fat beginner to Ironman in 9 months?

Why??

I think part of the Triathlon experience is learning about the sport and competing at different distances. Why ironman as a first?

Personally i think most folks should start out doing a shorter distance, then move up. Only for the fact that you learn a lot from the shorter races, nuances and innuendo and you have less likely hood of burning yourself out going from little or no training to 13+ hours a week. And with that comes the risk of injury.

My own opinion is that the Ironman distance is not the end all be all of triathlon, merely a distance that some prefer, but since you are already signed up, best of luck in your training, i hope it is done safely and injury free.

I have an addictive character.. It´s a psychological condition. I usually take what I do to an extreme or show little interest and try to avert or delegate the activity. 

In part of course it´s the swim bike run brag for life part.. 

Basically, I just have to be extreme to stay motivated, in doing business, steady returns doesn´t interest me, high risk high return does, I procrastinate in general until I self propose an unrealistic deadline and then begin to enjoy performing under that pressure. 

From when I was a teenager I´d drive across the US without stopping just to say I did, stay up longer, drink more, drive faster, fasting, endure more pain. In general, stupidity, therefore trying to redirect my mentality to something relatively healthy. 

Your honesty says volumes. 

 Seriously, this is not a sport to "play with" especially at the IM level.  If you really want to do an IM, start with a couple sprints and build smart.  Too many things can happen that you have to have a good understanding of before attempting an IM event.  Seriously, go read a handful of the IM Wisconsin race reports.  There were athletes who typically post 10-11 hour times strugglng to make it through because it was unusually warm and they got dehydrated.  Seasoned, experienced athletes.  Nationally ranked athletes. 

A newbie has no business in IM distance even if you did have a strong background in any of the disciplines.  None of us are trying to rain on your parade, we are trying to offer some wisdom and insight into training smart.

You are asking us to give you a green light to do something that could be potentially disastrous for you.  Unfortunately, you may find a few who say "go ahead"  I will not.  I say find a sprint and see how hard it is then keep building.

Congrats on your sobriety and wanting to be healthier.

While you're making changes in your life, you might want to look at not HAVING to do things in the extreme. Life is good in the middle. You don't need to shock yourself into having highs in order to enjoy life.

You will find TONS of people in recovery who do 'extreme' sports, including triathlon. Those who remain, and who stay sober and healthy and get fit, are those who are willing to take advice (as you may be, since you posted) and follow in the steps of those who have gone before.

Triathlon (proper training with easy build-up, especially for those new w/o sports background) = healthy

Ironman in 9 months without any of the above = stupid

I agree with all the above! You might want to call the next 9 months SUFFERFEST!

But to see what you are getting into, why don't you just take a 9 months IM program and see if you can make it through Week 1 of that!

If you are still alive, injury free and with a will to continue then you can do that and see where it leads you.

Mrwrite, 

Thanks very much for the encouragement, I have your race report bookmarked. 

Seems to me that the spirit of Ironman is to be audacious and entails a certain insanity. You're pushing yourself to beyond what would be generally deemed possible, with no tangible reward or purpose (unless maybe you're a special ops fedex man), and if by some chance you do stretch yourself beyond sane limits to achieve the goal, you train harder to go faster until when at your best condition in your best race you crawl across the line with a record time to be carried away by paramedics for immediate medical attention and just seeing you accomplish that inspires less fortunate but like minded souls to attempt the same but without a leg, or legs, or sight, or carrying a disabled son, and the further the human spirit redefines what is accepted as possible, the more greatly the messenger is applauded. 

So many millions of people say, "live in the moment, every day like it's you're last", and that's what I'm trying to do, so if this is my last year to live I won't spend it setting out on a steady tragectory in an endurance sports hobby. People like me don't self evaluate according to who they're better than or relative improvement, but by all those who worked harder, achieved more, only driven by the distance that remains ahead to reach my personal best which I will know when there is just one voice inside saying to keep pushing until exterior factors set the limit, but not so long as there are still two voices fighting, try harder, but why, I can, I can't.. I will! 

So anyways, wasn't really looking for a green light, just wanted a little insight into the relative difficulty of what I've set out to do.

I've taken the comments to heart and am going to go out for a jog now at 3:30am.

my questions still remains why??

What makes a 14-16 hour Ironman better than a 1 hour full distance sprint or a 2:10 Olympic??

they are both extreme's, one is an extremely long time the other is extremely fast.

If you want extreme, train smart and hard, and go try to swim 1:00/100 meters for 800 meters bike 25 mph average for 13 miles and then run a 18:xx min 5k. Slightly slower paces for an Olympic distance, slightly. At least you will not be 70 miles out on a bike course when your legs lock up after 5 hours, and have little or no medical assistance available. which is a distinct possibility.

I don't care who did it and how much it hurt, on how little training and i am not really too concerned about raining on your parade, congrats to them they survived, it still does not make it less foolish. I am a realist, and you are hearing from those that succeeded, you really think someone who tried doing what you are thinking about doing is still posting on this or any other multisport board?  that after 7 hours their body stopped working properly and they were carted off in an ambulance?? i highly doubt it.

Listen, i understand where you are coming from, i raced cars, motorcycles, lived extreme for many years, played some professional sports, i get it, but there are other avenues you can take to get that rush, without putting yourself and well being at serious risk. Seriously. There is plenty of time to do IM, they are not going anywhere.

in the end, it is for you to decide, i wish you luck regardless of your decision.

Who are you?...........Me??

