I have a feeling this is going to be a lively debate 
Who is in better shape, a Navy SEAL or an Ironman agegrouper (25-45 age range)?
Seal
.
The IMāer is probably in better shape for a day of swimming, biking and running.
The seal is in better shape for a several day stretch of running and swimming under constant threat of death were it is not possible to quit once your start while carrying out a complicated and dangerous mission where failure could mean a) a quick death or b) a slow painful death while being tortured by your captors with the added pressure that any failure of the mission could have serious national security implications for the country.
I think the seal wins in a knife fightā¦besides most IM AGers are fat and out of shape anyhow as anyone can finish an IM in 12 hours or less with minimal training 
jeesh, were you been?
First you need to answer a question for us: What does it mean specifically to be āin shapeā?
Depends on what you mean by in shape ā¦ if you consider any measure of upper body strength, navy seal wins almost every time.
Dave
The navy seal can blow up the competition. I checked over the USAT rules - not allowed. SEAL wins.
Regardless, i donāt know too many IM age groupers who could go on a āforce marchā for a week on 1-2 hours of sleep a night (if they are lucky).
especially not without their compression socks, guās, bento boxes, zipp wheels, newton shoes, granola, tofu, grilled chicken or anyone who would listen to their stories.
I am a 40-44 AG.
My brother is (was) a 12 year veteran of Seal Team IV.
He was frankly amazed at what I did effort-wise to complete my first IM race last year. His comment was that while he could do all of what we did on an IM day, he was unsure if he could do it all on one dayā¦
BUT, overall Iād give the big nod to the Seals. Just during BUDS training they had lots of IM-caliber athletes wash out. Not mentally tough enough. How many AGās could be awakened up at 2:00 a.m., flown out to sea 5-6 miles, and dropped in the ocean to āfindā your way home with only your training partner for support? No gear, no fins, no navigation.
How many AGās could do a 10-20 mile run with combat boots and a heavy pack? And expect to kill people after? Or jump out of a helicopter at 200 feet?
Physically there may be some similarities; mentally, Seals are much tougher.
I have a feeling this is going to be a lively debate Who is in better shape, a Navy SEAL or an Ironman agegrouper (25-45 age range)?
Shape for what? They each train for vastly different things. I worked with SF when they came through Nellis on training exercises, and was medico (and required to go through) for the pre Ranger course as well. Some of those guys are insane strong and huge endurance, but applied in a different way. Itās like comparing apples to watermelons.
John
Good question, I would say the SEAL is better overall, the AGer may be able to out run and bike him.
Also, if I had just one phone call for someone to come save my butt, no question it would be the SEAL, unless the AGer was a seal then that would be OK
SEAL. They can do an Ironman. I watched them on TV. An Agāer canāt do what a Seal can
Umā¦ caveman? At least some people are both, and there is a range of fitness/natural ability in either category. SEALs donāt have to bike much, and have a peculiar swimming stroke, but have to be mentally very tough. Perhaps the real question is: who would win a doughnut-eating contest, or something else not training specific? j
I have a feeling this is going to be a lively debate Who is in better shape, a Navy SEAL or an Ironman agegrouper (25-45 age range)?
An average person can become an ironman finisher but the average person could not become a Navy SEAL, so I am going with the Navy SEAL.
A SEAL can do what IM-AGāer can do. An IM-AGāer canāt do what a SEAL can do.
Iām not sure Iād make it through BUDS.
A SEAL can do what IM-AGāer can do. An IM-AGāer canāt do what a SEAL can do.
Iām not sure Iād make it through BUDS.
I made it through the pararescue (AF spec. force) initial washout program, and still donāt think that I could make it through BUDS. Iāve talked with some of them, and the way they describe itā¦just wow.
John
I am a 40-44 AG.
My brother is (was) a 12 year veteran of Seal Team IV.
He was frankly amazed at what I did effort-wise to complete my first IM race last year. His comment was that while he could do all of what we did on an IM day, he was unsure if he could do it all on one dayā¦
BUT, overall Iād give the big nod to the Seals. Just during BUDS training they had lots of IM-caliber athletes wash out. Not mentally tough enough. How many AGās could be awakened up at 2:00 a.m., flown out to sea 5-6 miles, and dropped in the ocean to āfindā your way home with only your training partner for support? No gear, no fins, no navigation.
How many AGās could do a 10-20 mile run with combat boots and a heavy pack? And expect to kill people after? Or jump out of a helicopter at 200 feet?
Physically there may be some similarities; mentally, Seals are much tougher.
fishgo, can you check with your brother and double check that part about being flown out to sea in the dark of night and dropped 5+ miles offshore (presummably in SF bay) without ANY gear? I think that even a Seal would freeze to death in that situation.
navy seals are damn tough, mentally and physically. so are IM professionals. i think the better debate would be versus an IM pro, not and AG.
hereās BUDS in 4 parts:
1- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DeSyl1CGIQ
2- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KZuA7o1NIY&feature=channel
3- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK56q4gZCSE&feature=channel
4- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIegZ1nWWQ4&feature=channel
Who is in better shape, a Navy SEAL or an Ironman agegrouper (25-45 age range)?
Shape for what? This is not a definitive question. Survival in a wilderness? Win in a fight? Which Seal? Which AGer? If you even mean who is faster in IM, wouldnāt it depend on the individual?
I know a 50+ year old that beat a couple of Navy Seals last October in Kona. That doesnāt mean he āis in better shapeā than every Navy Seal, only he was faster at that race.