Peak training hours for an IM: experience rquested

Fun way to check out training hours, is look at blogs and you can see graphs on training s/b/r volume.

My biggest week prior to any IM (was my second) was 27 or 28 hours, working with a coach who liked his athletes to have a big week.  I was prepared for the week and it was a big boost in my confidence.

Most years I think mine is more like 15-17 hours is biggest weeks. 13-14 hours is very doable.

There is always this plan:

http://www.cluboceano.com/13.htm

I have not used it myself nor do I know anyone who has but at one time I was considering giving it a shot.  It peaks at 13 hours per week.

I've done 1 IM, and my peak training was around 18 hr/wk.

However there are plans that have less peak time involved, such as 13 weeks to 13 hr Ironman

which peaks at 13.5 hr/week.

I found that in order to get the necessary workouts in, I had to be flexible..such as training at night, or getting up super early. A few workouts missed due to work, but didn't seem to affect me. The main thing is to stick to the plan as best as you can.

oh, wanted to comment about work. I too have my own business, and it was a real juggling act to keep all my clients happy. Sometimes very tired to get work done, as I am a sole prop.  The main thing is to not drop the ball and hang in there as best as you can. If you really want it..you can do it !

Thanks..yes the owning your own business situation makes my training easier in some regards but since the buck stops with me, harder in others...yes right now I have a flexible midday which I train 3 days a week, weekend mornings are usually good, weds(essentially day off) are my big run/bike days and at night which I get home at 730-8 I jump on the trainer for an hour or so.  I get up at 5am, but getting my self and 2 kids ready and out the door by 7 is tough...I guess I could HTFU and get up at 330, but since I get home late I will be complaining that my recovery is bad lol

I hear ya!  Sleep is just as important as the training itself....I had to give up some hobbies during training to make more time for that.

x2 on maxing out at around 18hr/wk.   With a family and demanding job that was all I could free up. I found that it was enough to finish a full IM (IMC 2011) but the limited trainig certainly limited my finish time.

I think the bolded parts are more important than the total number of hours.  Consistency and quality at 10-12 hours per week can yield some great results.

My personal experience for my first IM was an average of only 10-12 hours with a peak of about 15 allowed me to finish in 12 1/2 at IMFL.