People often ask on the forum if they could do an IM, bearing in mind that they can't currently swim or cycle, so I thought I'd start a thread
)
How bad were you 12 months before you became an Ironman?
Swimming:
Crashie...25m fronnt crawl
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
I reckon this will end up as a very long list
)
Cut'n'paste luvvies, c'n'p!
Comments
(Can't remember what I time I ended up finishing in for IM Austria, you'll have to ask Smiffy)
swim: hadn't swum for 12 years.
bike: would have just done my first road ride (avg 12 mph) - think i did 16mph (17mph for the first 60 miles) on race day.
run: not run further than 4 miles.
Swimming:
Crashie...25m fronnt crawl
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
Running
Ratbag...OK
Swimming:
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
D74...you can interpret and put yours in...
but my down fall was the bike .. slow and not capable of many miles
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs.
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
IW...never had any swim training and no long distance OW stuff.
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
IW...just showed up and raced, never did any cycle training to speak of.
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs
IW...ok, having run all my life.
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
IW...never had any swim training and no long distance OW stuff.
Swissbobby could not swim 25m of any known stroke - could get in water and move but calling it swimming was generous.
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
IW...just showed up and raced, never did any cycle training to speak of.
Swissbobby... Did not own a road bike
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs
IW...ok, having run all my life.
Swissbobby Marathon runner with 3:38 pb
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
IW...never had any swim training and no long distance OW stuff.
Swissbobby could not swim 25m of any known stroke - could get in water and move but calling it swimming was generous.
jellybabe..couldnt swim from crawl, max 40 lengths breast stroke
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
IW...just showed up and raced, never did any cycle training to speak of.
Swissbobby... Did not own a road bike
jellybabe..owned a MTB for occ w/e rides, never riden more than about 25 miles
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs
IW...ok, having run all my life.
Swissbobby Marathon runner with 3:38 pb
jellybabe.. never run more than a half mara
Swimming:
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
IW...never had any swim training and no long distance OW stuff.
Swissbobby could not swim 25m of any known stroke - could get in water and move but calling it swimming was generous.
jellybabe..couldnt swim from crawl, max 40 lengths breast stroke
MTB - couldn't do FC at all, but was "passable" at breastroke.
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
IW...just showed up and raced, never did any cycle training to speak of.
Swissbobby... Did not own a road bike
jellybabe..owned a MTB for occ w/e rides, never riden more than about 25 miles
MTB - owned a MTB that had been out of the shed less than half a dozen times in a year. No road bike till January of this year.
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs
IW...ok, having run all my life.
Swissbobby Marathon runner with 3:38 pb
jellybabe.. never run more than a half mara
MTB - slow but steady, mara and ultra completed
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
IW...never had any swim training and no long distance OW stuff.
Swissbobby could not swim 25m of any known stroke - could get in water and move but calling it swimming was generous.
jellybabe..couldnt swim from crawl, max 40 lengths breast stroke
MTB - couldn't do FC at all, but was "passable" at breastroke.
Garr - fast but inefficient as a child. Never been a 'serious' swimmer.
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
IW...just showed up and raced, never did any cycle training to speak of.
Swissbobby... Did not own a road bike
jellybabe..owned a MTB for occ w/e rides, never riden more than about 25 miles
MTB - owned a MTB that had been out of the shed less than half a dozen times in a year. No road bike till January of this year.
Garr - Only a few >100m, mainly <25m or sprints. Nothing in a club or TT.
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs
IW...ok, having run all my life.
Swissbobby Marathon runner with 3:38 pb
jellybabe.. never run more than a half mara
MTB - slow but steady, mara and ultra completed
Garr - one marathon to check I could go the distance before signing up to an IM the next day.
Swimming:
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
IW...never had any swim training and no long distance OW stuff.
Swissbobby could not swim 25m of any known stroke - could get in water and move but calling it swimming was generous.
jellybabe..couldnt swim from crawl, max 40 lengths breast stroke
MTB - couldn't do FC at all, but was "passable" at breastroke.
Garr - fast but inefficient as a child. Never been a 'serious' swimmer.
Plum .... 10 metres top wack, never been good in the water
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
IW...just showed up and raced, never did any cycle training to speak of.
