The True Price of My First Ironman 70.3: Uncovering the Costs

Join me in this video as I break down the expenses associated with participating in my first Ironman 70.3 triathlon. Discover the true price of taking on this incredible challenge, as I unveil the costs of registration, gear, and race-day essentials.
Learn about the various expenses involved in competing in an Ironman 70.3, such as:
- Race registration fees
- Swimming, biking, and running gear
- Travel and accommodation expenses
By the end of this video, you'll have a clearer understanding of the financial commitment required to participate in an Ironman 70.3 triathlon. Whether you're considering signing up for your first race or simply curious about the costs involved, this video will shed light on the monetary aspects of this epic endurance event.
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Some of the Gear mentioned 😃 (These are affiliate links🙏)
Swim 🏊‍♂️
- Fins (amzn.to/3plDlUl) 🧜‍♀️
- Goggles (amzn.to/3M5eA7x) 🥽
Bike 🚴‍♂️
- Clips (amzn.to/3nIDLnd) 🥾
- Aero Bars (amzn.to/3NQgmei) 🚴‍♂️
- Helmet (amzn.to/41hSeEq) 🪖 - Wow this went up 😭
- Repair Kit (amzn.to/3VKA9NS) 🔧
Run 🏃‍♂️
- Kicks (amzn.to/44CGcs1) 👟
- race/run belt (amzn.to/3M6K3GI) 🪢
- Wahoo Kickr (www.wahoofitness.com/devices/...) ⚙️
Optional
- HR Strap (amzn.to/44Bvhid) 🫀
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💬 Connect With Me On Social Media! 👇
Instagram 📷: ( / the_silver_lining_expe... )
Strava 🚴‍♂️: ( / strava )
TikTok 🎥: (www.tiktok.com/@the_silver_li...)

[@joyridaz]

Amazing video! I’d add to the mandatory category some fuel and electrolyte and some high quality socks. For the optional category get a tri coach, makes the training super fun and keeps you healthy and motivated so you don’t have DNS die to injury.

[@the_silver_liningg]

That is a great point! Socks and nutrition is key! 🫡🙏

[@johnrwilker]

Training plans, fitness club membership, Zwift membership, other health apps, fuel during training, trip to the course 1 month out for recon, the list goes on and on and on. For me, the cost of my first 70.3 Ironman was my 25 year marriage. In retrospect however, I’m not completely sure if the Ironman wrecked my marriage or my poor marriage made me want to do the Ironman. Either way, best decision EVER.

[@frederikweibel]

I just did an Ironman 70.3, without any watch or trisuit. Swam with my old googles, and some old swimming boxer-shorts. For the bike I borrowed a friends bike, which was fine. Also I dont have clips, I just used my runnning shoes. It took me 6 hours 45min in total, and it cost me the total of the racefee and a fitness membership for 6 months :) Easy peacy

[@the_silver_liningg]

That’s awesome 👏 🎉🎉 congratulations! Do you think you will do another one?? 👀 I Guess the question is… do you think you will buy a bike/ continue doing them? 😂

[@Bob-bw5zx]

Great video and love the personality. It's a mere 2 year plan that I have before signing up for an IM, but watching video's like these really help me understand every aspect of the race, plus it actually motivates me. Good luck on your next race(s)!

[@the_silver_liningg]

Thanks Bob 🙏 I appreciate the comment 🫡👍 Best of luck to you as well 🫡 🏊‍♂️🏃‍♂️🚴‍♂️

[@MrRamkulov]

I' happy that channel like this one does exists and you are sharing useful information with us. Thanks.

[@the_silver_liningg]

Thank you @MrRamkulov :) That means a lot!

[@joyridaz]

Totally worth it for the street cred of the 70.3 sticker when u pull up next to a 5k or 13.1 sticker

[@the_silver_liningg]

That's funny you mention that 🤣 I never understood what the 70.3 stickers meant. I thought it was a nation wide radio station or something 😂 FacePalm! 🥸🫣

[@runspace]

Looking forward to seeing how your fare in your next tri-adventure! :D

[@the_silver_liningg]

Thank you :) 🙏 I am aiming for December! I hope can finish in a sub 6!

[@thesuperstomper4776]

Cool video

[@Forever_Tri-ing]

Great video. The best (and worst) thing about Triathlon is all the gear you can buy. Well worth it though. Keep up the good work.

[@the_silver_liningg]

Yes sir 😂 Indeed! 😅 Thank you 🙏

[@willhorkoff]

Love the vid!!! Triathlons expensive, but so worth it 😫

[@the_silver_liningg]

Yes sir! 👀👀 You got me looking at Tri bikes 😂👀👀 Maybe after the second 70.3 🫡

[@jcesq3204]

Haha. Man you are legit funny. Really liking your vids! I knew the answer was a "hell yeah".

[@the_silver_liningg]

Haha thank you 🙏😀

[@HarryBijlwisetoolate]

Good video... Ps, it becomes a lifestyle, and you find a balance on just how much you will invest over time. It does become a constant because, like you mentioned, you can always get nicer equipment, have to replace shoes and other things, but offset is on what you would have invested instead.

