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The Running Guy

How to Drag Yourself Into Running Each Morning

12.12.09

An early morning run is one of the most difficult things one can do. The discipline required to do it every day is beyond the capability of many. New runners just going into the sport will find this very true. They often run out of will power well before getting results out of their running goals.

The goal of this article is to help those runners who cannot overcome the barriers of running each morning. It is the hope of the author that the following points will help the reader have a more effective strategy in consistently running each morning.

Visualization

As with everything else, running in the morning starts long before you actually hit the road. Your vision the night will greatly help you in getting out of bed and not drum up excuses for not running the morning after. Try to just see yourself running on the path you normally take or plan to take.

Make sure that in your mind you recreate the scene as if shot but a movie camera. Take note of the road posts, the smell of the dew -laced grass, the cold breeze hitting your face and more. Details are extremely important. Doing so will help you tremendously the morning after.

“There ain’t nothing to it but doing it!”

A famous quote from record Mr. Olympia title holder, Ronnie Coleman. There simply is no time to think. As soon as you wake up do your routine and go running. There is no decision to be made that morning whether you will run or not. The decision has been made when you thought about how you could accomplish your fitness goals through running.

When you wake up, run. It is that simple. The human mind will conjure up the decision making analysis to force you to not run. Because you are smarter than your instincts you know that you just have to do it that very instant.

Wake Up While Running

While your mind is still cloudy and has not woken up 100% it is the best time to start walking. This prevents your mind from telling you that it is hard to run and your body would rather rest. Try not to run full speed though if you have not truly woken up.

Your leg muscles might be still asleep along with your mind. So it is important to start slow and when you are fully awake gear up to full speed. This all but eliminates the time for you to decide whether you run or not.

These three points should help every runner in being consistent with their running regimen. It is not easy but nothing in life worth getting is easy to get at all. So remember these things next time you plan to run and you will not have to drag yourself out to run each morning anymore.

New Balance Stability Running Shoes are rated to be the most comfortable shoes available. Read up on them and see the different kinds of stability running shoes they offer for runners like you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_M._Kind


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Should I Be Running Everyday?

09.07.09

The passionate runners who want to train their bodies to an elite level frequently ask: Should I be running everyday? In this article, I want to talk about when running often is recommended and if running everyday is the right decision for you.

Whether you should be running everyday is determined by your experience as a runner. The biggest issue with running every day is the commonality of the overuse injury. Runners become really passionate about running and feel so freaking good that they get a positive addiction to it. This leads to running more than your body can handle due to the lack of development on your joints and muscles.

The fact of the matter is that every runner needs at least one day off. The reasoning for that critical one day off is for the body to heal and rest from all the pressure it has been put under over the past week. If a runner doesn’t let their body rest, an injury will creep up and destroy any hopes or dreams of competing in the next race.

For new runners, it is recommended that you run every other day. You don’t want to place too much pressure of your joints and muscles by running everyday that are accustomed to running for extended periods of time. The last thing you want to do is injure yourself before the start of the second week of training. Even if you are an on-and-off runner, make sure that you start with at least a couple of days off and not rush it. Make sure that you understand the challenges your body faces as the weekly mileage increases and how it adapts to the extra running.

Note that one these days off, there are a few simple components of your rest day each runner needs to make sure that are in place: proper nutrition and hydrated, a full night’s rest and low amounts of stress (tell the wife to back-off.)

Nehal Kazim trains runners with step-by-step blueprints of critical tools and techniques to run their next marathon successfully. Running doesn’t need to involve pain and struggle.

Nehal invites you to enroll in a FREE “7-day Blueprint for Beginners Mini-course” with hundreds of runners, just like you, and experience the fulfilling feeling of running a marathon!

Start your FREE “7-day Blueprint for Beginners Mini-course” at Marathon Training

Training for 10k

(c) Copyright – Nehal Kazim. All Rights Reserved.

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How to Run Or Race More Effectively (Training Techniques)

04.03.09

The run or race always begins with how you prepared yourself for it, the right running shoes that you wear, the warm-ups and the stretching involved so as avoiding injuries, and as to how you prepared yourself to focus mentally on the goal at hand. Never forget the aspect of rest too as it will help gauge your endurance and strength. Condition the body first before you do the hard exercises. Slowly prepare your way to a harder regimen by giving your body the needed break it deserves.

Try toe running method, which is when you land by the ball of your foot and bounce back to the next step. You will gain more speed and less time consumed as you return and it avoids landing on the heel. The other technique is heel striking or to land at the heel, rolls to the midfoot and spring back to the toes.

