Well, let me tell ya, this here IRONMAN thing, it’s somethin’ else. Folks call it a triathlon, sounds fancy, but it’s just a whole lotta swimmin’, bikin’, and runnin’. Yep, you heard that right, all three of ’em, one after the other.
First off, you gotta swim. Now, I ain’t no fish, but they say it’s 2.4 miles. That’s a long ways, let me tell ya. Imagine swimmin’ across a big ol’ lake, and then some more. That’s what these IRONMAN folks do. Just keep swimmin’, just keep swimmin’, like that fishy cartoon, Dory, I think her name was. My grandson watches it.
Then, once you’re done with the swimmin’, you ain’t done yet. Oh no, you gotta hop on a bike and ride. And not just around the block, no sirree. We’re talkin’ 112 miles. That’s like ridin’ from one town to another, and then some more. I once rode my old bike to the market and it feel like forever, these people ride 112 miles, crazy, I tell you. My legs would be achin’ just thinkin’ about it. But these athletes, they just keep pedalin’. They got them special shorts and shoes, too. Looks kinda funny if you ask me, but I guess it helps ’em go faster.
- Swim: 2.4 miles (that’s a whole lotta laps in a pool, let me tell ya)
- Bike: 112 miles (my old bike woulda broke down after the first mile)
- Run: 26.2 miles (that’s a marathon, they call it, sounds like a candy bar)
And if you think that’s the end of it, you’re wrong again. After all that bikin’, you gotta run. A whole marathon, 26.2 miles. That’s like runnin’ from here to… well, I don’t rightly know where, but it’s far. My old joints would be screamin’ at me. But these IRONMAN folks, they just keep on movin’. They got their special shoes and their water bottles, and they just keep puttin’ one foot in front of the other.
Now, they gotta do all this in 17 hours. That’s a long day, even if you’re just sittin’ on the porch. But these folks, they’re swimmin’, bikin’, and runnin’ the whole time. They got cut-off times for each part, too. So, you can’t just dilly-dally on the bike and expect to finish. You gotta keep movin’. Gotta keep pushing yourself. And yeah, there’s the World Triathlon Corporation thing, they’re the ones who put this whole shebang together. Sounds important, I guess.
I heard tell there’s different kinds of IRONMAN races too, shorter ones. But the real deal, that’s the one with the big numbers, the one we talked about. People come from all over to do it. They train and train, spendin’ hours and hours gettin’ ready. I don’t get it, all that huffin’ and puffin’, but to each their own, I guess. It’s somethin’ to see, that’s for sure.
So, there you have it. That’s what the IRONMAN consists of. A whole lotta swimmin’, bikin’, and runnin’. More than any normal person would do in a week, let alone a day. But hey, some folks like a challenge. Me? I’ll stick to watchin’ from the sidelines, thank you very much. Maybe with a nice glass of iced tea and a big ol’ slice of pie. That sounds a whole lot better than swimmin’, bikin’, and runnin’ all day, let me tell ya.
And they do this all in one go, no stoppin’ for a nap or nothin’. Just swim, bike, run. Sounds exhausting to me, but like I said, some folks enjoy it. They say it makes ’em feel strong and accomplished. Well, I feel pretty accomplished just gettin’ out of bed in the mornin’, so I guess we all got our own ways of feelin’ good.
This whole IRONMAN thing, it’s a big deal, you know. People train for months, even years, just to get ready for it. They gotta eat right, sleep right, and do all sorts of exercises. It’s a real commitment. And it ain’t cheap neither, I bet. All them fancy bikes and shoes and gear, it all adds up. But if it makes ’em happy, then I guess it’s worth it. To each their own, that’s what I always say.
Tags: [Ironman Triathlon, Triathlon Distances, Endurance Race, Ironman Components, Swim Bike Run]
