Couch to IM

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2009-06-28 6:34 PM

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Subject: Couch to IM
I was just wondering. How long have you been in the sport before competing in your first IM? I started training about 1 year and a half before my first scheduled IM in August. I have completed two 70.3's and a handful of olympics and sprints.

Just curious.

2009-06-28 10:23 PM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
5 year for first 1, training for second one this year 6

I enjoyed the journey, IMs will always be there.
2009-06-28 10:45 PM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
I did IMC in my first year. That season I did a Sprint, an HIM and then IMC. Seriously from couch to IM too, no endurance exercise since college (10 years before).
2009-06-28 11:41 PM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
magic - 2009-06-28 8:45 PM I did IMC in my first year. That season I did a Sprint, an HIM and then IMC. Seriously from couch to IM too, no endurance exercise since college (10 years before).
So how did it turn out?

Edited by MacMadame 2009-06-28 11:41 PM
2009-06-29 12:44 AM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
MacMadame - 2009-06-28 9:41 PM

magic - 2009-06-28 8:45 PM I did IMC in my first year. That season I did a Sprint, an HIM and then IMC. Seriously from couch to IM too, no endurance exercise since college (10 years before).
So how did it turn out?


13:25 first year
11:30 a year later with a bit more training... Still sucked on the run though.
2009-06-29 1:17 AM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
I'm less than 5 weeks away from first IM...it'll be exactly 2 years and 4 months since I started tri training, but about 5 years and 3 months since I got my (then) fat butt off the couch (started running again for the first time in over 10 years).  I've done 2 HIMs, 4 Olys, and 5 sprints since Sept. 2007.

2009-06-29 5:59 AM
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2009-06-29 6:01 AM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
Clearly there are folks who can do it, but for the majority of people I can't help but think that the couch to IM route is a recipe for burnout. Personally I'll be waiting a few years and plan to get a few HIMs under my belt before then.

Congrats to those who have done it, though. I may think it's a little crazy, but it's still impressive.
2009-06-29 8:05 AM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM

DrPete - 2009-06-29 6:01 AM Clearly there are folks who can do it, but for the majority of people I can't help but think that the couch to IM route is a recipe for burnout. Personally I'll be waiting a few years and plan to get a few HIMs under my belt before then.

Congrats to those who have done it, though. I may think it's a little crazy, but it's still impressive.

 

Just curious, why do you think couch to IM would burn someone out?  IM training, in and of itself might cause burnout in some people but I don't see how ramping up over the course of a eyar to 15 hrs training per week is a recipe for burnout.

Personally, it took me 10 year of doing triathlons before I could get my head around an IM.  But physically, I wish I'd of started IM racing 10 years ago when I was 10 years younger!  :-)

~Mike

2009-06-29 8:10 AM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
Rogillio - 2009-06-29 9:05 AM

DrPete - 2009-06-29 6:01 AM Clearly there are folks who can do it, but for the majority of people I can't help but think that the couch to IM route is a recipe for burnout. Personally I'll be waiting a few years and plan to get a few HIMs under my belt before then.

Congrats to those who have done it, though. I may think it's a little crazy, but it's still impressive.

 

Just curious, why do you think couch to IM would burn someone out?  IM training, in and of itself might cause burnout in some people but I don't see how ramping up over the course of a eyar to 15 hrs training per week is a recipe for burnout.

Personally, it took me 10 year of doing triathlons before I could get my head around an IM.  But physically, I wish I'd of started IM racing 10 years ago when I was 10 years younger!  :-)

~Mike



I guess it's a combination of personal experience and anecdotal evidence, but going from nothing to 20-plus hours a week of training volume is a dangerous thing for most, because the risk of overuse injury or just plain burnout from sucking the fun out of training. Being smart about a training plan and building intelligently are obviously important.  There are exceptions to every rule of course, but it's just my opinion.


Edited by DrPete 2009-06-29 8:11 AM
2009-06-29 8:18 AM
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2009-06-29 8:23 AM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM

PennState - 2009-06-29 8:18 AM
To the OP... do a search function on this forum and you can get a lot of perspective on the topic... you'll hear good and bad... but in the end the answer is... it depends.

 

Well said.   The caveat YMMV should go along with a lot of things that are posted here. 

 

~Mike

2009-06-29 8:41 AM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
I did my first IM in my first year of tri's.  I had been borrowing a MTB for the smaller races and only bought my own bike about 6 months before the IM race.  It is possible.  And I loved it, I did not think I would enjoy it as much second time round  However, I was very wrong.  I did my second one 2 years later and it was so much better with that extra bit of experience.

My training went better and I was more prepared on the day.  It might just have been that it was my second IM though, so I knew more or less what to expect.
2009-06-29 9:12 AM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
PennState - 2009-06-29 9:18 AM Pete, part of your perspective no doubt is you just finished residency... ie; not that much free time. I'm amazed you are able to even train for tri's... I know in my residency I was completely out of shape!


An excellent point about the source of my bias. Add on to that the recent rash of Crossfit injuries in the military population where I work, and my years of experience with soldiers who trained too hard too soon, and I definitely come with some slanted views about things.
2009-06-29 11:45 AM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM

I started training for my first IM after my second season.  I did a sprint and an oly the first year and a HIM the second year. 2 months later I started IM training. On a very hot IMAZ I finished 14:42...I think I could have done <14:00 if the heat wasn't so bad.

2009-06-29 1:09 PM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
My first IM is in about 1 month and that will make it 1 year 10 months ish since  I got off the couch.  Since end of 9/07 I have done a 5k, 10 miler, half mary, 30k trail run, full mary, sprint, oly and HIM x 2.  I have no prior history of s/b/r prior to starting and I did replace my kmart mtb fairly early on.  As a 40 something I am sure I recover more slowly than the younger set, but I have been pretty focused for the past 2 years.  

Many folks say that it might have been better to get faster at the Oly/HIM level prior to moving up to the IM.  I think they are probably right, but one has to follow one's heart or where is the fun.  

Enjoy your IM, be realize that it is not the end, but just one step in the journey of the Triathlon lifestyle.  

2009-06-29 1:11 PM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
My first HIM will be at the end of my second season of tris.

I will have done three HIMs and a few Olys/ Sprints before it.

That said, I didn't start at "couch" ... I started running marathons five years ago.  Of course, this doesn't translate perfectly to IMs, but I had a decent fitness base when I started tris.
2009-06-29 2:33 PM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
trishie - 2009-06-29 2:11 PM

My first HIM will be at the end of my second season of tris.

I will have done three HIMs and a few Olys/ Sprints before it.



The way this reads, three HIMs will precede your first HIM.
2009-06-29 2:37 PM
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Subject: RE: Couch to IM
mrbbrad - 2009-06-29 3:33 PM
trishie - 2009-06-29 2:11 PM

My first HIM will be at the end of my second season of tris.

I will have done three HIMs and a few Olys/ Sprints before it my first IM.



The way this reads, three HIMs will precede your first HIM.


is that better? geez!

go for it, OP. I'm planning on completing my first IM at the end of my 3rd season, and I thought I was rushing things! good luck!
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