Those who have done a full Ironman - tell me about it!

[prangers]

It's an itch that keeps coming back!

I have done a few Olympic distance triathlons, and LOVED the London Marathon so much that others don't have the same appeal (unless it involves something ridiculous like signing up for New York at huge expense via a sports company.) I know there is a shorter distance Ironman but, as it's not a significant distance more than the Olympic it doesn't have the same lure.

Which means I keep coming back to the idea of signing up for a full Ironman. This possibly sounds even more mad when I say I am not hugely sporty, but I am pretty fit and I also have a relatively flexible job so can fit around training to an extent. I also love a challenge, and this is a huge one.

One the less positive side, I am a good swimmer but hate the cold and I am wondering if it would also involve far more expense generally than just the obvious stuff (I say this as I assumed running wouldn't prove expensive and it cost me an arm and a leg.)

Those who have done one - please tell me about it. The good bits, the bad bits and all the details that I might not have thought of. Also where and what it was like. I am not about to rashly sign up for anything but I also do find myself thinking about it far too much for someone who is 'just wondering.'

Thank you!

(I have not done one but bumping your thread as interested 😁)

Ha! I am also looking at one's you can do as a relay, but that doesn't have the same appeal, I don't think.

Perhaps we are masochists!

What have you done before that makes you want to look at an Ironman...?

This is apparently 'beginner friendly.' I use inverted commas as it's a bloody long way!

what's your strongest discipline? can you cycle 100 miles in your swimsuit then run 26 miles?

DS has done several, he was totally committed to hours and hours of consistent training. It’s far more intensive than training for a marathon, he said marathon were easy in comparison l
It’s also expensive with the equipment and kit you’ll need, let alone air fares, accommodation etc.

https://www.ironman.com/training

And swim 2.4 miles +

The bike kit can get very expensive and training requires a huge amount of time.

@Pedallleur Probably not at the moment, no, but that's what training is for!

@Tiddlywinks63 I am looking at UK ones' largely as I remember from the triathlons that the equipment was quite expensive (I hired or borrowed then.) I had a feeling that the marathon training might seem comparatively simple although a friend who has done multiple marathons and several half IM's (I appreciate this isn't quite as intense) said that the marathon was harder in many ways than the triathlons. Was your DS training for a very long period of time, or does he do similar shorter / more sensible distances a lot?

I haven’t done one, but have supported DP (who is now in the midst of training for his third Ironman Wales!)

In terms of ££, the most unexpected was the nutrition. He’s tweaked his as the years have gone on, and now uses a combination (which also includes what’s provided on the course) I’d say now it’s about £50 pm.
We also budget for physio appointments, just in case.

In terms of training, it’s not so much the volume of training, but the impact it has on the rest of the family. Fortunately the dc are young adults, otherwise I’m not sure how we’d manage.

However… it’s addictive. DP said one and done, and look where we are now 😆

That's interesting, @locketrocket, I would have not expected nutrition to be an unexpected expense either. I have fine tuned what works for me now (I am also a T1 diabetic to complicate things further) but I also assume that the fuelling for an Ironman is a whole different animal!

My DS is also relatively self sufficient and I know from experience that I am better training during the day rather than very early mornings or late evenings, but I appreciate that even the easy sessions closer to the event might make the marathon training 'long runs' seem like a 5k (in both terms of time and effort.)

I agree, it’s a completely different beast.

I’ve completed shorter distance triathlons and there is so much more to think of than just running.

DS started with marathons, he’s done at least a dozen then upped his training doing probably 8-15 hours a week on top of a full time job. He’d always done long distance cycling, he’s trained for swimming in an Olympic sized pool at the university near here and Heron lake in Staines.
He started with triathlons, then upped to Ironman, starting with the Austrian one.
i think it was progressive training so marathons >triathlon> Ironman.
He was/is very fit but it’s also the travelling, nutrition, equipment that really adds up.

When I've done triathlons I have just had the aim to finish in once piece rather than anything more competitive. I would hope that the cut off times with an Ironman are generous enough for me to make it, although I admit that that aspect does unnerve me a little.

Your DS sounds very impressive!

I'm not a stranger to endurance events, but I am also certainly not someone who you'd say really knows their stuff particularly in comparison to someone like your DS.

I have done the Outlaw race, full distance 4 times and also the half Ironman events that they run several times, as well as some with other organisers and can safely say that the Outlaw is by far the best one to spend your money on. The atmosphere is incredible. It’s a really friendly event, great for a first time and a straightforward course.