Other ways to improve strength and speed is the hill running method both for uphill and its counterpart the downhill run. Many injuries are blamed for downhill that proper form and posture is needed and that you must gauge the right downhill terrain to use before you start your run.

Last but not the least is the breathing technique, considered to be the most difficult technique to master. To breathe in with stomach out and exhaling by pushing down your diaphragm. The idea is to make as many times to draw air in the lungs as you make you stride. It is a great method that even tones the abs.

http://www.therunningadvisor.com

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Tips on How to Train For a 5K

01.17.09

Running is one of the most efficient ways to get in shape since it involves almost no equipment, especially if you are running for fun or personal fitness reasons. You can run anywhere at any time you like. Running 5k is something that is easy to achieve, especially if you follow a strategy and the right way to do it.

5k is one of those races that the most you run it the more comfortable you feel. The good thing about it is that it doesn’t sound scary, as most of the other distances, like the marathon or 15k. That is why most people prefer starting with 5k when running to keep in a good shape, or because their doctor suggested so, in an effort to lose weight, or deal efficiently with certain diseases and health issues. In any case though, running is a physical activity that is relatively intense and should not be considered as something unimportant or easy to do, because it could lead to sprains and injuries, or even heart and breathing problems.

Beginners and people who don’t have a history of jogging or exercising should consult with a trainer, who can make them a customized program that fits their particular needs and requirements. It is very important to follow the instructions of an expert, because these people have trained people of all kinds in their life and have dealt even with the weirdest conditions.

If you don’t feel though like hiring a person you can find one of the numerous guides for running 5k that exist, which are also written by professionals and can give you a valuable insight on how to run efficiently without getting too tired and without injuring yourself.

The most efficient training program is the one that will make you feel really comfortable and will be close to your habits and abilities. Do not buy something that aims to people who are avid runners or potential race competitors because you are most likely to fail. Keep in mind that running a 5k will be the result of efforts and exercising and will be most likely to happen after a couple of months.

If you want to achieve your goals, stick to the training schedule and organize yourself as much as possible. It is important to do so because skipping any steps, no matter how good and confident you might feel, can prove a daunting experience, letting you back in any sense.

Most 5k programs are based on the idea of training in proportion, setting small goals that you need to reach. 1k for 10 days, 2k later and so on. Follow the exact guidelines and it is most certain that you will manage to tame the 5k race within a reasonable time, without exhausting yourself.

Running is not just an exercise, it’s a lifestyle. Keep running and visit http://healthremedyreview.org/!

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What it Takes to Run a 10K

12.06.08

The 10K is the most popular run today and new people are joining this quest every year. It is one of those types of sports like mountain climbing that everyone has to do at least once. Some runners go all over the world in order to do this run and it is no wonder that to run a 10K is such a big deal.

There are many things a runner needs in order to run a 10K and some of it starts with their mindset. All runners know that they have to understand what running means to them. This means they have to know that in order to increase their ability they must run several times a week.

They must work on stamina and speed so that they can develop more quickly. They also must have an opportunity to run a 10K on their schedule at some point in time. Many runners understand that they must train for a 10K in a similar way that a boxer prepares for a fight.

There needs to be good nutrition which means that what they put into their bodies needs to be monitored. Delicious fruits and vegetables, lots of water and other beverages to stay hydrated and some protein will work very well. However, some will want to concentrate on eating low carbs for some of the runs.

Runners who run a 10K know that it is about speed and endurance. They know that they have trained for this for awhile and that they can at least get to the end of the race. Many value the chance to get that far because it is an accomplishment in itself.

Other runners want to improve their speed each time they do another race. When they run a 10K it is like the height of their running enjoyment.

There is also a psychological aspect to run a 10K. This means that you have to have your mind focused on the end of the race instead of the beginning of it. When your mind is focused on the end, you know you can do it. You realize that you have already made it and now all you have to do is go through the motions to get to the end.

The physical aspects to run a 10K means that you will need to be able to run quickly and at a pace that works. You will train in a way that has you running up and down hills, creating your own training methods and learning to get your body into shape as a finely tuned machine.

When you run a 10K be mindful that this is about a journey for most runners. You cannot have overnight success for something like this and it will not be something you can learn to do quickly. Most people train for at least 8 weeks before the first time they run a 10K.

To run a 10K it also takes courage to know that you can stop anytime along the way if you need to and no one will think you a fool.

