Becoming Ironman – Week 7 – 4/3/2024
Aaron B -
It is crazy how much goes into preparing for an Ironman beyond just the training. Not only do you have to get the equipment together for one event but three. Swimming, biking, and running all require their own specific gear. The base of all the sports is the tri suit. Swimming requires a wetsuit, goggles, and a swimming cap. The wet suit is only allowed if the water temperature is below 76.1 degrees Fahrenheit. The wetsuit is helpful since it provides extra bouncy in the water making swimming more efficient.
For the bike ride you need a bike, helmet, biking shoes, water bottles/backpack, and gels for nutrition. One thing I have been considering getting for the bike ride is tubeless carbon fiber rims. A thing that went wrong during my Half Ironman triathlon is a flat tire from a fallen piece of metal from the bike in front of me. Although a tubeless tire will not make it impossible to get a flat tire, it will make it much easier to fix if it does deflate. In addition to having it be tubeless it would be carbon fiber which is something that could make a significant difference for such a long race.
Finally for the run you need your final set of equipment. Which only requires you to change into some running shoes, grab some more nutrition, and you are ready.
Another aspect that needs to be considered is getting all the equipment to Texas. We are going to fly to Houston and will need to get the bike there on the plane, which can be easily transported in a bike box after being broken down, as well as multiple pairs of shoes, my wetsuit, and all the other gear and food I will need to complete the race. Although it is a lot to keep track of it should be much less difficult than actually completing the Ironman.
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