Considering doing an Ironman...suggestions?

[ManOfWord]

UPDATE:

I finished "The Triathlete's Training Bible" and Don Fink's "Ironfit." Both books helped tremendously. Especially the part from Fink about training "time" and not miles. Also about training aerobic and not anaerobic. Huge difference!

I bought a Blue Seventy full wet suit on eBay and a Timex Ironman Road Trainer watch/heart rate monitor. I have found that it is hard (for me) to train (running) in Zone 3. It seems that at my normal pace, my heart rate is about 145 and the top end of Zone 3 (for me) is 137. I may have to adjust the zones. Supposed to do 90% of training in Zone 3. Or I may just have to back off and not run as hard. For me to stay in Zone 3, my pace is a slow 8:30. My normal pace is about 7:30 - 7:50.

Lots of spiritual applications learned so far. One trains in the aerobic zone to train for endurance and not speed. Ironman competitions are far more about endurance than they are speed.

[ManOfWord]

Quick update:

I ran my first 1/2 marathon this Saturday. In fact it was just under 2hrs! If I can run 13, I can run 26.

The bad news: I just joined the YMCA and began my swimming training this morning! The results were NOT good! I have never swam like this before and I am SO in trouble. If it were not for the fact that I'll be wearing a wet suit, I don't think there is any way I could do this.

The good news: I have all Winter to work on it. I'll probably hire a swimming coach for a few sessions. An Ironman swimming portion is 3800 meters! The "Y's" lap pool is 25m so that is going to be a LOT of laps! I usually run or in this case swim at 6 or 7am. If I can get this swimming thing down, I think I'll be doing the full Ironman. Anyway, there's your update.

[Timmy]

To paraphrase a classic movie line:

Swim, Forrest, swim!!

[Timmy]

Congrats on the 1/2 marathon!

[freeatlast]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

Full Ironman is 2.2 mi. swim, 112 mi bike & 26 mi (full marathon) run! I'll only be doing a 1/2 Ironman. I just don't have the time to train for the full Rev!

Team Hoyt has always inspired me! I have used their video clips in church before. Usually not a dry eye in the house! I also want to plant a seed of a legacy to my sons as well....that their Dad never gave up accomplishing things both spiritual and natural!

What do they call that MOW, aluminun-man.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

What do they call that MOW, aluminun-man.