Sign up for IM with only 11 weeks to train

Personally I think you missed the boat for Louisville.
11 weeks is pretty short to be ready to do an IM, considering taper..

All the BT IM plans start at 17 weeks or longer.

Although, people have done it I'm sure! Surely it depends on your goals.

This is not a new article, but to give you an idea...13 weeks to 13 hour IM
http://www.cluboceano.com/13.htm

Surprised you didn't get a bunch of the usual "you can do it!" responses.

From what you posted, I would advise you not to do this. Although you have HIM experience, IM is another beast altogether and 40miles of riding each week = a lot of suffering on race day.

Now, you did not specify what you have been doing for the last ~18 months. If you've been training every day, getting long rides and runs, etc. you might have enough hay in the barn that you can move to some IM-specific training. It won't be a pleasant day but might be doable.

My advice is to look back to see if you have done enough that you can put the icing on the cake in the next 11 weeks. If not sign up for 2014.

If you really want to do it you can. If you are looking for a good time, that probably wont happen, but if you are looking to just finish and go slow then yeah you could probably do it.

What else have you been doing? 11 weeks is plenty of time to prepare for an IM, ASSUMING you have been training regularly at a fairly high level. Could you go out and do a HIM reasonably well this weekend? If so, you should be fine to start 11 weeks of IM prep . If the HIM would be a sufferfest, there is no reason to think about an IM in 11 weeks. Based solely on you're biking mileage, I am guessing you should skip it unless you like long, painful walks.

That sounds like something I would do. Go for it. I wouldn't expect to finish in a glorious time, but you can always try! Walk a good portion if needed. I would make sure you can do a 100 mile ride soon though

Edited by SEADOCHA 2013-06-19 11:23 AM

Not sure what area you are from so just be prepared for the heat.....

So ya 11 weeks is not a good plan since you are currently not in any kind of base shape at all for an IM. If you are genetically gifted then you can probably complete a sucky IM. Is your motivation bragging rights or did you actually want to race an IM? You have no posted workouts so with the little you have given, not much to go on regarding fitness. If you have years of endurance experience than 20 weeks or so might be doable for you. But it sounds like you have made up your mind, so well luck. I hope you can at least cover the swim distance safely otherwise that would be a big no.

11 weeks, well that's more like 8 weeks with a taper if not 7.
Forget the fact that it's an IM for a while and ask yourself, could I make each individual distance on there own after training for 7 weeks.
Bare in mind that you wont be able to train just for a 3800mt swim because you have to train for a 112 mile ride. You won't be able to train just for the ride because you have to train for the 26 mile run.
At the end of the day the choice is yours and only you'll know if your capable of doing it.

I would raise these 2 points though. firstly, are you still able to enter the event, at 11 weeks to go many IM events are closed.

Secondly. Most people only do 1 Ironman, Why make it harder than it needs to be. The day would be a far more momentous occasion if you prepared all season, put in all the hours of hard work, and gave yourself a chance of doing well, not to mention giving yourself the chance to enjoy it.

I can almost guarantee that if you do what you are wanting to do, and you post what you concider to be a bad time, you will wish that you hadn't rushed, and waited another year.

Good luck with your desision. I would be interested to know what you do.