Swissbobby... Did not own a road bike
jellybabe..owned a MTB for occ w/e rides, never riden more than about 25 miles
MTB - owned a MTB that had been out of the shed less than half a dozen times in a year. No road bike till January of this year.
Garr - Only a few >100m, mainly <25m or sprints. Nothing in a club or TT.
Plum ...Used to go Youth Hosteling at school back in the days of quill bens and abacus'
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs
IW...ok, having run all my life.
Swissbobby Marathon runner with 3:38 pb
jellybabe.. never run more than a half mara
MTB - slow but steady, mara and ultra completed
Garr - one marathon to check I could go the distance before signing up to an IM the next day.
Plum ...... 40+ marathons
"never been good in the water"
I'll not have you say that ... you are a natural fish
;o)
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
IW...never had any swim training and no long distance OW stuff.
Swissbobby could not swim 25m of any known stroke - could get in water and move but calling it swimming was generous.
jellybabe..couldnt swim from crawl, max 40 lengths breast stroke
MTB - couldn't do FC at all, but was "passable" at breastroke.
Garr - fast but inefficient as a child. Never been a 'serious' swimmer.
Plum .... 10 metres top wack, never been good in the water
FeKK - couldn't swim front crawl at all, could barely do 25 yards breas stroke
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
IW...just showed up and raced, never did any cycle training to speak of.
Swissbobby... Did not own a road bike
jellybabe..owned a MTB for occ w/e rides, never riden more than about 25 miles
MTB - owned a MTB that had been out of the shed less than half a dozen times in a year. No road bike till January of this year.
Garr - Only a few >100m, mainly <25m or sprints. Nothing in a club or TT.
Plum ...Used to go Youth Hosteling at school back in the days of quill bens and abacus'
FeKK - Hadn't owned a bike at all or even been on a bike in 15 years.
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs
IW...ok, having run all my life.
Swissbobby Marathon runner with 3:38 pb
jellybabe.. never run more than a half mara
MTB - slow but steady, mara and ultra completed
Garr - one marathon to check I could go the distance before signing up to an IM the next day.
Plum ...... 40+ marathons
FeKK - Ok I was a 3:16 marathoner but you have to get to the run for it to help being a good runner.
Sorry if that's being too cheeky.
1h23m
7h
6h
or thereabouts, but once I hit the bike my lack of tri-experience ruined me.
I'm pretty confident I can manage:
1h05m
5h20m
<4h
if I pull my finger out and actually train though.
Swimming:
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
IW...never had any swim training and no long distance OW stuff.
Swissbobby could not swim 25m of any known stroke - could get in water and move but calling it swimming was generous.
jellybabe..couldnt swim from crawl, max 40 lengths breast stroke
MTB - couldn't do FC at all, but was "passable" at breastroke.
Garr - fast but inefficient as a child. Never been a 'serious' swimmer. First IM - 1h23m
Plum .... 10 metres top wack, never been good in the water
FeKK - couldn't swim front crawl at all, could barely do 25 yards breas stroke
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
IW...just showed up and raced, never did any cycle training to speak of.
Swissbobby... Did not own a road bike
jellybabe..owned a MTB for occ w/e rides, never riden more than about 25 miles
MTB - owned a MTB that had been out of the shed less than half a dozen times in a year. No road bike till January of this year.
Garr - Only a few >100m, mainly <25m or sprints. Nothing in a club or TT. First IM - 7h
Plum ...Used to go Youth Hosteling at school back in the days of quill bens and abacus'
FeKK - Hadn't owned a bike at all or even been on a bike in 15 years.
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs
IW...ok, having run all my life.
Swissbobby Marathon runner with 3:38 pb
jellybabe.. never run more than a half mara
MTB - slow but steady, mara and ultra completed
Garr - one marathon to check I could go the distance before signing up to an IM the next day. First IM - 6 hours
Plum ...... 40+ marathons
FeKK - Ok I was a 3:16 marathoner but you have to get to the run for it to help being a good runner.
Swimming:
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
IW...never had any swim training and no long distance OW stuff.
