Wednesday, August 13, 2008

How do you tell if you are in IronMan shape...

So, the question is -- how do you tell if you are in IronMan shape. Once you are "in-shape", it is very hard to determine your level of fitness. Many people will use workout benchmarks to help determine the progress that they make through out the year. I'm not one of those folks. I enjoy working on my base for the entire season - by going slow but long and steady.

I have to say that I do have two (2) benchmarks that I bypassed this year. One was the May Door County Half Marathon in which my goal was to break 2 hours and I did with a 1:56. Also, the Door County Half IronMan when I finished just over 6 hours beating my PR by around 17 minutes. In the half IronMan, I felt in very good shape -- just had a stomach issue.

So, here is how I can tell that I must be close to IronMan shape. Last year my weight at the IMWI starting line was 175. I went to that weight during the last month and a half of my summer workouts. Well, this year I have been holding around the 182 mark for most of the year. Yesterday I stepped on the scale (I don't do that often any more) and my weight was 172. That is the lowest I've seen since the day after IMWI when I was 169.

So, I'm hoping that is a good sign. Post IMKY I'll post a blog entry on how my "seemingly" more relaxed IronMan training schedule worked this year. We'll soon see the results...

1 comment:

IronTriTim said...

Ironman fit is an ever moving bar, just when you think you are fit theres some new challenge. I still do not think I am Iron fit even though 3 years ago if i'd have seen me know I probably would have said I am fit.

I am sure you are Iron fit.