An Iron Man race was described to me today in this way, ‘Well, you do a 3.8 km swim. Then you ride your bike for 180km. Once you’ve done that, all that stands between you and the end is a full-length marathon, so a 42km run…’
This is what the fellow I was out for a ride with today, has been training for. He’s doing the Penticton Iron Man this Aug, and has been preparing for a year or more. When I met him through work, just this last week, he said he was looking for some good hills – being a visitor to Edmonton he didn’t know where to go. I informed him that really the only way to find hills here (in the prairies), is to go to our river valley to do hill repeats, and that I’d be happy to show him. Of course, I knew taking a guy who is in Iron Man shape out to do hill repeats was asking a lot my current fitness level (lack-luster at best), but I still wanted to give it a go.
At 10 am, we set off. An appetizer of repeats at Gallagher Hill first. Then the main course on 97 street hill, followed by dessert at ‘mini’ L’Alpe d’Huez. In all we managed to pedal out just shy of 500 meters (or roughly 1,600 feet) of elevation gain. Not bad for me these days, and much to my surprise I was able to stick with Darren – even on the very last hill. I held his wheel right to the top. And even though I knew he’d decided to go for 110km ride yesterday, I will admit, for a few moments throughout the ride, I thought to myself, that, ‘Hey, I’m keeping up. Maybe I’m not in as bad of shape as I think I am. I’m keeping up with a guy who is IM ready! Good for me! Yes, how very good for me!’ But, then at the top of the very last hill, as I glanced down at my heart rate, and saw 92% of MAX, I decided to ask Darren, (between my rapid gasps for air) what zone he was in on that last climb. ‘Oh, I hit about 80%’, he said, breathing lightly. So, yeah… Insert bubble burst here.
A 3.8km swim, I am certain I could not do. Without water-wings, I would sink to the bottom of the lake faster than a man wearing cement shoes, and drown. That aside, even if I could swim it, put me on a bike for 180km, at race pace, and I’d have nothing but singed, smoking stumps left for legs at the end – hardly suitable for standing on, never mind running a full 42km marathon. And all this, in the famous Penticton heat! This is by my estimation, pure insanity! So, a huge tip of the chapeau to you Darren, for even attempting to take this on. I find that alone, really quite astounding considering the hours, and hours of dedicated training in the pool, on the bike, plus the runs. It really does just blow me away – and make me curious… If I could put in the time, could I do it? Dangerous question, I know, because I am sure that’s exactly how every IM competitor gets started. I’d better go watch some mindless infomercials with sickeningly catchy jingles to get my mind off it, quick!
Do you think you could do it? Also, how do you think this compares to Xterra? Which would you choose, if you could?
Sheldon, has the IM seed been planted? If so, let me know. I’d be happy to chat with you about it. It really does become manageable once you lay out the program and start to rack up the mileage (in all three sports). I’ve been trying to talk Bridget into it too (with limited success).
As for the Xterra vs. Ironman, I think that’s sort of apples to oranges. I’ve never felt as bad post-race as I did after IM and the run was truly hellish. However, IM never hurt as bad at any one time as Xterra usually does. I guess you can take your pick of deep, oppressive, extended hurt at IM or short, intense, redline suck at Xterra.
Both build character. IM is deeply satisfying. Xterra is seriously fun.
@ David, I knew you were a Tri-guy, but didn’t realize you’d done IM level, or Xterra for that matter. That’s awesome! No wonder you’re such a force on the bike. I don’t know if I’d say the IM bug has bitten. Just a morbid curiosity to be honest. At least for now ;-)
Nice to hear you got taken out an put through the paces buddy!
Interestingly I had dinner with a guy who has done 5 Ironman’s (Ironmen?) on Sunday – 4 in Penticton and 1 in New Zealand and I ended up wondering the same kinds of things.
I think the thing that impresses me most about the Ironman (and triathlons in general) is the training that these guys and gals commit to. Forget the effort involved, just think about the time!
At an elite level, I’m sure a triathlete isn’t spending any more time training than a cyclist, or runner – but at the ‘weekend warrior’ level, they’ve got to put in a lot more time to be ‘passable’ in three events. A guy like me can spend a lot less time training and still be ‘passable’ in at least one sport.
A well deserved *chapeau* for everybody out there training for triathlons!!
Sorry Ken, did you write that one? I can never tell… (I assumed it was Sheldon, as I followed the link from his FB.)
No, you had it correct, Sheldon authored this one, but per my comment I had a similar, but completely unrelated event over the weekend… More of a conversational one than a training based one.
He was trying to convince me that despite my ability to swim quite convincingly in the same manner as a stone, with a little bit of training and the buoyancy of a wetsuit, I’d be IM ready in no time ;-)