Ironman 2011 Nov.

yes
yes

Depends.

How do you know?

how do i know i can do it? I know I can make the swim. I know that I can make the run. just worried about the bike. and the next few weeks after the race. how long should one train for such event?

Edited by Boogie7247 2009-09-09 8:37 AM

Depends on your goal and your current state of fitness. If you're relatively active and not too overweight and your goal is just to finish under the cutoff time, you could might do it on 6 to 8 months of consistent training. If you've got a marathon or two in your recent past, you probably fit in this category. The race will most likely be a 13 to 15 hour effort with the last 4 to 5 hours leaving you wondering what the hell you were thinking.

The more aggressive your goal or the more sedentary your current lifestyle is, the longer you need to train. Want to finish with the best time you can and feel challenged but relatively good most of the race? Start training a year ago.

I too am contemplating an Ironman in November of 2011. However I have been doing tris for three years including a HIM completed this season. And still I wonder if I will be ready by 2011. . When I do it I want to be as ready as possible, as opposed to just dragging my body kicking and screaming through the whole thing............

This is just my way of thinking. I do not feel there is any rush to "get it done". 

Good Luck with your decision!  



Edited by aquagirl 2009-09-09 9:26 AM

2 years is more then enough time to prepare for an Ironman for most people.  Unless you are severely overweight, or have a medical condition chances are you can do it. 

Training on the bike for distance is the easiest thing to do in triathlon.

Learning to swim 2.4 miles requires gaining technique. It's common for adult learners to take many months in the pool, if not years, to gain the muscle memory, skills, and confidence for a 2.4 open water swim in the pack of an Ironman.

Learning to bike 112 miles requires time in the saddle, gradually increasing distance and speed. Technique isn't super important and what you need is easy to gain fairly automatically. Clipping in is the hardest skill you need to learn, and that's really not much. Any mid-range road bike is more than sufficient.

Learning to run 26.2 miles is difficult mainly because distance on the run is gained slowly and too many people try to rush it, get injured, try to rush their recovery, get re-injured, and repeat that cycle for months. This is why so many people just intend to walk most of their Ironman run.

So ... if you already are a swimmer to some degree, it will take say six months to get to 2.4 miles. If you're already a runner to some degree (say 5 mile runs are not a problem), then it will take a year to get to 26.2. If you're a beginner cyclist, it will take say a year to get to 112 miles.

Then you've got another year to put that all together, finish a few races (a couple half marathons, a HIM or two), then you can toe the line at an Ironman ready to race it with confidence you can more than just finish it.

thats my issue with the bike. my butt. to put it blunt. I have a cannondale r400 but I am looking to get a tri bike for myself for christmas.

Really I was hoping that more people would tell me that I was crazy for even thinking about it so I could use it for motivation. I will take the advice mentioned to the heart and will do it next year. This is the best forum that I have been a part of. now if I could just figure out how to upload pics!

Not to hijack the thread (Same question) but I'm 50 years old. Does age hurt the timing?
I've already started running more. Did a 1/2 marathon a few weeks ago.  I can swim all day. Swam freestyle for over an hour last week. (never stopped, never touched bottom, Could have gone another hour but I got bored.  OK. I'm weak on the bike but I did 3 sprints this summer and rode a lot to get ready for them.
Can I be ready Sept. 2011?

no way you are crazy old man! ha! that motivate you?

Far be it from me to question what motivates someone.

But going looking for the "wrong" answer from people online so that you can have more motivation is pretty disingenuous to me.  You shouldn't be looking to prove something and for approval from others.  If so, then you are doing it for what I would consider all the wrong reasons.

Best of luck.  The reality though is that if you are even moderately healthy and are able to put in the training, you can easily finish.  An IM is not THAT hard to do - it is simply a long day of exercise and movement.  It is not some holy grail of sport.

Edited by Daremo 2009-09-09 12:43 PM

I am 42 years old.  9/07 I was 40 pounds heavier/overweight, could jog 1 mile and ride my $65 K-Mart mountain bike 5 miles and swim 25 yards (individualy not together), basically on the couch.  On 8/1/09 I completed an IM in 12:16:xx without pain and suffering, well undue pain and suffering, I did not have to walk any of the marathon and had a kick at the end.  It can be done, but it takes a lot of time and focus continuously for 2 years (unless you are gifted or have experience in any of the 3 events I suppose).

So 2 years is a decent timeframe, but ya you are going to need to start planning now.  My path was from couch, 3 months to Sprint Tri, 3 months to half mary, 4 months to Oly, 3 months to HIM, 3 months to full mary, 5 months to 2nd HIM, 2 months to IM.  I also had no significant injuries in 2 years and followed plans the entire time.  So, it can be done, but you can also do shorter tri's to get faster before increasing your distance.  Most folks recommend that.  But we each have our own reasons for doing Tri's and if one of them is a burning desire to complete an IM, then do it, but train wisely.       

IMO, anyone with solid fitness going in (let's say able to swim 400m, ride 10 miles, run 5K) can be ready to finish an IM in a year IF he or she is willing to commit to training regularly, systematically, and for sufficient time and distance.  (If you're very overweight and trying to use the process as a way to lose a lot of pounds, that might be a different story.)  In my experience, committing to the training and seeing it through was a lot more intimidating than the race itself.

(E.T.A.:  I was 48 when I started IM training and 49 on race day, so age is no obstacle.)

Edited by tcovert 2009-09-09 12:44 PM

I think the key is consistency.  You need to train consistently, every week, every month, every year.  You can't take weeks or months off at a time and think you can just start up where you left off.  If you train consistently over the winter, follow a plan and do some races next season, including a HIM if you can,  follow the training and read the race reports of the BTers who do IM races in 2010, THEN decide if you are ready to tackle IM training in 2011.
For myself my continued lack of consistency in training has shown me that I'm not ready for IM training (and might never be).

I am crazy.  I made my hotel reservations for next years race. I just can't decide 1/2 or full, 1/2 or full, 1/2 or full, 1/2 or full, 1/2 or full, 1/2 or full, 1/2 or full? My brother-in-law is doing it with me. (He's the smart one) and says we should do the 1/2.

where is the race?

Cedar Point.

ohio?

Yes Ohio.  See these links   http://www.cleveland.com/recreation/index.ssf/2009/07/cedar_point_to_host_2010_ironm.html

http://www.rev3tri.com/cedarPointComingSoon.htm

sounds cold. I picked the race in arizona flat...nice temps. Good luck either way you go!

I think it's perfectly possible for you.  Especially as you say you are not worried about swim or run!
For the bike, a comfortable bike is essential but you don't necessarily need a tri bike. I did mine on a road bike.  Whatever you use, a professional fit is recommended as you are going to be spending a lot of time on it.

I agree with previous posters on consistency of training and planning.
I don't think the block is being physically able to do the distance by nov 2011 - I think the hard bit is being able to set aside the time and commitment do get the consistent training in - especially the months leading up to it.  If you have family, work commitments etc they will need to be on board/ planned for.

And what's more you have lots of time to build your base and have some fun with some shorter races for next season

Have fun and good luck

Can't you just hear that Texas twang?

Yeah, I saw that after the damn 30 minute window had passed and it's driving me nuts.

I workout twice a day once a day on weekends.