Question for IM participants

DH and I were having a discussion with friends and training partners yesterday and DH was bragging on you ladies that have completed IM's. (Apparently he does actually listen to me when I'm telling him about TE). On a WOW factor scale of 1-10, you have all earned a 20 in my book! We are all curious about your triathlon history and length of progression to an IM. Another friend of ours decided to do an IM before he had ever done a sprint, a marathon or even a century ride. He finished but we don't think this is a normal or intelligent choice.

There are five of us in our group that are beginner triathletes and we are all curious. If you wouldn't mind sharing your stories, we would love to know how you got to an IM.

I signed up for an IM my first season of doing tris. I did a sprint in May, and Olympic in early June, a HIM in July (on my own- not an actual race) and then my IM in late September. I had done 5 marathons prior to that, but did my first century 2 months before the IM.
Maybe it wasn't wise, but I wouldn't have done it any other way. I've known plenty of people who have done an IM and the marathon during the race was their first.
I think it's more mental than anything. If you want something, you can achieve it. The one regret I had was that I wasn't a strong cyclist. I had only started biking 8 months prior to the IM. Next year when I do another IM I will have 5 years of cycling under my belt and will be much stronger.

hehehe It is funny how different people are!

2008:
First Duathlon
First Triathlon
Olymic Triathlon
Plenty of Half marathons

2009:
Half Marathons
Marathon
April HIM
Sprints and Olympics in the Summer
September HIM

2010:
Half Marathons
June HIM
August IM


I very much progressed up the distance ladder, and I learned a TON on every step.

In 2005 I saw the Seattle Danskin Sprint and felt like a lazy bum, so I started running - I saw running as the major challenge to me doing a triathlon. I bought a road bike in the spring. I walked the 12k in 2005, ran it in 2006, then ran a half marathon that Memorial Day. I sucked it up and ran a marathon that year, 2006. Tears at the finish and all - it was a symbolic victory.

In 2007, I did 2 sprints, a couple of half marathons, and the marathon again in November. During the triathlon season but well before the marathon season, I signed up for Ironman 2008. No joke. 3 triathlons (sprints) under my belt and I signed up for an Ironman. I am crazy. But, again, I knew I could swim that distance, I knew I could train for the bike, and I knew I could run a marathon. To me, the challenge was ALL in the run, and I knew I could do that after doing it in 2006. I guess I like to learn things the hard way?

2008, I did my first Ironman, and a couple of sprints, and I only did half marathons. I did do training race simulations that were olympic/HIM distance which did teach me quite a bit about things like nutrition. In my Ironman build I beat bad mechanics into my hip and had to do PT, which meant no marathon.

2009, I did my second Ironman, 4 sprints, 2 olympic distance races, a marathon, and several half marathons.

2010, I will basically do the same as last year, except I may skip the second olympic distance race for an organized bike ride this weekend instead. I am planning on racing the marathon again in November.

In the back of my mind, I think after racing my first triathlon and running that marathon I always had a "the only challenge left to do is an Ironman" mentality. It does not help that it's in my backyard. :)