My heart is racing. A bead of sweat drips from my brow. Years of training have led to this point. Finally, the moment has come. I take a deep breath. With a click of the mouse that sounds like a cannon blast to my ears, I’ve signed up for my first IRONMAN.
My name is Brittany Vermeer, and I’m an age group athlete, just like you. I’ve done dozens of sprint- and Olympic-distance triathlons and three IRONMAN 70.3 races. But there’s one milestone I haven’t reached: I haven’t done an IRONMAN.
Everyone comes to this sport from different athletic backgrounds. Sadly, none of mine included the swim, bike, or run variety, so the last four years competing in triathlon have been quite the learning curve! Luckily, I have exceptional coaches, a supportive triathlete-husband, and a local tri club who have all helped me immensely on this multisport journey.
I will embark on the next chapter in my triathlon career on November 4th of this year when I take on IRONMAN Florida.
Am I freaking out? Not yet. But check back in around October, and I’ll let you know…
Over the next six months, I’ll be sharing an honest and transparent account of everything that goes into training for an IRONMAN.
Do I have all the answers? Of course not. But I’ll talk to a wide range of experts: respected coaches, pro athletes, and even fellow age groupers to find out everything I need to know for this grand adventure and then write about it here for anyone interested in taking on an IRONMAN for themselves.
What you just read is an excerpt from a 7-part blog series I wrote for Ironman.com last year. Within the series, I covered all the training and preparation in the lead up to my first full distance triathlon at IRONMAN Florida in 2023.
Spoiler Alert: I finished the race! Here’s my Race Report.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to talk with so many other athletes who are either training for their first Ironman, or have the goal to do an Ironman someday. I thought I’d round up all the blog posts and put them in one place for easy access.
Check out the titles below, as well as a brief synopsis, so you can see what each post is about. Click on the titles to read more.
The Journey Begins
- My background as a triathlete.
- Interview with pro triathlete, Jackie Hering, about the resources you will need.
- Interview with pro triathlete, Hayley Chura, about selecting the right race for you.
How Training For a Full Ironman is Different Than a Half Ironman
- A peek into my schedule with my coaches, Annie and Jeff Bowman
- Describing the build process and doing a 70.3 in the lead up.
- Making the mental shift.
- Answering the most FAQ’s about Ironman training.
The Peaks and Valleys of Ironman Training
- Recap from Chattanooga 70.3- the good, the bad, and the ugly
- Interview with pro triathlete, Lauren Brandon, about her first Ironman and how she fuels for Ironman training.
- Interview with coach, Jim Rutberg, about how we can use the “peak-end rule” to make training more enjoyable.
How to Survive Summer Ironman Training
- Interview with sport nutritionist and coach, Marni Sumbal, about how heat and humidity affect pace and heart rate and how to calculate sweat rate
- Adapting and adjusting workouts in the heat
- Planning routes with DIY aid stations
Girl Power: Female Long Course Triathletes
- Importance of strength training for female athletes, an interview with Dan Lorang, coach of pro triathlete, Anne Haug
- Interview with coach, Mark Saroni, about women-specific training
- A chat about iron-deficiency in female athletes
Advice For Your First Ironman
- Advice from several of my friends before my first Ironman
- How to determine race goals
- How to make a race plan
- Having gratitude for the journey and keeping a positive mindset
5 Lessons I Learned at My First Ironman
- Race recap with five important takeaways from the experience
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the experience of training for, and competing at, my first Ironman triathlon.
If you have any specific questions, drop a comment or send a message, and I’d be happy to lend support for your journey to your first Ironman finish line!