[@the_silver_liningg]

Yes Sir! I see it as spending money on my health rather than other vices 😂

[@Quentijn]

Heck, putting everything together for my own 70.3 I just threw up a bit in my mouth lol: - Trisuit 200EUR - Wetsuit 350EUR - Swim training gear - think paddles, goggles, etc 120EUR - Swimming pool subscription 80EUR - Bike (already owned) 2800EUR - Bike fit 350EUR - New aero cockpit adjustments 300EUR - Renting a pair of high end deep carbon racing wheels 75EUR - Glasses (already owned) 150EUR - Helmet (already owned) 120EUR - Pairs of training sneakers used up in training (3) 380EUR - Pair of racing shoes 180EUR - Wahoo smart watch 200EUR IM license fee + one day racing license 380EUR Hotel 150EUR So this brings it to 5.835EUR That's without all the gels, powders, etc so should be around 6K EUR Bloody hell

[@the_silver_liningg]

That sounds about right 😂 thanks for sharing 👍 I have a friend that was around the 13k mark 😳 That bike can really hurt you 😂 🤷‍♂️

[@gluecksdrache2054]

Thanks for sharing the calculation, appreciated!

[@paulgoodsort1824]

Ironman NZ: Biggest cost was travel/car hire/accom/entry. Next swimming pool fees. Everything else I purchased or upgraded was 2nd hand off NZs version of eBay. My bike was 40 years old!

[@the_silver_liningg]

Smart Man! That's how I should have started! I decided to sell my kidney out for some fancy gear!

[@tjtennisicmroll2k]

It was expensive, but it could have been much more expensive. The race organizers sometime run into athletes head-on with a motorbike and then try to cover it up.

[@blitzzturbo]

Funny video. You’re a brave man. I didn’t even want to know how much I spent. Now I have a rough idea. Thank you. However I’m pretty sure you’re short at least $1,500 in other miscellaneous expenses like nutrition, gym membership, zwift membership, water bottles, ultra expensive ironman swag you have to buy, etc

[@the_silver_liningg]

You are not wrong sir! appreciate the comment. 😂

[@elclaudiosanchez]

We have the same exact bike!! i did SantaCruz with it?! Great Bike!!

[@the_silver_liningg]

Sick! Santa Cruz sounds like an awesome race!

[@Kegofwhoopass]

Good video and breakdown. Positive side is you have most of what you need for your next race, besides travel and registration fee. Thanks for the heads up on the Zwift trainer, I didn’t know they made one. I have a fluid trainer and it’s eating up my tires. Zwift one also comes with a cassette so you don’t need to take the one off your own bike.

[@the_silver_liningg]

Thank you 🙏 Yeah! The zwift trainer price point is much friendlier than the wahoo kickr. Would have for sure gotten the zwift over the wahoo and saved the I think it’s $300-400 bucks 😂

[@Kegofwhoopass]

@@the_silver_lininggI live in Pennsylvania so I need the setup for indoors during the winter.

[@the_silver_liningg]

Oh snap! Yeah for sure 😂 I use to be in Denver but I don’t think the winter gets as bad out there as it does in Pennsylvania 🥶❄️

[@JasonHollinger]

You can also think of it as a long term investment into your good health. Others will spend that much on partying and destroying their health and then double on medication and doctor fees! My 1st 70.3 was 1000 on a second hand tribike, 200 on carbon shoes, 250 on running shoes and socks, 100 on a second hand wetsuit. 400 Wahoo Snap, trisuit 150, glasses 50, plus some gym fees,and Zwift 6 months, 600 Entry fee plus 600 Airbnb for a weekend... I forgot the garmin watch was a free handown. Rough grand total: 3500

[@Two_Wheel_Yeehaw]

Pinche triathletes

[@joymelody4868]

May i ask...which service you use to pack ur bike?

[@the_silver_liningg]

Hi Joy! So you know what I actually went to my local bike shop and asked for them to pack the bike in a box. If I could do it all over again I would have purchased an proper bike case. In particular if you got your bike fitted, that way you don't have to mess with any parts that already got fitted. I am actually looking around for which case to buy right now. They aren't exactly cheap. :(

[@SpearingWithSlurpey]

I think you could have saved quite a bit of money on the watch ebay has alot of cheaper options for garmins being sold then full retail price same with indoor trainer. I think most of that stuff can be bought over time as I am sure you did but man is it alot to see once its all bought lol. Im doing my first one - the Gulf coast on in Panama city in May. I liked seeing you bought the same bike as what I chose the AL-3 I was curious how it would fair but my dad did one on a walmart swinn in 2004 so anything is possible ha. Keep up the youtube work

[@the_silver_liningg]

Yeah for sure! I went overboard with the gear 😂 The Walmart Schwin! I miss my mongoose bike 😂 the good ol days! Good luck on your race! I am sure you will rock it! Side note! I have been wanting to learn how to spear fish! That’s the next hobby on my list! I got into fly fishing back when I lived in CO but now that I am in CA, I think it would be foolish to not take the opportunity to learn!