Go to Jogging Tip to get your free ebook on Jogging at 10K Race. Jogging Tip also has 10K Training Information, and forums and blogs all about jogging. Visit Jogging Tip today to get your free ebook on Jogging.

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9 Tips to Help You Make it Through Your Marathon

11.17.08

Before you step to the starting line for your next marathon, do a little prior planning to help you make it on race day. I’ve run and finished 16 marathons and each one was different. After running my first 3-4 marathons I started doing a few things prior to stepping to the line on race day. Follow these 9 tips and your marathon experience will be celebrated.

Wear a Pace Chart – Nothing works better than the old phrase “prior planning prevents poor performance”. There are moisture resistant wristbands with pacing charts per mile to keep you on your game.

Wear Proper Sized Shoes – Your running shoes should run ½ to 1 size larger than your regular street shoes. The larger size allows your toes ample room to spread out and breathe. Your feet will definitely swell after many miles, so the more room you have the better.

Body Glide Your Feet – You don’t want to quit the race because of painful blisters. Body Glide is a thinly applied lubricant. Lube your feet up before you put your socks on. You can even carry the small size of Body Glide with you on your run. Put it on top and bottom of your toes as well as the ball of your foot and the arch, finishing with your heel. You never know.

Put Medical Tape on any Hotspots on your Feet – If you’ve experienced any slight blistering in the week or two before your race, put medical tape on them the morning of the race.

Advil or Ibuprofen – I carry some form of anti-inflammatory with me on all my runs. I may not always need it, mostly I don’t at all but… If you feel some pain, take 2-4 caplets with fluid and finish with a flair.

Electrolyte Tablets – Sometimes if I feel a little dehydrated I will take electrolyte tablets, usually 2 per hour. Wash these down with fluid and you will give yourself a chance to avoid cramps in muscles. I usually take ELoad Caps, but there are several good brands. Practice using these tablets before your race so you have no race day surprises.

Heart Rate Monitor – If you feel you cannot pace yourself properly, try using a heart rate monitor with heart rate zones. You can set your monitor to send a sound if you fall under your heart rate or go over your heart rate. You will have to do the work beforehand to set your heart rate zones.

Fueled Up – Most running nutritionists and coaches will tell you that you must intake about 100 calories per hour to keep your energy level up. Gels are the most common and often are handed out at marathons. Other methods of fuel include energy jelly beans and gel blocks. I’ve even seen snack crackers and fruit consumed. You will have to experiment with these for sure. NEVER go to the starting line without having used something successfully from your long runs.

Signage – If your race number doesn’t have your name on it, make a sign that does. Find a moisture proof paper such as Fedex or UPS letter envelops, cut out one side of it and with a permanent magic marker put your name or nickname on it and then pin it to your chest or back or both. As you pass spectators by they will call out your name and it will give you a nice little energy boost. Make it fun.

Well there you go. A lot of training with a little planning will go a long way to helping you be your best on race day.

Matt Ney is married to a beautiful wife and has 3 teenage girls. He has started home-based businesses to provided himself as well as his girls with their own opportunity to generate monthly cash flow. Taking advantage of US tax laws, he has also reduced his income taxes allowing his family to save more for the future. More info; http://www.yourmaxhealth.com

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High Altitude Training For Runners

11.02.08

Many people say that by training in high altitudes you will dramatically increase running times upon a return to low altitudes. In fact, many of the world’s best runners live and train in high altitudes, such as recent Boston Marathon champion Robert K. Cheruiyot from Kenya. A majority of the rationale is based upon the obvious lack of Oxygen at higher altitudes and the assumption that your body would learn to permanently adapt to this problem while maintaining the benefits achieved from low altitude training. The problem with these assumptions is that they just might be wrong.

After reading several fitness journals and physiological studies, I have found that high altitude training may not be all that it is cut out to be.

From Rice.edu

The first thing that happens is your respiratory rate and heart rates speed up. This occurs both at rest and during sub-max. exercise. This helps offset the lower partial pressure of oxygen. You will not be able to reach your max VO2 so don’t get frustrated. The faster breathing rate changes your acid-base balance and this takes a little longer to correct. The longer term changes are:

1. a decrease in maximum cardiac output
2. a decreased maximum heart rate
3. an increased number of red blood cells
4. excretion of base via the kidneys to restore acid-base balance. (Unfortunately, the net result is that you have less tolerance for lactic acid.)
5. a chemical change within red blood cells that makes them more efficient at unloading oxygen to the tissues
6. an increase in the number of mitochondria and oxidative enzymes

Although there is the benefit of an increase in your body’s red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body, resulting in an increase in your blood’s oxygen carrying capabilities, two of the physiological changes are negative and could be very disruptive to long term training goals. Take for instance the lowered tolerance for lactic acid. Lactic Acid is what causes your muscles to feel worn out or sore during effort and usually the goal is to try and increase your body’s tolerance rather than lowering it. Lowering it will cause you to tire quicker during training and/or races, which is a definite problem. A decrease in maximum cardiac output also poses another problem, as it reduces the maximum capacity at which your body can operate under stress.

