What will training for an Ironman be like?

Hard to believe it's Christmas Eve 2006. What a year it has been.......
The date of Ironman Wisconsin is September 9th, 2007, exactly 37 weeks from today (but who's counting?!).
The training program I am following incorporates a practice known as periodization and is 36 weeks in length. Basically it breaks your training into specific periods, gradually and deliberately building your endurance to a point that peaks on race day. I'm currently in the Orientation period designed to get my body used to the rigors of swim, bike and run after the off season. The workouts aren't long but help get my anaerobic levels back in line and help me get used to the 'cadence' of my training schedule. I've made the decision to double the Orientation period to 4 weeks, just to help build the base.
The next period of the training is pre - season, lasting 8 weeks and is just what the name implies. During this period my workouts during the week get a little longer and will be more difficult to complete in one session. I'll be looking at many lunches or after work sessions in the pool or on the road, cycling or running in addition to early mornings (I'm glad I have an understanding boss and family!). I'll also begin a few Brick sessions on the weekend. Bricks are back to back workouts with no break in between, usually a bike/run, sometimes a swim/bike, all designed to teach your muscles how to make the transition quickly during the race. Mostly they just hurt allot!
After pre-season, I'll begin the 'Base' period, lasting 12 weeks. The Base period does just that, builds your base. Bike and run sessions get longer, as do the workouts during the week.
Training volume per week will range between 11 and 16 hours. Doesn't sound like much, but with a full time (or plus) job, family and a fairly long commute, my time management skills will be tested as much as I will be physically! However, the average American watches over 4 hours of TV PER DAY, nearly 3 times what my training will be each day during the week! So, remind me again what excuse we have for not having enough time to start(insert your goal here) instead of cutting back on something as wasteful as TV?
Next comes the most intense period during the 38 weeks, the Competitive period. It is 12 weeks in length as well, but now it gets interesting! Bricks (bike/run)sessions or race simulation sessions (all 3 -swim/bike/run), will last as long as 4 to 6 hours on Saturday followed by another 3 to 4 hours on Sunday. I will also plan my race season in addition to Ironman Wisconsin around this period. So it's probable I would race in a Sprint, Olympic or even a 1/2 Ironman distance race one day and just continue in my training the next. It will just depend on what races are available and when...
The final period will be the Taper. The Taper lasts 2 weeks and is standard practice for any endurance type race. Marathoners taper before the race, all designed to allow your body to recover from very hard training, peaking on race day.
Finally, the last part of this entire process will be the post period, referred to 'Post Ironman Syndrome' or 'Post Extreme Endurance Syndrome'. According to the few articles I've read as well as personal experience after marathons, this post period can lead to depression, lack of motivation and extended muscle fatigue, soreness etc. Handling the period right after something like an Ironman isn't part of any training program, no one really knows what causes it, just some assumptions. I've observed how a friend and triathlete Brian Lavelle has handled it and I believe it comes down to one major success principle regarding goals. And that's to simply MAKE SURE you have another goal in place before you reach the one you're working towards. It's natural, in my opinion, to have a let down after you work so hard on something like an endurance race, you achieve it, and then suddenly you don't have that drive in place, working towards the next goal in your life. Goals are funny things, all you have to do is make the decision, write it down, think about it daily and you are nearly assured of achieving it, yet so many of us couldn't answer 'yes' if we were asked if we had specific goals identified and written down.
Think about the last time you REALLY wanted to do something, I mean really wanted it. Everything else was secondary. You made the decision and got to work, simple as that. Now think about the same thing, achieving a goal, but as soon as you achieved it, what happened? Did you go back to old habits ultimately leading you back to the place you were before, someplace you didn't wanted to be? Dieting is like that. We diet to get to a weight, have discipline, lose the weight and as soon as we get to the goal weight, we reach for the chocolate cake. Crazy!
Next weeks post will be about what my goals are for this Journey to Ironman Wisconsin, hope you check in!
Merry Christmas to everyone and thanks to all of you that have shared your encouragement, it's been great to hear from old friends! I can't believe the legs this blog has gotten over a weeks time, I think it's going to be fun!

Talk to you next week!

Dan