I am guessing you are talking world football, and not American football.
In any case you did have a athletic background. And probably knew how to swim. The jump was not as deep as many other people.
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Of course I could swim. But only about 100m before having to stop. Thank god for wetsuits! I dont believe anyone actually signs up for an IM if they can’t get from one end of a pool to the next. Not anyone I’ve met anyway.
And I’d stopped playing soccer about 3 years prior and weighed closer to 80kgs (played soccer at 72 now ~68). So far from great shape!
I just honestly don’t understand why IM is put on this pedestal by many, including some who do it.
And to think that people apparently get annoyed by others entering who haven’t got a ‘background in triathlon’…… who cares!!! Maybe IM inspires them. Maybe it’s a one and done for them. Good for them I say.
IMO it takes far more training focus, effort and specificity to turn in a really quick Oly than an IM. But that’s because I can’t do it!!
The thing that puts me off IM more than anything else is how serious lots of folks take it. Sure I want to go fast and will bust a gut to podium if possible. But always trying to have fun whilst doing it.
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The last couple of years IMAZ (traditionally beginner friendly race) has had a DNS/Swim DNF rate of 24-31%. Kona, no higher than 3%. I have no other data but I’m more than happy to speculate that for everybody like you that took to IM like a duck to water, there are many more that sink and never make the start line after signing up.
I don’t think IM is really put on a pedestal by many seasoned athletes. It’s sexy to the general public sure, and you’re more likely to impress your coworkers with a 16:50 IM vs. a 2:20 Oly. But it’s not gatekeeping or trying to boost the mystique of IM that makes us ask newbies reconsider jumping in. (It actually adds to the mystique frankly when you get to say 30% of athletes never even make it to the start line) We understand the training demands can pretty easily break somebody down who’s unprepared and know even many that do slog their way through a 16:50 are not likely to stick with the sport we love.
Then there is the safety issue.
When you have 3,000 people doing an open water swim, the odds are sadly pretty high that at least one person is going to have a cardiac event. If that case, that persons life depends on the lifeguards identifying that person and getting them to shore as quickly as possible. Having 200 of those athletes struggling along, resting on kayaks, having panic attacks themselves, and asking to get pulled from the race all because people on the Internet told them “You’ll be fine” makes it less likely somebody with a medical issue gets that life saving attention they need.
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Merry Christmas everyone, take the opportunity to consume as much protein and carbs as you can, you’re going to need it next week - Jan 1st is ‘traditionally’ RAMP Test Day, or 5k PB Day…and more importantly it’s also New Thread Day!
Hope the season brings goodness to you and yours. 
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What are folks’ thoughts on the carbon soled running shoes? Worth it for midpackers? I have some rei credit and am eyeing the Hoka carbon x 2s
Should I save my money for bike parts? For reference I’m a ~40min 10k / 3:30s marathoner
You gotta buy running shoes anyway…might as well buy shoes that help you run faster on race day.
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As long as you keep expectations in check… Absolutely they will help.
They will not magically turn you into a 245 marathoner but they might help shed a 5 minutes of a marathon with proper training and conditions
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As far as I can tell you can’t put them all in one bucket, there are huge differences. The carbon plate is needed to make better use of even more super foam, like a snowshoe. I’m not sure the plate itself makes a huge difference. Now if you ask whether super foam is worth it, then yes absolutely. Might be faster or not, but most definitely they are fun and aide recovery. The Hokas come with run of the mill standard EVA foam and are not really part of the super shoe group. The marketing is great, the midsole is not. I’m on my third pair, midsole craps out after 200k and the outsole remains tarmac only.
Vaporflys, Saucony Endorphin or the New Balance FuelCell line all bring exciting foam to the table, give them a try.
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The carbon soled shoes for me have been a total game-changer. It takes the stress out of the foot muscles that tend to get fatigued on longer runs. Not only have they made me faster, they have reduced the recovery time needed to be GTG again. I used to wake up after long runs with generalized ankle and foot soreness, but that is drastically reduced. I get along just fine with almost all neutral shoes, and I had tried them all prior for the first 30 years of my running life prior to moving to the Hoka Carbon x 2’s last year. The difference is kind of mind-blowing.
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Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
If you run a 3h30 or 4h ironman run leg, then I think there is no doubt that you will noticeably benefit from magic shoes. Whether you think the minutes gained is worth the $$$ is another thing. I would, but I’m obsessed. 
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Right! As we enter the final hours of 2021 I want to take a moment to thank everyone who took part, contributed, raced, reported on their races or even just read through and enjoyed it.
161 users have generated nearly 2900 posts, and we have had well over 37,000 views! So I think it’s safe to say we’ve contributed to the broader triathlon community out there. 
I will start a new thread for our training and racing efforts in 2022 tomorrow and lock this one.
And with that I wish everyone a happy healthy new year! 
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But but but but if you lock this thread where will I get to post my dec stats?!? :- 
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Thanks for doing these threads, Joe…although I am not currently doing any IM or tris, I enjoy reading them and occasionally contributing.
Here’s to a great 2022 for everyone!
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Happy New Year to all!! No Ramp or PB for me tomorrow (though I did do a 5k PB 4 weeks ago!). Been off the training wagon all month.
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100% agree.
The carbon x are pretty nice shoes. But they are not in the same league as the super shoes from other brands. I have several pairs but they are for training only.
It’s been said lots of times, but for an IM I think the benefit of supershoes with magic foam is the fact it seems to keep your legs intact for longer. Which means holding pace for longer in my case before it gets really hard. My Adidas prime X are the ultimate IM marathon shoe in my opinion. Not as fast feeling as alphaflys etc but mad cushioning and still faster than a regular ‘racy’ shoe.
In a half, I am simply quicker in alphaflys than I’d be in any other shoe.
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You may be surprised to hear that I did think of this, and I checked last December…there was no roll call! 
I wasn’t going to one and those of us in the Southern Hemisphere are mid season, but it makes sense to summarise at the end of the thread doesn’t it?
So instead of roll call an annual summary…?
I’ve just been back through my camera roll and I’ve had a fun year training and racing with you lot. Through the seasons, one sprint, two Olympic, a marathon and an Ironman
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Rei carries those as well. Might go for it. Thanks!
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You just missed a clear out sale!
Running warehouse were selling them for less than $100!
I bought 2 pairs!