I’m not that harsh considering the basic effort he is putting in every day. Even a ‘simple’ effort of 3 hours easy swim, 7 hours on a bike trainer, and 5 hours on an elliptical is epic when done for multiple days (I’d like to do it for one day). Heck, here we are, probably the largest group of triathletes in the world, and most of us couldn’t complete 100 runs of three miles for 100 days. I give IC tremendous credit for a great endurance feat attempt over 100 days, we just need to figure out what to call it.

Day 41:
Swim time: 1:25:45
Bike time: 5:59:45
Run time: 6:31:36

Total time: 14:54:27

Day 42:
Swim time: 1:25:46
Bike time: 6:16:33
Run time: 6:41:45

Total time: 15:21:52

I'd give the guy a lot more respect if he were doing 112 days. I mean 112x112 is respectable. 100x112 is kinda lame.

Truth be told, I find this whole thing stupid and pointless. He's exercising all day every day with no bigger picture accomplishment other than to do it for 100 days. There is plenty of precedent that shows people can exercise all day every day, like Mark Beaumont cycling around the world in 80 days, people solo rowing across the Pacific Ocean, running across continents at 70 miles per day, swimming the length of the Amazon River, etc....

So, IC is showing us something that is known and unremarkable, that humans can exercise at low threshold all day every day, while doing so in the most boring way possible. I find his 50x50x50 far more impressive, elliptical or not, as it included an additional challenge element of travel and varying terrain and weather.

Agree 112 would have been way cooler.

Disagree its point For him. You’re just jealous you are heading to your job whilst he is doing what we would all prefer to be doing. Day after day.

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Day 41:
Swim time: 1:25:45
Bike time: 5:59:45
Run time: 6:31:36

Total time: 14:54:27

Day 42:
Swim time: 1:25:46
Bike time: 6:16:33
Run time: 6:41:45

Total time: 15:21:52

Day 43:
Swim time: 1:25:46
Bike time: 6:26:39
Run time: 6:41:08

Total time: 15:44:03

Hey WhittleFit,

Thank you for staying above the fray and on topic. I appreciate your posting this daily. Thanks!

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David
* Ironman for Life! (Blog) * IM Everyday Hero Video * Daggett Shuler Law *
Disclaimer: I have personal and professional relationships with many athletes, vendors, and organizations in the triathlon world.

Consistently sub 16 with a sub 15. I think he's got this going to 100. Clearly the guy has found a groove that works and he can repeat. Its the number one thing that most age groupers never figure out with their training + life workload. What's the balance that is repeatable for the entire year.

*2

I wouldn't be so sure of that yet, he has a groove for NOW but not necessarily forever. Any day now his back could just cramp up and just refuse to cooperate all day. Regardless of how easy he goes, these 14-17 hr days are a huge strain on his back, legs, arms, and whole body. He could fall asleep while cycling, despite all the buddies around him. Many diff things could still happen to derail him. I wouldn't say "he's got this" until he starts his 100th day's run/walk. :)

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Now that he is in a groove, it will be interesting to see what happens when it starts to warm up. I personally am a lot happier below 60 than above 80.

It is sort of interesting how he scheduled around the weather. When he started out, I thought he was crazy to be battling Utah-in-March temps/winds/precipitation. I didn't really think about the (potentially) hot summer weather at the back end.

Hopefully he has threaded the needle between the two extremes.

Well, obv we all have our preferences but I am the complete reverse of you, as I find temps in the 80s and 90s pretty comfy. I would have started on 1 June rather than 1 March. I absolutely HATE being cold. :)

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

Day 41:
Swim time: 1:25:45
Bike time: 5:59:45
Run time: 6:31:36

Total time: 14:54:27

Day 42:
Swim time: 1:25:46
Bike time: 6:16:33
Run time: 6:41:45

Total time: 15:21:52

Day 43:
Swim time: 1:25:46
Bike time: 6:26:39
Run time: 6:41:08

Total time: 15:44:03

Day 44:
Swim time: 1:25:55
Bike time: 6:26:46
Run time: 6:32:07

Total time: 15:34:01

I can say with absolute certainty that SBR 15 hours a day, seven days a week is not something I would prefer to be doing. I struggle to think of anything worse.

