First post, and an important one for me. I’m thinking of doing Penticton Ironman next year. This may not be a big deal for most of you…but I haven’t been in a structured swim since I was 10 yrs old. My running sucks, anything over 5km and I have week-long shin splints. On the plus side I’m ex-Cat 3 roadie and an Expert class mountain biker. I put on about 5000 km/yr of very high quality road bike miles. I’m honestly (optimistically?) certain I could pick up the swimming…my girlfriend and training partner is a NZ collegiate champ swimmer so she should be able to show me how not to drown. She’s going to do the IM as well but has a head start as she’s a strong olympic distance competitor. Of my running I’m less certain of my ability.
My real question is…can I do the IM next year and do it well? I’m not expecting to shatter any course records but I don’t want to be coming in at 17 hours. Can I be mid + pack, and still hold down my 6o+hr a week job as financial advisor? Am I being completely unrealistic?
I guess if I do this I can’t feel superior anymore by making fun of the tri-geeks on their funny bikes …
I’m not going to say you can’t do it but I learned a lot by doing a 1/2 and a marathon the summer prior to attempting IM. I would recommend waiting at least a year and I’m sure many on this forum would recommend even longer than that. Good luck with whatever you decide.
I don’t think you’re crazy at all. I did my first half-iron last year and I’ll be doing my first iron this year (florida). If you’re that good of a cyclist that’s one event you’ll be alright in. You have an expert coach for swimming. Which means you really only have to worry about the run.
You say that you get shin splints after a 5k. That’s nothing that going slower (until you get accustomed to running), a good pair of shoes, and a dirt/grass path can’t fix.
I am confident that if you do the correct training it won’t take you 17 hours to complete it. As for the time you need to train: figure 15-20 hours a week at least.
Thanks Dan. I know you’re right…but this is how I’m looking at it. My girlfriend will already be training for it, and I’ll be doing much of the same training as her, it’s really the swimming where I’ll really have to work. So my (warped) mind thought, “why not step it up a notch and see if you can do it?”
I know I can finish it…I guess it’s just my frail male ego that wants some assurance that I won’t be last.
Thanks for your advice, I might do an olympic distance first this summer and see how that goes. I’ve still some time to decide.
An IM in fall of 2005 for a young, active fit person is a dunk. Just start running 4-5 days a week, nice and easy. Build up to a couple of 90+ minute runs a week, while keeping your cycling base intact. Piece of cake.
You’ll do fine. I probably don’t have half your potential, and I did an IM 6 months after deciding to try triathlon. My longest run to that point was 3.1 miles, and I hadn’t been in a pool in about 25 years. I did my first-ever 5k and thought, “Hey! That was fun. I think I’ll try an Ironman next.”
“*Of my running I’m less certain of my ability.” *Whoever said running in an IM is about “ability”? It’s about preparation and doing some miles, and pacing the bike carefully. “Ability” has nothing to do with it!
I would train a year and do some OD and at least one Half Ironman or maybe two. Those are great learning type races and aren’t so long and can teach you a lot what your body is doing, what it will do, where your training is at and how to handle the nutrition.
last year was my second serious year in triathlon. I did my first 1/2 IM in Sept and then went on and did IMFL in 11:05 (very conservatively I might add). This on an avg of 9 training hours per week. Make the training quality and you won’t have any problems…especially with such a big bike base to work from.
There’s no hurry per se but the fact my girlfriend is training for it just got me thinking. I’d like to ‘do’ an IM, but I don’t necessarily want to be a lifelong triathlete. Cycling is my calling, what I love to do, and at which I’m reasonably proficient. I’d like to do an IM for the accomplisment factor, as a challenge to see if I can do it.
Howver, I know you’re right that I’d enjoy Penticton more if I had a longer time frame for preparation. All things I’m considering before I make a final decision.
Note: I was exaggertaing for effect on the 5km shin splint point…it’s actually 10km. But the run is my biggest scare, which I find is true of most cyclists I ride with.