[@SpearingWithSlurpey]

@@the_silver_liningg Yeah its a fun way to be more selective when you fish barring the regs are allowed as some fish you can't spear but its probably the easiest way to come back with something these days. Also nice to not waste time when you can simply dive in and see what around then pull up and move to a new spot. Some spots people fish they may sit for a hour and catch nothing where as diving the same spot I may notice the same thing then move in 5-10 mins of diving it. So its a time saver for sure. I have been diving too for about 20 years now and I still have only seen a handful of sharks near me as I speared.

[@the_silver_liningg]

That's awesome! I'll let you know when I give it a try! I have spend a long time watching spear fishing videos the pats month 😂 Just subbed👍

[@Shane_Finnegan]

Did you not buy bike computer? I’m newbie but I thought they would be required.

[@the_silver_liningg]

Hey Finny! I have not purchased a bike computer yet 😀 I think it's time to get one! I have been using my phone and a phone mount for rides that I don't 😀know. It would be nice to have a bike computer and get some other data points.

[@forgetful212]

You spent way too much on that Roka tri suit. Great quality but not sure why you went all out on that. there are good quality ones that cost less. The Garmin watch too.

[@the_silver_liningg]

I did! 😂😅 mistakes have been made! I have to do at least 2 races a year now to justify them 😂

[@blitzzturbo]

I don’t think so. I bought the roka after using other cheaper suit and other combos. I wish I bought roka first because it saves in the long run for sure. Quality and comfort is night and day difference.

[@titoalvareznajteam9514]

I am not see the whole video but your expenses are for Ironman entrance, beginner, after all those big purchases that you did you don’t will pay a lot money on your next race. Any way, the average that I pay on 70.3 is 1500 dollars and for 140.6 is 6000 dollars.

[@the_silver_liningg]

That's some great information Tito 👍 Gracias 🙏

[@frankie2994]

I'm sorry but this just seems like an overall poor misjudgment of choices. Here are just some easy ways to reduce expenses: - participate in a local 70.3 or olympic triathlon not branded under Ironman. - Spend on a used bike already set up with tt bars. - Spend way less on a sports watch, lots of 200$ options that monitor activities. - Rent a wetsuit instead of buying it. - Go for a way cheaper trisuit option. Triathlon as a sport is a long-term dedication you need to be passionate about given the cost. It seems too often people get into these to flatter their own ego's and check it off their goal list. Be patient with training, equipment and also humble with your own abilities and the passion will come.

[@the_silver_liningg]

Hey, you're spot on with your advice! Honestly, I didn't make the smartest choices in the beginning and it's been a learning curve. I've been gathering my gear over time, but I could've definitely saved a ton of bucks with the options you've listed. Patience is key, both in training and in spending, right? Thanks for chiming in with solid tips, Frankie! 🤙🏊‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️

[@DavidFritzIII]

More ironmans just become more expensive... before you know it you will be buying a 75k Euro camper van designed for triathlon.. it's addictive, but... better than being addicted to many other things out there

[@the_silver_liningg]

I completely agree David! My better half says the same thing! 😂 She has enjoyed my healthier life style and weight loss and prefers me getting addicted to training rather than going out to breweries! I think finding a community with a similar mindset is awesome! Thanks for watching 👍

[@phillipcardona7054]

I need more! Do you have an IG?

[@the_silver_liningg]

Thanks Phillip 🙏 I don't at the moment! I need to start one 😂

[@rubencuevas3605]

Gotta pay the cost to be the boss.

[@SwimBikeRunStu]

Yep its certainly not cheap. But weirdly its all good fun 😂

[@the_silver_liningg]

Yes sir! Indeed! You are killing it Stu! You are a content machine! I should have thrown in a comment for first timers 😦 "if it's your first time trying out a triathlon do something local with the existing gear you have in the summer" 🤷‍♂️ Whoops!

[@MilanSmore]

Swim cap is not optional, don't go swimming in a pool without a cap because you'll leave a lot of hair in the pool.

[@the_silver_liningg]

I am very hairy! Good point! 😂

[@krzysztofkrzysztof577]

Is a joke. I get trisuit for 65 € smart watch for 29.99 I rented bike for 100, (trained on the bike worth 300 € )bike, goggles for 10 sunglasses for 15 , runners for 55 € .

[@the_silver_liningg]

Yup! I agree you can do it for much cheaper. Do a local race, with gear you already have. This is just my experience and what I decided to spend with MY hard earned money. 🫡

[@johnpuga1982]

Buy a tri-bike!

[@the_silver_liningg]

I want to get one but they are expensive 😂 Hopefully soon!

[@gipek]

You next time: oh this time I won't be spending 6k for all so I can spend 5k on a new bike.

[@the_silver_liningg]

That sounds about right 😂😂 but no no 😂 I don’t deserve a new bike yet!! Gökhan, that’s a Turkish name right!?

[@gipek]

@@the_silver_liningg yes heheh

[@the_silver_liningg]

@@gipek Awesome! I'll be out in Izmir/Cesme this coming month. Beautiful place!

[@gipek]

@@the_silver_liningg amazing place, have fun! I think there was an IM race there around a month ago.