Mark Allen Online

I used Be Iron Fit by Don Fink.  Easy to read, to the point information, and it had three 30 week plans to choose ranging from Just Finish to Competitive.  I would check it out at the bookstore before you drop the $$$ you mentioned.  I did IMKY this year and felt great when I got done.  I plan on using the Competitive plan for IMKY 2009.

 Good luck in your journey.

My buddy is using MA online for his first IM (FL).  I peek at his training plan every week or so and this week (5 weeks out from the race) it had him doing 21+ hours.  He's a 40-year-old w/ a law practice & 4 kids who did a 6:30 HIM in May.  Now, I'm sure that 20+ hour weeks would get him ready for an IM....IF there was any chance in hell he had the time to actually do it...which he doesn't.     

Hope this helps.

It all comes down to what you are looking for. Do you need accountability, a plan, a sounding board?

The nuts and bolts of Ironman are pretty simple. Lots of S/B/R, but actually doing it and feeling like you are doing it right is what can get complicated.

Ask yourself what are you looking for and then the amount of $ you spend will make sense.

What ever it takes to get you out the door is what will work best.  Peak through the logs of the people on these boards and I think you will see the greatest correlation between hours logged and speed of standard race distances as opposed to what plan is followed.   You want a sub 5 hr half, think 12-15 hours a week,  you want a 6 hour half, think 5-10 hours.  Of course natural talent and experience is a factor, but no plan will change that.  Read a book or two, talk to people on these boards and get on the roads - you'll do just fine.