The most taxing part is the run so if you can already run a marathon then you are off to a good start. It helps if you enjoy cycling as you need to spend a significant amount of time training for this section to be able to ride 112 miles and still have enough left in you to run a marathon!

Getting open water swim experience before is essential but if you can already swim reasonably comfortably I don’t feel the distance in the swim is ridiculously challenging (I say this as a terrible swimmer who is usually at the back)

I don’t spend a lot of money on kit but it does help to have a decent road bike and wetsuit. I’ve never used anything triathlon specific apart from a trisuit. Race fees can feel expensive but the Outlaw is very reasonable for what you get.

Watch a few You Tube videos on it and see if it appeals. Finishing an Ironman distance certainly feels amazing, but it is addictive 😂

This is so helpful, thank you!

I am a good swimmer but, please don't laugh, much prefer breaststroke to crawl. With the triathlons I think I was possibly one of the only few who were not doing crawl! I think this might need some lessons so at least I have the option of both. (For context, my last 1500 swim time was around 40 minutes but that was in a pool which is far easier - and I would obviously be training for an IM so it'd hopefully improve.) I couldn't care less about being at the back really, which is possibly just as well. Open water is weird, it feels like you aren't moving much unless you keep looking at the shore. Finding somewhere suitable for that might be a tricky thing too (the swimming, not looking at the shore.)

I think the run is the part that I would be most excited about, although I do remember the jelly legs you get after cycling and then trying to run very vividly indeed. It was like the bottom half me was pissed!

Do you think it's possible to train with an average bike but hire a better one nearer the time? It's reassuring to hear that you don't have to spend an absolute fortune (although I realise it's still expensive.)

The time involved and the motivation are a biggie I think. For me, I mean.

I also love the idea of it being friendly - I don't want to feel like I am developing imposter syndrome and really shouldn't be there!

Following with interest! I’ve got an urge to do one, would prefer UK due to the cost but Wales and Leeds both have hilly bike courses. Ideally need one with an easier bike as it’s my weakest of the three!

In all honesty (and this is based on my own tri experience, not DP) I couldn’t sit in the saddle for a great length of time that I hadn’t been fitted to.
You could probably do it, but I can’t imagine it being the best experience.

DP bought one on his bike to work scheme, and now actually commutes to work as part of his training (25 miles each way)

It’s an expensive branded triathlon!

re the bike you need to train on what you use. Changing bikes for the event is not recommended. You'll prob want to use tribars, your saddle setup. As you may know the sky is the limit re bikes but you really just want something reliable and comfortable. You are going to be on there for a few hours. Any tri clubs nearby?

I know the feeling about being a breaststroke swimmer, I definitely improved as my training progressed but I still did lots of breaststroke in the actual event. The swim was a ‘just hang in there’ for me and it worked out fine. I did join an outdoor swim group beforehand and am so glad I did as sighting and generally dealing with splashy swimmers etc all took a bit of getting used to. If you are anywhere near Doncaster I recommend Hatfield outdoor swimming.

I have a couple of bikes and still love my £300 second hand road bike and would happily ride on this but I am not aiming g to be especially fast. I tend to spend money on good wheels and comfy saddle and a good service beforehand so no mechanicals to worry about.

It does take up a lot of time, especially in the final months of training, and is the main reason I haven’t taken part in the last couple of years. The long rinds and rides would take up most of our weekends and evenings were often taken up swimming.

In the end half Ironman has become my favourite distance but I wouldn’t have been satisfied with never at least trying out a full distance….as you can tell I’d tell you to go for it. It’s great fun.

Don’t worry about the swimming being weaker. It’s relatively the easiest part of it. A good, lightweight bike is a better investment and I’d not be using one that wasn’t mine due to fitting frame size/handle bar set up and saddle.
Practice going for a run after a solid ride to avoid the legs turning to jelly, it does help.
Enjoy it!!

I found out I was pregnant when I was training for an Ironman so I didn’t complete it, but I’ve done a lot of halves and multiple other endurance events. Even if you’ve done Olympic distance events, I’d recommend doing a half Ironman before doing an Ironman. You’ll then get more of an idea of how much time you need to allocate to training. Although the swim isn’t much longer the bike and the run are both over double the distance of an Olympic event.

Thank you again, you sound like you really get where I am coming from! Lots of food for thought there