Tough weather yesterday (wind) and tough weather today (rain and snow, and still pretty windy).

I’m surprised by his time yesterday given his power and HR profiles on Strava. I’d have expected a much slower day on the bike. The wind was really howling yesterday and all day long. I’d have hated to be on a bike in those conditions.

I know there has been a lot shade in this thread regarding his style verse an actual Ironman, and how he and the media may be portraying the effort.

Ignoring all that, if he completes a 2.4 mile pool swim (with a wetsuit and drafting), a 112 mile bike (with friends and a proton), and walks a marathon for 100 days straight, where would you rank this in compared to other extreme endurance challenges?

Is there a comparison? Is it apples to oranges? How does this compare to the Appalachian Trail sped record for example?

Is there a comparison? Is it apples to oranges? How does this compare to the Appalachian Trail sped record for example? //

I think those guys that set the records on the PCT or other several month long treks, do a lot of running with food drop offs to keep it super light during the day. They also have a bit of a harder logistical race to do, similar to what the cowboy did in the 50/50 he did. They are quite similar in that they both have to be awake and moving 2/3rds of the day, but I would think the hikers work at a bit higher load than the cowboy does.

But he is bringing down his paces, and if he starts to hit mid 14 hour days and starts to run some of the marathons, then I would imagine his work load would go up too. More recovery time= more available resources to work harder...

I think it answers the question, what's the maximum amount I could train and derive the absolute minimum positive benefit from it?

-E

By definition he's not a Cowboy. He's not tending to cattle or horses. He doesn't live on a ranch.

By definition he's not doing Ironman's.

The name is entirely wrong. James should change his name to Social Media Influencer who Swims, Bikes, and Walks All Day instead of Working. Or maybe even better, PT Barnum of Triathlon.

Consistently sub 16 with a sub 15. I think he's got this going to 100. Clearly the guy has found a groove that works and he can repeat. Its the number one thing that most age groupers never figure out with their training + life workload. What's the balance that is repeatable for the entire year.


I know many people here are looking at every possible way to criticize the guy but I am impressed and cheering him on.

I just don't get the criticism of him doing something pointless. I spent 3 years on a bicycle touring the world which for many is pointless but it certainly wasn't for me. Who gets to decide what is pointless for others?


He does seem to be getting into a groove and I agree, it is now something he might finish so good for him.

Lots of people do things they enjoy that are pointless to others. And then they don't make a fuss about them or pretend they're something they're not.

Rait did 40 in a row without this type of assistance and he did them all sub 12, many sub 11. That's a whole different universe of performance.

For such long durations, steady-state is reached in less than 40 days. At that point they should be able to hold their pace indefinitely. IC can't go fast or unassisted, so instead he goes painfully slow with tons of aids and adds duration for it to be noteworthy.

GTN calling this Ironmans...

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Washed up footy player turned Triathlete.

One difference being that I don’t believe your bike tour was a social media fueled circus designed primarily to monetize the effort.

I completely agree. I've had hypothermia in about 20 races, so I'll take the heat any time. (Of course I didn't have much body fat then...)

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Tri or tri not; this is no du. (--- with apologies to Yoda.) Slow triathlete who survived Huntsville, Lelystadt, Colmar, Fontanil, and
Szekesfehervar/Lake Velence. Arbor hydration specialist in a kid's park in Monterrey 4 times in the 1990s (and in the pits in 1994).

Ya, it's the lack of body fat that makes us get cold easier. Changing subjects, I think you should add the number of days in those various multi-day iron races you list in your signature box. Many of us aren't familiar with those races. I know that Huntsville is a double iron but that's the only one on your list that rings a bell in my head. TBH, I had kind of forgotten about it b/c I haven't heard anyone mention it in at least 10 yrs or more.

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."