Childhood/college/young adulthood is only casual athletics. In decent shape for a normal guy, maybe even a bit more athletic than average, but nothing remarkable. Relevant "before times" marks:
- ~10x half marathon, 2009-2019. PB: 1:45
- 2x Sprint tris, both 2017: 1:40, 1:30 ("swam" ~4min/100y, overall back of pack as a 32M)
- 1x marathon, 2019: 4:45
2020 COVID happens and I have more free time and fewer social obligations than ever. At age 35, realize ticking an Ironman off the bucket list isn't going to get any easier if I keep waiting. Sign up for IM Tulsa (May 2021), hire a coach, and really go for it.
Nov 2020 - May 2021 average 12h/wk swim/bike/run. First time ever properly training. Feels amazing, I can't believe how much my fitness is improving. The numbers are getting better almost every day. By far the best shape I've ever been in to that point in my life. I get hooked on this feeling.
2021 IM Tulsa --
11:59 (1:12/6:30/4:00) 58th place AG
70.3 Oregon --
4:56 (0:24/2:37/1:47) 49th place AG
70.3 Oceanside --
5:13 (0:34/2:42/1:42) 33rd place AG
Fully hooked at this point. Typical training is ~10h/wk. Race blocks avg ~12h with max around 16-18h.
2022 Local half marathon --
1:36 70.3 Washington --
4:59 (0:33/2:37/1:41) 16th place AG, go to awards but not enough rolldown
IM Waco --
10:54 (1:11/5:29/4:00) 3rd place AG, 12th overall.
5 slots so I got the KQ. Only 600 registrants. 95F temps killed off a lot of folks too (~30% DNF if I recall). So this was definitely lucky.
Training is roughly the same as 2021. Maybe even a bit less.
2023 Local half marathon --
1:31 70.3 Washington --
4:41 (0:31/2:28/1:35) 7th place AG, go to awards but not enough rolldown.
Portland marathon --
3:14 IM Arizona -- ???
Training is roughly the same as 2022.
So coming from a "normal guy" background I snagged a (admittedly lucky) KQ in my second full IM, after 2y of dedicated training @ ~10h/wk. Definitely not a "freak" but it does seem like I respond well to structured training.