There are 2 ironman distances which we’ll discuss here in this article.

The ironman is a step up in distance and in intensity than the ever popular Olympic distance triathlon of 0.9 mile (1.5 km) swim, 25 miles (40 km) ride, 6.2 mile run (10 km)

There are 2 main types of ironman distances, the half ironman and full ironman.

If you are contemplating taking part in one of these events then the natural course of action should be to begin by firstly entering the sprint triathlon which is a mini version of the full triathlon (there are also a few other variants of the mini triathlon you could consider taking part in) followed by the Olympic distance triathlon followed by the half ironman before finally moving on to full ironman distances.

From beginning to end you’ll need to allow yourself plenty of time to train and prepare your body for the challenge ahead. As a complete beginner you’ll need to allow at least a year to go from nothing to triathlon and to complete full ironman distances at least another year on top of that.

Sounds like a lot of effort doesn’t it?

It should do, don’t ever underestimate the sheer determination and ultimate levels of stamina and endurance needed to complete a full ironman, it really is THE pinnacle of fitness.

So how far is it?
The half ironman distances are as follows…

Swim for 1.2 miles (1.9 km) followed by cycling for 56 miles (90 km) and finally running for 13.1 miles (21.1 km)

Full ironman distances are…

Swim for 2.4 miles (3.8 km) then cycle for 112 miles (180km) before running the stage for 26.2 miles (42.2 km otherwise known as a marathon)

Still interested, well take a good look over this site to find out how to begin, I’d suggest starting here – half ironman training

If you take a patient, long term approach to building up your stamina levels over the course of a couple of years or so, then it is a realistic goal to consider achieving, but be warned it’s something you’ll need to take seriously and it will be very important for you to get as much advice and support as possible throughout your journey.