my 14-yr old daughter is going to do a double-ironman-triathlon?

Question

swim: 4.9 miles
bike: 224 miles
run: 52 miles

in our city they're having this competition.
my daughter is very fit.. she runs 5 miles/day.
she told me about this... she wants to do this triathlon.
i told her "its very difficult" but she said she'll get through it.
the triathalon will take her at least 18 hours (average time)
i dont know if i should let her do this.
i am her mother, and i dont want her to be in pain.
idk... im confused. should i allow her to start training for this huge event?

if she does decide to do it, and she quits in the middle of the race, i'll make her life miserable with crunches!!! (not kidding)

Answer 1

I am currently in training for Ironman Arizona and I hope she realizes what she is getting herself into. First of all, if this is a USAT sanctioned event, I am not sure she will be allowed to compete. The minimum age for a USAT sanctioned Ironman distance event is 18. This is because these events are unbelievably difficult and taxing on the body. Exhaustion and dehydration in regular Ironman events have caused well conditioned athletes to completely collapse and even die. An ultra-Ironman is going to cause a toll on her body unlike anything you can ever imagine. It takes well conditioned triathletes years to train and condition themselves for a regular Ironman, but an ultraironman is at a completely different level.

Honestly, I don't think she should be allowed to do it, although her zeal is great, I do not think she realizes the full extent of what she is getting herself into. This is extremely dangerous. Although running 5 miles a day is a great base, she needs considerable more training. Has she done any other triathlons? If not she needs to do a sprint or Olympic distance first then try a half ironman and then an ironman. She NEEDS to do an Ironman before she attempts a double ironman. She should be able to bike 200 miles at a time, run/walk 50 miles at a time, and swim for over 2 hours before entering this event.

I am typing this fast because I cannot express the danger of a 14 year old doing this event (either male or female, the this is a men's race answer was way off base, both men and women can compete in these events). Perhaps a good goal for her to start working towards should be to do the event the year she turns 18. She needs about 4 years to prepare for this event. Not only that, but to compete in this event she will need a lot of equipment (wetsuit ~$200, lightweight road bike ~$2000, shoes, tri-suit, gels, bars, juice, bike shoes, googles, hydration packs, training gear, spare tires, spare tubes, CO2 cartridges, etc) the list goes on and on and this should all in the end cost well over $3000 not including race fee entry which will be over $500.

I am sorry I am ranting but I will end this now with these words... This is too dangerous of an event for a person to jump into without IMMENSE training and I do not believe any 14 year old can safely compete in an event of this intensity!!!

By the way you say this event will be 18 hours, there is no way she will complete the course in 18 hours. 18 hours to complete a double ironman would be an amazing time for the top triathletes in the world. For a 14 year old girl expect a time of between 25 and 34 hours. I am not exaggerating with this time. Most ironman distance events see the majority of the people finish between 12 and 17 hours, a sub 12 hour time is pretty impressive and to hold this for an entire addtional ironman would be even more impressive. I would go into the event expecting a 30 hour time.

Answer 2

I think trifreak has a point. If there are many months till that infamous event, I think there is time for a build-up training, which may also include smaller triatlon races. I don't know what kind of race is that, but your daughter should only enter it if there is enough time to complete it (so that she can see it more like a quest, than a gruesome event).

I think a realistic goal for a 14 years old girl would be something like this:
- day 1: All the swimming part and about 40 miles bike in the evening
- day 2: 100 miles bike
- day 3: the rest of the bike
- day 4: WALK .. 10 kilometers before the finish might be a good time to start a jog, and maybe a glourious sprint in the end ;)

Also gather plenty of information on alimentation and recovery.
techniques.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I think it's amazing that you'r daughter is up to doing something like that.

The only think I would be worried about is that at 14 her body is not fully developed. Crap, at 17 my body isn't fully developed yet either. I played college soccer (practice 3-4 hours a day)and was in Marine Corp option NROTC (pt hard 3 times a week 6-7am + personal workouts) the first semester of this past school year. At 16 and 17 I was the youngest my trainer had ever had to work with and he repeatedly stated that my body was not prepared to take all I was doing. Unfortunatly my body agreed with him and I went through parts of 1st semester and all of second semester with reoccuring knee and shoulder problems and now i'm sheduled for shoulder surgery. Just something to think about.

BUT
I wouldn't have changed a thing though. Even if I would have known I was gonna get injured I still would have done everything I did this year. Your daughter seems to be on the path to a very healthy/fit life, and she is very motivated. I think letting her start to train would be a good idea (when is this triathalon? Most people train for stuff like this 4, 6, or 12 months) After a month or so ask her how her traing is going and how she is feeling physically. Make sure she stretches and diets right and if she experiences any injuries make sure she doesnt try to push through it but gets better before continuing. She'll need to make sure she's mentally prepared as well Maybe she'll be ready for this one...maybe the two of you could talk about her doing one next year or in a few years instead and compromise on it. Hope I helped and good luck.

Answer 4

The training to do an ironman triathlon is staggering....a double ironman even moreso. A regimen of biking, swimming and running is needed to compete in these types of events. If she runs only 5 miles a day, and does nothing else (no swimming or biking), she (and you) shouldn't begin to think about entering this race. This isn't a race for novices - serious injuries can result to improperly trained individuals. The nutrition aspect in these races is also important - how would she take in the calories necessary (and in what form) to maintain the high activity level needed? How about the mental portion of competition? Tell her to stay home for this race, and if she truly wants to start racing triathlons, there are many shorter ones that could give her the experience necessary to enter the longer ones. Advise her to talk with experienced triathletes in your area to get a fuller understanding of what it takes to enter these competitions. Check out books on conditioning, nutrition, running, biking, swimming, etc.

Answer 5

If you do, I suggest investing in a personal trainer for her. Somone that can asses her fitness level and advise her on what she needs to work on.

Also, make sure that she knows her own limits, and make sure she knows that just being in this competition is enough, that you are proud of her so that she won't push herself too hard to finish. Make sure she knows that if she starts showing any signs of fatigue or dehydration that she should stop.

Also make sure that you talk to her doctor about this as well, and get his or her opinion. They have a wealth of knowledge that an online answers forum will never have.

Answer 6

Wow. She is very young....too young to compete in this event. When I was her age I had exercise bulimia. Yes, it is a disease. It is when you exercise to the point of exhaustion. I was exercising up to 5 hours a day at my lowest point. (which she will have to do to train for this event). I wound up not having my period for 1 year and it also this led to anoexria. I would be very wary of this because she is so young and because I was like her. Her bones and muscles are still growing so I would say no....she is too young for this.

Answer 7

I do not see a problem with this for her. She should compete only to finish the race. Not push herself to try to be one of the first in line. Make the competition fun. Make sure she does stretching before each race, and afterwards. At night, lie in a tub of warm water to relax the muscles.

Tell her good luck! And be proud and supportative of her all the way. Who knows, you may try yourself next year. Remember, winning the race is not getting to the finish line, the fact that you are trying is what counts!

Answer 8

There's not a double IM (or an IM, for that matter) anywhere that will allow entry for a 14yo. If you want knowledgable answers to this question, go to www.beginnertriathlete.com and post it.

Answer 9

Training would be good. This sounds incredibly difficult, but what do you lose by having your daughter compete? She might surprise you and win, or she may quit, but I doubt if she will seriously injure herself.

Answer 10

sure. but if she is tired or cant go on any longer DO NOT let her push herself to the limit!!!!! make it very clear you are letting her do this but under YOUR permission. you have to be clear with your kid and give them some freedom to do what they want.
im a wild child and my mom gives me the freedom i want. :D it works for me.