Who said you'd 'never do an IM' but did?

Never said I wouldn't do an iron distance race, and never said I would either. Several years back I had loosely planned on doing the Ultramax race near Kansas City, but they stopped putting that race on. I may still end up doing Redman or Rev3 at some point. I have no interest in supporting the IM brand races though. I don't care for their gouging prices or the need to register a year in advance.

I've never questioned whether I could do the distance though. I don't find it intimidating.

I always figured that some day I'd do a sprint tri.  Last year I finally did.  Liked it so much I did an Oly 5 days later and 3 other sprints. 

Yet, I still looked at an IM as one of those impossible feats and just knew that my body would never hold up to something like that.  The longest running race I had done at that point was a 10 miler.

But after three years of running training, I finally got the bod to do a marathon (in a very proud and bragging 3:36 I might add).  All of a sudden, there I was, knowing I could train and run 26.2.  I was doing 50-70mile bike rides, and doing 12-17 mile runs the next day.  All of a sudden, and IM didn't seem that impossible or ridiculous.  I'm not there yet, and the time committement is still rather daunting, but for the first time in my life (and I'm 47) it seems completely plausable.  Perhaps as a goal before I turn 50 (or as I turn 50- is the spring 2014 calendar up yet?)

Anyway- I'm training for a HIM now.  Having a great time and not worried about making the distance... only how fast.  Orangeman- here I come.

I thought that when I started tri's about 4 years ago. Two years after that I did a HIM. This year I did a HIM and am doing an IM. I doubt I'll do another IM (and get my first and only tattoo!), however, I will probably challange myself with HIM distance every few years. 

I am much better at the shorter distances...I like to go fast and my muscles are the kind that do fast and short, not fast and long. Not to mention the time involved and that I'm prone to injury when going long.

Mind you I only got this Tri wild hair the beginning of this year. Signed up for a HIM. I like longer stuff and I think I can do it in the 6 hour range which seems just right for me.

Looking at Iron distance does not even look fun. Looking at least 13-14 hours... not my idea of a pick nick. No interest..... then another wild hair begins to burrow....

I know I can do the distance. I know I can do it if I set my mind to it. It starts to sound appealing.... then reality hits. The reality is I am really enjoying training for a HIM, but I don't see how I can double that and still keep a wife and a life. I am known for jumping in to stuff and going all out OCD. But training 15-30 hours a weeks for a year.... ya, that is not very realistic for me.

Who knows though.... first HIM in August... I'm 44... that 50 is rolling around....???

Marathons are crazy enough.  IM is certifiably nuts.    I have zero desire to do either.

Let's see what I say next year after completing an Oly.  I'll probably end up targeting an HIM for the following year. 

To the poster who said "semi-afraid," "terrified" would be more correct in my case.

I would do Kona, but have no desire to do any other IM.  My goal is an olympic and then HIM and from there I would be happy doing Olympic distances.  Too much time and money for an IM.

**I will state though, at first IMNY did sound interesting, until the course maps came out.  If they did the whole thing in NYC, that might interest me**

x2

I swore I'd never do a 5K. Then it was never do a half marathon. Then IM/Marathon. Can't hold me to anything now. :P

I always said I'd never do a marathon and I'd never do an IM.  Those were for crazy fit people.

However, the idea grew on my as my fitness improved.  Once I could run 13 miles, I wondered if I could run 26.  After I completed a HIM, I still thought IM was crazy but my DH did one and his training was not insurmountable, so the seed sprouted and grew.

I have now done 2 marathons (Kiawah and Publix Georgia) and an IM (Louisville 2010) and signed up for another IM (Wisconsin) and marathon (Savannah Rock-n-Roll) in 2011.

It's happening to me too.  How do I stop it?  I did a sprint 2 years ago.  Then last year I did a season full of sprints, ending up with an Olympic.  This year after 1 sprint to start things off, I'm doing all Olympics and plan to probably run a HM in October.  Now I'm thinking I'll give HIM a try next year.  The thought of an IM still does seem unlikely at best.  I know I could train to get to the point of finishing it, but as of right now I have no desire to put in those kind of training hours to get to that point.  Of course last year a HIM seemed just as unlikely and now I'm strongly considering that. 

Damn, this sport and the way it has of sucking me in.

I have said that I'll never do an IM.  Not because I couldn't, but because I have absolutely no desire to do so.  I've too many things in my life that I enjoy and refuse to give those things up for IM training.  It's just not that much of a draw for me.

I have entertained the idea of making 'completing an IM' as my retirement goal, so I guess I am potentially going back on that 'never' promise.  Once I'm no longer working, I'll have more time for training and I'll consider it (assuming I'm still healthy and active).  Check back with me in 20 years and I'll let you know.

I can say, with all confidence, that I will NEVER race at Kona.  No way.  If I do an IM, it would be IMCdA or Canada or somewhere else far enough north to give me a shot at cooler weather.  I don't handle heat well.

never will do an IM, unless i somehow find 20 hrs in my schedule to train doing a triathlon for a story is not of much interest to me. 

First off, never say never.  :-)

Second, I finished my 2nd IM at 14:30 and never really got over 10 hrs/week.  The training was an experience I will cherish my whole life.  The actually race was enjoyable too.  It's not about a story...it's about a memory (IMO)....and in the final analysis, when we are old and grey, all we have really have that is truly our own are memories.