Will try to make this short, and get some advice about races....
I really want to do an IM. I'm 33, 2nd year of Tri's, been running for about 5 years and done some 1/2 mary's, lots of 10ks and 5k's. Not fast, but enjoy it, and really want to meet this goal. I'm getting married this summer, and in the next few years we will be wanting to have kid(s). So i think the next 2 years are going to be prime time if i want to get one in. So here is what i'm thinking, and wanted to get some feedback from the BT brother(and sister)hood if this is a good/realistic timeline. (still have to run this by the future wife, but she has always been positive about me doing this to stay healthy, etc...).
I think i should start by commiting to doing a HIM next year (2012), and was thinking about New Orleans 70.3 or Kansas 70.3. Will be living/training in NW Arkansas. Kansas is closer, but NO would be a better destination for the future wife. Are these "first HIM friendly?" I know Branson 70.3 is the closest, but have heard that is a killer course. I would use the rest of this spring/summer to do some sprints and a late season olympic or two.
After finishing the HIM, start into the training for the IM distance for spring/summer/fall 2013. would it be smart to try to get another late season HIM in 2012, or focus on shorter distance races and just the IM training? What is a good first time IM distance race (M-dot or otherwise)? Florida sounds appealing, again, b/c of future wife and location, and somewhat the proximity to NW Arkansas.
Anyway, I think part of this post was just to get it written down as a goal, but also to get some advice from the more experienced of you out there. Its a big endeavour, and I want to go into with as much planning as possible. Thanks in advance!
(logs are "pretty up to date" since Feb of this year, other than bike trainer time is not included)