Am I ready to do an Ironman

I signed up to do an Ironman in the end of June. My law school finals this month have allowed
minimal training. I only have two months to go.....can I do it? I'm having doubts.

This weekend I completed a 60 mi. bike pacing ~ 16.5 mph. My legs felt fine. I can run at least 13
miles at an 8 min/mi pace. I have finished 3 marathons in the past three years so I know I'm capable
of running that far. The swim should be no problem. I was a competitive swimmer.

The problem is, I have done no BRICKS!!! Until now (summer break), I just couldn't put in the time.

Is it too late? Should I give up and save my plane ticket money?

Any advice is much appreciated....

 

In article <[email protected]>,
"sjhill" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I signed up to do an Ironman in the end of June. My law school finals this month have allowed
> minimal training. I only have two months to go.....can I do it? I'm having doubts.
>
> This weekend I completed a 60 mi. bike pacing ~ 16.5 mph. My legs felt fine. I can run at least 13
> miles at an 8 min/mi pace. I have finished 3 marathons in the past three years so I know I'm
> capable of running that far. The swim should be no problem. I was a competitive swimmer.
>
> The problem is, I have done no BRICKS!!! Until now (summer break), I just couldn't put in
> the time.
>
> Is it too late? Should I give up and save my plane ticket money?
>
> Any advice is much appreciated....

Well, you pretty much need to be tapering by 3 weeks before the race, which means you have about 5
weeks. You'd better be able to bike 110 miles or so by then, or don't even think about it.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night, and party every day. Then it was every other day. . . ."

- Homer J. Simpson

 

No bricks, no foundation. Without a foundation your house will crumble. You are not ready for
Ironperson. Stay home and train more.

"sjhill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I signed up to do an Ironman in the end of June. My law school finals this month have allowed
> minimal training. I only have two months to go.....can I do it? I'm having doubts.
>
> This weekend I completed a 60 mi. bike pacing ~ 16.5 mph. My legs felt fine. I can run at least 13
> miles at an 8 min/mi pace. I have finished 3 marathons in the past three years so I know I'm
> capable of running that far. The swim should be no problem. I was a competitive swimmer.
>
> The problem is, I have done no BRICKS!!! Until now (summer break), I just couldn't put in
> the time.
>
> Is it too late? Should I give up and save my plane ticket money?
>
> Any advice is much appreciated....

 

Sounds like the bike is the biggest worry, so work on that most between now and event time. If you
could find a local century ride to do and can complete it OK, that would give you a lot of
confidence.

-S-

sjhill wrote:
>
> I signed up to do an Ironman in the end of June. My law school finals this month have allowed
> minimal training. I only have two months to go.....can I do it? I'm having doubts.
>
> This weekend I completed a 60 mi. bike pacing ~ 16.5 mph. My legs felt fine. I can run at least 13
> miles at an 8 min/mi pace. I have finished 3 marathons in the past three years so I know I'm
> capable of running that far. The swim should be no problem. I was a competitive swimmer.
>
> The problem is, I have done no BRICKS!!! Until now (summer break), I just couldn't put in
> the time.
>
> Is it too late? Should I give up and save my plane ticket money?
>
> Any advice is much appreciated....

 

I have never done a triathlon. I compete in duathlons and at distances far shorter than Ironman
distances. So, I am no expert.

Having said that, my opinion is that your problem will be on the run, not the bike. I feel that with
proper pacing you can do the swim and the 112 miles on the bike, but that you may come up short of
energy during the run.

I don't mean to discourage you. In fact, I think you should give it a try. Do your best and the
excitement, adrenalin and will power may get you through. If not, it will be a learning
experience for you.

Please write again and tell us how you did.

"sjhill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I signed up to do an Ironman in the end of June. My law school finals
this
> month have allowed minimal training. I only have two months to go.....can
I
> do it? I'm having doubts.
>
> This weekend I completed a 60 mi. bike pacing ~ 16.5 mph. My legs felt fine. I can run at least 13
> miles at an 8 min/mi pace. I have finished 3 marathons in the past three years so I know I'm
> capable of running that
far.
> The swim should be no problem. I was a competitive swimmer.
>
> The problem is, I have done no BRICKS!!! Until now (summer break), I just couldn't put in
> the time.
>
> Is it too late? Should I give up and save my plane ticket money?
>
> Any advice is much appreciated....

 

It sounds like you are doing IM CDA.....so am I. You have 5 weeks to get in some longer training.
It's doable. Here's one suggestion for long training sessions between now and the first week of
June. Assuming a weekend for long stuff here goes:

Saturdays: Long ride with a 30 - 45 min transition run. Make the bike a little longer each week.
Example for this Saturday would be to do a 4.5 hour ride at aerobic threshold with some tempo bursts
built in (on the hills). Do a 30 min transition run with a 10 min tempo session.

