The Ironman Triathlon is a series of races that are spaced over large distances and require a huge amount of stamina and resilience. It is the most difficult and most challenging event a triathlete can possibly attempt in their sporting career. It is organised by the WTC, World Triathlon Corporation and covers a swim of 2.4 miles (3.86km), a cycling race marathon of 112 miles (180.25km), and finally, a running race of 26.22 miles (42.20km). The run alone is a full marathon in distance, so you can understand the challenges facing anyone who attempts this event. All of this is completed within one day, with each event taking place after the other.
The majority of events under the Ironman banner have up to 17 hours completion time cut-offs and most races begin at 7am. However, the cut off finish time does depend upon the course, as some terrain is obviously going to take longer than others. There is also mandatory cut off times for each event - You must complete the swim in 2 hours, 20 minutes. For the cycling event, an athlete must have finished the swimming section of the event and transitioned to the bicycle, before finishing the cycling portion within 10 hours and 30 minutes. Athletes must then have completed the swim, cycling, and running sections, including transitions, within no more than 17 hours. If you manage this, you earn the title Ironman and this is the most prestigious title in the triathlon world.
The title ‘Ironman Triathlon’ dates back to the very first event, which took place in Kailua-Kona. These days, the event is known as the Ironman World Championship. Since the first event, the championships have been held every year in Hawaii, with the first taking place in 1978.
The event has always been renowned for its length, one of the hardest and most challenging in the world. It also covers very harsh conditions - just because the event is held in Hawaii doesn’t mean the weather can’t be somewhat challenging occasionally! You also have uneven terrain to take into account too. All of this means that the Ironman event demands huge worldwide TV audiences too.
The Ironman Series
Over the course of a year, there are more than 30 different races that fall under the Ironman Triathlon series. These all aim to help athletes qualify for the main event. This option is open to both professional and amateur athletes, but professional athletes are able to qualify via a points ranking system. They will therefore earn points based upon the final finishing position within the series, covering both Ironman and Ironman 70.3 type of events. Once the points are added up, the top 35 female professional athletes go through to the main championships, along with the top 50 male professional athletes.
Amateur athletes are also able to try and qualify for the championships, however, they do this by receiving a slot that is allocated to top finishers within each age group.
Of course, for an amateur, competing against top professionals is the ultimate test. Preparing for the Ironman is a difficult and intense experience. A dedicated and high-quality training regime is required to prepare amateurs. Of course, there are also many tools you can use, such as the ZEN8 Swim Trainer, which is ideal for those days when it’s simply not possible to get to the pool.
A full commitment is required and that perhaps means hiring a triathlon coach for those who may need an extra push. There is a huge jump from Olympic triathlons to Ironman events and for many, training for such an event becomes a way of life. It doesn’t only incorporate the training sessions for each individual event, but also ensuring you get enough sleep, that you’re eating the right foods, and you’re reducing stress in your life. This type of event requires a total focus on health and overall wellbeing, perhaps more than any other event out there.
Average Ironman Times
Aiming towards completing the Ironman in your best possible time should be your aim. Whether you’re a professional or an amateur, this is the most challenging event out there, so you need to focus on doing your absolute best and arranging your training to suit your lifestyle. Completing the full distances isn’t something that most athletes find easy, either amateur or professional. The fastest time to complete the course was 7 hours, 40 minutes, and 23 seconds, by Tim Don in 2017. However, the majority of professionals finish the course in around 8-9 gruelling hours. If the course is quite difficult or the weather intervenes, this time may increase to between 10-12 hours. However, for those athletes who dedicate less time to training and preparation, a time between 13-14 hours is a fair estimate.