Ironman training is probably one of the most intense workout routines that a person could take on. There is a swim (usually in the ocean) consisting of over two miles, a 112 mile bike ride, followed by a marathon! Needless to say, you better have had some seriously intense Ironman training prior to taking on this incredible race. With that being said, one has to ask the question if they are training too much?
Too much Ironman training you say?
The reality is that a lot of your Ironman training time could be better spent. For instance, there is no need to run more than one, maybe two major distances in preparation for your race. It is better to do different types of runs, including speed runs and pace runs so that you know how you are feeling on race day. Several days spent running massive distances would be better spent working on form and technique. This is most often because long bike rides lay the base fitness and endurance that a person needs so there isn’t a need for overexertion.
It should also be noted that spending too much time trying to perfect your swim can be wasteful. Only about one fifth of the Ironman time is spent in the water and only so much improvement can be made after an initial undertaking. Time spent perfecting a swim stroke may shave a couple minutes off the swim time, whereas, time spent working on bicycling technique, running form and transitions can shave half hours or more off your time. Keep these points in mind when planning an Ironman training schedule.
Many Ironman triathletes also recommend getting help from professionals. You can get some seriously good training by visiting http://RockstarTriathlete.info