My knee started hurting while running about 5 years ago. I’ve had PT and a lot of other therapy over the years but my knee still bothers me while running. I haven’t run in 6 months but I’m able to ride and swim without pain. I signed up for the 2012 Ironman Wisconsin last year while I was getting PT. I was hoping my knee would get better but I think my running days are behind me. My plan is to train hard on the bike and swim and to walk as much as I can. Has anyone finished and ironman with a plan like this? I watched a lot of people walking during the marathon, so I’m sure it can be done. I would love to hear some stories of people finishing an ironman without running.
If you do OK on the bike, and walk at a decent pace, you should have no problem finishing under the time limit. I guess it depends what your goals are.
Given what i know of refund policies, I’d do it, and just plan on walking the thing at a good pace. But you’ll have to put in a solid bike leg.
A quarter of the field walks 80%+ of the run leg (probably more in the U.S. given the focus on a good bike split) and they’re not all 16:59:59 finishers, some well under. You can walk a mara in under 6:30 easily so all you have to do is be off the bike in 10hrs or less. Piece of pi$$ for most people.
Just make sure that you still train for the walk though. Your body will still need to get used to walking for a long time or else you will still end up in a world of pain by the end.
Well the guy in the fireman suit walked the whole marathon last year and he finished with about 45 minutes to spare, if I recall correctly. His swim/bike weren’t very fast, so if you train hard at those, I’m sure you’d be just fine as long as your knee can handle the 26.2 miles of walking.
Bike cut off is 5:30 PM. Course closes at Midnite. So worst case is you’ll have 6.5 hours to do the marathon and T2. That should be doable. And, of course, the sooner you get off the bike the more time to walk you’ll have.
I’m doing Vineman long this summer, and recently tore an Achilles. I’m anticipating a lot of walking there.
I have major knee issue as well. After surgery in 2010 and PT for a year, I decided to stop running in May 2011. After stopping running my knee pain in daily life decreased a lot.
I was registered for IMLP and IMFL in 2011. I decided to withdraw from IMLP as my knee issues flared up in April and May but continued to hope I could do IMFL and trained on swim and bike.
I did some walk training with longest walk being 3 hours. My plan was to walk 1/2 mile run 30". I don’t walk fast as my knee bothers me but little bit of running each 1/2 mile increased my pace without much pain. I finished but it was a bit ugly. To me participating is better than sitting on the sidelines. The journey and training is fun and the race is something big to work toward. Nice part of IM training with plan to walk, takes less time with just swim and biking.
I had surgery in December HTO and TTO, two osteotomies, in hope delaying knee replacement. I did sign up to IMFL again this year. Currently I’m working on walking without a limp. I lost a lot of fitness with 8 weeks on crutches. Not sure if I’ll be able to do the race or not depending on rehab and how training goes.
I’ve completed 3 half ironman races. I suffered bad during 2 of the races but the last one I had a blast. I left my watch at home and I didn’t pay any attention to my computer on my bike. It was my best race. I finished 2010 Steelhead 70.3 in 5:18. So, my plan for this race is to have fun and try to enjoy every minute.
My knee started hurting while running about 5 years ago. I’ve had PT and a lot of other therapy over the years but my knee still bothers me while running. I haven’t run in 6 months but I’m able to ride and swim without pain. I signed up for the 2012 Ironman Wisconsin last year while I was getting PT. I was hoping my knee would get better but I think my running days are behind me. My plan is to train hard on the bike and swim and to walk as much as I can. Has anyone finished and ironman with a plan like this? I watched a lot of people walking during the marathon, so I’m sure it can be done. I would love to hear some stories of people finishing an ironman without running.
Thanks,
Mike
Years ago a friend was in a similar situation. He swam well, rode like the hounds of hell, then powerwalked for just over 6 hours, to finish just behind me, who pretended to run some of the marathon.
It can be done. We all have our crosses to bear and can only do what we can do. You can’t run, but you CAN finish an ironman. You will have earned the tattoo, wear it proudly!
I have a friend who did IMAZ last year. Solid swim in just over an hour. a decent bike at 18mph, and walked 26.2 miles in about 7 hrs (due to an injury). He finished in a little over 14 hrs.
I was impressed. If it were me- and I knew I couldn’t run, I would DNS it. Guess my ego, or patience- wouldn’t be able to take emotionally dealing with a 7 hr walk as a thousand people jogged by me.
I have major knee issue as well. After surgery in 2010 and PT for a year, I decided to stop running in May 2011. After stopping running my knee pain in daily life decreased a lot.
I was registered for IMLP and IMFL in 2011. I decided to withdraw from IMLP as my knee issues flared up in April and May but continued to hope I could do IMFL and trained on swim and bike.
I did some walk training with longest walk being 3 hours. My plan was to walk 1/2 mile run 30". I don’t walk fast as my knee bothers me but little bit of running each 1/2 mile increased my pace without much pain. I finished but it was a bit ugly. To me participating is better than sitting on the sidelines. The journey and training is fun and the race is something big to work toward. Nice part of IM training with plan to walk, takes less time with just swim and biking.
I had surgery in December HTO and TTO, two osteotomies, in hope delaying knee replacement. I did sign up to IMFL again this year. Currently I’m working on walking without a limp. I lost a lot of fitness with 8 weeks on crutches. Not sure if I’ll be able to do the race or not depending on rehab and how training goes.
Good Luck!
So, you decided to take a slot away from some one who could potentially have a once in a lifetime experience and/or try to qualify for Kona…so that you could limp it in under the wire. Not only that…you not only done that once already…but are planning on doing it again. Interesting
How did they take a slot away…There was a public registration for the race. They logged on, paid their money, and signed up just like anyone else. So if you do not have a chance to qualify for kona you should wait for others to sign up first?..As far as the lifetime expriance…there are plenty of 140.6 races to sign up.