Has anybody on here done an Ironman

[Pheidippides]

I know Archaea has and I plan on picking his brain. I'm seriously considering signing up for the 2012 race in The Woodlands. I'm going to do a couple of shorter distance tris this fall, but the Ironman is to me what a marathon is to a lot of people: something I want to do at least once in my life.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Wifey did one a couple of years ago. She rocks. She tried to talk me into doing it with her last year, and I balked at it, so she did a Ragnar instead. She called me a wimp. While practicing she used to pull the twins in the bike trailer while riding and push them in the jogging stroller for the run (obviously not for the full distance on either). The actual event was "easier" for her because she wasn't hauling 80# of kids and strollers.

I can handle the swimming (I helped train her for the swimming) and keep up my end in the bike ride, but the run would demolish me. My CV system is fairly strong but my joints just can't take the pounding that a marathon would dish out. Too many years of skiing moguls...

I agree with it being a Bucket List item (along with either LoToJa or STP). Keep us posted.

[Pheidippides]

Wifey did one a couple of years ago. She rocks. She tried to talk me into doing it with her last year, and I balked at it, so she did a Ragnar instead. She called me a wimp. While practicing she used to pull the twins in the bike trailer while riding and push them in the jogging stroller for the run (obviously not for the full distance on either). The actual event was "easier" for her because she wasn't hauling 80# of kids and strollers.

I can handle the swimming (I helped train her for the swimming) and keep up my end in the bike ride, but the run would demolish me. My CV system is fairly strong but my joints just can't take the pounding that a marathon would dish out. Too many years of skiing moguls...

I agree with it being a Bucket List item (along with either LoToJa or STP). Keep us posted.

I'm reverse of you. I'm about to do my 4th marathon (with a multi-day 40 miler on the horizon) so I don't worry about the running. And after Saturdays'...um...well, whatever that was, I'm confident that I can bike 112 miles.

It's the swimming that will kill me. I've done a straight mile in the pool, no stopping, many times, and I could do another. IOW, I'm confident I can swim 2.4. But I'd be slow - let's say a full 90 minutes to swim that far. And the open water bit scares me.

I haven't signed up yet, but they have a new one here in Houston (The Woodlands, actually) that is in two weeks. I may volunteer on the run portion to see how it goes, see people at the end (it will also give me priority registration for next year). I have the blessing of the missus and no fewer than four friends who have done one that I can use as a resource.

[scottie]

My fam and I were in St. George over the weekend being Ironman spectators. Talk about inspiring. My favorite part was while we watched the bike to run transition. The temp was low 90s and watching some of those people get off their bikes after 112 miles and their body language as they were just starting their 26.2 mile run, man oh man.

[Pheidippides]

My fam and I were in St. George over the weekend being Ironman spectators. Talk about inspiring. My favorite part was while we watched the bike to run transition. The temp was low 90s and watching some of those people get off their bikes after 112 miles and their body language as they were just starting their 26.2 mile run, man oh man.

Two of my friends just did that, which is why it's on my mind.

[scottie]

Two of my friends just did that, which is why it's on my mind.

Have you talked to them? What did they say about the heat?

[NorthwestUteFan]

IOW, I'm confident I can swim 2.4. But I'd be slow - let's say a full 90 minutes to swim that far. And the open water bit scares me.

I haven't signed up yet, but they have a new one here in Houston (The Woodlands, actually) that is in two weeks. I may volunteer on the run portion to see how it goes, see people at the end (it will also give me priority registration for next year). I have the blessing of the missus and no fewer than four friends who have done one that I can use as a resource.

Because the swimming part is scary, you might offer to be a "Swim Angel" (if they use those - Some events just use rowboats on the course, but others have actual swimmers with lifeguard buoys). If nothing else, it would get you open water experience and also give you a feel for the crowd in the water. It would be possible to help in the water, then transition and help with the later portions of the race (eg bike/run transition).

My wife did it without a wetsuit but looking back it would have been better to use at least a 3mm wetsuit to help with body temp and also to help with buoyancy. The lack of Range of Motion may be offset by the added buoyancy.

I have a coworker running it this year and he is confident he will place in the top ten of his age group (he is 65-ish). He just bought a $23k bike for it. Nutso if you ask me, but he feels it will give him a decided "advantage" over his old $5k bike.

My bro got married in the Kona Temple last year just after THE Ironman. It was a great scene.

[BigPiney]

Getting used to the open water can be scary for many. I would recommend doing some shorter tris just to get that under your belt. Also races that the water so cool enought o allow wetsuits are highly recommended. They are like wearing a personal life preserver and you are so much faster in them.

I did a 1/2 ironman last summer, so I don't qualify as having done the full, but I would work my way up to it if I were you. At least find a 1/2 that you could do, especially if the swim is scary for you. It is still a long time to suffer, so you should enjoy that.

Many people get a panicked feeling in the swim and that has only happened to me once and it was not fun. I could not catch my breath, no matter that I was just doing breaststroke for a while.

[bluegoose]

Many people get a panicked feeling in the swim and that has only happened to me once and it was not fun. I could not catch my breath, no matter that I was just doing breaststroke for a while.

This.

When I did an Olympic distance about 11 years ago, I had no problem swimming a mile in the pool and was feeling fairly confident going in. Then, the race gun went off, and the combination of the splashing, the waves, getting kicked in the head, and not being to see where I was going destroyed the whole race for me. I did breaststroke and sidestroke for most of the distance and found myself one of the last out of the water.

If I do it again, at the very least I would practice some open water swims following directly behind someone that was kicking up water in my face.

[Pheidippides]

Have you talked to them? What did they say about the heat?

Both finishes. Second time for one. The other spent an hour and a half in a medical tent getting treated for heat exhaustion.

[Pheidippides]

Getting used to the open water can be scary for many. I would recommend doing some shorter tris just to get that under your belt. Also races that the water so cool enought o allow wetsuits are highly recommended. They are like wearing a personal life preserver and you are so much faster in them.

I did a 1/2 ironman last summer, so I don't qualify as having done the full, but I would work my way up to it if I were you. At least find a 1/2 that you could do, especially if the swim is scary for you. It is still a long time to suffer, so you should enjoy that.

Many people get a panicked feeling in the swim and that has only happened to me once and it was not fun. I could not catch my breath, no matter that I was just doing breaststroke for a while.

I've got an open water sprint tri lined up in July. I'm also going to volunteer at the full iron this month so I can see it first hand.

[Babs]

I've gotta be honest with you, Nik. Ironman and Houston sound like a match made in haydees. There's a reason people fly to Coeur D'Aline.

[Pheidippides]

I've gotta be honest with you, Nik. Ironman and Houston sound like a match made in haydees. There's a reason people fly to Coeur D'Aline.

I've been thinking about that, but I already run 20+ miles in the exact weather we're looking at (ftr, the water temp is probably going to allow for wetsuits this year).

For those of you who have done "serious" tris, how many people use tri bikes versus regular road bikes. I'm not going to drop more moola on a tri bike at any point in my life unless it's essential - the road bike I have now is awesome.

[bluegoose]

I've gotta be honest with you, Nik. Ironman and Houston sound like a match made in haydees. There's a reason people fly to Coeur D'Aline.

That, and Napa. The Vineman is a very popular race.

Since we're being honest here, I will continue to be honest and say that Ironman training, work and family stability are not always compatible. I know one guy that makes it work, typically doing one ironman per year, but i also know several who's marriages have really suffered from the strain.

[falafel]

I've been thinking about that, but I already run 20+ miles in the exact weather we're looking at (ftr, the water temp is probably going to allow for wetsuits this year).

The record so will reflect.