
The 8 IRONMAN Training Protocols That Take You From Guessing to Race-Ready | Ep 584
From Oxygenaddict Triathlon Podcast by Rob Wilby
April 1, 2026 · 20 min · Episode 584
About this episode
Coach Rob discusses 8 essential training protocols for first-time Ironman athletes to ensure effective training and race readiness.
If you’ve signed up for your first Ironman, you’ve probably had the same thought most athletes do: Am I actually doing this right? Am I training too hard… or not hard enough? Are these sessions making me fitter… or just more tired? Will any of this actually get me to the finish line? In this episode, Coach Rob breaks down the 8 essential protocols he’s learned from coaching over a thousand first-time Ironman finishers. Simple, practical systems that remove the guesswork and make sure every session is doing its job. Some of these you’ll recognise. Some will feel unfamiliar. A few will feel completely counterintuitive. But these are the fundamentals that separate athletes who hope they’ll finish… from those who know they will . Inside the episode: Why Ironman is a fuel-limited event (and how to train your gut properly) How to use HRV to avoid burnout, illness and overtraining The critical mistake most athletes make with FTP How to build your swim pacing intuition Why your race can fall apart without the right sodium & hydration strategy The run strategy that improves performance (not just survival) How to build a sustainable, powerful aero position The open water skills that…
People in this episode
Host: Rob Wilby
Topics covered
- Ironman training
- athlete performance
- training protocols
- endurance sports
- race preparation
Keywords
- Ironman
- training protocols
- HRV
- FTP
- aero position
- hydration strategy
- open water skills
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- The IRONMAN / 70.3 Race Simulation Weekend: The Most Important 3 Days of your Final Build | Ep 592 · May 27, 2026 · 25 min
- Open Water Swim Skills: Sighting, Drafting, Managing Panic, Wetsuit Fit & Race Day Pacing (IRONMAN Q&A) | Ep 591 · May 20, 2026 · 30 min
- 70.3 Race Pace & TSS Targets, Heat Acclimation Protocol, Training Around Holidays: Listener Q&A | Ep 590 Q&A · May 13, 2026 · 29 min
- Long Run Fails, Brick Sessions & B Races: Your IRONMAN Training Questions Answered | Ep 589 · May 6, 2026 · 25 min
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