How long before you went to Iron distance? (Page 3)

Assuming you're willing to put in the work, I'd bet you can comfortably* complete an IM a year from now, if not sooner.  (*not necessarilly fast, but comfortably)  Physically speaking, I don't think there's any reason most average "couch potato" lifestyle people couldn't decide today to complete an IM 1 year from now and not succeed at it if they did the work.

I think the real question is whether you'd enjoy the experinece of training for it.  It's the training that is the real killer.   Some people love that distance and the training to make it happen.  Others love the Olympic or HIM distances and the specific training challenges that come with those distances.  I'd think you can do a HIM oriented season in 2012 and if you like that step up, then plan on a IM in 2013. 

I am an odd ball case. My first triathlon I signed up for was IM Louisville of this year. Throughout training I did a sprint and a HIM. I competed in mountain bike racing prior to signing up but my butt touched a non-mtn bike for the first time in February. I have atheltic background with a little running/swimming. Took training slow and steady and finished with time of 12:51. You can literally do anything you want. Ease into it and make sure your body has time to adjust to the training load that your putting it through.

GO FOR IT!!

Yes.  this was my exact experience.  Signed up for IM COZ and did a sprint and HIM as training.  Had a great experience in Coz.  Enjoyed the training and will be back at Coz next year. 

...-2004 football and tennis

2004-2007 marathons

at the end of 2007 (I was 33) i bought a bike and I started cycling and swimming as beginner in both sports

in 2008 i tried a sprint and an olympic distance tri before doing my first HIM in June 2008

september 2008 my first Ironman

I hope to do my 4th next august. it is always a matter of hope

thanks for asking, I really appreciate you remember

I took 5 months off, living with hell of a pain even while sleeping. Then I met an old friend who is one of the top age grouper in triathlon in switzerland and he told me his story: he broke two vertebrae 10 years ago and he stayed 1 year in the hospital. then he did some rehab for 2 years and started working always in the gym, then running swimming etc. and went into triathlon. From that moment, he told me that as soon as he stops sport, he falls into big back pain. he suggested me to start again and never stop, doing lot of gym.

I did it. so I planned a 36 weeks long ironman plan for US Ironman next august and now I am 4 weeks that I am doing fine all the tri sports with lots of gym sessions for my back. i am always with my fingers crossed and last week end I was in my comeback running race where I did great. no pain, nothing. just a little bit stiff when I wake up. but I feel back in a decent shape only after 4 weeks of 9hrs per week training.

If things go smooth, next august I will be there. doesn't matter the finishing time as long I will finish it

In my first season of triathlon training, I focused only on sprint distanced races.  The following year was dedicated to Olympics with the third, HIM.  In my fourth season, I successful accomplished IM.

Everybody is different, but my thought are really about training smart to avoid injuries.  Too much too fast will definitely cause problems.  So my two cents is about training smart and being injury free.  Include yoga in your training in addition to weekly massage/rolfing to keep your muscles long and stretched.   Good luck.