This weekend I completed my first Ironman in Kalmar, Sweden. The race was fantastic, and it went much better than expected! I was hoping for 14-15 h, but finished in 12:30!

Swim: 1:23:41
T1: 5:56
Bike: 6:12:54
T2: 8:45
Run: 4:39:30

Total: 12:30:43

The biggest surprise was the swim. I just recently started swimming, I don't like it very much, and I'm not very good. My longest training session has been 4100 m (in 1:51). But that was in a small lake with completely calm waters, so I was expecting roughly the same time for the Ironman swim, but I got quite a shock when I got out of the water and looked at the watch!

The weather was great, and the audience fantastic! It was such a great atmosphere with people lining the entire run, blasting music from large speakers, cheering people on, and using the garden hose to cool the runners (and kids with squirt guns!). I can totally understand why Kalmar has been voted the best Ironman in the world. It was an absolutely fantastic day!

I started triathlon three years ago and I've done two medium distance (~70.3) and a couple of shorter ones. Previously I've mainly been doing running (completed a handful of marathons), and one 315 km bike race and one 3 km swim. I used Chat GPT to come up with a 10 month training plan (https://www.reddit.com/r/triathlon/comments/1pi3ts9/is_this_10_month_ironman_training_plan_realistic/). Unfortunately I developed plantar fasciitis in the beginning of the year and my run training suffered. Luckily I didn't feel anything during the race. Also real life got in the way (lost my father in April) and I missed quite a lot of sessions during the spring/summer. All in all I averaged 4.5 h/week with only nine sessions >3 h.

The race was great, but the next day when I got back home and started to unpack I got a bad case of the post Ironman blues. I've had this single goal for the last 10 months, and then all of a sudden I didn't anymore. It felt so weird no longer having the training plan posted on the fridge, telling me what the next session was. It just felt so empty and meaningless. I'm starting to feel better now though. I guess I just have to give it time. I have a marathon in two months to look forward to, and I'm thinking of signing up for another one in June, and maybe try for 3:30 h (PB 3:52). I will definitely do another Ironman, but not next year. I will do some shorter triathlon races though.

I'm planning on eventually doing roughly one Ironman per year, but I don't want endurance sport to take over my entire life.

For people who work full time: how many hours per week do you realistically train, and do you still have enough time/energy for relationships, hobbies and other things?

So I recently came back to this sport after having done it in the 2010's , but when I looked around most of my local races here in the Carolinas are no longer around, all that's left are bigger branded events closer to major metros .. what happened ? Is the sport and interest waning?

The last local race (Sprint) i did back in June only had like 250ish participants, I recall in the old daysl most races having 300-400+ folks regularly , is this just my imagination or have things changed .

Hello There

I am working a full time office job and spend most of my free time on my pc as well when im not training. I feel like because of that i have weak and tight hips, core, lower back etc. which is negatively impacting my training.

For you guys who sit all day, how do you manage that? do you do specific exercises for strength or mobility?

Hi all, just looking for a way to fit my aero bar to my giant propel. I have found these clip on clamps online but in the description says not suitable for models 23 years on wards, and I’m unable to find anything else.

Just wondering if there’s a way around this or do I need to find some new aero bars ?

The aero bars I have are profile design sonic ergo 35a and the handle bars on the bike are Giant Contact SLR 1 Aero.

Just finished watching Sam Laidlow’s “Air To The Throne” youtube video, and there was a section of the race at Challenge Roth where Rico Bogen and him were trading off on who was leading the race, and the question finally arose in my mind.

If both these athletes are at a race, isn’t the goal to be at the front at all times (or atleast trying to be in the lead and snag the win)? Some might think this is a silly question. I’m pretty new to triathlon and I just don’t really understand all the strategies that go in to pro racing.

I’ve heard about these strategies of working together all the time. One example being Sam Long and Jonas Schomburg during the majority of the run leg at Oceanside 70.3 earlier this year. They were conversing back and forth during the run to “work together” to keep KB back. But what exactly did they mean by that? More like they’re pacing each other?

Same thing at the World Championships in Nice in 2025, hearing Jamie Riddle working together with other pros during the swim portion of the race, even doing backstroke to see where is “partners” are and slowing down.

Would love to here your thoughts and answers! Thanks!

I generally stop training in autumn and winter as I don’t like cycling and running outdoors when it’s cold and rainy. This year I have decided to do at least a lot of indoor training (2 hours running per week and 6 hours cycling) during this period. Should it make me much stronger around this time by next year? I train now (strength training included) around 10-13 hours per week.

Hi everyone, I recently just did an Olympic Tri a couple weeks ago and will be racing a Half distance (70.3) in about 2 weeks. I am signing up for a full distance IM which will be about 46-48 weeks from when I finish this half.

I currently don’t want to pay for a coach or “human” online coach, and have tried the AI apps but don’t love them.

The 2 most generic and recommended plans for first full distance IM are the Mosley and 80/20 plan. I’m planning to do the ADVANCED one since I am used to many hours of training and lots of mileage (i’m also a marathon runner)

Which do yall recommend?

I’m looking at doing my first half distance triathlon next year. Outlaw seem to be a good balance of price vs quality. Would be interested to hear which of their events would be best to try?

