The course is about 30 percent longer than the Tour de France and competitors need to finish it in roughly half the time.
CNN has described the race as 12 days of hell.
Skelton, a Gisborne truck driver, describes it as a massive undertaking.
“You know you’ll suffer,” he says.
“I enjoy that challenge. It’s something to wake up and live for.”
Skelton got the job done in 2011 — completing the 4811 kilometres before the 12-day deadline — and he’s back for more this year, starting on June 11.
He turned 60 this year and that means he’s allowed an extra 21 hours to get to the finish.
Skelton has had a “gradual” build-up on the pedals since his most recent Ironman in March.
He has raced 32 New Zealand Ironman events, as well as the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge several times, so his body is well used to being pushed.
As a truck driver, he is also used to long periods of concentration, looking ahead at the terrain and anticipating climbs and descents.
Skelton has been cycling between 450 and 500km a week in the build-up, often getting on his bike after work and “as much as I can squeeze in” during weekends.
Though the legs take a pounding in the race, he found that, last time, the leg muscles would be the last to give up.
His support crew have to make sure his calorie intake is sufficient, as he will go through about 750 calories an hour on the bike.
He will get one longer sleep of about 90 minutes a day, and two or three power naps.
The cyclists travel west to east, crossing 12 states, three major mountain ranges and four long rivers.
They start at Oceanside, California, and finish at Annapolis, Maryland, passing through deserts and climbing more than 53,000 metres — about six times the height of Mount Everest.
Though focusing on speed and distance, Skelton says he was also able to take in scenery and view the wildlife during his 2011 experience.
He came across coyotes, startled a few deer at night and cycled past snakes and lizards.
“I saw interesting stuff scuttling around in the desert.”
The cyclists will ride through Gettysburg, Monument Valley and the Great Plains.
His team is called Team iRONman — veterans supporting veterans, and he’s raising money for the No Duff Charitable Trust. They have a Givealittle page (https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/team-i-ron-man-veterans-supporting-veterans).
No Duff supports current and former Defence Force personnel and their families.
Skelton has served in East Timor and is still an army reservist.
The rules require racers to start with at least two support vehicles.
Skelton’s wife, Kristine Twigley, heads up his support crew of eight, who also include New Zealanders Dan Dearman, Mike Conza and Geoff Matthews.
“The crew are everything — navigation, nutrition and mechanical support,” Skelton says.
His employer, Pacific Haulage, has been understanding and his mission has been supported by Maintrax and Ultimo Clothing.
Skelton says fatigued eyes play tricks on the mind and in 2011 he experienced “loss of colour perception” during a gradual climb to altitude but he coped or stopped for a break.
“I never fell off my bike once.”
He had six punctures and wore out a wheel.
Skelton says it’s important to be strategic and take advantage of any favourable conditions.
“We had good tail winds across Kansas, so it was just about keeping the bike upright.”
He expects this year’s course to be as hard as ever but he knows he’s capable of finishing the cycling race billed as the world’s toughest.