The popular answer will definately be NO, but reading your personality and the way you do things I can only guess that it makes you want to do it more.

You described me to a T. If its not big, bigger or the biggest why bother? Now I will say I came from a running background when I got into tris but I signed up for an IM before ever doing a tri. I did an olympic and 2 HIM's first the same year I did my first full.

Will it be a huge undertaking? But of course. Can you fudge your way through an IM? Maybe, I have done 6 in the last 5 years and have been extremely undertrained for most of them. (Not a recommended path, but I have 2 young kids and run my own business so the perfect plan usually goes out the window by week 2)

Best of luck, ask any and all questions you have.

I have no doubt that I am in the minority when I say that an IM race is something that should be dealt with in a state of respect. 

Personally, I don't think just finishing an IM is that big of an accomplishment at all.  Granted, I've not done one.  I have, however, competed in nearly 100 sprint to Olympic distance races.  I never really had any desire to do the long distance races until recently. 

I just did Branson in right at 6:30.  I took it fairly easy, not knowing what to expect, but not wanting to have to walk any part of the bike or run.  Basically, I wanted to do the race with a smile on my face.  I've won my age group in smaller shorter races, and in my younger years got overall podium finishes. But this is different. 

I've seen the videos of people walking most of the "run" in the "iron" distances and I'm not interested in that. I can't figure out why anyone would be. To my way of thinking, there is a certain amount of respect for the race and the distance that comes with an HIM or an IM. 

Finish? Hell, yes, you can do that in 6 months if you are dedicated and don't care what happens after that, or HOW you finish.

For me, I did an HIM at Branson.  My initial plan was to do a full IM in 2012.  I'm putting that off.  I've got some unfinised business with some "hills" in Branson, and I figure I'd like to do a "faster" course to get more of a baseline, maybe Ks, then I'll see about an IM.  When I do one, you can bet your arse I won't suffer, and I won't do it just to say I did, or to "brag".  I'll do it as a natural progression of a lifetime of fitness, not as some foxhole cure for my latest problem.

I only bring up my own idea to offer you the following:

Since you are in rehab and brought up the idea of doing an IM as a way of channelling your "problem" into something more constructive, why don't you try a more methodical approach to a lifestyle change that will be suited to see you through the long haul.  A true life changing adventure. Really, ANYONE can "finish" an Ironman in 6-8 months of training and look like the person who just "finished".....that's all you got?

That's the first time I heard that completing an Ironman isn't a big deal, guess they have to change the motto. 

Swim 2.4 miles, bike 120, run 26, consider yourself moderate for life!

You would consider yourself something other then moderate because of what?  This is about ego?

It's not a big deal if you do the work and respect the distance.  It can be dangerous if you don't. 

moderate

adjective |'mäd(?)r?t|

average in amount, intensity, quality, or degree.

extreme

extreme |ik'strem|

adjective

1 reaching a high or the highest degree; very great

ego |'ego|

noun ( pl. egos)

a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance.

self-esteem

noun

confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect.

Coming from my viewpoint (I've completed 2 IMs, 4 HIMs, a couple of sprints, a number of road races in the past 5 years, am 6' 2-1/2" tall and 162 lbs (approx.), 47 yrs. old, am married and have 3 youngs sons).  I've trained when I had time, had a friend/coach (who did Kona twice) for my 2nd IM, work 40 hours a week, and have stayed BALANCED.

9 months = 36 weeks.

Training plans are usually around 20 weeks; however, those plans are USUALLY geared at persons that have trained in the past or have had some kind of triathlon experience.

You are X amount of pounds overweight with no real past training.

Have you consulted with a doctor?

You need to put in many, many hours of EACH discipline.

You need to monitor yourself so you don't overdo it/overtrain, or train improperly.

You need to know your nutrition and hydration.

Do you have the equipment, ex. proper attire, bike, etc.

You need to understand BALANCE (if you have a family/S.O./etc.).

You will need a plan.

You will need to rest on certain days.

You will need help.  At least that is why BT is here, so you can check that off your list.

Now, should I recommend that you do this?  I will not answer that with a simple yes or no response.  Only you can answer the question.  Will you be able to do this?  Possibly.  But, at what risk?

I don't think anyone wants to shoot down your dream/goal, but, some kind of reality check is needed, in all honesty.

Good luck shall you continue on and you receive the assistance you need to get you through.

Why? I guess because only extreme goals inspire me. I've wanted to get in shape for 20 years, never done it. I also see that in the course of life, the times when I did advance and excel, were when I put forth goals that most considered unreasonable or impossible. Our true capacity is far, far beyond what we think it is. Getting caught up in the moment, driven without an option of considering much or getting distracted, makes me advance rather than get stuck in stinking thinking, procrastination, negativism. Guess it's my personality type, I'll let you all know how it goes.

I urge extreme caution.  Only proceed with this with approval of your mental health professional.  Ironman is not about addiction, it is about discipline.  Addiction is about putting something into you (external) to make satisfy a need.  Discipline is about having something inside you (internal) to get over challenge.  You will spend HOURS alone training.  You will find things about yourself you never knew were there, some good, some not.  I suffer from PTSD, triathlon training is good for me.  It helps me with some of my demons.  It may be good for you.  Talk with your therapist.

I wish you the best of luck!

Unlike most things in life, working toward an Ironman in 6 months, overweight, without a proper fitness base, and with little knowledge of what you are getting into,  also includes the very real possibility of physical injury. Exponentially more so then with a more grounded approach.