just wondering
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I don’t know how many they have completed but these athletes have done a lot of them…
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Ken Glah (50 Ironman by the end of 2006 - 23 straight finishes in Kona) Reference: http://new.ironmanlive.com/the-answers-to-lee-gruenfelds-ironquiz
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Luis Alvarez (43 Ironman in 2006 mid-july, so you may add a few more) Reference: http://www.ironmanlive.com/columns/ironmanlife/managing-editor-kevin-mackinnon-catches-up-with-some-of-the-athletes-competing-at-ironman-austria
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Joe Bonness (Don’t know the exact number but a lot…)
I believe Luis Alvarez. Luis has done every single Ironman course in the world (including the old Oahu Hawaii course). And given the number he clips off, I would guess he has to be pretty close to the record. I know he has done over 40…
Im wondering because at IMAZ there was an older guy who didnt finish, but im pretty sure the anouncer said he had finished 48 IMs.
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Petr Vabrousek has got to be up there. He certainly has the most Elite level performances.
That 48 Ironman is for Luis Alvarez almost sure… I just checked the results from IMAZ and he had a pretty hard race but managed to finish and base on the reference he was at 43 last year with have year done…
1665 15:39:21 ALVAREZ, LUIS TLALNEPANTLA ED MEX 289/330 M40-44 1558 92 558 1:08:22 1:48 8:26 83 394 5:48:49 19.3 16:56 307 1859 8:16:50 18:58
Petr Vabrousek has got to be up there. He certainly has the most Elite level performances.
Base on the information from his website, he’s in mid 30’s Reference: http://petr.vabrousek.cz/vysledky_en.php maybe some of the European Long Distance race were Iron Distance…
You have to look at the ultra crazies for your answer, and I am sure there is a book somewhere with that info. My dear friend Vincenzo Catalano has it for most amount in one year (recognized by Guiness Book of World Records) and I want to say it is the high 30s (maybe low 40s) but you have to realize last year he pulled off two decas and broke his own former record (and want to say routinely has close to 30+/the last few years each year) we call him ‘Crazy’ but you gotta love Vincenzo.
For the most amount for a lifetime…I know several of my dear friends are well into several triple digits. Guy Rossi has done decas 1-8 so that is 80 right there and he has numerous double/triples/quins ect. Female wise I think Astrid was high 100s. and my true mentor Sylvia she is the only woman to ever do the double deca and I want to say she is also well into the triple digits. When I am able to get back into racing, a high number is very achievable, but from an ultra standpoint its really quite stupid and extremely fun - and you lose count, I would have to sit down and seriously think about it to know how many I have done, it’s something you just don’t care about. What is freaky scary about my ultra friends they get wicked fast the older they get…I hope to have some drive left by the time I hit the older years.
Decas are ridiculous, I wouldnty mind attempting a double, possibly a triple, but a deca??? or a double deca??? you gotta be kidding me. thats awsome, but im wondering more about actual IMs.
straight IMs can’t help you with. I know most of my friends still do the singles as training (probably see Vincenzo next month wonder if he knows, but highly doubt he counts outside of the Guiness thing). I miss IM, not neccesarily the hooplah, but more the energy associated with the athletes on the course, you can’t get that just anywhere —so I can see how someone would want to do a ton of them. I think its way cool that one guy did every one offered. That streak would drive me crazy because new ones always pop up.
If you go to do a double, don’t rule out the ones outside the USA. Kirby does a fabulous job here, but there is barely a bleep in the radar in the other ones with the USA being represented. as for deca - I agree as to them being ridiculous on many levels but I’m glad I finished one and left the others out on the course. However, they are VERY doable and surprisingly ‘easy’, you just have to be prepared for the aftermath. You’ll NEVER catch me doing a doubledeca. On that thought now I can go to bed 
That 48 Ironman is for Luis Alvarez almost sure… I just checked the results from IMAZ and he had a pretty hard race but managed to finish and base on the reference he was at 43 last year with have year done…
1665 15:39:21 ALVAREZ, LUIS TLALNEPANTLA ED MEX 289/330 M40-44 1558 92 558 1:08:22 1:48 8:26 83 394 5:48:49 19.3 16:56 307 1859 8:16:50 18:58
Woah. 8:16:50 for the marathon. I wonder what happened? That’s tough.
