I haven’t cracked it yet so I can’t give up. I have to get at least as good as x in something before I can walk away. Although probably this year if I don’t, I’ll have to accept this is as good as I can get.
2016 I trained to exhaustion on the bike for six months, quit everything after the IM race
2017 I trained less but more focussed and burned out, added two hours to my Ironman time
2018 I half-assed it
2019 I full-assed it and regained my first year “glory”
2020 full ass again, no real races
2021 We’ll see, no indications of greatness yet
If three years consistent training is better than six months, then I think it’s reasonable to expect a peak - however fast or slow that is.
I always agree with the IMTalk 3 year rule, although I’d say the longer you do short course and single sport racing for the better your IM will be when you do one. Going sub 9 or getting to Kona does need some natural talent, well not much but a bit and also the time to be able to train and more importantly recover from it. That will never happen for 99% of us, but to perform well relatively it just takes time, its not like running a10k in sub 30 or climbing a mountain like Quintana which will never happen if you are north of 55kg and 5ft 4. IM is one of those sports that time rewards.
Its not only IMJ, a post from a BTF coaches group. I don’t know what worries me more, that kids start triathlon unable to swim, that coaches think its in their remit to teach kids to swim or that they even need to ask this question.
"We’re starting junior swim sessions in the pool, can coaches be in the water too? We have several youngsters that need support in the water and can’t see anything to confirm if we can do this. "
The odd thing is, if you’ve stayed fit, you’re still relatively young and you commit to Ironman/FD training, you can have a good day. My debut was Roth, which I did in 10:09 and that was only off 12 months dedicated Triathlon training; I had a 10 year hiatus from swimming. I was 33-34 at the time though! In the end, I only went faster than that twice in another 7 goes. I’ve not gotten any closer since turning 40 either (10:28 being my best). But I have been VERY consistent.
My point really, is that you can go from relatively ‘zero-to-hero’ if you work hard; and don’t assume plugging away over the years will get you big gains unless you introduce a seismic shift. Oh, and as far as Ironman training…ignorance CAN be bliss!
It’s funny how the internet people here know rather a lot about me, probably more than many IRL.
I started exercising in 2012 ish, and very regularly in 2016. I still remember my first sub 25min 5k in 2016 when I went out with a friend who was a bit faster than me. Yes, it’s young kids and busy job (mine and the wife’s) means that I don’t want to/can’t commit many more hours than I currently do.
I’ve also done a 46min 1900m swim in a race, thanks @fatbuddha for making it non-wetsuit…
It shocks me how many people get cut off in races with a sea swim and say “I ve never swum in open water before” or cut off on the bike and start crying and going on that they are an Incredible runner and that is unfair. You know the deal when you sign up. I think IMJ can be helpful to people but too many nob heads know it all.
Do you remember Iron Rookie and the doctored number?
Long distance racing is very different (for me) to any other. I had a shit fest at a race and did another LD 6 weeks later on an appalling day weatherwise and got a PB. On my first I was that person crying my way round deserted streets in Italy in the dark and dashed in not much under the cut off, disappointed and totally underwhelmed.
