How did you know you were capable of doing an Ironman?

[Snytjie]

So, the plan was to get to Ironman in three years starting 2012. Long time, yes, but I started as a ex-smoker and 18kg overweight. Plus I'm not blessed with the most pliable gene composition. I went through the shorter races and have now done a couple of 70.3s and survived/finished spectacularly in the middle of the pack. I'll do two more in the next three months. I started an Ironman training plan a few months ago and decided that the time to pull the trigger would be after I ran my first marathon which was supposed to be in October. However, I got sick and normal life happened which forced me to postpone the marathon to 20 Dec. Problem is, there are only 600 IM entries left and I don't know if I'll have the luxury of waiting to see if I can do the marathon and come out intact on the other side. I don't really fancy committing R10k in entry+flights+accommodation only to not get it all together before race day.

 

I'm not worried about the swimming. I just rode the One-Tonner (163km) and if it wasn't for a mechanical which forced me to overspent chasing a group from dead last position it would've been a relatively easy ride (in maybe 5:40 - 6:00). I'm currently on a 25km weekly long run @ 6min/km. I'm confident that I'll get to doing the swimming and biking distances with relative ease by end 2014. I don't know what it takes to progress from 25km to 42.2km, and I have no idea on what it takes to put the three together...

 

Am I just neurotic? When did you know you could do it? Did it work out in the end?

[Wheelsuck]

Firstly why do you want to run a marathon in preparation for IM? Is it purely to say I am able to last 42.2km? and that will make you psychologically better prepared, because that is all it will do. The general rule of thumb is a max 28-32km run in prep for IM. The marathon will just take too much out  you and will just mess with your training schedule.

 

Rather get a coach and work with him/her in prep for your first IM than try and guess through the process.

 

btw YOU will make it-just with the sheer determination of the journey you have been on.  

[banna]

You should be able to do it easily based on your info. Let me break it down for you: If your swim takes 1h30, and you ride 7h, with transition time of say 30 minutes (should be quicker) you have 8 hours to do the 42.2km. You can basically walk it and still finish. So when you entering?

 

[sluiper]

If what you're saying is true, I think you're ready.

 

I've completed a few Ironman races and my long run was never more than 25km and my long ride never more than 160km. The first marathon that I ran was at the end of my first Ironman and I still managed to finish in the top half of the field

 

Also, if you can currently do 25km at 6min/km you can most definitely run a marathon. However, I wouldn't recommend running a marathon immediately before the Ironman as the recovery time is long and the risk of injury is something to be avoided.

 

The big difference between a 70.3 and a full Ironman is the nutrition and pacing. If you don't eat/drink properly, you'll hit the wall pretty quickly and if you overcook it early on, you're in for a long day. On the 70.3 those aren't such big issues as you're only out there for 5-7 hours vs. 10-17 hours on the full.

 

In my opinion, if you can do the East London 70.3, you're almost ready to do a full Ironman. The distance is a bit longer, but the fundamentals are the same. Conditions in EL are normally tougher than in PE, so being able to finish the 70.3 easily would be a good indicator of whether you're ready to do the full.

 

Lastly: you'll never be 100% ready; no one ever is. You'll always have doubts as to whether you trained hard enough, lost enough weight, spent enough time on the bike, did enough pool sessions, etc. The fact that you're unsure about whether or not you can make it is one of the special things about Ironman. I would definitely recommend you do it. Train hard, set some goals, join a group/club for swimming/running/riding and enjoy the journey.

[gurns]

So, the plan was to get to Ironman in three years starting 2012. Long time, yes, but I started as a ex-smoker and 18kg overweight. Plus I'm not blessed with the most pliable gene composition. I went through the shorter races and have now done a couple of 70.3s and survived/finished spectacularly in the middle of the pack. I'll do two more in the next three months. I started an Ironman training plan a few months ago and decided that the time to pull the trigger would be after I ran my first marathon which was supposed to be in October. However, I got sick and normal life happened which forced me to postpone the marathon to 20 Dec. Problem is, there are only 600 IM entries left and I don't know if I'll have the luxury of waiting to see if I can do the marathon and come out intact on the other side. I don't really fancy committing R10k in entry+flights+accommodation only to not get it all together before race day.

 

I'm not worried about the swimming. I just rode the One-Tonner (163km) and if it wasn't for a mechanical which forced me to overspent chasing a group from dead last position it would've been a relatively easy ride (in maybe 5:40 - 6:00). I'm currently on a 25km weekly long run @ 6min/km. I'm confident that I'll get to doing the swimming and biking distances with relative ease by end 2014. I don't know what it takes to progress from 25km to 42.2km, and I have no idea on what it takes to put the three together...

 

Am I just neurotic? When did you know you could do it? Did it work out in the end?

Thinking back to the run-up to my first ironman, you sound better prepared at this point than I was. As long as you stay relatively healthy and injury free during the last 12 weeks, you should not have a problem. The most diffucult part is to stay motivated during the training slog and if you can do that, race day is Realtively easy. IMHO it is more important to enjoy your training rather than grinding out distance for the sake of distance. Try and fit in a bit of core and strength work if possible. Do the training and you can do it!

[IceCreamMan]

By the sounds of it , you will be ok in iron man .... in all likelihood it sounds like you will be better prepped than I and I entered already.  by the time you get off the bike you have enough time to walk/crawl/jog the marathon to finish.

