In triathlon, there are three sports that make up this great challenge. However, as different as they are from each other, would it be possible to say that between swimming, cycling and running, one of the practices is the most challenging, and consequently, the most difficult? This was the initial question that inspired Ironman, the biggest triathlon event in the world!
With a simple question among friends to defend their favorite sport, today we have a high-performance challenge that is not for everyone! So, if you want to know more about the history behind the competition, who can participate in Ironman and what are the requirements to be an Ironman, stay here to find out.
What is the Ironman Challenge?
Considered synonymous with endurance , the Ironman challenge is a very important event in the world of sports, as it brings together three major weightlifting disciplines, practiced by countless athletes around the world.
However, you should know that Ironman is only for those who have a survival instinct! This is because the challenge is recommended (and carried out) for elite athletes , who have adaptive training capacity and good sports planning.
Furthermore, physical preparation is of utmost importance, as the athlete needs determination, endurance and maturity to go through the entire journey of this sport. In other words, to show that he is capable of being an iron man!
How did Ironman start?
As previously mentioned, Ironman came about through a conversation between friends to decide which sport would be the most difficult: swimming, cycling or running. However, as they could not reach an agreement, John Collins (US Navy commander) created a race that combined the three greatest challenges of each sport.
From then on, in 1978, in Hawaii , the first Ironman competition challenge took place. It had 15 participants , and the first winner (known as Iron Man) was the American Gordon Haller, who completed the challenge in 11 hours, 46 minutes and 58 seconds.
Of the 15 who competed, 12 managed to complete the challenge . In this first edition, there was no female participation, but the following year, there was already a woman among the competitors, with a total of 50 athletes in the 1979 event.
Ironman today
Today, Ironman still takes place in the same location (Hawaii), however, it is not so easy to participate. Athletes who wish to take on the challenge as athletes must qualify in one of the events on the world circuit.
It is also possible to secure a spot through the annual points system – Kona Pro Ranking. However, the program is only for elite (or high-performance) athletes.
Ironman Features
There are three sports present in the Ironman challenge, and each one has certain characteristics that are in line with the Hawaiian events. They are:
- The swim with a route through the 3.8 km crossing in Waikiki.
- Cycling around Oahu with 180 km.
- The Honolulu marathon is 42.195 km long.
There are competitions around the world that use these distances as references, so to become an iron man or woman, it is necessary to complete all 3 challenges above . As said, it is a huge challenge that pushes the athlete to their limit!
Finally, an interesting fact about the challenge is that to officially be a champion, you must complete the course in up to 17 hours .
The 5 styles of Ironman
Over the years, several variations of the traditional Ironman have emerged. There are several options for you to test your abilities, so check out the 5 different styles of the challenge below:
1. Olympic (or Standard) Ironman
The Ironman Standard was adopted as the “standard” version of triathlon events, that is, the challenges of the modality are characterized as follows:
- 1.5 km swimming.
- 40 km cycling.
- 10 km run.
This version was so widely adopted that since the 2000s it has been officially considered the version of the Olympic Games!
2. Ironman Sprint (or Short)
The Ironman Sprint is a challenge with half the distance of the standard version, that is, it is a race dedicated to athletes who want to participate, but are not yet adequately prepared to face the sport.
Here, the challenges are characterized by:
- 750 m swimming.
- 20 km cycling.
- 5 km run.
Even though the type is not so extensive, the athlete needs stamina and preparation, so it is still a high-endurance test!
3. Ironman 70.3
An intermediate version of the standard Ironman, the 70.3 competition was created with the aim of preparing the athlete for the ‘official version’ of the challenge.
Here, the proof has the following characteristics:
- 1.9 km swim.
- 90 km of cycling.
- 21.1 km run.
Some athletes find the name of the challenge strange, however, it is the combination of the 113 km of the challenge, converted in the American system to 70.3 miles.
4. Ironman
This is the dream of many athletes, after all, it is the main event of the Ironman! Reinforcing, the challenge has 3.8 km of swimming, 180 km of cycling and 42.195 km of running, taking place annually in the summer in Hawaii.
5. Ultraman
Finally, we have a challenge dedicated to athletes who have a survival spirit and want to face more than one day of competition: Ultraman!
Here, there are 3 days of Ironman, where each one is dedicated to a specific sport , that is, we have the following division:
- Day 1: 10 km swimming followed by 145 km cycling.
- Day 2: 276 km cycling.
- Day 3: 84 km run (double marathon).
If you already thought Ironman was a great challenge, perhaps Ultraman is almost an impossible task!
How to participate in Ironman?
Ironman is a race that will push all athletes to their limits, so before you even think about participating, it is important to check your health conditions to face the challenge .
At the same time, don’t forget to get the proper support from a coach or sports consultant , as they will be the ones responsible for planning a good training plan that will help you withstand the conditions of the race. In addition, they can help with the bureaucratic part.
Before the challenge
Don’t forget to register on the official website, follow the recommendations of the event organizers and prepare your trip in advance . After all, you need to have up-to-date documents and good planning so that nothing goes wrong, ensuring comfort and safety until you reach the event location .
Until the challenge
Now, regarding the challenge, perhaps the most important tip is to consult a sports psychologist . Survival and endurance are intrinsic characteristics of the challenge, so it is important to be mentally prepared to endure the Ironman!
Another important factor that must be considered before the day of the Ironman is good sports planning , that is, define with your coach a series of objectives for the type of race you are going to participate in, especially because you need months of intense training to be able to overcome the challenge.
Finally, keep in mind that conscience will be an ally in the process , so respect your limits and don’t be rude to yourself , to achieve the title of iron man (or woman)!
