Stepup from Half to full Ironman
cammyk
Posts: 36
in General Chat
I can;t offer any insight into this at present, but look forward to an update, as I'm considering a half and ful ironman next year. Only sprints and OD this year.
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Things I learned:
1) Mental strength is worth a shite-load of experience
2) I could do a marathon, easy. (But not fast)
3) Wish I'd had more time to do longer bricks (maybe really easy 3hr bike followed by 1 hour run)
4) I could not even contemplate an IM, not without a lot more training and losing about 6-10kg (currently 86).
I really do think the IM is not a 70.3 doubled, but a 70.3 squared. I reckon I'd need to edit my life plan seriously for a year to do it but more impoortantly, if I could do that then I know I have the mental strength to finish the race. I get the impression that is the key thing for IM... the mind game.
as you go through into base 2/3, and build periods, you may be training up to about 15-18 hours a week. the key sessions are the long ones in the base ie ling ride each weekend, and muscular endurance/bricks as you get to the build period.
as conehead says, check (!) you got the support of the other half (maybe take her out for a nice meal and pitch the idea..or certainly pick when he is in a good mood!). i am out the door to train before work, train after work, probably a rest daya week, and on weekend after training sessions, when spending time with them am goosed! my mrs is so supportive (meals on table when get in!) it makes it much easier. for me that is part of the ironman, the sacrifices that you have to make to get there - reflect on it as you get in the lake, and be proud of your efforts.
i would definately not do as treefog says (sorry treefog) in doing a marathon before hand! it takes way to long to recover. most people will do training runs of up to 2-3 hours, tyring to cover 20 miles. from reading various articles, i understand that the fitness gains beyond this are limited, and injury risks are much higher.
overall if you can do it.....would totally recommend it............you will understand why people get the bug!
dont let 86kg put you off - make sure is powerful muscles for swim and bike.
ain alar juhanson is 100kg!!!!!!!!! just got to use it to your advantage.
also as you train up for the distance, with the longer rides and runs, your weight will most likely fall.
Hoping to get down to around 90kg for the race but like ipay says Ain is a beast of a man and always delivers. His bike leg is awesome, and his running ain't shabby as far as it goes.
Provided you trained to race at the weight you carry then, you'll be able to do it. At least this is what I am saying to myself each day!!!! [:D]
I read the book months ago before i even found this blog :O). I read it again last week as did my wife as I was pissing myself so much reading it. I read it before i started the training then did all the training and then read it before the race and having read it again the experience in many areas was similar.
I did work on the nutrition side a bit before the race and tried out several things during long brick sessions(full 90k bike 15k run). I worked out timing/substance and eventually worked out what I could scrape by on. Then I trained a lot at scrape by/survival level and then took more on race day as a boost and I only got heavy legs in the last 3-4k of the run.
Bopomofo,
My biggest worry pre race was not getting injured and just finishing the swim and how big the hills were as I'd been training mostly on the flat. I came out at the end very tired but I wasn't dying and recovered pretty quick and as soon as first bike lap was done I knew I'd finish. I could not have gone any faster though as I was mono paced for the whole second lap of the run. I think I can do more on the bike as I managed to drop 3:30 90K down to 3:04 90K in 14 weeks. If I have a year I can get better and probably go longer.
http://thetriathlontimes.blogspot.com/2009/06/hopp-hopp-hopp-hopp-hopp.html
is a race narrative of Ironman 70.30 Switzerland i did on my blog.
Ipay1980,
I've got the buy in at home in spades as its 100% better than what I was doing previously. I do think though that what I'm hearing is matching what I imagined. Its not just longer, its mucyh harder as its much longer. I suppose I could start the training and see how I get on. No harm done :O)
all the best with whatever you decide! if you do it, you will definately not regret it.