IronMan 2011 What now

[Jongozi]

First some background:

I manage to get a sponsor for the 2011 IronMan. Not that I am the kind of athlete that deserve a sponsor, it was more ’n bit of luck and my wife’s job that did the trick for me.

 

I was well on par with my training, with the odd week or two of laziness in between, but I’m not a pro, so with a demanding job and a pregnant wife that is understandable. Then suddenly my sponsor went all quiet on me and I knew that without a sponsor my dream of doing the IM for the first time was, for a second time in shatters. The first time, I had to withdraw 4 weeks prior due to a knee injury that took me more than a year to recover from. Our baby is due in May and with my wife’s 4 months UN-paid maternity leave it is just not possible to budget for the IM and everything that goes with it.

I don’t need to tell anyone on the Hub how devastating it is to your training program and even your daily ‘lets-stay-fit’ training when you feel it’s all for nothing.

So I went out and had a party. Not just any party, I mean a party of note. A party that lasted from the 17th of November up until the 1st of Jan. If there was anything I could do that would harm my body and my fitness levels I did it in doubles. That kind of party!

 

NOW. This is the deal........

 

My sponsor did not desert me after all... Received a mail today to confirm payment. Yes, my big party weakened my hart and it almost attack me, but after 20 cups of pure caffeine and Goosebumps on places I never knew I gad gooses, I finally grasped the challenge.

 

IM 2011 here I come.

I know you have to take a lot into account like amount of base training, previous distances done, and all of that, but what do you hubbers think? Is it doable in 3 months and 5 days after a total layoff of almost 2 months. If so I need advice and lots of it.

 

Please help.

[Raceface]

Well...if you are mentally tough enough you can do it!!

 

I've had 3 ACL reconstructions in the past and a big motorbike accident (hurting my knee again) on 7 January 2010 and managed to finish my first IM in 13h10. My work hours also didn't allow me to train too much...but this is what i did.

 

Weekdays:

 

I focussed on my swimming...as its important to start race with confidence. Did about 1.2km - 1.5km, 4 mornings in gym pool - and twice a week followed that by a spinning session. I did another 1km swim about 2 times a week in the evening.

 

Cycling - did 2 morning spin classes, and 1 evening spin class and 3-4 rides out on the road during the week of about 50km.

 

Once in a blue moon i would do a light run to the gym and back...about 6km return.

 

Weekends:

 

Would do a Sat and Sunday brick session.

Swim 2.5km - 3.2km (only couple of times 3.8km) - about 50min to 1h10

Bike 70 - 80km (Sea Point to Noordhoek/Misty Cliffs) - about 2h20 / 2h30

Run 5km - about 25mins (in feb and march, after my knee injury)

 

I once did a 17km run just to check if i can do distance, but my total running km's were prob around 100km in 3 months.

If you are mentally tough enough and just want to finish you don't have to run that much...some people will differ from me. But if you going for 12-15hours, you will do lots of walking on the run, so running fitness doesn't help that much in my opinion.

 

I did 1h20 on swim, 6hours on bike (aimed for 5h10, but had cramps from 40k, as I never trained with tri-bars, so don't make same mistake).

 

Did about 5h15ish on run...walked a lot during first half marathon and recoverd, did it in 3h15, second half marathon i did in 2h00.

 

Cool - enjoy it! Its not as tough as others would like you to think! Be confident with swim and bike and push through on run! You are not a pro...so enjoy it!

[GTRacing]

I'm starting my training for 2012 now, slow and steady.

[swoosh1973]

I'm starting my training for 2012 now, slow and steady.

I have done 2 IM. Long term prep gives you the best satisfaction. It can be done with 3 months training provided that you have had some passed experience in an ultra distance for at least the bike or running. Swim is the easy part and honestly believe 8 weeks of 3 1hour sesions each week with one open water training sesion per week can have you more than ready for the swim.

 

If you have never done an ultra marathon. or cycled more than 140km or never done any endurance sport then..it can still be done but expect to be punished harshly during the event.

[Jongozi]

Thanks guys, this helps a lot. I must say, I never doubted myself, but you gave me that extra assurance and motivation.

GTRacing, good luck with your training.

[MariusL]

IronMan is the most amazing event I've ever done... be mentally prepared and just go out there and enjoy your first one. But be warned - it get's addictive, I'm planning my trip to Austria to do the IronMan there in July

[Jongozi]

Well, I haven’t done one yet, but friends of mine have and we are all planning to do the IM in Mexico in November. But like I said, baby on the way.........

[Seeker911]

i have been a cyclist for some 15+yrs. i started doing triathlons in 2010 and am totally hooked. my wife, kids and mates all think i'm a crazy old geezer. i just love generating sweat at 4h30am