I think what we’ve all learned here is how much residual fitness ex-pros have. He doesn’t mention it but he finished 24th out of 300 age groupers. Not to mention he was flying past everybody else at the end of the run… while speaking to a GoPro. 😂
If I could do it on bike fitness alone, I would definitely try :D I feel like, of the three, it's best to do it on run fitness alone. Running is so much harder on the body compared to swim and bike - it's the one that I feel for days after - so I guess what I'm saying is that it could be worse, IMO!
"My God! No swimming training! No fitness! I must be foolish to even jump into the water!" And then he does it in 31 minutes. That would be top 15 in my last event. Not to mention 15 minutes faster than me... No fitness... Yeah... Right... 🤨 😂
in my experience if you're goal is simply to finish a triathalon; swimming is the hardest if you don't know how to swim, and the easiest if you're an even somewhat competent swimmer biking is the easiest if you can sit up right on a bike, but the hardest if you want to actually be competitive. mostly due to the amount of time it takes to train running is somewhat in the middle. most people know how to run, but are often just too lazy to do it one thing is for sure, you won't be finishing a triathalon if you've never trained to swim. you could get away with not having run or biked for 10 years however, simply by staying upright on the bike section and walking during the run. the cut offs for triathalons are VERY generous
I swim and bike but my main effort is running... You need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim without being gassed or drowning... You need to be able to finish the distance on the bike and be comfortable in the saddle for the duration of the ride. But the swim and the bike can be the easiest part of the race.... But it does come down to are you trying to just finish or or you actually racing...
I’d like to see a repeat BUT with a tiny bit of swim and bike training: say a maximum of 20 hours worth in the 6-7 weeks leading in. I reckon James would get to about 85% in both disciplines with about a month of 4km per week swimming and 100km worth of indoor training on the kickr. maybe he’d break 4hrs on that, assuming his run training is ‘on’.
Swimming is very technique heavy - unless you are already great at long distance swimming techniques I don't think running fitness translates to swimming fitness 1:1
For those who are complaining about him being form pro, etc. this is all relative. I’m a former D1 swimmer and can get in the water with no training, it would totally suck but I could do any tri swim distance and have the same comment “tired arms, etc.”. If he tried to do this in 20 years after being a couch potato all that time it would not go so well… 😂
It would have been nice if you didn’t say you did no swim and bike training as you ran past people 😀. When I did a full distance I knew I would have knee problems on the run so trained some power walking and got some friendly abuse from fellow competitors for walking past them running on the last 10K lap
Hmm ok so ur an X Pro u know u can swim the distance and u know u can bike the distance and u have more than adequate run fitness …… and as a result u finished a half Ironman in 4.5 hrs …… hmm ok this might have been more relatable if a mere mortal tried to do it …… !!
I think what we’ve all learned here is how much residual fitness ex-pros have. He doesn’t mention it but he finished 24th out of 300 age groupers. Not to mention he was flying past everybody else at the end of the run… while speaking to a GoPro. 😂
Does being a pro for 20 years count?
If I could do it on bike fitness alone, I would definitely try :D
I feel like, of the three, it's best to do it on run fitness alone. Running is so much harder on the body compared to swim and bike - it's the one that I feel for days after - so I guess what I'm saying is that it could be worse, IMO!
oh and I would kill for a 31 minute swim split with no training! :o
But you are running after a 90k bike bike fitness still has value, you can walk/run the run
"My God! No swimming training! No fitness! I must be foolish to even jump into the water!"
And then he does it in 31 minutes. That would be top 15 in my last event. Not to mention 15 minutes faster than me... No fitness... Yeah... Right... 🤨
😂
Unfortunately that only works when you already can swim the distance :)
Second that. If you are still a relatively new swimmer, surely you need the training not for fitness, but for technique and breathing practice.
well Done James. For me that would be just pure madness to do with no training. Who needs brick sessions! LOL I do. Cheers
in my experience if you're goal is simply to finish a triathalon;
swimming is the hardest if you don't know how to swim, and the easiest if you're an even somewhat competent swimmer
biking is the easiest if you can sit up right on a bike, but the hardest if you want to actually be competitive. mostly due to the amount of time it takes to train
running is somewhat in the middle. most people know how to run, but are often just too lazy to do it
one thing is for sure, you won't be finishing a triathalon if you've never trained to swim. you could get away with not having run or biked for 10 years however, simply by staying upright on the bike section and walking during the run. the cut offs for triathalons are VERY generous
Sorry to hear you were injured and great to know you recovered, but it is surely less ideal as injury of some sort will appear.
Seems like a repeat video as this race from James was already shown on the channel.
Which bike was James using? Is that the Canyon CF SLX 7 Etap?
I swim and bike but my main effort is running... You need to be comfortable in the water and be able to swim without being gassed or drowning... You need to be able to finish the distance on the bike and be comfortable in the saddle for the duration of the ride. But the swim and the bike can be the easiest part of the race.... But it does come down to are you trying to just finish or or you actually racing...
I’d like to see a repeat BUT with a tiny bit of swim and bike training: say a maximum of 20 hours worth in the 6-7 weeks leading in. I reckon James would get to about 85% in both disciplines with about a month of 4km per week swimming and 100km worth of indoor training on the kickr. maybe he’d break 4hrs on that, assuming his run training is ‘on’.
Swimming is very technique heavy - unless you are already great at long distance swimming techniques I don't think running fitness translates to swimming fitness 1:1
What about trying this now on full distance? ✌️
Even though the speed it still incredible, it feels relaxing, that even ex-pros can experience tired arms after 200m...
He’s a different breed! He could retire for a year and not train and still beat 90% of people.
It sounds like you could have gotten a better time by smashing the bike and doing a slower run?
I would love to know how swim and bike and run times compare to your best
A lekker session and a lekker run? Lekker man, lekker. 😂
I actually think you can do it by only training bike. as long as you can swim normally
This doesn't seem like a standard 70.3 half iron distance race.
Well done
Still beat my PB by 45 minutes !! 😂🥴
For those who are complaining about him being form pro, etc. this is all relative. I’m a former D1 swimmer and can get in the water with no training, it would totally suck but I could do any tri swim distance and have the same comment “tired arms, etc.”. If he tried to do this in 20 years after being a couch potato all that time it would not go so well… 😂
It would have been nice if you didn’t say you did no swim and bike training as you ran past people 😀. When I did a full distance I knew I would have knee problems on the run so trained some power walking and got some friendly abuse from fellow competitors for walking past them running on the last 10K lap
More importantly, can I do a 70.3 on NO running? My knees now in such a state 6mos of run training will end them.
Hmm ok so ur an X Pro u know u can swim the distance and u know u can bike the distance and u have more than adequate run fitness …… and as a result u finished a half Ironman in 4.5 hrs …… hmm ok this might have been more relatable if a mere mortal tried to do it …… !!
you can do it without training at all
when you live properly...
and are not crazy about any achievement