Sprint to Ironman

Well, I am an exception, or just stupid.  Back in 2007, I did my first marathon, my first triathlon which was a HIM, and first IM during the same year, after training for a few months with an avg. of 6 hours a week (quite pathetic).

I ran the marathon in May, did the HIM in July, and IM Moo (WI) in Sept.  I can only think that what I had going for me is being in decent enough shape and always being active, with a strong desire.

Appreciate that, Rich!  I love you, too!

[hijack on] BTW - I'm plugging Rich's movie "The Distance".  CHECK IT OUT, PEEPS! [/hijack off]

well, ive never done an IM.  never done anything over a sprint.  but i'm gonna chime in.

i dont understand the rush, really.  well, I actually kinda go.

I honestly feel there is a degree of pressure for triathletes to do Ironmans. 

peolpe who dont know that much about the sport, assume you are not a triathlete unless you do one.  those who have done them have a perception of greater acheivement over those that have not. 

I agree with jonnykay on this one...

you can push yourself to your limits and beyond in a sprint.  you can train 10-12 hours per week with nothing on the schedule all season but sprints and still not hit your maximum potential and continue to push yourself.

it comes back to why you want to do an Ironman.   If it is because you truly want to push your limits, your years away.  at least 3, most likely 4-5.  I dont think an average human can come close to pushing their limits in an IM distance race before than.  it could take several years to push your limits in a sprint.

for me, whats the rush.  I want to do one and God willing will do one.  when ready. 

edit:  didnt even see the part wher eyou mentioned 5 years away.  wow--your plan is ideal, IMO....I just assume you meant next year or something....

First sprint was August of 05.  Had run one mary before but no real bike or swim experience other than that gained since I started training that May.  06 was two sprint, my first HIM that Sept, sign up for MOO the day after, and a mary.  Think I did another sprint, a HIM and an oly in 07 within the training program.

I think there were a handful of people at IMCdA who did that as their first triathlon. 

IM is about patience, training, patience, being in-tune with your body, and patience.  People who have good IM races have trained patiently (avoiding injury), understand race-day nutrition, and are disciplined enough to follow their race plan which is usually to hold back in the first half of the day when they think they could be going faster. 

My progression was: 
05:  2 sprints (one 5K)
06:  Sprint, OLY, sprint, HIM (several 5K's and a 15K)
07:  OLY
08:  No races I did a 2-week backpacking trip
09:  IMCdA  (50-mile ultra)

Progression versus no-progression?  I've heard people tout the sprint > OLY > HIM > IM as well as the 5K > 10K > 13.1 > 26.2.  Personally, if you're a "go fast" kind of person, have fun with sprints and running 16-minute 5K's.  If you're a "go long" kind of person, there is no reason to spend a season or two running 5K's (ie "paying your dues" ) before doing a marathon.  Either way, be smart about training, recovery, and racing. 

First race of any kind was a 1/2 mary, May 2007. First tri was June 2007. First IM was Nov 2008. 3 tris my first year, 5 the second including the IM.

I don't feel that I rushed it, or that I didn't enjoy it because I didn't wait. It's something that I always wanted to do, even before I started doing tris. I didn't know there were tris other than the Hawaii IM and as soon as I found out, I registered.

I'm sure if I waited 5 years I would have gone faster, but that doesn't mean I can't do another one in 4 years.

I did my first tri (sprint) in 2005; I did my first IM in 2008. Prior to IM, I had done five sprints, 1 Oly tri, 1 Oly du, 1 sprint du, one HIM, one 5K.