An entry at the Ironman World Championships is under qualification only.

To qualify, the competitors have to achieve a qualification race during the year (from July to June) and get one of the allocated slots, depending on the race, the number of participants, gender and division.

To me, that would be an entry at a new level of competition and my first target is to qualify, which won’t be easy.
Very not.

A podium would be mandatory to secure the slot (and avoid the lottery of the rolling down process after the race).
In my division M55, that mean to complete the half Ironman distance 70.3 miles, 1.9 / 90 / 21.1 km in 4h40.
Or less.

Based on what I feel (or suppose) I’m able to :

Swim   @2:00 min/100m pace = 38 minutes
Bike     @30 km/h speed = 3 hours
Run      @04:16 min/km pace = 1 h 30 minutes
+ transitions time T1+T2 (~ 10 minutes)

Total time   5H18

36 minutes ‘only’ to shave but… the bike course is hilly (+1000m elevation) and that destroy my average speed, which is currently nearer 20 than 30 km/h.
Then I have to push myself… pretty HARD !

Last but not least, fighting for a slot is only a round, a prologue toward the grand finale.
Someone said : ‘Dream Big’.

To qualifiy is one thing… Maybe I’m able to, maybe not. How should I know ?
But all the meaning of this is to enter the world’s, which is the REAL thing.
As like the olympians does. It’s not only to be part of it but to be ready, as much as you can to get a medal.

So, the focus shouldn’t be on the qualification but on the next step.
Assuming to prepare for the world’s and not only to enter.

A world championship is always a fierce battle, whatever the division. Competitors out there are tough and ready.
In my division some former pros are in the field as like Laurent Jalabert, Alexandr Vinokourov and more.

Then my target should be aligned with these top level opponents.