How long does it take to be in Ironman condition?
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beachtrader posted 2 years ago.
I am by no means an expert, close to an expert or even consider myself to know anything except for the very basics.
That being said I am in this situation and have planned two years to reach Ironman condition from "zero". I guess how long would really depend on how fast your body would take to training. If your body is a hard trainer (that is, it takes a long time to increase distance versus increasing distance and endurance rapidly) then it will take longer than someone who gets up to speed quickly. For myself I know I can make gains in swimming average, biking probably more than average, but running a lot lower than average (I suck at running, always have, probably always will).
What I laid out is that I would run a Sprint in three months from the beginning; an Olympic seven months later, an half Ironman four months later and then an Ironman one year after the half Ironman. (The times may seem a little odd but that is when these races are held in my area, I would probably do the Olympic distance a month or two earlier if possible.)
My training would be two days off each week initially and then ramp up according to the race coming up. My goal is to not finish in the top five of each race but to be able to finish in the middle of the pack without passing out at the end of the race. My goal for the first Ironman would be to finish before the 12 hour mark.
I did read in a book somewhere (can't remember right now) where someone said to give yourself about two years. I hope this helps.
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blazindave posted 2 years ago.
beachtrader wrote:
I am by no means an expert, close to an expert or even consider myself to know anything except for the very basics.That being said I am in this situation and have planned two years to reach Ironman condition from "zero". I guess how long would really depend on how fast your body would take to training. If your body is a hard trainer (that is, it takes a long time to increase distance versus increasing distance and endurance rapidly) then it will take longer than someone who gets up to speed quickly. For myself I know I can make gains in swimming average, biking probably more than average, but running a lot lower than average (I suck at running, always have, probably always will).
What I laid out is that I would run a Sprint in three months from the beginning; an Olympic seven months later, an half Ironman four months later and then an Ironman one year after the half Ironman. (The times may seem a little odd but that is when these races are held in my area, I would probably do the Olympic distance a month or two earlier if possible.)
My training would be two days off each week initially and then ramp up according to the race coming up. My goal is to not finish in the top five of each race but to be able to finish in the middle of the pack without passing out at the end of the race. My goal for the first Ironman would be to finish before the 12 hour mark.
I did read in a book somewhere (can't remember right now) where someone said to give yourself about two years. I hope this helps.
Yea it does, thanks.
problem is that i still dont really know how to make a training plan. Im too lazy:P
"You can quit, and they don't care..but you will always know"
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beachtrader posted 2 years ago.
Well, I doubt you are lazier than me...
If you need a training plan check out this book:
Triathlon Training Basics by Gale Bernhardt
It has several plans for fit or unfit people who want to run a sprint or an olympic distance. It's a great book for beginners and all you have to do is follow it.
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Triguy98 posted 2 years ago.
Even better than that book is Training Plans for Multisport Athletes by the same author. I have both books, and the Triathletes Training Bible by Joe Friel. TPFMSA and the Bible are the better of the two. TPFMSA is a great book for newbies and those who prefer to have someone tell you what to do, as well as a more conventional schedule. The Bible dwells more into the theory and how tos of designing your own plan.
Buy one book: TPFMSA.
Buy Two: add Joe Friel's book.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
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Red5 posted 2 years ago.
I think that all depends on how fast you want to finish!
_______
Bryan
Of course it's 'effing hard, it's IRONMAN!
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Atropos posted 2 years ago.
I'd say at least two years too. I started Tri training after seeing an IMC finish on TV 2004, and my first IM will be IMC in 2007. I think it depends on your training commitment and your body's willingness to accept the training, but for me, it's only recently that I've felt ready to put in the hours and distance necessary for IM training.
[URL="http://lincolnp.blogspot.com"]Sprinting to Ironman
The breakdown that happens at the seven-hour mark often starts 200 meters off the beach
--Gordo
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iron_girl posted 2 years ago.
Good question. I guess it all depends on how fit you are when you start you Iron Man training. If zero means all those things you listed in your question, I think it will take you between 2-3 years. I assume you are younger than me, maybe in your mid-late 30s? I will be 55 years old on September 7th. of this year, 3 days before my first Iron Man, the one in Wisconsin, and it has taken me 4 years to be in the condition, both mental and physical needed to finish a race of this nature, strong, healthy and happy. My suggestion to you is to start at the bottom by training for only Sprints and maybe an Olympic distance Tri in 07, then, in 08, assuming you are still training and sticking to it, do some sprints at the start of the season, then a couple of Olys and then maybe a Half Iron Man. This way you will give your body and your mind the chance to get strong and fit to tackle an Iron Man. There is no sense in rushing this at all. Triathlon races are not going to desapear overnight so you will be better off taking baby steps to make sure you will arrive at your frist Iron Man race, healthy and strong. Be patient and enjoy the journey. Good luck!!!
Maria.
"Far better is to dare mighty things, to win glorious Triumph, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spiritis who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not Victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt.
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PJT posted 2 years ago.
Either TTB or Going Long, I forget which, say 2 to 5 years. I know a couple of people who have done it in 1 year, but they are fairly athletic (i.e., not "average joe") types.
I'm about as average, or less, than they come. I'm trying my first IM in year 3 and feel that I probably would have benefited from 1 more year of HIMs, but my life situation is such that this is a very good year to go for it.
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bluebirdbiker posted 2 years ago.
I dunno, it took me 2 years from "0" to finish an IM in 11hrs. but I would say that if you can swim, bike and run the distance in a week AND be able to do basically, 16-20hrs. or so training per week over 2 months consistantly, you would be ready to finish an IM.
You asked, so that's my 2 cents, but I am no expert.
BBB
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Don't think, just do.
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bluebirdbiker posted 2 years ago.
I dunno, it took me 2 years from "0" to finish an IM in 11hrs. but I would say that if you can swim, bike and run the distance in a week AND be able to do basically, 16-20hrs. or so training per week over 2 months consistantly, you would be ready to finish an IM.
You asked, so that's my 2 cents, but I am no expert.
BBB
There are no excuses - so don't look for them. As a product of your own choices, you directly determine your life outcomes.
Don't think, just do.
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Say you start completely at zero. You havent run in years, havent touched a bike and the only water you've seen or felt is that of your hose.
You start training...
how long would it technically take to be in condition to do an Ironman(being an average joe)?
"You can quit, and they don't care..but you will always know"