70.3 vs Full Ironman: Which Distance Should You Target First?
You’ve completed a few Olympic distance triathlons. You’re hooked. Now you’re eyeing the bigger distances, and the question looms: should you jump straight to a full Ironman, or build up through 70.3 first? It’s a decision that will shape the next 6-12 months of your training and racing, so let’s break down what you need to know. The Case for Starting with 70.3 Training Volume Is Manageable A 70.3 requires roughly 8-12 hours of training per week at peak, compared to 12-18+ hours for a full Ironman. If you work full-time and have family commitments, fitting in 10 hours of training is challenging but doable. Fitting in 15-18 hours requires either significant sacrifices or an extremely understanding support system. ...