Swissbobby could not swim 25m of any known stroke - could get in water and move but calling it swimming was generous.
jellybabe..couldnt swim from crawl, max 40 lengths breast stroke
MTB - couldn't do FC at all, but was "passable" at breastroke.
Garr - fast but inefficient as a child. Never been a 'serious' swimmer. First IM - 1h23m
Plum .... 10 metres top wack, never been good in the water
FeKK - couldn't swim front crawl at all, could barely do 25 yards breas stroke
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
IW...just showed up and raced, never did any cycle training to speak of.
Swissbobby... Did not own a road bike
jellybabe..owned a MTB for occ w/e rides, never riden more than about 25 miles
MTB - owned a MTB that had been out of the shed less than half a dozen times in a year. No road bike till January of this year.
Garr - Only a few >100m, mainly <25m or sprints. Nothing in a club or TT. First IM - 7h
Plum ...Used to go Youth Hosteling at school back in the days of quill bens and abacus'
FeKK - Hadn't owned a bike at all or even been on a bike in 15 years.
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs
IW...ok, having run all my life.
Swissbobby Marathon runner with 3:38 pb
jellybabe.. never run more than a half mara
MTB - slow but steady, mara and ultra completed
Garr - one marathon to check I could go the distance before signing up to an IM the next day. First IM - 6 hours
Plum ...... 40+ marathons
FeKK - Ok I was a 3:16 marathoner but you have to get to the run for it to help being a good runner
Crashie: 4:08 mara
Swimming:
Crashie...25m front crawl
JD...Not swum for 12 years
Ratbag ... 50m front crawl (ish)
WildWill ... No Good open water
cougiw - 25m breast stroke - tops. No crawl and wouldnt thing of open water.
IW...never had any swim training and no long distance OW stuff.
Swissbobby could not swim 25m of any known stroke - could get in water and move but calling it swimming was generous.
jellybabe..couldnt swim from crawl, max 40 lengths breast stroke
MTB - couldn't do FC at all, but was "passable" at breastroke.
Garr - fast but inefficient as a child. Never been a 'serious' swimmer. First IM - 1h23m
Plum .... 10 metres top wack, never been good in the water
FeKK - couldn't swim front crawl at all, could barely do 25 yards breas stroke
ABB - 300m but a mixture of front crawl, breast stroke and back stroke with stops at erach end of the pool (IM 1:21)
Cycling:
Crashie...non-cyclist, didn't own a road bike
JD...Newbie-12mph
Ratbag...Didn't own a road bike
WildWill ... slow as hell and took all day 2 MTB 40miles (lots of rests)
cougie - fine - had done 100m TTs and ridden 140 miles when i was 16.
IW...just showed up and raced, never did any cycle training to speak of.
Swissbobby... Did not own a road bike
jellybabe..owned a MTB for occ w/e rides, never riden more than about 25 miles
MTB - owned a MTB that had been out of the shed less than half a dozen times in a year. No road bike till January of this year.
Garr - Only a few >100m, mainly <25m or sprints. Nothing in a club or TT. First IM - 7h
Plum ...Used to go Youth Hosteling at school back in the days of quill bens and abacus'
FeKK - Hadn't owned a bike at all or even been on a bike in 15 years.
ABB - MTB only for 4km commute to work. Bought a road bike 7 months before IM (IM 8:16)
Running
Ratbag...OK
JD...up to 4 miles
WildWill ...Not bad
cougie - had done a couple of FLMs
IW...ok, having run all my life.
Swissbobby Marathon runner with 3:38 pb
jellybabe.. never run more than a half mara
MTB - slow but steady, mara and ultra completed
Garr - one marathon to check I could go the distance before signing up to an IM the next day. First IM - 6 hours
Plum ...... 40+ marathons
FeKK - Ok I was a 3:16 marathoner but you have to get to the run for it to help being a good runner
Crashie: 4:08 mara
ABB - Could only manage a v slow run/walk (25 mins for a 3km) (IM 6:37, total IM 16:38)
After improving my overall fitness and dropping a few more kilos I'm aiming for a much better effort come March 1 next year.
swim 2:09
bike 7:40
run 5:52
plus T1 & T2: 8 mins
total: 15:51