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!

My DH has done 12! It’s a huge amount of training and involves neglecting every other aspect of your life.
The longest training sessions are the bike rides. He was already a very good runner and swimmer.
Then there are the sessions where you have to incorporate two disciplines, so he would ride his bike from London to the coast then get off and swim before riding back to London on the same day. The training is relentless.

12!!! Wow! I know from the previous triathlons that I found the cycling training tricky. Not due the cycling itself but due to the time, and also training on the roads meant you were stopping and starting and alternating speeds all the time rather than just concentrating on cycling. The idea (currently at least) of cycling to the coast from London, swimming and then cycling home seems hardcore but I also recall thinking that the Olympic distances in the triathlon I first did were ridiculous too. I think I got used to them and broke it into chunks, it now seems hard but nothing crazy. Well, not too crazy.

Have a look at Castle to Coast - a lovely event with a more relaxed feel. In distance it's a bit more than a half Ironman but with the trail hills on the run it is more like a 3/4.

Will look now, thank you

Cotswold Classic is a great half distance. Super friendly and encouraging too 😊

Cycling very long distances is the training you need. He would do the full distance followed by a very long run.
I agree OP the cycle training is the most time consuming.