The Ironman Triathalon doesn’t take just anyone. You not only have to know how to swim, bike, and run, but you have to be really good at all three to win.
The mindset of the successful Ironman competitor is simple. If you’re naturally talented at all three skills, you’ve got it made. You’re lucky and rare.
If you’re great at running and biking, but need to improve swimming, you have a hard road ahead. You don’t wince about the extra effort spent swimming because you realize it’s part of the race. If you don’t swim well, you don’t win, no matter how great you bike or run.
These competitors tell themselves “I’m going to get good at it” in order to accomplish their goal. Putting in the extra effort and concentrating on swimming, they often decrease their overall time in the race. They know the power of focused attention in the direction of a challenge; the extra time spent swimming is time well spent at the end of the race.
If you’re not good at all 3,why not win at something else?
Good Morning just thought i will let you know that i also had a issue with your blog appearing blank as well. Might be chimpanzees in the system.
The qualifications for an Ironman(c) race is to complete a half-iron distance or longer race by the cutoff time, usually within 5-8 hours, and you earn the right to compete in any Ironman(c) race for the next 12 months. To tell you the truth, being talented in all 3 skills is no guarantee that you will finish the race. Any of 100 things that can go wrong on race day to keep you from the finish line.
I would expect the statement “The Ironman Triathalon doesn’t take just anyone…” to come from someone that hasn’t taken up the challenge. Meaning no disrespect, such a statement diminishes the journey as one to be taken solely by the physically or genetically gifted when in fact what truly matters for 99% of the finishers is they have something greater — a spirit that will not quit.
The question, “If you’re not good at all 3,why not win at something else?” doesn’t make sense…because for most first time Ironman finishers, winning isn’t part of the equation.
It is a journey and about being inspired to test your limits, and for many, coming to the glorious realization that there are none. That realization, in my opinion, was more valuable than medal or prize I have ever won. The Ironman triathlon or any Iron distance race is for ANYONE that takes up the gauntlet. The gauntlet that dares you to “Show me that you can….”
The spirit Ironman finishers all share is recognized by the Kona elite finishing sub 8:20:00 as well as the age grouper that finishes in 16:59:09 in a non-Ironman(c)140.6. It is spirit that says ‘I CAN’.
THAT is the spirit of the Ironman.
I didn’t get that last part. Are you saying one needn’t be good at all 3 as the time it takes is a lot so take up something else (like violin?) or do you mean that concentrate on your weakness and fix the other just enough to compete?
Sorry if I sound confused