Go for it! You’ve already got the bike in the bag. I qualified at Canada in '94 while working those hours. Every weekend was either bike 120 sat/ run 2 Sun, or bike 80-run12-16 Sat/spin 1hour-run2 tempo. Flip-flopped every other weekend minus a couple weddings and family things. Three-4 swims during the week, but zero anything else. Ended up :54s, 5:22b (incl trans), 3:50r, for a total 10:09. This is so not ideal, but it will build the necessary endurance and give your body the chance to recover durung the week. If you can tuck in one more run, and one bike trainer into that you’ll be steps ahead. Even if you crap out, how much fun will it be to share the training with her. You will be way under 17hours as an athlete capable of being cat3/expert. If you are serious, drop me a pm and I’ll be glad to share some fun over-distance key workouts that will leave you barely able to lift the spoon from the Ben&Jerry’s that evening.
Start building a long, slow, aerobic base now. Good luck!
My real problem running is I feel like I need to run at least an hour to get a workout…with no running base to speak of. And i wonder why I get shin splints!?! You’re right, this time I’ve started out slow and will try and build my running base the right way. Hopefully it make the difference.
Anyone that does an Ironman is Certifiably Crazy. So what? Why be normal? You can do it. One piece of advice, though, just because you can bike, don’t bike hard. It ain’t about the bike, it’s about the second 13 (and don’t forget the 0.1) miles that make or break you. So I’ve been told by some very smart (well…maybe they aren’t that smart…but, they are Crazy) people that have done it. My first IM is in October. Call me Crazy, too!
I have been lurking here for a month or so…so please don’t think I’m dumb enough to post a picture of myself on my bike (actually don’t have one, and I’m pretty comfortable with my position).
I’m currently on a Bianchi SL3 w/Campy Centaur. Pure road/crit machine. It’s what I’ll use for training. I also have an old Lemond Zurich which I’m going to turn into a winter beater w/fenders (still has downtube shifters). I used to run a bike shop and my best bud owns 3 stores…so I get great deals and I’ll likely buy a tri-geek specific bike in the winter for myself and my girlfriend. I think it’s actually the idea of having an excuse to buy a new bike that’s my biggest motivation for this crazy endeavour. Mmmm…new bike…drooooll
Mr. Mike, you’ve nailed my two biggest concerns. First off, I do exactly what you said re: running. I decide to go for a run and do 10-12 km runs 2x week for about a month or two and then my shins act up and I stop for a year. I’ve started out this time doing the run/walk/run. My little bro is a physio and elite Olympic competitor so he’s been giving me advice on the run…I’m trying to listen to him this time. I’m on the exact plan you mentioned, do a decent 10 km by fall.
My girlfriend laughing at my swimming is my biggest concern…shattered self-esteem could lead to poor performance in other “arenas”. I have done some hour long swims in past years, but I’ve never had any coaching. Frankly, I’m dreading my first swim session and her bemused look.
I understand the not wanting to put the hours in, it’s why I stopped doing road races and went to crits. I guess I’ll try the other extreme for a year.
Cervelo is very nice…but can’t get any deals. Giant, Lemond, Bianchi, Willier, Concorde and Ridley. Though perhaps if I ask really nice my friend can convince another shop to trade him for a Cervelo.
Now stop talking about bikes…you just had me looking at his website to see what I can get! I haven’t even decided if I’m doing this yet. First things first (though must admit I just realized from their site that Willier makes some very sexy bikes).
I think you’re right I should focus on swim/run, but it’s going to be hard. I really like riding tons of miles in the summer in Vancouver. But I guess 3 months of minimal biking won’t hurt me much, especially if the mileage is being made up by running.
I’ve been doing a bit of running, but guess I need to undertake a pretty structured run program. Though I’ll have a swim coach, that’s good advice to find a coach to help develop an overall IM plan.
Dr. Dre (funny, my friend Andreas goes by Dr. Dre as well).
Thanks for breaking it down for me. I’ve been assuming 6 hrs for the bike so I’m fresh for the run, so looks like I’m in the ballpark. The girlfriend is adamant she can make a swimmer of me (I don’t own a swimsuit either, and am trying to get over my aversion to wearing a banana hammock). So the run will be the beast, but sounds as if I can shuffle it I’ll be fine.
So to summarize: Finish swim, make up some time on the bike, survive the run. Got it?