You are NOT an Ironman (But That's OK)

If you follow the link and read the rest of the article it does not come off as elitist as the introduction sounds. 

If I read it right, all he is saying is that while there are no qualification to enter a race, there certainly are qualifications necessary to make the cut-off time ... it is called training.

I saw one guy miss the cut-off time at IMFL by 3 minutes.  I also saw on the NBC Kona coverage last weekend an official tell an unidentified lady that she missed bike cut-off by 38 seconds and another official console Sister Madonna Buder for missing it in less than 2 minutes.

If order to ride this ride you must be (insert height requirement here) <= this tall.  In order to complete this race, you must finish within (insert cut off times here) <= this amount of time.

Eat your vegetables ... and train accordingly.

Just read that on ST.  Great article. 

However, there are tons of folks that did "it" (whatever it is - in this case Ironman) when the "experts" said they shouldn't/couldn't.  I personally would rather see someone try to aim high and attempt to accomplish something slightly out of their reach than do nothing at all.

First tri,  1997- a sprint. A major undertaking.

First attempt at an Ironman, 7/20/08.

Either I'm a slow learner or smarter than I give myself credit for.

I have been saying this for years!!!! Thank you for putting it in print. We get web submissions almost weekly (and curiously right after NBC airs Kona) from people who have never done a triathlon that want to do an Ironman. It absolutely amazes me that these people have no idea what they are getting themselves into.

I like what Mirg had to say.

My experience:  I too thought that nirvana would come when crossing that finish line.  It sure felt good when I broke the tape but felt even better a few seconds later as I was making my way out of the finishing chute and reflecting what I accomplished to get to the START line. It takes dedication and tenacity to properly train for an IM and I don’t know if I get a greater sense of accomplishment from the daily training or the race itself.

My point is – those that toe the line at an IM very ill-prepared are missing out on half the experience, at least

ok, I guess I am in the minority, but frankly I have no desire to do anything BUT sprint distance. Maybe someday Olympic distance but really cannot see going longer.  But I must be deluded because EVERYONE I meet says - oh you will at least do a HIM it's addictive.....

my athletic abilities are all in sprint (which to me is like 100 yards) so 5K is long enough to run thank you very much!!!

I figure if I swim, bike and run I am a triathlete. I will happily volunteer at longer races but SO not for me! 

my testing confirmed that much of my training and racing is anaerobic - so yeah I am above LT most of the time - funny my trainer was reading ideal VO2max or average ones for different sports and I fell right into the one for fencing (I was a varsity fencer in college....).

Getting into the sport and starting at the shorter distances it ends up being a natural progression and before you know it you are wanting to test yourself at the longer distances.  This is how it SHOULD be ... start training smart and focus on the immediate goals of the sprint, then after a few muster up the courage to go for an Olympin/International.  After a few of those or some more time toss around the idea of a HIM, work hard and train for that for quite awhile, etc.

What the article addresses is the "check off the life accomplishment list" crowd who have watched NBC's coverage of Kona and have already planned how they can check off the "marathon" on their list (or recently did).  It is about those that think they are "entitled" to finsih the race because they entered it and paid their entry fee.  I call them the "one and dones."  They do not appreciate the sport nearly as much as the athlete who started small and worked their way up and are actually TRAINED well for the distance.

When I decided to get back into doing a tri again it was during my first real season of marathon training.  I knew I wanted to do an IM because my boss had done one and I wanted the challenge.  But I first signed up for a half, spent 6 months training my azz off for it and then didn't have my IM signed up for another 17 months after that.  In the meantime I ran 3 more marathons, did the same 1/2 again and sprinkled in some other tri races.  Respect the distance, or it will kick your azz ...... I learned that after my first half .....

I'm never gonna be an astronaut either.

*sigh*

Whilst theoretically that is true, I have given the blood that proves it!!! when I did the 5k on thanksgiving my HR was high 170s low 180s and below are my numbers from LT analysis done on bike:

heart rate at LT/ Aerobic threshold = 149 power at the same threshold = 110 watts

Heart rate at OBLA/Anaerobic threshold = 168 power = 150 watts

Peak power during the max test was = 250 watts and heart rate was 191

raw LT data:

my zones:

I. 126-134

II. 135-149

III. 150-155

IV. 156-167

V. 168-178

VI. 179-190+

Lactate then gets converted to glucose to use as fuel, so I must be doing tons of that....