David’s iron resolution
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1063935_davids_iron_resolution
“David hopes to complete the 14-hour swim in two sessions before taking on the cycle and the run…”
Just thinking about 7 hours straight in the water makes me tired.
His training seems similar to what I do for a single IM “He will be training for the Deca Ironman by running 40 miles a week, cycling 200 miles and completing five swimming sessions.”.
His training seems similar to what I do for a single IM “He will be training for the Deca Ironman by running 40 miles a week, cycling 200 miles and completing five swimming sessions.”.\
My first thought was wow, no way. But if he can do it that will be awesome. Although the above training doesn’t seem to be nearly enough. I would think that is what most top age groupers do to finish one IM?
As long as he gets out of the water after me I’ll be happy.
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As long as he gets out of the water after me I’ll be happy.
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I am curious. Can you describe the rules and your general strategy?
Btw I am convinced you(Deca-IMs) are nuts, but most people think that of me so I guess it is just levels of insanity you are just further along the pointy end of the bellcurve.
All you need to know here
I’ll be getting out of the water after you 
and loving it. see you in a few short weeks!
linhardt - Clamp rules! That sounds about right for his training. He is one tough athlete! Arthur who has one of the fastest bike splits (70 now? or 71?) tells me he only rides 3 times a week for 60 miles each. Think there is an awful lot of overtraining going on out there (from the sprint on up). Every athlete has to figure out what works for them. I force the long hard training solely to get my body used to irritants since the body responds so harshly to them. The longer I go in training, the slower I become - it is of benefit to do more with less.
The rules are easy - race starts at 9am and you have 14 days to get to the finish line. Get in the pool swim unti they tell you to get out, get to the bike ride until they tell you to get off the bike then slip on your shoes and get to the finish line. In between you might want to eat, sleep, drink and shower.
Every athlete has their own strategy. My favorite is watching Guy Rossi - this will be his 9th (!) Deca and without a doubt he will be riding while sleeping. Unfortunately my favorite man Alaine Dupuis won’t be coming. From a personal standpoint my strategy is just to get to the finish line in under 14 days - have a second plan but waiting on some input from a few Drs first if I am allowed to push things - my body swells so harshly by day 3. Would like a bit quicker swim (first time 17.55 second 17.25) I blow so much time hanging on the side of the pool bc those hrs are enough to make you mad. The swim is just a formality for everyone, it is time on the bike and run that really counts in training. I enjoy moving at night time and sleeping during the day. The coolness of the night is so peaceful and I enjoy the flowers opening up in the early morning hours - the scent is invigorating. Everyone gets into their groove, very predictable you can set a watch to the athletes.
We are not insane - quite the opposite really. Little data points and numbers are meaningless and just going out and doing your thing for fun and spending 2 weeks with other like minded individuals is something very special.
Sorry for the late reply I’ve been caught up with UM stuff here in Penticton.
Eileen pretty much summed it all up.You really can’t lay down too much of a plan,just keep feeding the engine and getting enough rest to stay alive and functioning properly.
Really it’s about hanging out for two weeks with all our Ultra-mates trying to see what we are all made of.
The hard part is finding anyone intersted in crewing or ponying up some sponsorship.
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Indoor pool? Seriously? That’s over 750 50m lengths! Good luck to whoever is counting laps, I know I can’t keep it straight after 2000yds.
Nick, I believe that you and Eileen are certified loopy Good luck this weekend!
Look at the bike and run portions:
938 loops for the bike
223 loops for the run
More power to them, but I would think I would need bigger loops.
Did you need to provide an athletic resume to show a history of ultra’s - or is it pay your money and you are in ?
I have Ironman x 10 finishers, and a 15 / 400 / 100 km finish
Btw - glad to see they have gone back to the original format rather than an ironman per day.