Studies suggest that the optimal high altitude training would be training high and sleeping low. What this means is that if you have the option to train in high altitudes and sleep in low altitudes, then your body will most likely adopt the positive benefits without adopting the negative benefits. However, this theory is still just that and although the science is sound, it is more complicated than that. In many cases, some people may not have the option to sleep low, in which case your best bet is to try and find higher ground to train in than you sleep in or follow the strategy outlined below.

A Good Strategy

Although there are a few negatives to high altitude training, I believe that the positives outweigh the negatives. Studies suggest an extra amount of carbohydrates to give your body more fuel, while also supplementing your diet with additional iron to support the growing red blood cells.

By planning your training properly, you can offset the decrease in lactic acid threshold with a routine designed to increase it, thereby balancing out the effect. My theory is that by focusing on endurance and stamina, you will be able to return to low altitudes with physiological changes that will benefit you in the short term for sure and possibly in the long term. I am currently training with this method and will be recording my results in order to find the real answer to whether or not high altitude training works (I am currently training in Afghanistan).

Already I can feel the effect of the altitude just by climbing stairs. Where before I could run a 30 minute 4 mile at a moderate pace, I am now running 16:30 2 mile times and sucking wind badly. As I begin to acclimate to the altitude and my times resume some sort of normalcy, I look forward to completing this experiment. I look forward to hearing about your experience with high altitude training as well.

USATF / USAT Competitor and host of http://RunnersTrainingGuide.Com | http://TriathlonTrainingGuide.Com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Hangen


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A Running Log Will Help Your Training

10.11.08

If you want to track your running progress then you need to record your activities in a daily running log. I have logged my miles regularly over the years and it really helps to look back and see the improvements in your running. A running log is also necessary if you want see how you are progressing with regard to your goals.

If you are going to participate in any road races, especially the longer distances like a marathon, then a logbook is essential to aid you in planning and following your training schedule. This is a proven way to help ensure you are properly prepared for the event.

What to Record

The two most basic parameters are the time you were out and the distance you ran. (If you have a GPS this is a no-brainer). I sometimes just record the time and approximate the distance by dividing by my estimated running pace. If you do know the distance then you can calculate your average pace for the run. This can be useful if you are following a specific training program that requires running at different speeds on different days.

A running log is also useful for recording things like:

- the course you ran,
- type of terrain,
- the weather,
- how you were feeling,
- who you ran with,
- anything else you feel is important.

In fact, your running log can become your daily diary!

Other Items

There are other things important to your running that you might want to record in your log.

- your weekly weight – always good to track this
- your pulse rate – this is an indicator of your general health and fitness. It’s good to track on a weekly basis at least
- running shoes – note the date you bought a new pair, so you will know how old and how many miles usage they get.
- race results – if you are a frequent racer it’s nice to have all your results together for comparison

Injury Prevention

Your running log can help you to monitor injuries by noting any discomfort you might have encountered on a run. If you do get injured it’s well worth looking back over recent weeks to see if anything stands out as the cause. This can be good information for correcting the problem and for helping you to avoid it in the future.

Online Logs

There are dozens of online running logs on the web, and most of them are free. Just type ‘Running Log’ in Google and you will see what I mean. They go from the fairly basic to including things like graphs, training programs and a lot more. The downside of course is you have to be online to record your running details.

Running Logbooks

There are quite a few of these available also. Popular ones include the Nathan running log and The Running Room log. My personal favorite is a customized running logbook from Personal Logs.com (See the link below). They can produce a logbook with your name and photo on the cover. If you are training for a marathon, you can have a daily training program included, dated for a specific marathon.