Sunday: 2 hour run with 3/10 min tempo bursts.

Monday should be recovery and swim.

Increase your volume gradually to maybe 6.5 hrs bike with a transition run followed by a 2.5hr run
the next day by beginning of June. I'd stay away from doing a big hammer workout (huge ride with a
long run the same day). You're liable to overdo it and get hurt or over train. The long runs on
Sundays after the long ride/transition run on Sat should get you there volume-wise.

Watch signs that you're overtraining (fatigue that won't quit, or a heart rate that won't rise). Get
some recovery pace training in after the big weekends. Good luck!

Steve Freides <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Sounds like the bike is the biggest worry, so work on that most between now and event time. If you
> could find a local century ride to do and can complete it OK, that would give you a lot of
> confidence.
>
> -S-
>
> sjhill wrote:
> >
> > I signed up to do an Ironman in the end of June. My law school finals this month have allowed
> > minimal training. I only have two months to go.....can I do it? I'm having doubts.
> >
> > This weekend I completed a 60 mi. bike pacing ~ 16.5 mph. My legs felt fine. I can run at least
> > 13 miles at an 8 min/mi pace. I have finished 3 marathons in the past three years so I know I'm
> > capable of running that far. The swim should be no problem. I was a competitive swimmer.
> >
> > The problem is, I have done no BRICKS!!! Until now (summer break), I just couldn't put in
> > the time.
> >
> > Is it too late? Should I give up and save my plane ticket money?
> >
> > Any advice is much appreciated....

 

You should be fine, I did my first ironman last year with about as much training, I had a good base
but a bad divorce in the middle of training kind of side railed my training. When it was all done my
longest ride was about 70 miles, longest run was 16 miles, and longest swim was about 1.2 miles.
Prior to this I have completed three 1/2 ironmans and 6 marathons.

Go into it just to finish and enjoy the day, you might suprise yourself.

Ron C

"sjhill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I signed up to do an Ironman in the end of June. My law school finals
this
> month have allowed minimal training. I only have two months to go.....can
I
> do it? I'm having doubts.
>
> This weekend I completed a 60 mi. bike pacing ~ 16.5 mph. My legs felt fine. I can run at least 13
> miles at an 8 min/mi pace. I have finished 3 marathons in the past three years so I know I'm
> capable of running that
far.
> The swim should be no problem. I was a competitive swimmer.
>
> The problem is, I have done no BRICKS!!! Until now (summer break), I just couldn't put in
> the time.
>
> Is it too late? Should I give up and save my plane ticket money?
>
> Any advice is much appreciated....

 

If you're already entered in the race then go for it, otherwise save your money until you are better
prepared. You didn't mention your age, weight, or goal (finishing time) which factor into the
likelihood of your success. Riding 60 miles on bike is not the same as 112 miles. If you haven't
done a couple centuries in the past year those miles could be total torture leaving you unable to
finish. There are so many long distance cycling problems like sore ass, burning feet, sore back,
loss of feeling in hands that could pop up between mile 60 and 112. I'm a strong cyclist and have
many centuries in my past yet would no longer consider doing an IM because of the burning feet
problem. You also need to have trained for maintaining glucose, hydration and electrolyte levels
during your IM. Once you start to cramp or bonk the race is over.

Ron C wrote in message ...
>You should be fine, I did my first ironman last year with about as much training, I had a good base
>but a bad divorce in the middle of training kind of side railed my training. When it was all done
>my longest ride was about 70 miles, longest run was 16 miles, and longest swim was about 1.2 miles.
>Prior to this I have completed three 1/2 ironmans and 6 marathons.
>
>Go into it just to finish and enjoy the day, you might suprise yourself.
>
>Ron C
>
>
>"sjhill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>> I signed up to do an Ironman in the end of June. My law school finals
>this
>> month have allowed minimal training. I only have two months to
go.....can
>I
>> do it? I'm having doubts.
>>
>> This weekend I completed a 60 mi. bike pacing ~ 16.5 mph. My legs felt fine. I can run at least
>> 13 miles at an 8 min/mi pace. I have finished
3
>> marathons in the past three years so I know I'm capable of running that
>far.
>> The swim should be no problem. I was a competitive swimmer.
>>
>> The problem is, I have done no BRICKS!!! Until now (summer break), I
just
>> couldn't put in the time.
>>
>> Is it too late? Should I give up and save my plane ticket money?
>>
>> Any advice is much appreciated....
>>
>

 

You don't need any brick workouts for the IM.

You do need 2 things:

1) Endurance experience. If you've never ridden 100 miles, you should worry about the bike. Several
people have posted that going 100+ miles is a whole lot different than 60. They are right.

