The ultimate challenge in Triathlon? 140.6 miles of racing? A whole load of hurting? A massive sense of achievement?
Yep, it's all of those but that's what makes it something special. Completing an Ironman triathlon isn't easy- it's a 2.4 mile swim, then 112 miles on a bike, then a full marathon and the cut-off time is 17 hours. It's probably not something you'd attempt in your first year of triathlon racing, heck it might not be something you'd attempt in your entire career of triathlon racing, but if you do, you'll remember it for the rest of your life. We currently have 6 Ironman finishers in the club, any one of whom would doubtless be happy to pass on advice and tell tall tales of their race experience. It takes a lot of training and the right mental attitude but it really is achievable if you decide to go for it. Just ask Ian Walker, Mandy or Ian Cantle, Elliot Gowland, Paul lavender or Steve Robertson!
Sun City Tri heads south: Steve Robertson's experience of getting ready for and then racing in the Ironman UK event in 2006 and again in 2007
What sort of training does it take to get ready for an Ironman race? Ian walker based his preparation for Ironman Lanzarote 2006 on this training plan (link is to a .doc file)