Question for IM participants

[Tri Girl]

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.

[kacie tri-ing]

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.

[colby]

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.