Why Ironman vs other distances? (Page 2)

Well for me there were always two challenges. To go longer than I ever had before and then to go faster. I don't find either one to be exclusive of the other they are just different ends of the spectrum. I was never very fast, but I could keep going and going so I set my goals initially on going longer. So I went from a sprint, to an Olympic, to a HIM, and finally to an Ironman over the course of 3+ seasons. But as I continued to build my base and fitness to prepare for an Ironman, my speed at the shorter distances certainly increased as well.
Heck I race 5Ks now and win my age group frequently.

But the longer races, to me are a lot more work and feel like a bigger accomplishment to me when I hit the finish line. Of course I don't know what a 2:00 Olympic would feel like, I could imagine that would be an amazing feeling and accomplishment as well, but I don't think thats in the cards for me.