2) Knowledge of what you can/need in terms of fluids and food. Much of this will knowledge come from
item (1). I have seen very talented athletes DNF from taking in too little and others from taking
in too much.

A friend of mine ran his first marathon in IM Florida about 18 months ago. He was, well, shattered
at the end, but he finished with a 12:46, which put him ahead of many, many people. But he's a
strong cyclist.

You won't win, but neither will I. On the other hand, you can have a very good race and enjoy the
experience. I can assure you that crossing the finish line is worth the effort and will change the
way you think about long races.

Alan.

IM FL 2001 12:14 IM FL 2002 11:52 IM HA 2003 ?????

"sjhill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I signed up to do an Ironman in the end of June. My law school finals
this
> month have allowed minimal training. I only have two months to go.....can
I
> do it? I'm having doubts.
>
> This weekend I completed a 60 mi. bike pacing ~ 16.5 mph. My legs felt fine. I can run at least 13
> miles at an 8 min/mi pace. I have finished 3 marathons in the past three years so I know I'm
> capable of running that
far.
> The swim should be no problem. I was a competitive swimmer.
>
> The problem is, I have done no BRICKS!!! Until now (summer break), I just couldn't put in
> the time.
>
> Is it too late? Should I give up and save my plane ticket money?
>
> Any advice is much appreciated....

 

>You didn't mention your age, weight, or goal (finishing time) which factor into the
>likelihood >of your
success.

age: 23 weight: 130 height: 5'6'' goal time: to finish

Thanks for your advice!

"BillX" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> If you're already entered in the race then go for it, otherwise save your money until you are
> better prepared. You didn't mention your age, weight, or goal (finishing time) which factor into
> the likelihood of your success. Riding 60 miles on bike is not the same as 112 miles. If you
> haven't done
a
> couple centuries in the past year those miles could be total torture
leaving
> you unable to finish. There are so many long distance cycling problems
like
> sore ass, burning feet, sore back, loss of feeling in hands that could pop up between mile 60 and
> 112. I'm a strong cyclist and have many centuries
in
> my past yet would no longer consider doing an IM because of the burning
feet
> problem. You also need to have trained for maintaining glucose, hydration and electrolyte levels
> during your IM. Once you start to cramp or bonk
the
> race is over.
>
> Ron C wrote in message ...
> >You should be fine, I did my first ironman last year with about as much training, I had a good
> >base but a bad divorce in the middle of training kind of side railed my training. When it was all
> >done my longest ride was about 70 miles, longest run was 16 miles, and longest swim was about 1.2
> >miles. Prior to this I have completed three 1/2 ironmans and 6
marathons.
> >
> >Go into it just to finish and enjoy the day, you might suprise yourself.
> >
> >Ron C
> >
> >
> >"sjhill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> >> I signed up to do an Ironman in the end of June. My law school finals
> >this
> >> month have allowed minimal training. I only have two months to
> go.....can
> >I
> >> do it? I'm having doubts.
> >>
> >> This weekend I completed a 60 mi. bike pacing ~ 16.5 mph. My legs felt fine. I can run at least
> >> 13 miles at an 8 min/mi pace. I have
finished
> 3
> >> marathons in the past three years so I know I'm capable of running that
> >far.
> >> The swim should be no problem. I was a competitive swimmer.
> >>
> >> The problem is, I have done no BRICKS!!! Until now (summer break), I
> just
> >> couldn't put in the time.
> >>
> >> Is it too late? Should I give up and save my plane ticket money?
> >>
> >> Any advice is much appreciated....
> >>
> >>
> >
>

 

You are so wrong, Alan Walker, and that is why you have such slow Ironman times. Bricks are the
foundation of training and it's why I will always be faster than you.

"Alan Walker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> You don't need any brick workouts for the IM.
>
> You do need 2 things:
>
> 1) Endurance experience. If you've never ridden 100 miles, you should worry about the bike.
> Several people have posted that going 100+ miles is a whole lot different than 60. They are
> right.
>
> 2) Knowledge of what you can/need in terms of fluids and food. Much of this will knowledge come
> from item (1). I have seen very talented athletes DNF from taking in too little and others from
> taking in too much.
>
> A friend of mine ran his first marathon in IM Florida about 18 months ago. He was, well, shattered
> at the end, but he finished with a 12:46, which put him ahead of many, many people. But he's a
> strong cyclist.
>
> You won't win, but neither will I. On the other hand, you can have a very good race and enjoy the
> experience. I can assure you that crossing the finish line is worth the effort and will change the
> way you think about long races.
>
> Alan.
>
> IM FL 2001 12:14 IM FL 2002 11:52 IM HA 2003 ?????