Best tools to get

My fav tools are as follows:

Multisport watch with hr strap, can be pricey or cheap

Power meter generally pricey

Trainer to throw bike onto. If you have an ant stick and speed sensor, trainerroad can give you virtual power and a ton of workouts to follow for 10 bucks a month.

Roller, mostly for self massage. Helped me a lot.

Get a good multisport watch so you can quantify and measure your training. Then get a training plan (not forgetting the all important recovery!). Make sure you have a good way to store and analyze your data (we use TrainingPeaks, but there's other programs as well, most important is to actually not gather the data, but to analyze it).

Except for that, eat good quality food (eat what fits YOU).

Everything else is just bonus. Personally, I really do like my Normatec's, really helps with recovery, but they're not cheap (and I justify them as my wife is a triathlete as well, so the cost is half per person!). A scale may or may not be good. If you're already at a healthy weight, then getting a scale might only get you fixed at a parameter that honestly doesn't add value. If you're like most of us a few lbs over the ideal weight, then a scale can help to get you there.

The trick to preventing injury really lies in two things, periodize your training plan and include recovery and rest in the plan (rest is exactly what it sounds like, actually not doing anything but spending time with family and friends)

X2 on Recovery Compression Boots. Especially for an Ironman they are life saver to always have the blood, lymph always circulating in the lower body to help flush the legs and get ready for the next day of training.

I love Normatec boots they are awesome but at $1595 they are simply not in everyone's budget. I also l love the less expensive Air Relax system at ~$352. Did a short review of both systems here. I hope it helps. Good luck on that Ironman!!! There is nothing better than the feeling of completing an Ironman!!!

http://www.thomasgerlach.com/2016/08/normatec-vs-air-relax-recovery...

Listen to that Thomas guy, he's almost a Pro!

No particular order:

Bike Trainer
Powermeter
Laptop w/ TrainerRoad
Bike Computer
Multisport Watch
Heart Rate Monitor
Goggles
Pull Bouy
Bike Tire Pump
Alarm Clock
Food Scale

^ this
if you don't know how to use a power meter, then skip that until you see why you need it.

Membership to TrainingPeaks, Adderro or BT for logging your training.

Edited by scottficek 2016-12-14 8:12 PM

I have been using TrainerRoad.com for the past couple months and it is immensely helpful. I wish I'd gotten into this earlier.

It's a power based cycling fitness program (also has Tri plans for IM, HIM, Oly, and Sprint that include your run and swim workouts).

It's great to have a power meter on your bike, but you can do TrainerRoad with an inexpensive speed/cadence sensor and any name-brand bike trainer stand.

If nothing else, listen to the TrainerRoad podcast. These guys are smart.

X2. Keep in mind if you are not used to the structured training of Trainerroad, ease into is a bit. The workouts are doable, but push you to your limits.