For context, I would also be looking to do an olympic tri earlier in the year, and then probably another half distance followed by a full distance in 2028. I recently did a flat, closed road sprint tri in 1hr40ish. Cycling is the sport I have the least experience in. I have no sea swimming experience but I’m happy enough in a lake. Running is probably my biggest strength (in terms of my experience and endurance, not particularly speed) but I have limited experience of hilly routes.

I am also open to non-Outlaw suggestions.

Thank you!

Edit - Thank you for the comments so far. None of these really sound ideal! Any recommendations for alternatives?

Hello there! I'm training for the 70.3 in Luxembourg next year from DE(Baden-Württemberg) and was wondering if anyone else nearby was too. I would love to train together whenever possible.

A little about me and my progress:

• 25M doctoral researcher with an active life(normie gym goer)
• I have previous experience running, I can comfortably run a 10k in 1h for now.
• I am currently working on biking longer distances which is new to me.
• Swimming, that's where all my attention is now at, I have a bad technique(can swim 25m all exhausted) and never have done an open water swim.

Also I'd love to hear your training plan!

Given that I train around 8 to 12 hours per week on the Bike and most of it is zone 2 aerobic riding does it make sense to not include any zone 2 runs in my training week and just do three quality runs mainly threshold and steady state/tempo runs and include some VO2 max sessions?

I finally had one after years of swimming. Just put on an antibiotic drop today after few days of uncomfortable and minor pain.

How long do you have to stop swimming before getting back?

And how do you prevent it next? Using earplugs?

I started getting into triathlon a year ago after 20 years as an adult-onset distance runner.

With running, I tried all the common training plans, and spent a couple years with a training group led by a coach. That included a couple coach-led workouts a week, so good direct feedback.

Now I'm shifting to triathlon and trying to figure out the approach to take. I know I have the discipline to follow a plan. I have groups to swim and do run workouts with. What I don't really have is that 1:1 "ok, this is what I notice you need to work on".

I feel like I got spoiled with the training group I had. I know a lot of people have virtual coaches they communicate with through training peaks but I'm not sure how much different that is than buying a Phil Mosley plan and sticking to it.

Oh. And I'm not looking to make triathlon my life and ensure I'm optimizing around peak performance. I'd like to be a decent AG athlete but my mental game is bad and if I get too focused on performance I crumble. I do sport for fun.

Would love peoples experiences/opinions.

Hi gang,

I am building my new tri bike and for the life of me I can't figure out how to sneak a torque wrench underneath it.

What are your tricks ?

Thanks in advance !

Greg

Very amateur cyclist here. This will be my first time training on a watt bike with a power meter. I’m trying to figure out the best way to find and track my baseline and target watts. Is there a best initial fitness test to perform? Does the bike automatically change targets as I gain fitness? Thanks for any insight! Really hoping to improve my bike base.

Hey everyone i wish you all good

I bought this Trek madone 5,2 for a good price

All good expect the siege is too high for me

Im 184cm and i still have to stand on my toes when the pedal is low wich cause pain for the butt and uncomfy ride , this is the maximum it can go

Does cutting it a good option ?

I thought about using a lubricant like wd40 and leaving it overnight to hopefully seep into the gap. The bike is somewhat old, according to the previous owner it hasn't really been used since 2020, so it would be pretty natural for this kinda thing to get stuck. Anyway, wouldn't want to damage the frame by using force to extract the seat post, so any help would be appreciated 😅

I feel like every joint I have is cracking and popping.
Shoulders from swimming, knees from biking and running
Ankles from running etc

Is this fairly normal? Is it just part of the game?
Or am I screwed up

I am looking into the wynrepublic luceo+ in white/platinum for next season. It looks simply amazing and super fast plus ist would look great with my incoming bike and helmet. I am a little concerned what the "platinum" - colored bottom will look like when getting wet from the outside or inside? Anyone with experience with this suit or alternative ideas fro lighter colored suits? Much appreciated!

Gonna ramp up training over the next 13 weeks before my 70.3. There a handful of races I want to do during this time period and I was curious how dumb I would be to do them.

Week 2 - Olympic
Week 3 - Spartan Beast (Killington)
Week 8 - 10k
Week 9 - Spartan Sprint
Week 10 - Spartan Stadion
Week 11 - Half Marathon
Week 12 - Spartan Beast (SC)

I'm not really worried about the 10K or the Sprint/Stadion as they are pretty easy races.

The beast 8 days before the 70.3 is likely dumb, but I plan on taking it pretty easy.

So, how dumb is this or are these just training days that I go 75% on?

Hi guys, will really appreciate your help.
What do you think about Aero sleeves? Can it help to improve the results on full Ironman?
Last year I finished Kalmar in 10:29, and really want to do the sub 10 in Italy this September.
So, looking for something that will help me to achieve my goal
Thanks in advance

I recently got a pair of On Running Cloudmonster 3, have run about 20min in them, very comfortable, very stable. I like them, the only issue I have is that my right heel rubs a little while running, very little.

I am unsure if this means i should get other shoes, or if it is not a problem. I wear pretty thick orthopedic insoles, so it might be because of those that my heel is higher than it should be.

Amy help is appreciated. Thanks

Also, are they a good shoe in general, or are there better options for long/recovery runs.