PS> If you want an entertaining read, Bobby Brown’s book titled ‘Road to Deca’ should not be missed http://www.bobbysrun.co.uk/merchandise.html
I used to train with Chris Bergland, when I lived in New York. Chris was one of those guys would ruled the scene at double and triple IMs and raced well at places like Badwater. At one point he held the 24 hour treadmill world record. Chris training about 20 - 25 hours per week, if I recall it correctly. The majority of it was running. The guy could just take himself to another place mentally. He was immune to pain and knew how to fuel himself for long term endurance success. His view was that your training volume did not matter that much, you were either cut out to do this stuff – a natural – or you were a stubborn madman who could will yourself forward.
Ask Eileen, she has cute little nicknames for him (was it dime and nickel?).
Mexico is old school. You want to try, pass a physical, pay your money, pass the drug test and give it a go. Although I might be mistaken bc they do ask for your history. I know for the quintuple 2 athletes had signed up and finished and neither one of them had ever done a triathlon. Mexico wants to see the athlete go for it - they are the ones that invented the deca and the only ones that held the double deca once.
France was the only race that was selective whom they let in - maybe more of a numbers thing? The triple in Lensahn expects you to have other races under your belt before you race. Virginia sells out quickly - but again, you need a race history and pass a physical. I keep mentioning pass a physical, bc it is quite interesting finding a Dr. that will sign off on letting you go do these kind of races - I get my full workup today and I am a little anxious.
Robbie you should come play, in the words of M. Gaertner - ‘If not now, then when?’ that’s pretty much all it took for me to sign the dotted line.
Bryan - HELLO!! I didn’t know that was you. Please send my love to Nickel - tell him his music will be in my ears again - ‘raindrops keep falling’. He is an amazing athlete, what an inspiration. Love that man!
Dear Matti - where is your rr for the 100? inquiring minds want a read.
Mrs Robbie banned me from anything longer than Ironman after the 15 / 400 / 100.
Any tips for changing her mind PS> She’s also Ironman x 10 finisher
That’s ridiculous! If anyone can do it, though, it’s Eileen and Nick.
Hey Robbie,if you have a 15k-400k-100k finish then the detective in me would lead me to believe that you are an Aussie or you happened to be in Canberra at some stage over the last ten years.I’ve done that race and it was pretty weird.
Jorge (deca race director) will ask you what you have done but really if your races are recent then you will have no problem entering.He did "suggest"that I not do it one year and I took his advice.The bummer was the last two times that I entered I crashed a month before and couldn’t go.I’m signed up this year and now can’t find any crew and the promised sponsor money and all my additional promised support (except from one friend in London)has not materialised.I’ll still try to get there though even if I have to sell my soul.
Bobby Brown is a good mate of mine and that book is a hoot even if he pissed a lot of people off for telling a few “in house” secrets.I read it every time I get bummed with the way the tri-world is going and it reminds me why I got into this stuff in the first place.He is a dead set legend and most people here would never believe what he used to get up to.
Hopefully we will see you out there one day.
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Nick, what are a few of these “in-house” secrets you speak of?
One of the funniest ones that I can mention was that a certain number one ranked Canadian Ironwoman actually hated all the product that she was promoting.As long as they kept paying her to bullshit they didn’t care but I will admit the stuff was crap!Not much joy around the place once that was found out.
Bobby Brown and I are the reason that they cut back on the free booze at the Ironman Oz awards.We got so drunk one year that you can hear us singing “Oh Canada” on the official video during Peter Reids acceptance speech( and that was the tame part of the night).He though it was hilarious.The organisers didn’t.Bobby also spent one night in Oz giving a drunk PNF a hard time about being considered the best Ironwoman ever when clearly she wasn’t as she had never done a Tripe Iron before.We were absolutely hammered and PNF and Wingnut were in fine form.It’s all business now though and I’m sure they all want guys like me to just go away.
Good lord,those were the days when it was all about the fun and that is why some of us were so happy that Rhodesy won this week.He was a part of all that mayhem here in Penticton during the 90’s and for me it was like watching an old mate finally get the credit he deserved.There are a few Rhodesy stories but I like the guy too much to tell and besides he would kick the shit out of me if I did. 
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