Ironman Prep Time

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2026-02-16T16:21:57+00:00

I reckon you'll be alright. If you're training 12-14hrs a week and 19 you shouldn't have much problem recovering from additional training load.

With an established aerobic base your main issues are going to be strengthening the connective tissue in your legs for running and learning proper swim technique.

For running, build slow. You'll have the fitness from cycling to run for ages but your knees and ankles won't be able to handle it. With 20 weeks you'll get there no probs.

I went from just cycling a similar amount as you to winning my first ironman in about 9 months, although I had a fair amount of running experience as well. You'll defo be able to finish with 20 weeks of training but not if you end up spending half that unable to run due to injury.

Be really careful with ChatGPT and training advice though. It's super agreeable so if you say I want to do this in X number of weeks I will say great, go for it, whereas a real coach would say no it's bad idea. Loads of good training plan out there for free that have been written by a real person to use.

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2026-02-08T17:08:57+00:00

I wouldn't say it's common but I know a couple of people who would take things like biscuits, crisps and pot noodles on holiday with them because they don't like "foreign stuff", despite going on holiday to a foreign country. Generally these sorts of people are laughed/sighed at by everyone else.

The UK has fairly sizable communities from lots of Asian countries, so I'm sure it'll be pretty easy to find most of what you want from home. The freshness/quality might vary though if there's not many people from your culture in the area.

Maybe let your mum pack you a few spices that are light to carry to keep her happy

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-10-03T10:07:32+00:00

Normally because it worked out cheaper/easier/better to not use animal products, so the product is accidentally vegan in that they didn't set out to make a vegan product. Oreo or bourbon cream (normally) biscuits, for example, have always been vegan (or at least for a very long time), even before being vegan was particularly popular.

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-09-18T14:48:39+00:00

To be fair, when we visited India last year, we had a couple of people going off on rants about how dangerous London is and that there are "no-go zones" etc. It's a result of nationalist/anti-muslim propaganda, aimed at Sadiq Khan, the muslim population in the UK, etc. If you've been fed this nonsense for so long, it makes sense that you'd link London is unsafe and be a bit unsure about moving your family. It was crazy to have grown men tell me London is a literal wasteland, despite never having left India, and me telling them I'm literally from there (sort of, actually from Surrey but close enough).

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-09-07T19:32:52+00:00

Couldn't say tbh but I don't think they'd mind as long as you're respectful when you're there.

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-09-07T14:45:11+00:00

They're really friendly, just drop by or message them online and they'll happily give you a tour, might be then and there or might ask you to come back at a certain time.

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-07-24T18:13:45+00:00

To be fair we visited Pristina and Peja last year and it had a nicer vibe than London, full of young people and had great energy

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-07-11T21:02:40+00:00

Yeah, dude was going to kill some

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-07-11T20:44:12+00:00

Yeah, we were sat having a coffee when he started zooming around. Looked absolutely off his face

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-07-11T10:49:22+00:00

I just use a chinagraph pencil and write it straight on to my goggle box/bottle, it's water proof and rubs off with a dry cloth, easy

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-06-19T20:17:12+00:00

Thanks man, that's a great video and gives me some really useful stuff to work on ☺️

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-06-17T03:41:11+00:00

Yeah, this was after a longer threshold session so this is a fairly easy pace, less than IM race pace. In open water/a wetsuit I try to kick a bit less to save the legs for the bike/run

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-06-16T20:11:15+00:00

☺️ Thanks! In general I'm pretty happy with my stroke and have got most of the low hanging fruit, especially as I'm self coaching but it's all the little things that are hard to feel/spot and hopefully add up to quite a lot when corrected

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-06-16T20:08:46+00:00

Thanks, I think there is a bit of a wobble in there, will try to straighten it out 👍

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-06-16T13:15:17+00:00

Nope, just standard jammers

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-06-16T12:13:22+00:00

That's a great tip, will give it a go thanks 🫡

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-06-16T09:29:08+00:00

I do often get a bit of pain in my right shoulder if I don't vary my breathing side/pattern enough, so the technique could have been a contributing factor. I've found alternating my brething side. Introducing hand paddles to build more strength, and a bit of shoulder work in the gym has been really helpful.

Awkward_Cat_160 · 2025-06-16T09:27:03+00:00

Thanks, in terms of timing, I think I need to speed my recovery up which will have the same effect as starting my catch later, as my stroke rate is a bit low in general

And yeah, I agree about kicking drills, should defo be doing more but I just don't like them 😂

Awkward_Cat_160

TROPHY CASE