What Does it Take?
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kylie posted 48 weeks ago.
The main thing that changes is how important nutrition is. You still build up miles, have cycles in your training, and have rest built into your plan. They are just all a different size :) However, bad nutrition and hydration at an IM (and somewhat at a half) can really really hurt you. The mental game is also more important, as well as caring for your body outside training to help keep injuries at bay.
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beads1985 posted 48 weeks ago.
The increase in mileage and time in each dicipline is something you have to work into your schedule.
You will have to be more aware of your body, and your nutrition.
You have to wrap your head around doing the distance in each event.
I felt more confident when I could complete each individual part on its own. Then you just put them together.
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Sandman posted 48 weeks ago.
As the posters above have mentioned nutrition plays a big part as does pacing. IM is a long day. You have to be prepared for it with a background of large volume weeks of training.
You can fake your way through a sprint tri. There is no faking an Ironman. You do the work and you are rewarded ... you don't, well... next time you will ;)
Finishing an Ironman is an experience like no other race because at the finish you are rewarded for all those long hours you have trained and it can be quite emotional.
Good luck with your training.
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Anton posted 48 weeks ago.
You'll be a lot more pressed that in a sprint...and I'm not talking about race day.
Doing Ironman is all about the training. I think Scott is so right about wrapping your head around the distance but you have to get your head around your training...just look at any IM schedule or Red5's training right now or bluebirdbikers blog...it's a tremendous ammount of work (you're welcome to check out my blog...but I tend to skip over the day to day stuff.) Go check out an IM and watch one if you can, even an independant race...If you can say to yourself "I think the training is do-able." You'll be fine. Race day is easy.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net
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RV posted 48 weeks ago.
I also did each of the distances as a confidence boost. i.e. did my first marathon the year before doing IM. I also started with a beginners IM training plan the year before the IM to see what it was like to put in the required amount of training.
I also agree with Anton - if possible go watch an IM in person. Helps gain a perspective.
Being flexible with your schedule is the other critical element when training for an IM.
You have the time to prepare - which is the best way to approach it. Good luck with the training - you can achieve it! And it is worth it!
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
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Star posted 48 weeks ago.
I replied to you in a previous post about this, but...if I have what it takes...then I'm pretty sure you can too ;)
My nutrition almost killed me in my first IM. Not only can you fake your way through a sprint, but I think through a HIM as well. I hadn't worked out my IM nutrition properly and that hurt (literally) on race day. Also, for that race, I was training all alone, so I didn't get in the long mileage that I should have. Find someone to train with.
My second time around I was much smarter...
Three keys:
1. Big bike miles help tons
2. Practice your race day nutrition and electrolyte replacement
3. Read about and practice mental training
Tell yourself you can do the IM, and YOU WILL!
My blog: http://star.trifuel.net
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bluebirdbiker posted 48 weeks ago.
As they all say. Longer, but involves 4 disciplines Swim, Bike, Run and Eating/drinking. It is just the same as other tris but involves more commitment, time and fight. Advice: read as many race accounts on-line as you can to get an idea of what is involved/it takes. Learn about yourself and by far get the nutrition down. It's easy to complete one of these things IF you have the distance/mileage training behind you. If the nutrition is not right, you will suffer the most from that. Good luck.
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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hateloveschool posted 48 weeks ago.
Hey, thanks for the tips, I'm definitely going to try to work on these. I was thinking that next summer I might try a HIM, before heading into the IM distance. Another thing, I've started another thread in the nutrition section about a lot of you all have said about nutrition, maybe some of you might be able to comment on it to help me understand what you mean by nutrition?
As of now, I would like to complete a IM in about two years. I have plans of completing a half ironman next summer, using it as a step ladder to get to the ironman distance.
I've done plenty of sprint triathlons in the last couple years so I have some understanding of triathlons, but I was wondering from those of you who have completed an IM, is there anything that I might need to know that is different from the sprint distance? Besides the fact that it is longer... lol