top of page

Ironman 70.3 May Not Be Best Choice For Your First Triathlon

Sanity Check & Preparation is key when signing on up a long-course hella long triathlon. Before attempting a 70.3 race, most people train for a season of Sprint (1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike ride, 3.1 mile run). or Olympic triathlons (1500 m swim, 25 mile bike ride, 6.2 mile run). What had happened was...... I had signed up for an Ironman 70.3, which is half the distance of a full Ironman and consists of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run. So I was in trouble. I had the triathlon bug bad bad. I thought it was time to graduate to 70.3 distance just after a completing a few races and getting lucky to land on the podium of a local competitive race. So what did I do...I rolled up to Barnes & Noble and purchased a triathlon training book and looked online in training peaks for a 70.3 training plan.

I bought the Be Iron Fit book and choose one of their fundamental 30 week plans they had designed for women newbies who just wanted to complete their first 70.3 race. I loaded up the 70.3 training plan on line on to an excel spread sheet and inputted key training milestones/dates into the calendar and my eyes popped out my head when I saw the amount of training miles I would end of logging over those 30 weeks. Swim = 52 miles Bike = 1500 miles Run = 300 miles
-------------------------- Grand Mileage = 1,852 miles That is a ocean sized amount of training that I had committed to. And then came the spending.....🙄 We quickly went and got a pass for couple hundred dollars to Pure Austin (now LifeTime North Austin) Quarry so I can have unlimited safe open water swimming options when I was not swimming at my YMCA pool.
Then, being the #sportydiva that i am... I need a "few" new tri suits to galavant around town in
- with of coure - matching socks, and bras if needed.

Oh...and let's not talk about the BIKE UPGRADES!

I bought a tri-bike - because - why not...I was fixing to be an ironman (●'◡'●). Hanging around all these 5x+ ironmen in real life and in the pathetics facebook group - I was 1000% sure I needed fast wheels, and then race tires, and will all the extra miles in the saddle, a shorter crank and a new ISM saddle ....and then and then ....

Seemed like each week I was buying something new...a new hydration cockpit so I would not have to stop at the 1st aid station and shave off time time ( in theory - that was the reason I stayed up a few late nights reading Amazon review lol )

Looking back at all the time and money I spent about $2,500+ on entrance fees, gear, and other expenses like hotel and gas. (Please don't tell my husband) Triathlons aren't cheap! Ironman Austin & Waco 70.3 came around..I was as ready and broke as I could be to .... Swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, and run/walk 13.1 miles. Would I do it again....probably - but I am much more prepared for the true time and expense it takes to race the half-iron distance and because I am stingy with my time & money now...I'll stick with Sprints and OLY's racing on my expensive custom Tri Bike and 50g front hydration system. 😘

Ironman 70.3 May Not Be Best Choice For Your First Triathlon
Swim Bike Run Fun Race Team Club Event Logo

Texas, USA

  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Join Our Community

Let's get connected! Drop your information below and we'll welcome you with open arms to the Swim Bike Run Fun Online Tribe. Enjoy exclusive discounts, connect with like-minded athletes, and access personalized training plans. Don't miss out! Join us now and be the first to know about our upcoming events, fitness challenges, and valuable resources.

Thanks for joining our Tribe!

bottom of page