Mike has been a runner for many years and has completed 27 marathons. You can get the customized running log mentioned in the article from Personal Running Log. Mike also publishes a marathon training website, with a free in-depth marathon training program for three levels of runner.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Stapenhurst


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The Lydiard Method – Training For Your Next Big Race By Darrell Lewis

07.12.08

Many athletes struggle with their competitive running after they graduate from high school or college. Some athletes are burned out and take a break from the sport and have to get back into shape. Others lose all motivation to run once they are away from the team environment, and some simply do not know how to develop a training schedule.

Developing a training schedule is not always an easy thing to do. Many runners simply do not know much about why they do different workouts. They may not understand exactly when in their training program they are supposed to incorporate their long runs, tempo runs, or intervals workouts. This article’s goal is to discuss one method of organizing your training. The method was developed by Arthur Lydiard. Arthur Lydiard is considered by most of the running community to be the best running coach of all time.

Marathon Conditioning (10 weeks)

According to the Lydiard method the first phase of your training for any endurance race should be Marathon Conditioning. The marathon conditioning phase should be 10 weeks in length. The goals of this phase are to improve your aerobic foundation and help prevent injuries. The improved functioning of your heart and lungs increases your aerobic foundation. Marathon Conditioning also strengthens connective tissues and ligaments which will help you prevent injuries.

To develop you training schedule for the marathon conditioning phase you should start with short runs on a consistent basis. Gradually you can lengthen the distance of your runs. To lengthen the distance of your runs start with lengthening one run a week. Then you can increase that number to two runs a week. When you plan your training for this phase make sure that you follow the hard/easy principle. This principle says that you should run one day hard and then the next one or two days easy before doing another hard day. During the marathon conditioning phase a longer mileage day is considered a hard day. It does not necessarily have to be run fast or hard. Here is an example of what a Marathon Conditioning phase build-up may look like. If you can run three miles everyday without becoming overly fatigued you could start lengthening your runs. After a few weeks your weekly workout might have changed from three miles everyday to five miles on Monday, three miles on Tuesday, five miles on Wednesday, three miles on Thursday and Friday, and 8 miles on Saturday. Sunday would be a rest day. That is just an example and may not be the best way to organize a schedule for you. If you noticed on Saturday the sample schedule included an eight mile run. During the marathon conditioning phase Lydiard suggests increasing the time of one run per week until that run reaches two hours in duration. If you are a beginner in running the two hour run may be increasing your total time running too quickly in the 10 week phase. If this is the case then you should pick a shorter duration for your long run.

Hill Resistance (4 weeks)

The Hill Resistance phase should be 4 weeks in length, and it serves as a transition phase. The goal of this phase is to transition your body from the slower running in the Marathon Phase to the faster running in the Track Training phase. The Hill Resistance phase will begin to introduce anaerobic exercise to you and it will add power and flexibility to your legs.

There are several different types of workouts that can be included into your schedule during this phase. The first one is steep hill running. While maintaining good running form you can run up a steep hill that is 300 to 800 meters in length. While doing this workout your legs should be lifted up until they are almost horizontal to the ground. The second workout is hill bounding. Find a hill with a moderate grade and a length of about 200 meters. Use bounding strides to climb the hill. You should feel like a deer jumping over a fence. A third workout is Sprinting Drills. Examples of Sprinting Drills are high knees, strides, bounding, and butt kicks. You should do one of these workouts, or a workout similar to this, 1-3 times per week during the Hill Resistance phase. The rest of the week should include easy running.

Track Training (4 weeks)

The track training phase is 4 weeks in length and is a phase in which you will do intervals and/or repetitions on the track that will help you with you goal race. The workouts you choose for this phase should focus on developing the systems you will need for your goal race. Some examples of these workouts might include 400 meter repeats, 800 meter repeats, 1-2 mile repeats, and ladder workouts. The phase is called track training, but the workouts do not have to be done on the track. Finding a flat section of road and doing intervals from telephone pole to telephone pole may be your desired way of training during this phase.

This is a very important phase in your training, but when doing track training caution must be used. This is the phase in which injuries are more likely to occur because of the increased intensity of the workouts. It is better to be under-trained in this phase as opposed to over-trained. Once your body begins to become over-trained you will have a hard time fighting off illnesses and avoiding injury. This is you bodies way of telling you to take it a little easier. One way to help prevent over-training is to make sure you follow the hard/easy principle that was discussed earlier.

Coordination (4 weeks)

The coordination phase is where you start to get all your systems ready for the goal race a few weeks down the road. The coordination phase is the time for you to start incorporating sprint drills and time trials into your training.

