Brooks Running Apparel

So, you’ve decided that you want to participate in an Ironman Triathlon. Considered to be one of the world’s most challenging endurance events, the Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run; the duration of which is one day.

How does the human body endure this? How can you get yourself to the stage where you’re ready to tackle such a challenge?  Well, the answer is quite simple: training.

Ironman triathletes put in a lot of training hours.  It’s quite common for typical weeks to be over 20 hours of training.  With this kind of training load, it’s important to have good, comfortable and reliable gear.  Below I will share some of my favorite brands and products that I rely heavily on for my training.

Swimming- If truth be told, you really only need three pieces of swimwear: a swimsuit, a pair of goggles and a swim cap (yes, even men need a cap: it makes you more hydrodynamic).  The swimsuit brand I recommend using is TYR.  They fit great and are durable enough to hold up in chlorine.  I am also a huge fan of both Speedo vanquisher and Aquasphere goggles – the later perfect for outdoor or indoor swimming due to their design with cutting-edge aquatics technology.

Cycling- This leg of the race requires the largest amount of gear. The most important thing to do is to get a professional bike fitting because making sure the bike fits is crucial.  You should put a lot of time and effort into making sure you are as comfortable on the bike as possible.  You’ll also need bike shoes, bike shorts, jerseys and a good helmet.  Talk to your local bike/triathlon store to help you get started.

Running- Some people may say that all you need to run is a pair of shoes, but those people obviously don’t run much.  In order to run comfortably you need a great pair of shoes fitted by a professional at a local running store. In addition to shoes you’ll also need some running gear.  Hands-down my favorite shoe and apparel company is Brooks.  Ladies, make sure you invest in a top-notch sports bra like one from Moving Comfort.

Now what are you waiting for? Get out there and start training!

Guest Blogger: Laura (Frayed Laces)