r/IronmanTriathlon

Hi just hoping to get an idea of difficulty levels of CA races. I’ve done Ironman 70.3 Oregon and know it’s considered an easier course but hoping to eventually check off all the CA ones as a California native but would like to start with the less difficult ones so in your opinion, what is the easiest to hardest between IM 70.3 Northern California (Redding), Santa Cruz, Oceanside, La Quinta, and maybe even the full IMCA thrown in there. Thanks for your feedback!

Thank you for your responses! So far I’m getting:

70.3
Oregon (fast)

La Quinta, CA (fast)
Santa Cruz, CA (somewhere here?)
Northern CA (Redding) (intermediate)
Oceanside, CA (hardest)

Full
IMCA (beginner course)

Let me know what you think!

My first Half Ironman is coming up in a couple weeks and so far I've been using gels during my longer rides. But my BIL uses some sort of powder (I think it was electrolytes, carbohydrates and some sodium) and eats some powerbars along the ride.

How do you nutrition and what are pros & cons?

Hi guys,

Just completed my first full distance in Kalmar last Saturday and I'm going to do a full distance also next year. I really liked Kalmar but I'd be also tempted to try Copenhagen, based on the content I have seen it also looks like a great race. Is there anyone who has done both and which one would you choose and why?

I'm really struggling to decide on my first full Ironman location. With all the popular race registrations opening soon, I want to decide relatively quick but I keep going back and forth on priorities.

For background, I live in Calgary, Canada and there is no race even remotely close by. If I really wanted to do a giant road trip, my options would be Ottawa or California or Wisconsin.

Here are my concerns / priorities:
- Swim course needs to be easy/calm. Swimming is what I am least comfortable with and I do not want to be in any rough waters.
- Happy with a decent amount of elevation on the bike but nothing crazy.
- Preferably less than 200m elevation on the run.
- August or fall timing would be nice because training in summer is ideal here.

Originally I thought California would be good because it's in the fall so I get all summer to train, it's a river swim, and the bike and run are flat HOWEVER a bad headwind (20km/h+) on the bike is my worst nightmare. I will climb hills all day but do not give me a raging headwind. I know this course has mentions of pretty bad headwinds due to the flatness.

THEN, I thought Ottawa would be good but looking at the weather history, it seems it's either pissing rain or there is a heat wave going through and that really doesn't sound fun to me. Also the flat bike with only 300m elevation doesn't play to my strengths very much.

Now, recently I decided on Copenhagen because it's a great course (meets all my requirements) but now i'm worried about flying with all my gear and bike. I've never flown my bike before and don't have a bike box/bag and i've heard horror stories of airlines losing people's bikes or people not putting them back together properly, etc. I also stress about how far it is from home and how most of my family/friends wouldn't be able to come...

Based on all this - have any thoughts or recommendations? 🙃 I have OCD if you can't tell so I am spiralling on this...

As per title, curious about anyone’s experience attempting the FULL Ironman in Cairns! How was it for you? Easy? Challenging?

It’d be my first time doing a Full Ironman and thinking of locations in Asia. Cairns timeline seems to fit my schedule best (and it’s a English speaking country).

I currently have a Garmin forerunner 265, but I hear alot of good things about investing in a whoop. What are some of the benefits that you guys have found? I know its probably not an essential, but do you guys recommend purchasing one?

• 29 yr old female. 5'6 /135lbs.
• I played college ice hockey and then semi pro ice hockey.
• I have been competing in CrossFit since I retired from hockey 3 years ago. Within CrossFit, my strength has always been endurance. I do well in running workouts, and anything over 40-60 minutes.
• I am a decent runner (23 min 5K and 49 min 10K). I run a few times a week regularly as part of my competitive CrossFit programming. I am comfortable running for a few hours at a time and I enjoy it.
• I live near a lake, and I am comfortable swimming in open water / have easy access to practice.
• I am a competent swimmer (although I have never raced).
• I have some experience road biking but not a lot. I am a regular commuter biker as well.
• My job is pretty flexible, and I am very dedicated to making time for my athletic endeavors. I have about 20 hr per week to train.

I want to take a break from competitive CrossFit and give the sport of triathlon a serious go for the next few + years. I want to do the Muskoka 70.3 in July 2027 and the 140.6 in Western Australia in December 2027.

Can I do it? Any advice?

I am debating signing up for my first full IM in September (6 weeks away).

I completed two 70.3 (May 2025 and May 2026-sub 6 hr) marathon October 2025 (sub 4 hr), Olympic triathlon June 2026 (sub 3 hr).

After May 2026 70.3 spent June and most of July doing one discipline a day doing less distance.

Started thinking about completing full IM in September towards end of July. Increasing my biking and running. Ran 17 miles this past Saturday and biked 70 miles on Sunday….

Do you think I could realistically complete full IM end of September? Be honest please😁

Thanks!

Wrapping up the season now and doing a bit of a retro on how I planned my races this year — curious how other people approach this.

I ran into a few issues along the way: races that ended up too close together for proper recovery, build races that didn’t really complement my A-race, and at one point realizing I’d signed up for something right in the middle of a peak training block I needed for something else.

Looking back, I’m not sure I’d plan it the same way next year. Do you map out the whole season in advance, or go more race-by-race as the year unfolds? Spreadsheet, coach, gut feeling?

Curious what’s worked (or not) for people who’ve been doing this a while — trying to plan next season a bit smarter.

As per title. I can't make sense of this.

I have a garmin forerunner 265, and Ive done a 70.3 and Im starting to train for a 140.6. Do you guys get any different or more accurate data from a chest strap vs a watch? What were the biggest differences or improvements you found using one?

General registration is coming up and I'm thinking of doing Ottawa in 2027. This will be my first IM. How does Ottawa compare to races in the US and Europe? Properly organized and well run? Enough volunteers? Race day vibes?

Full distance triathlons are so expensive so I'm hoping I can get my money's worth.

Total pretty much says it I’ve been trading for a marathon in October and was wondering if anyone had any experience with signing up for a half Ironman impulsively ish. I haven’t had much bike time but I’ve been able to bike about 60 miles in about three hours and 30 minutes. My swim time would probably be about \~2:10/100m open water. Also just to preface I did swim in high school and I have done 1 open water swim.

Thoughts? Is this a bad idea? I think doing the half would be fun!

I am unable to find it anywhere and the race site just links to the 2025 one. I’m trying to get time off of work and would love to try to figure out which days I won’t be able to work remotely, but without the schedule I can’t do that. Shouldn’t it be out by now? We’re 2 months out today. If it is and I’m just blind I’d be super grateful if someone could drop the link.

What’s everyone’s favorite running vests? Looking to get one as I’m getting into longer runs for training and I knew Salomon’s are great but was looking if others had good experiences with cheaper options

I saw the priority registration opened today and was curious how much I need to budget for the registration cost? If anyone registered today and is willing to share that would be amazing! Thank you so much.

Or if anyone has a priority link they aren’t using and willing to pass along that would be much appreciated as well. Thanks in advance everyone!