Are You Ironman Ready? | Triathlon Training Explained

Are you Ironman ready? It's a question we all ask ourselves - especially if your thinking about entering your first one! Mark is here to help you weigh up the big decision!

In association with TrainingPeaks.

Triathlon has blown up over the past decade, more and more people are getting stuck into the sport and completing their first triathlon. But it’s the ‘IRONMAN’ distance that is the benchmark to so many people.

Doing an Ironman is a huge feat, but before you sign yourself up you may be wondering whether you actually have the time, ability, and resources to take it on in the first place. So, today we’re going to run you through the things to expect when you’re getting ready for an Ironman.

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Wave - [ocean jams]
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Stop Chasing Me - Ambre Jaune

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[miguelmercado]

I ran 1 kilometer yesterday. I'm ready!

[colinmoore]

Looks like Ironman training leaves no time for the ironing. Oh the irony.

[peturf]

As an 18 year old IM Finisher, I can safely say it was the hardest year of my life. 11 months of training, hours away from family, friends and school. It was all worth every minute!

[robinthompson]

Most down to earth GTN video uploaded. More of this.

[lordful]

Most important you did not mention;
YOU HAVE TO LOVE IT !!!

[oilguyable]

1. Consistency, 2. Effort. Those are the number one and two “training” priorities I learned from Endurance Coaches.

[Thelavern]

I had never done a triathlon. Got a sponsor slot for Norseman extreme triathlon in january 2018 (the race was 8months later. Have done alot of cycling and Running. So the swim was the worst. But finished in 15h8min. So nothing is impossible. 👍

[kennethwedig]

Humorous anecdote about training/family balance. On a discussion board people were talking about whether wearing your wedding ring on the swim was a good idea. The fear being that cold water can make your finger shrink and the ring fall off. A commenter quipped, if you're still married you aren't training enough!

[sarahgerk]

Truth: "More food for your ever increasing appetite"

[kenbeech]

Join a triathlon club and do a race that other members are doing. It is so much more fun to have a crew to do a race with. training with them and racing with them creates some of the best friendships about it.

[ajscarlett]

About to head to Italy next week for my very first IM, I've been asking myself this all week. I feel relaxed, but not much more I can do now, so I've just got to give it everything. Hope I make it across the line. I've learnt so much the past 6 months, what an experience it's been

[AnthonyLock]

Just a solid tip to try and fit all the training in. (I train usually 14 hours a week with a full time job) the more you are organised the easier it gets. Meal prep, get your kit out the night before if its a pre work session. You will be surprised what you can do. a 3 hour session after work is not impossible if you have food prepared in advanced for a quick dinner for example.

[jamesambrocio]

Thank you for being straightforward.
One limiting factor that isn't always recognized is the cost. Not only financially but also socially. You'd have to take out a second mortgage and be a hermit for a couple of months.

[MarcWeyers]

Doing my first 70.3 next weekend in Weymouth. Whoop whoop! Then moving up to the big boy next year. From a rugby background. No skills, just grunt and heart. And a lot of #gtn and #gcn videos to coach me. Thanks guys!

[michellokhorst]

I’ve done 18 IM 70.3 races, now that my 70.3 is of age it’s time to step up..

[joeyc]

Going with friends and sharing the costs helps too.

[BeetTriGuy]

Finished my first IM at 20yrs old in June at IMCDA this year and it was beautiful. The hottest IM and the highest DNF rate of any IM (in the world I believe) and I managed to finish it. That journey I experienced during training and during those many hours of racing was simply beautiful. Blood, sweat, and tears all made their appearances too! Thank you GTN for helping to get me there

[miguelsaez]

I believe a good advice is: find love in each discipline. Let “joy” on swimming, biking and running come to you. Any of those 3 can become as long as hell if you don’t commit to it and can kick you out of the race if you don’t take it into consideration.
Better than wanting to become an Ironman, which sounds good, you want to keep swimming, cycling and running, when that day you find yourself thinking it’s not for you. Which is something all of us have to go through every once in a while.
Hope I explained myself

[nightsfalling]

I think that is also good to do a smaller race not just because of the practice of going from swimming, to biking, and then running, but you can see if you like the sport and are willing to invest on the equipment. For example, my first sprint triathlon, I did it during summer time so I didn't have a wetsuit, and I did it in a kid's road bike. with regular running clothes. So if you decide to do more races you can invest little by little.

[owjhybj]

The cost gave me an idea for a video comparing a cheap vs expensive triathlon training/racing experience over a few weeks followed by a race. One has to minimise equipment costs and one can use whatever they want!