Ironman as first tri - Crazy? - Triathlon Week

CajunRider · 11-18-2003, 06:19 PM

I am thinking about doing the Ironman Florida in 2005 as my first tri. Is it a crazy idea? I'd like some advice from people with ironman experience. Here are some facts about me:

1. My philosophy is to go big or not to go at all, hence the ironman as first tri.
2. I am 46 now and will be 48 when I try the ironman.
3. I am reasonably fit. Can do 4 mile ocean swims without much difficulty. Can do century rides without killing my self. I have yet to run a full marathon but have run 18-19 mile runs and felt OK afterward. If I keep my heart rate at about 155 I can do most things for hours and hours.
4. I do all the things above because I love to do them so I never push for time. As a result, I am slow as hell, my current swim speed is about 1mile/hr, riding is about 14 miles/hr, and running is about 4.5 miles/hr.
5. I can train about 2-2.5 hr/day on week day and 6hr on Saturday. I made a pact with my wife years ago, so Sunday I do any thing she likes and they usually don't involve sport.
6. I hate to fail. That's why I want all the info before I decide to try. I know if I set out to do it, I'll try any thing short of killing my self to finish it.

Given those parameters, can I or it's crazy to even think about it? All I want is to finish in less than 17 hrs.

Tell me what you think. Don't be bashful, I am too old to be embarassed about any thing.

kenerin · 11-19-2003, 03:54 AM

Wow

! That is awesome and I hope you do well. I am 20 years old and I hope that when I'm 46, I still have to ambition to run and try new-challenging things. I think that is very cool that you want to run in the Ironman and good luck to you.

jtwhitmor · 11-20-2003, 03:14 PM

With all that under your belt and plenty of time to tie it together you should do great!

TripleThreat · 11-23-2003, 01:25 AM

Do I think you are crazy? Yes ... but that doesn't really figure into the equation now does it? Having people think I was crazy or stupid never really prevented me from doing anything ... some really stupid things actually :D

If you train, as you have written 2.5 hours per weekday and 6 on a weekend day, that'll log you around 1,000 hours which, based on others' training time, should be enough.

If you are going to take 2 years to train for this, why not mix in some "shorter" triathlons which could serve as "evaluation workouts"? You'd also be getting some experience as to how to position yourself in a pack, distance before you need fluids/food, what to wear, etc.

I don't know too many people that can train for two years for "1 event" and stay motivated to the degree that each workout is a productive one. Seems like shorter "deadline dates" would put more emphasis on each training session. In other words, you won't procrastinate or slack (human nature).

What if you train 1.5 years, and then get injured and cannot race the Florida IM? How will you look back on your 1.5 years of training? Will it have been worth it? Or is it only worth it if you finish the florida IM? Are you training to race, or training to train?(Big Question)

Personally, I'd enter a couple of International or Half Ironman's during the summer just to "stay sharp" and measure your progress, as well as, accomplsih something.

You don't want to get to the florida IM and have everyone look at your performance and be able to tell it was your first race. With that much time till the race it seems your training could lack that "sense of urgency" that can really spice up sessions (at least that would be the case with me).

CajunRider · 12-02-2003, 01:58 AM

To answer your question TripleThreat, I guess I am training to train. I've been swimming, riding, and running for long distances all my life. I find the activities relaxing my mind. Most of my best ideas came while doing them. My wife thinks I have attention deficit problem and have learned to cope with it this way. If the Florida IM came and I can't make it so be it. I'll still enjoy my swimming, riding, and running all the same.

Come to think about it, I guess my wanting to go to Florida IM is just an excuse for me to have an extra trip there to meet parents and brothers who live in Panama City.

TripleThreat · 12-02-2003, 09:11 AM

Do it up Man! Good luck to you.

I was just wondering that if you got injured right before the IM, if you be pissed and felt like you wasted the last 1.5 years. You said you wouldn't[and would have been training anyway], so my concern is gone.

Have a blast, see how you do. That has to be a rare occassion, a person's first Tri is an IM. Go for it.

Don' forget to visit the folks in Panama City. We used to go there for our Baseball spring trip [always stayed at the HoJo's, right on the beach].

Neal · 12-08-2003, 04:39 PM

I signed up for an Ironman before I had done a single tri, allowing myself 9 months to prepare. I have done a dozen marathons but didn't own a bike nor had I ever swam more than 25 yards with my face in the water. I tend to want to race more than just train to train so I differ with you in that regard. I did do one olympic distance tri and one half ironman before my ironman and I would definitely recommend the same to you. My training netted me a 11:20 time so I would be the first to suggest that your goal is completely doable. I'm 46 also, and might suggest you consider adjusting your goal. I'm already training for a spring ironman and am wondering if 11:00 is realistic. Like you said go big!