How bad were you...

Hey you were down for Nice before I ever pondered...  for once I'm not to blame... 

I had thought about all the emminently sensible ways of training for IM that's advocated elsewhere i.e. a year of sprints and Olys, then Half IMs and some time in the distant future the illusive IM...  but I wonder how many end up actually doing it?  Or will it all turn out to be a nice idea and then no focus?

I think for me personally, I used to think that way of training would give confidence or emotional security for a better phrase, but I think it's too long a time to make excuses too...  so I'll stop thinking about it and get on with it. 

I love what DV did...  said he'd do it and got on with it.  Respect.

JP - I think FB is right - keep your time goal to yourself for your first - less pressure that way - it's hard enough without adding more potential difficulties

I was 47 when I did my first, and a numpty.  BtS was 50 and an ubernumpty so it can be done

it's a bit weird that quite a few people now are starting to doubt whether most of the pirates really were as rubbish as they claim before they started.

i guess that the people who weren't too scared to do it a few years ago JFDidI, and there weren't a huge number of eastablished pirates who had done it before (eg the first year there were about 25-30 pirates, only 3 of whom had ever done an ironman before.  and one of those was smithy so hardly counts).  so everybody was crap together.

now people who can't swim or ride a bike or run very far just see a bunch of ironmen, and find it hard to believe that most of them came from absolutely nowhere.  they did.  i saw them.

the only difference is that in the early years you could leave it later to pick a race so the newbies only had 8 or 9 months to buy a bike, learn to swim and do an ironman - whereas these days, they get just over a year!  luxury!

JPenno - does this mean I better get a wiggle on in buying a bike??   Whereabouts are you?

Nam - I'd love to just "get on with it" and go for it, however I've been working for 5 years for the degree, so I'm finishing that first.. though I'm rather good at long term goals!  

Candy - talking sense, as always

or something

We (surprisingly) seem to have gone a little off topic again.

Bringing it back.  To answer your question Crashie :-

Pretty carp or in more measurable terms I reckon about twice as good as Dozer is now ;oP

Azur were.

Funny that, innit.  Going off topic.  Not something you tend to find around here with all these focused individuals.

A year ago, I had finished one half IM.  I considered entering Austria last year, but had a new job and didn't think I could devote enough time to the training.  Saying that, finding time for training has been the most difficult thing this year too!  I took things seriously and took time off work to train in the three months leading up to France.  I don't think I would have done it without these days off.

So, how bad was I a year ago?

Swim - I've always swum and swimming doesn't hold any fear for me so that wasn't an issue
Bike - I was crap on the bike and still am.  I was very slow and still am.  My first ride around Richmond Park was a killer.  I managed 14 miles.
Run - fairly new to running.  Only Started running in 2005, aged 31.  Slow but steady plodder.

I would say that if you have the time and motivation to devote to training then you can do an IM.  Plenty of others have learnt to swim and cycle from zero in a year.  But it does take time.  And not just cramming at the weekend.

I was trying to quote from candy, agreeing with a specific point he made; but my laptop is dying....

so, my take..

virtually anyone can do it.....

BUT, big respect for the distance and the day.

I think that from the beginning, you have to identify where you personally are at and train accordingly. Apart from a broken ankle, I was pretty fit, I was a competative gymnast from age 6... and competed in many other sports.... SO

I had a good base endurance background.. and still found it VERY tough.. OK, on the day, I was a bit floored by stomach problems... but......

if you are starting from a very low point, appreciate that, ask for help... it will come tenfold from the forum.

There is no escape from putting in the training and the time.....

Don't be scared, just be prepared!

(If Hallmark cards come running I've got the copyright on that sentence innit!)

(disclaimer, said with 4 pints of Stella and a bleeding ankle! : )

I will be trying and IM in 2009. Probably the UK one.

So at the moment I am an OK runner ,an OK cyclist and I don't drown.

<Watch this space >

Just been looking at wetsuits on the net. They're all about 500€!!!

As for bikes....

Azacaya, why not try one of the packages from the tri shops

tri uk, primera, royles etc all do deals on the full kit, the basic starter package is about £500.00 for the lot or you could hire the bike and wetsuit for the season