-C
The was a Canadian who was intoduced at the race briefing at IMDE in 2006 as competed in the most Ironmans, cant remember how many though.
Petr Vabrousek has got to be up there. He certainly has the most Elite level performances.
I agree, Petr is amazing. Below is his finishers and that’s just official Ironmans, not all the side ones. Note the 2007 ones could be wrong as I just think he did them. He did get a DQ from Wananka, but still finished it and got a DQ after it. Still the count is 39.
2007
Ironman Malay
Ironman NZ
Ironman AZ
Wananka Challenge
2006
Ironman Slovakia
Ironman Lake Placid
Ironman Japan
Ironman Arizona
Ironman South Africa
Ironman Malaysia
**2005 **
Ironman Western Australia
Ironman Brazil
Ironman South Africa
Ironman Arizona
Ironman Malaysia
2004
Ironman Western Australia
Ironman Hawaii
Ironman Wisconsin
Ironman Brazil
2003
IM Hawaii
IM Wisconsin
IM Idaho
IM Malaysia
2002
IM Hawaii
IM Korea
IM Utah
IM Japan
IM New Zeland
2001
Ironman Florida
Ironman Hawaii
Ironman Austria
Ironman Brazil
Ironman Africa
2000
Ironman Africa
Ironman California
Ironman Asia
Ironman Almere
Ironman Havaj
**1999 **
Ironman Australia
That 48 Ironman is for Luis Alvarez almost sure… I just checked the results from IMAZ and he had a pretty hard race but managed to finish and base on the reference he was at 43 last year with have year done…
1665 15:39:21 ALVAREZ, LUIS TLALNEPANTLA ED MEX 289/330 M40-44 1558 92 558 1:08:22 1:48 8:26 83 394 5:48:49 19.3 16:56 307 1859 8:16:50 18:58
Woah. 8:16:50 for the marathon. I wonder what happened? That’s tough.
-C
He sprained both ankles before the start! Pretty incredible that he pulled off a finish there. Something about jumping into shallow water, if I remember correctly.
RR
You are absolutely right. I was at IMUK last year and he was introduced with 83 finishes. Then I was at IMSA in March and he was on 87. However I can’t remember his name (Frank???).
I think Tinley has over 50 and the German Michael Schuler also around that.
Axel
I seem to recall Joe Bonness was called out at IMFL 03’ as having around 44 at the time… not sure how many he has done since then.
Of course I could be wrong, the memory isn’t as good as it used to be…
John Wragg, who is from Mississauga, Ont, Canada has done way more than 50 … I think his total may be over 80. Last year I think that he did 6 or 7 in total and he has been doing them for years.
It would totally depend on what you consider an “Ironman”. That is a pretty controversial subject here.
FYI
Joe has finished 49 Iron distance races. These include non WTC, like Roth, Vineman and GFT.
I believe Louis was about 1 behind Joe at IMFL last year, so he may have pulled ahead. Louis’s races, I believe, are all WTC brand. There was a Japanese gentleman many years ago that was well over 50 WTC races.
There are IM Triathletes that have finished more individual races than either Joe or Louis.
Now, If you start to count doubles, triples or decas as individual distances you will see the numbers go up drastically. There are even people who claim “ironman” records who made up their own races.
Ken Glah, I believe, has the most IM races of any Pro. I think he was close to 50 last I talked to him. he’s still racing too. Scott Tinley was close, but in the mid 40’s(?). He has been retired to the distance for a few years.
I don’t see how anyone could claim a “record”, unless you only use WTC races. WTC would have the only way to verify with results records.
Is there a prize or something?
No, but you can consider yourself an “accomplished” triathlete ;).