 

I have not run a marathon either, and was thinking of doing the distance end of January 2015 in prep for iron man but am beginning to think a couple of 28km runs will suffice.

 

But then I am aiming at a solid 15 to 16 hour IM , for me its about finishing so not really concerned where in the field I finish.... so long as I beat the clock in each discipline an in total.

 

Good luck, I think you can do it.

[SwissVan]

So, the plan was to get to Ironman in three years starting 2012. Long time, yes, but I started as a ex-smoker and 18kg overweight. Plus I'm not blessed with the most pliable gene composition. I went through the shorter races and have now done a couple of 70.3s and survived/finished spectacularly in the middle of the pack. I'll do two more in the next three months. I started an Ironman training plan a few months ago and decided that the time to pull the trigger would be after I ran my first marathon which was supposed to be in October. However, I got sick and normal life happened which forced me to postpone the marathon to 20 Dec. Problem is, there are only 600 IM entries left and I don't know if I'll have the luxury of waiting to see if I can do the marathon and come out intact on the other side. I don't really fancy committing R10k in entry+flights+accommodation only to not get it all together before race day.

 

I'm not worried about the swimming. I just rode the One-Tonner (163km) and if it wasn't for a mechanical which forced me to overspent chasing a group from dead last position it would've been a relatively easy ride (in maybe 5:40 - 6:00). I'm currently on a 25km weekly long run @ 6min/km. I'm confident that I'll get to doing the swimming and biking distances with relative ease by end 2014. I don't know what it takes to progress from 25km to 42.2km, and I have no idea on what it takes to put the three together...

 

Am I just neurotic? When did you know you could do it? Did it work out in the end?

 

YOU ARE AN IRON MAN READY

 

Just commit and get on with it, i also procrastinated for years before stepping up.

 

You have already done a couple of 70.3’s, what else do you want to do?

No need to run a marathon before IM… a 25 – 32 maximum would be more than enough preparation.

[mon-goose]

agree with everyone. if you can do the swim and the ride already and are running 25km at the moment, then you'll be able to to do the full ironman. Just pace yourself, eat well and you should be fine

[Stiggy]

If what you're saying is true, I think you're ready.

 

I've completed a few Ironman races and my long run was never more than 25km and my long ride never more than 160km. The first marathon that I ran was at the end of my first Ironman and I still managed to finish in the top half of the field

 

Also, if you can currently do 25km at 6min/km you can most definitely run a marathon. However, I wouldn't recommend running a marathon immediately before the Ironman as the recovery time is long and the risk of injury is something to be avoided.

 

The big difference between a 70.3 and a full Ironman is the nutrition and pacing. If you don't eat/drink properly, you'll hit the wall pretty quickly and if you overcook it early on, you're in for a long day. On the 70.3 those aren't such big issues as you're only out there for 5-7 hours vs. 10-17 hours on the full.

 

In my opinion, if you can do the East London 70.3, you're almost ready to do a full Ironman. The distance is a bit longer, but the fundamentals are the same. Conditions in EL are normally tougher than in PE, so being able to finish the 70.3 easily would be a good indicator of whether you're ready to do the full.

 

Lastly: you'll never be 100% ready; no one ever is. You'll always have doubts as to whether you trained hard enough, lost enough weight, spent enough time on the bike, did enough pool sessions, etc. The fact that you're unsure about whether or not you can make it is one of the special things about Ironman. I would definitely recommend you do it. Train hard, set some goals, join a group/club for swimming/running/riding and enjoy the journey.

 

I totally agree with you! There is definitely no need to run a full marathon for IM prep, I didnt and I was able to finish my first IM this year.

You should focus more on consistency and eat and sleeping right.

[rudi-h]

you just enter and get yourself on the beach that special Sunday in april.  that's how you know.

 

the whole spirit of ironman is to put yourself out there and to do what others deem impossible.

 

in all honesty though, if you have finished multiple 70.3's, you WILL easily finish in PE.  Even if you walk the second half of the marathon there is still enough time to finish.

[Thug]

By the sounds of it you're ready already.

 

It all now depends on what finishing time you want to aim for and to then adjust your training with that goal in mind.

[JGR]

First marathon I ran was during IM - longest run before that was 30kms. You will be fine so just enter - it will give you a new felt sense of urgency and motivation.

[SwissVan]

First marathon I ran was during IM - longest run before that was 30kms. You will be fine so just enter - it will give you a new felt sense of urgency and motivation.

 

My 1st proper IM this year in July, my longest training run was a rolling 32 km with my wife following me on her mtb. Thanks to the culmutive training over the past month I was broken afterwards (think i posted about it at the time) and was left wondering what the hell am i doing and what will i feel like next month on THE day...

 

Agh man i wont say it was a piece of cake, but sure as hell the training was far worse than the actual day.....provided you recover properly in the 2 weeks prior, feed yourself enough and dont over do it on the day.

[Cam182]

i'm don't think i'm capable yet but i've signed up... gives me a little bit more motivation when the alarm goes off at 5.30am and i consider lying in bed for an extra hour

[Stiggy]

i'm don't think i'm capable yet but i've signed up... gives me a little bit more motivation when the alarm goes off at 5.30am and i consider lying in bed for an extra hour

5:30am!? That's a sleep in when you're training for IM

[Metzet]

tend to agree with everyone.. you on the right track.

 

don't forget about NUTRITION it is the most critical point, it will make or break your race.

also your mental strength will play a big part (if you can get through the training you ready to race)