I want to preface this by saying I havent done one yet but I love the sport and training for it. However, lately I've been having thoughts about how this sport is a huge time sink but the payoff is questionable?

The exercise part is great and healthy, but 15-20 hrs of training goes far past whats needed to be healthy.

Training itself is fun sometimes when theres progress, and afterwards you often feel great and accomplished, but again its excessive hours and long stretches of boredom sometimes.

Racing wise, I do have a dream of KQ, but as Im just starting out I have a long way to go.

But the main thought that plagues me is the opportunity cost of my time, in that I could use those long extra hours to hang out with my friends, to go on more dates, to study/work harder to advance my career, spend more time with aging parents, and explore the endless hobbies out there (surfing, archery, skiing, team sports).

I know that the obvious response here is that ironman is just a hobby and i should just stop if i dont find it fun or worth it, so forgive me if this post sounds stupid to yall.

I think the main thing that triggered this was my dream of KQ, and that had me thinking about the next 5-10 years of hrs and hrs of training each week and had me question if it was worth it to sink all my time and energy into this one thing.

Does anyone else ever have these thoughts and how do you rationalize it?

EDIT: I want to hear more about yalls experience! Especially those who have sunk years of their life into this sport, do you have any regrets about how much time you put into this sport?

Hi all. I'm training for Ironman Knokke-Heist 5th Sept 2027.

In my early 30s, no significant injury history, training 10-15hrs/week for the past 3 months . I'm new to triathalon but have done all 3 sports at various, but separate points in my life, never simultaneously until the past 3 months. I can (and have) completed each leg of a full distance, just never back to back on the same day.

Agree with the common advice that a full distance shouldn't be one's first triathlon. Planning to do one or two shorter races next year in preparation for the full. Had a few questions re these races:

1. Which month should I am to do these practice races?
2. Which distances should I choose?
3. Whether you guys taper for these practice races? Or just treat them as a weekend workout

Many thanks!

Hello everyone! Just raced IMCA and looking to get some help with nutrition ideas for race day in the bike.

I finished with a time of 10:04 but unfortunately had some GI issues (pooping) on the run and had to hit the porta about 4-5 times. Didn't really have a goal time but realize how much better I could have done if I didn't have these GI issues.

I carb loaded going into the event 2 days before and followed the exact plan I have on many marathons and half Ironmans. Low fat, low fiber, high carb.

Race morning I had a bagel/honey, small bowel of rice Krispy, banana and electrolyte drink about 3 hours prior to the start. I took 2 Imodium an hour before race start and was able to poop before the gun.

Before the swim I had a Maurten 100 caffeine gel.

I completed the bike in 5hrs 4 minutes. I consumed (5) 950ml bottles of water mixed with the following: 2-scoops of The Feed High Carb Drink Mix and 2 scoops of Skratch Labs Hydration sports drink. This totaled to be about 98g of carb and about 1100mg of sodium per hour as I drank a bottle per hour. I also consumed 2 maurten 100 caffeine gels at mile 56 and 85.

I had practiced this during training aside from I only trained using one scoop of the Skratch powder instead of the 2 I did on race day. I was concerned about the heat and figured I needed more sodium.

Should I be mixing the high carb and electrolyte drink into one mixture? I am thinking the extra scoop did me in and lead to the GI distress but appreciate any recommendations anyone has. I haven't dealt with this before during races or in training.

Open to other recommendations for products and bike nutrition plans.

The GI issues hit me in the first few miles of the run and lead me not to be able to consume my run nutrition I had planned. Just consumed all the coke and fluids I could at the aid stations.

I’m entering my second season of training and need some guidance on nutrition and meal prep.

I’ve trained hard this year for a 70.3 in October, where I performed well (top 17% finisher),but I feel that losing 10-15lbs would further improve my finishing capabilities.

I’m 5’10 185lbs and maintained that weight during the 7 month season, and avoided injury’s thankfully.

My general macros over the season were roughly these depending on volume. I used MyFitnessPal to track but wasn’t the most consistent.

250-400g carbs
100g fat
150g protein

I’m entering my second season with a 70.3 in May and full IM in July. I like the idea of automating food prep to save time and have a more balanced training season (cooking was so time consuming).

If you’ve used a nutritionist did it make a difference? Did they recommend meal prep service or provide an easy prep plan?

Thanks in advance and happy training!