The Race.
Ironman Argentina. Everything before this is just practice.
Time until race start
* Every second of this countdown is a second I should probably be training.
The course.
Three disciplines. One very long day.
Swim
2.4 miles / 3.8km
- →Open water, likely a loop course
- →Wetsuit legal depending on water temp
- →Argentine November = Southern Hemisphere spring
- →Water temp hopefully cooler than a Texas pool in August
Target time
~1:05–1:15
Bike
112 miles / 180km
- →Blues Clues will be making the international trip
- →Course TBD but Argentina tends toward rolling terrain
- →Nutrition execution is everything here
- →6–7 hours on a saddle. Think about that.
Target time
~5:30–6:00
Run
26.2 miles / 42.2km
- →A full marathon. After all that. Incredible.
- →Texas training in heat means Argentina spring feels like paradise
- →Walk the aid stations. Eat. Stay calm.
- →Miles 18–22 will require a conversation with yourself.
Target time
~4:30–5:00
The goals.
Layered, because honesty requires options.
A Goal
Sub 11:00
If everything goes right and Argentina is kind
B Goal
Sub 12:00
The solid, sensible, achievable target
C Goal
Sub 13:00
A hard day but still a good day
D Goal
Finish
Cross the line. Hear the words. Cry probably.
✓ Good reasons to do this in Argentina
- ✓Training in Texas heat means Argentina spring will feel like running in air conditioning.
- ✓It's Argentina. Even if the race is terrible, the trip is incredible.
- ✓November race gives a full year of training. No shortcuts.
- ✓The finish line experience at Ironman Argentina is reportedly legendary.
- ✓If I'm going to do this once, I'm doing it somewhere worth going.
✗ Concerning reasons to do this in Argentina
- ✗I live in Texas, which made me think Argentina would be easy. (It won't.)
- ✗It's on another continent, which adds 'international flight' to race week stress.
- ✗I don't speak Spanish. 'Donde está el gel energético' is not in my vocabulary.
- ✗The jet lag situation is real and will require planning.
- ✗Blues Clues the bike has to fly in a bike box. Blues Clues is nervous.
Argentina, fast facts.
Things I've learned while panicking about logistics.
Time zone is GMT-3, which is 2 hours ahead of Texas
November is spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Genuinely wild.
Argentina is famous for beef. I will eat a lot of it the week before.
Spanish is the language. I speak approximately 40 words.
Buenos Aires is one of the best cities in the world. Good excuse to go.
Mate is their national drink. It is not coffee but I respect it.
Ironman Argentina has been held there since 2006. The course knows what it's doing.
Race day timeline.
The plan. (Plans change. The race does not.)
Wake up
“Stare at ceiling. Question everything.”
Breakfast
“400 calories. Mostly carbs. Nothing new on race day.”
Transition setup
“Rack bike. Check gear. Check gear again. Check gear a third time.”
Swim warm-up
“Get in the water. Calm down. You've done this.”
Race start 🏊
“And we're off. Don't go out too hard.”
Swim done → T1
“Get on Blues Clues. Begin the long conversation.”
Bike done → T2
“Legs will feel weird. This is normal.”
Finish line 🎉
“If B goal goes to plan. Cry. Call people. Eat everything.”
🇦🇷
See you at the finish line.
Or somewhere on the course. Either way, please cheer loudly. I will need it around mile 20 of the run.