break through that wall that you never were quite sure you could get over.
"Tough times dont last. Tough people do."
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1556 days
Wakizashi posted 4 years ago.
good luck cpt B.... that is definitly a awesome goal.... i kinda wonder how many real ironmen are even in the service, its so hard to get training time away from "joe". Hopefully you luck out and have a year or two home for training. Good luck. keep us posted
De Opressor Liber
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1912 days
cedriclburden posted 4 years ago.
NYCTriGal,
You are correct time is the biggest factor to me. Not only do you have to train, but sleep, eat, strecth, and not to mention work our jobs. I'm in the military and a moments notice I can be gone for a year plus. So I have to cherish and relish the training hours and minutes I have available now because I might not have it later. I'm not married, and single as can be, so that is a plus when you have to train on an average of 4-6 hours a week. I try to rest 1-2 days a week, and stretch every morning and every night to limit injuries. Hope this helps!!
CPT B
Cedric L. Burden
a.k.a C-Murder
Nothing is impossible for the person who does not have to do it.
--Author Unknown--
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Member
1603 days
azfotog posted 4 years ago.
CPT B,
You may indeed be crazy, but at least you'll find more of us that are as crazy as you are! I think it's great you're working towards an IM. I'm right there with you. I run a small business, so work tends to get in the way of training. Just do what you can, you know?!? It's easy to get frustrated when work interrupts a planned training session, but without work we can't afford all the toys! :D
Hey TdB - no access to a bike? Just no access outside, or no way to get to the bike? My curiousity level is high. Sounds like you've got some sort of an adventure going on! Fill us in...
S
494
Member
1692 days
trainDaBrain posted 4 years ago.
No way to bring a bike, unless I find an island that rents one. My wife is finishing her Masters Thesis in Environmental Science, and it involves hopping from island to island conducting surveys. Since I'm the techie, and part of her thesis involves the availability of internet access, I get to evaulate the connections, equipment, etc.
In between all of this I'll be able to get running and swimming in, but because of the difficulty getting to these islands, bringing a bike is not in the cards. Plus a lot of them don't have roads that I could take a road bike on anyway. It's definitely going to be an adventure as this trip will span two hemispheres, three ocean regions, and about 12 different islands. We're working on funding and sponsorship right now. But I'm still going to train for that Ironman, and my wife is all for it.
I think there were some articles here that discussed splitting up the year into sections of event focus. So for three months, I would just concentrate on being a better swimmer, then, the next three months, just running, and so on. Eventually there needs to be a time to sew it all together, and I'm in the midst of figuring that out.
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1693 days
gefelaho posted 4 years ago.
TDB's trek sounds great - I'm really envious of the opportunity you've got.
The original question about going for an IM so early in the tri experience - I can say it most definitely can be done. In 2003, I went from Sprint to IM in just under a year. Admittedly I'd been running for a little before I turned the tri switch on, but I managed to do it with almost minimal damage!
I've a fulltime job, 2 kids under 5 & all that entails. I think the keys to achieving IM goals are:
1 - Get your partner to buy in to your goal - without their understanding & support I wouldn't even bother starting. Maybe your work can help too - mine didn't however!
2 - Get advice from a coach as to schedules, drills, nutrition etc. I started with a neighbour as my training partner & realised very early on the we had no direction or idea of how to achieve our IM goal...that saved us from serious trouble & also helped my wife accept that we were doing things we "needed" to do.
3 - While everything I did was geared towards my IM - training, racing, equipment etc - I didn't focus on it until I'd completed my initial race schedule. I used these prelim events as milestones & practise, but I geared my training to those events where possible. This kept the IM goal fresh for me.
4 - Be imaginative about getting your workouts in & I tried to be as unobstusive to my family as possible. I trained early am's, but aimed to be back as the kids woke, cycle or run some commuting trips if you can. If you train early, hit the sack early - your social life begins to suck, but if you've got the character to get this goal achieved, you'll get that life back again soon enough.
5 - There's going to be all sorts of walls in your way - you must be sure of your committment & deal with these barriers, otherwise you get sidetracked & risk missing this opportunity. There a loads of guys who've not been committed enough to deal with these barriers & have never been able to restart their IM goal again.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, but believe me, having the support of everyone behind you following a well defined goal makes it all the better on those bad days!...it really can be a lot of fun
Gee - I can't believe how much I wrote!!
BTW, I had a relative break this season, training but just taking part in local events. I'm going to enter IM Florida in 2005 & build up for that all over again - I'm looking forward to it already!
Good luck with your plans & hope this helps
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1691 days
allenttu posted 4 years ago.
I agree with the previous post on being creative in getting your workouts in. I've got my first Iron Distance race coming up in 7 weeks and it's the workouts over the last month and next month that are a challenge due to the time and distance involved in getting them in. My youngest son has a baseball tournament about 80 miles away tomorrow and I'm taking the opportunity to get in an 80 mile bike while everyone else drives to the game. Of course they think I'm nuts, but I'll get my weekend ride in and not miss out on the family activity. Most of my runs are late in the evening after the kids are in bed, but I don't plan on finishing in the daylight during the race so I just tell myself that it's good practice.
What is it that Friel says about triathletes and time management? The time is there, you just have to find it.
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1556 days
Wakizashi posted 4 years ago.
thats an awesome idea allenttu of working in a long bike ride.... might have to take some long rides to old "grandma" once the bike arrives
De Opressor Liber
I wanted to poll the forum to see if there are triathletes that are interested in barking upon the ultimate challenge of completing an Ironman.
I decided 2 years ago when I did my 1st triathlon in a pool that I one day wanted to train and complete the Ironman. I know most people on here will say I'm crazy , but it's something I want to tell my children's children I am an Ironman. I plan on completing Ironman Brazil in 2005, maybe I'll see you there. Feel free to give me input, opinion, feelings, and advice.:D
CPT B
Cedric L. Burden
a.k.a C-Murder
Nothing is impossible for the person who does not have to do it.
--Author Unknown--