re: Could you Finish an Ironman in 3 Days?

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Could you Finish an Ironman in 3 Days

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Your wife only takes 10 minutes to finish me

I have done two in my life. I couldn't do one now though

I could, but I also run 40+ miles per week and have done a century ride with relatively little prep. The swim would be the hardest part for me.

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Most people that say yes are lying, but do you expect people to be honest behind a keyboard?

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Not sure why you say that.

I would not say yes if I knew I couldn't do it.

I'm 66 years old, and I've maintained my cardiovascular healthy my entire life. I still run several miles daily. I have a pool and swim laps daily during the summer. I was a lifeguard in my younger days. I've also ridden long distances on a bike many times.

I couldn't go out and do it tomorrow. But if I trained for a month, I know I could pull it off over a 3-day period if no time limit was enforced, other than must finish in 3 days.

4. Full Ironman

Swim: 2.4 mi (3.9 km) / 0.8 mi per day

Bike: 112 mi (180.2 km) / 37.33 mi per day

Run: 26.2 mi (42.2 km) / 8.73 mi per day

I think it would be very challenging for me. But if time is not a factor, I think I could do it in 3 days with stops for rest.

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Not sure why people seem to be saying the swim would be the hardest part

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Because very few people swim for distance, and I am sure even fewer actual swim in open water. This is the part that would have me the most concerned as I have never swum in open water and had to deal with currents or waves.

The 112-mile bike ride would be taxing; especially coming off of the swim the day before. The longest I have ever sat on a bike in a single day was just under 2 hours. Do not recall how far that ride was (doubt it was anywhere near 50 miles as it was a leisure ride), or my speed.

The final 26.2 mile run/walk would require a lot of mental fortitude. If this was all I had to do, or was fully rested/healed; no problem. But after swimming over 2 miles 2 days ago, I am sure I am still feeling the effects of that. And then coming off of a 112 mile bike ride the day before, my knees and ankles would be in agony.

I believe I could do it, but it also would not surprise me if I failed if the plan was to show up in 2 days and try to knock it out this weekend.

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Mile swim in a pool for a beginner takes about an hour. I'd say in open water just over that.

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there are people who are decent pool swimmers who get in open water and freak out. getting punched or kicked in the washing machine is no joke, nor is jumping into cold water (look up "cold water shock"). lots of pool swimmers don't practice sighting either and wind up swimming much more than they need to (for example, going way wide around buoys).

i consder myself a decent swimmer and there have been events where the open water swim was tough - mountain man triathlon at 7,000 feet in flagstaff, az where i lost my breath and had to go to my back. ironman new orleans 70.3 when the swim was in south shore harbor at lakefront airport and the waves and chop from boats and jet skis, and the marine fuel mixed in the water made it pretty brutal.

edited to add: i think lsufan444 did ironman new orleans 70.3 the same year i did in southshore harbor!

I would drown. Never make it to the bike.

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Swim: 2.4 mi (3.9 km) / 0.8 mi per day

Bike: 112 mi (180.2 km) / 37.33 mi per day

Run: 26.2 mi (42.2 km) / 8.73 mi per day

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Not how it works

The swim and bike I could easily, but since I'm old and don't run much anymore that would be tough.