Running time trials allows your body to become familiar with the effort required during your goal race. One thing to remember about time trials is to not become discouraged with your time. Once you get to this phase of your training you should be in great shape. Many times you may set a personal record for an event during a time trial. Other times you may not run as fast as you think you are capable of. If this is the case for your time trial just remember that most people can not run as fast by themselves in a time trial as they can against competition in a race.

Sprint drills are also important to your goal race. These drills allow you to develop more leg turnover (speed) by developing muscle strength. These drills also improve your running form which improves your efficiency.

Freshening Up (1-2 weeks)

The freshening up phase (also know as a taper phase) is when everything should begin to come together. In this phase your training decreases and your body recovers from the hard work you have put in during the past 22 weeks. This is the time when you may not be able to sit still due to the extra energy your body has that you are not using due to the decreased training. Be cautious during this phase. This is not the time to go out and play a game of pick-up basketball to burn off some extra energy. This is also not the time to put in extra training because you are feeling energized. The length of the freshening up phase is usually 1-2 weeks, but it can depend on the athlete and the goal event. Freshening up for a marathon usually takes 3 weeks.

Down Time

Once you reach the end of the freshening up phase you have your goal race. If everything goes according to plan you should have ran one of the best races of your life. After this race comes a very well deserved period of your training. This is also a very important part of your training. While this period is not an actual named part of the Lydiard Method it is a part of almost all training methods. After your goal race you should have some down time. During this down time you should take a few weeks to relax and refresh yourself physically and mentally. These few weeks of relaxing should include jogging easily. Do not feel guilty if you miss a few days here or there during your down time. Be cautious not to miss too many days because you will begin to lose all the progress you made during the previous training cycle.

If you have not already done so now is the time to pick out your next goal race and begin the training cycle again, and build upon the progress you made. The Lydiard Method is a training cycle that can be followed over and over to build up for goal races. As with all training methods it takes time to improve. If you continue to follow the Lydiard Method over a long period you may set personal records in races that a few years ago you could only dream of. To quote the great coach Arthur Lydiard, “It is not the best athlete who wins; but the best prepared.”

Information for this article came from the Lydiard Foundation. http://lydiardfoundation.org

Darrell Lewis is a USA Track and Field certified coach. He also is the owner of Peak Performance Running. Darrell helps runners of all ability levels reach their running goals. You can view Darrell’s website at http://www.peakperformancerunning.org

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Can You Do An Ironman Triathlon?

06.14.08

So you think you can become one of the 1/1000th of 1% of the world who can say they have gone and completed an Ironman Triathlon? It’s quite an accomplishment to either swim 2.2 miles, or bike 112, or run a 26.2mile marathon – but to do them all consecutively in one day?! Some would argue this is borderline psychotic ;) Suffice to say, I am one of those psychotic people and to perhaps give YOU some inspiration that this “crazy” triathlon accomplishment can be a legitimate goal in your own lifetime, I couldn’t swim 10meters let alone 2.2miles when I signed up for my first Ironman.

With the right mindset and dedication, it IS in fact possible to squeeze in your training, your work, your social life, your laundry, your nap time, etc etc etc – but it all boils down to
how badly you want it. The sport of triathlon is growing at an alarming rate, so it would seem that a LOT of people are looking for a new challenge beyond doing a 5km or 10km or marathon. I was in the same boat, having done a few marathons, I figured what other test of endurance could I subject myself to and doing an Ironman seemed about right… I don’t exactly recommend doing Ironman as your first triathlon, nor do I recommend trying to do an iron distance triathlon without knowing how to swim – but if you want incentive to learn and a greater incentive to push yourself to the limits of physical endurance – by all means ;)

Of course, most people start by doing a sprint distance triathlon or even an Olympic distance as they are not quite as intimidating. Some are even held indoors and you have the luxury of swimming in a semi-heated pool as opposed to a freezing cold lake (at least where I’m from). You won’t need to get yourself a top of the line time-trial bike and I’ve seen people do triathlon races with mountain bikes, and even a unicycle! Now THAT’s crazy.

In any case, the point is, the sport of triathlon is not as “elite” as many people make it out to be. It’s meant to be fun, it’s meant to be a challenge, and there really is no better feeling than crossing that finish line for your first multisports race whether it’s a short sprint, or your first Ironman. Regardless of distance you choose – Go For it!

Tavis is a 2x Ironman Triathlon Finisher and his hilarious GymSkinZ Triathlon T-Shirts are seen all over the world. His quest for Ironman Kona continues – you can follow his crazy adventures via his Triathlon Blog & Newsletter at GymSkinZ.com

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