How does one balance life and training for an ironman? A full Ironman is a 3.8km swim, followed by a 180km bike, and to finish things off, a 42.2km run. A full marathon. The time cut off is 17 hours and current data states that only about 0.01% of the world’s population have finished a full Ironman in their life.
It takes many hours to train for this event and the question that’s often asked is how does one balance the training, while still having a life. And I think that the honest truth is that when one is preparing for an event of this magnitude, there isn’t much balance. The simple truth is that one can do anything, but not everything at once. During this time one needs to accept that one cannot do it all and that some balls will be dropped.
Personally I think it is important to decide what is important for one’s self and to work with that. The reality is that there will be many sacrifices one needs to make in order to get to the start line well prepared. And rather than calling them ‘sacrifices’, I prefer to call them ‘choices’. You may miss social events and some relationships may get a bit neglected as well in the process, but if your goal is to complete an Ironman, these are some of the choices one has to make.
Having said the above, there are some tips that help to juggle all the balls that are now in the air.
- Find a coach that can guide you in your training and structure it as best as possible around the time you have available. One size does not fit all when it comes to training and an individualised approach is key.
- Preparation is key. One doesn’t have much time or energy for much else while training for an ironman so making life as easy as possible and being prepared will make a big difference. For example, food prepping for the week could be a very helpful way to help you have your dinners sorted.
- Communicate with your loved ones that this won’t last forever and that you appreciate their support in this time. While it might be an individual sport, it certainly takes a team to get to the start line!
Lastly, Enjoy the process. You’re in for one of the most challenging and rewarding journeys of your life!
By Mariella Sawyer,
Pro Triathlete, Registered Dietician and Mom.