Choosing the Right Triathlon - Are You Ready for an Ironman?
Choosing the Right Triathlon - Are You Ready for an Ironman
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When I first started training for a triathlon, I knew that I wanted to participate in a sprint triathlon. It was my first time out for the sport and I didn't want to over extend myself. You could call me cautious, but I like to take small steps toward my goals and sprint triathlons were my first step.
There are some out there who aren't as cautious as I am. They like to dive right in. And there are others who have several shorter triathlons under their belt and want to move up in distance. How do you know when your sprint triathlon training is sufficient to carry you over to the longer events?
In short, you don't. But there are two concrete steps you can take to make sure that you can finish your Half Ironman or full Ironman triathlon. First, make sure that your brick workouts are at least 3-4 hours long. You're going to be out there on the course for several hours (and likely over 12 if you're competing in an Ironman event). You need to make sure your training has prepared you for the longer race.
Next, are you mentally ready? Make sure that you are mentally prepared to race over several hours. Cultivating mental toughness during your training through long runs, rides, and brick workouts will help you reach that level. Some people need extra motivation so you could consider getting a coach to evaluate your training to make sure you're on the right track.
Use these tips to make sure you're ready for the long course triathlons. They're tough, but worth it.