The Iron Man competition, more properly known as the Ironman Triathlon, is an athletic endeavor that requires a tremendous amount of physical and mental strength. This triathlon involves a 2.4 mile (3.9 kilometer) swim, a 112 mile (180 kilometer) bike ride and a 26.2 mile (46.2 kilometer) run. Preparing for it requires dedication to your training since, unlike shorter athletic events, it is impossible to complete an Iron Man competition without proper training. To successfully complete it, you must have adequate levels of aerobic and strength training as well as the skills necessary to run, bike and swim effectively.
Most triathletes have one event that they can do better than the others. For many people this is the run. Of the three legs of the triathlon, running requires the least amount of technical skill. If you are comfortable running, you should spend more time training for the other legs of the triathlon.
It is important to have your skills in each segment of the triathlon strong as you go through your training. Not only will improper form make it difficult to complete the triathlon, but it will increase your odds of injury during the training process. If you can manage lessons for your weakest leg, your experience will be much better.
Another important part of the Iron Man training program is the concept of training in bricks. A brick is the term used for training two legs of the triathlon back to back. For example, on some practice days you will swim and immediately bike, while on other days you will bike and then immediately run. Bricks are a key component of triathlon training.
When you are moving swiftly from swimming to bicycling or bicycling to running, your muscles can become overly fatigued when you ask them to move in a new direction. Bricks train your body to move through the transition effectively and with as little pain as possible. These training sessions are longer than typical Iron Man sessions, so you will need to fit them in on days when you have more time.
Iron Man training is a serious time commitment. Many successful finishers work out twice a day, completing either a run, swim, bike or weight training workout in the morning and another in the evening. As you can imagine, this level of training requires a large amount of quality calories. This is not the time to try to lose weight, cut out carbohydrates or radically change your diet. Eat plenty of food, including a healthy mix of protein, carbohydrates and fats in each meal.
