“Aligned and Active” spotlights the different facets of wellness and fitness. From everyday ways to incorporate exercise into your routine to niche aspects of training that can be admired, this column will give you a way to pick at my brain and all the knowledge I’ve gained from my personal journey in fitness.
What does it take to be an Ironman? Only a year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to understand the pure determination and grit that come with training and attempting this triathlon. After stumbling upon a Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN) video on athlete Luke Hopkins and his journey through his daily training, I began to do a deep dive into what it means to truly be an endurance athlete.
An Ironman consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and a 26.2-mile run covering a total of 140.6 miles. The Ironman began when Judy and John Collins participated in the Mission Bay Triathlon in 1975, sparking a catalyst for the Collins’ to get inspired to run their own event in their chosen home in Honolulu, Hawaii.
At the Waikiki swim club banquet, they announced their Around the Island Triathlon, a non-stop 140.6 miles of pure tenacity, planting the seeds for the generations of Ironman participants to come. Becoming an Ironman means showcasing that you can perform these three endurance exercises (running, swimming, and biking) while pushing your body to its limits.
Key figures in the fitness industry have begun to popularize Ironmans and the preparation that goes behind completing the race. Luke Hopkins and BPN owner and endurance athlete, Nick Bare, lead the charge as they not only post their training to their own channels but are frequently featured in BPN’s content.
The training behind an Ironman can be an all-consuming process, one that Bare states can take around 20 hours or more of dedicated time per week if regimented in a stricter routine. He frequently mentions how the road to completing an Ironman takes unwavering focus with five-hour training days in the midst of having to work and be present for his family.
This high volume of training gets the body accustomed to high levels of physical strain, preparing his mind to carry out these laborious activities without folding under the pressure of such a monstrous task ahead.
Completing an Ironman doesn’t just represent physical strength; the mantra of the race is “Anything is Possible.” This phrase was initially sparked by Julie Moss after she collapsed towards the end of the Ironman world championships in 1982, crawling to the finish line and finishing in second place.
Moss was unknown in the sport, only entering the race as a part of her senior thesis. She had experience in marathons and open-water swimming, but originally, she wasn’t even in the conversation to be a possible winner. Her finish wasn’t graceful, but it represented what it means to do challenging things, displayed her humanity, and the struggle we all face, having that determination to get through.
Moss showcased how you don’t need elite equipment and resources to compete in an Ironman. Even with basic materials, she was able to put her best foot forward and make the impossible feel within reach.
Individuals interested in participating in an Ironman may see financial resources as a barrier to entry, when in reality, to participate in an Ironman, you don’t need the top-grade materials for success. Moss proved this with her training and her ability to endure with grace. Expensive gear can help, but having this grit is what separates those who attempt to become an Ironman from those who cross the finish line.
While becoming an Ironman is no easy feat, the triathlon represents how people can test their limits and do more than they ever thought possible. Individuals place self-doubts on their abilities, but in reality, with proper preparation, “anything is possible.”
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