Ironman? 1/2 Ironman?

[limewave]

I'm entertaining the idea of doing an Ironman or 1/2 next year. I've done a few Xterra tris and one Sprint triathlon. I've run a marathon, several half marathons, a 25k, did a 5 mile open water swim (I don't know why, it just sort of happened). Anyways, I'm looking for the next challenge.

I'm just wondering how much the registration fee is usually and how early I need to sign up?

Also, about how many months of dedicated training?

Thank you!

[Veronica]

I plan on twenty weeks of dedicated training for a Half. This year I decided to do two - one in May, one at the end of July. So, I've been training since January 4.

Fees vary, but they are expensive, usually around $200. For the two I did this year, it was cheaper to sign up earlier. I also tend to mail in my registration rather than pay Active.com.

Veronica

[colby]

m-dot Ironman races cost $550-600, but non m-dot races are more like $300. Many of the m-dot (official "Ironman") races sell out way in advance, within days to weeks of going on sale, but the non-"Ironman" Iron-distance races don't have quite that problem.

I train for 6 months (24 weeks), I think the training time for both is actually pretty similar but the Ironman obviously ramps up a lot farther. The first 3 months are base building and basically are 4 days a week at ~2 hours (2 days run or ride and swim, 2 days run or ride and strength), weekend days at 2-3 hours each ride plus 1 swim, then it grows from there to a peak of 4-5 hours ride and 20 miles run on the weekend at peak plus one day swim (and the 4 days a week at 1-2 hours).

It's great for the first 4 months. Month 5 is hard - the most hours dedicated to training. Month 6 is brutal mentally - you aren't there yet, you're tired of it, but you have to keep going. It helps to map out where that would fall with your target race so you know what to expect with work, family, and other schedules.

Doing a Half Iron first would be a good experience for knowing if you want to do the full distance, but if you want to go all the way there's no reason you can't - that's what I did.

[Tri Girl]

For my Ironman I used the following program:
http://www.trifuel.com/triathlon/ironman-workouts/
They also have a half iron training program.

I trained for 36 weeks for mine. I had done several marathons, but had never done a triathlon when I signed up for the IM. I wanted to go big or go home. I went big.

M-dot races you have to sign up for a year in advance. I find that very difficult to commit to something a year out. Mine was a smaller race, with all the frills of the M-dots- and a much cheaper price tag. And I signed up two months out when I was certain my training was strong and solid enough to complete the distance.

Have you thought about what race you might like to do?

[limewave]

Thanks for the responses! The 1/2 Ironman I was looking at is $250. It isn't until next month however. So maybe if I sign up early for next year's the price will be less--that's good to know.

I definitely think I should try tackling a 1/2 before I even consider an entire Ironman

[roadie gal]

I was debating doing a full Iron last year. I decided to do a half first. I'm glad I did because now I know there's no way I want to do a full Iron. It's not the length of the race, it's how the training time cuts into my time with my SO and the dogs. It would really interfere with my life! The half Iron took up enough time. Increasing it wouldn't be possible if I wanted to keep my relationship.