I was talking to a friend yesterday at a picnic and I mentioned that I was dabbling in triathlons and I said that I want to do an Ironman in a year or two. He said that he had thought about it but felt like he might be too old to go from zero to an ironman. He’s 46 or 47 and has a bike racing background but hasn’t done a whole lot of riding or training the last couple of years. So, how about it? Is he too old? How old were some of you when you did your first IM? How long after starting tris?
I don’t think he’s too old. As long as the frame of mind is there, the body will follow. There are people well beyond their 40’s participating/completing IMs. But what do I know…I’ll be 30 in Dec and don’t have single IM under my belt…yet… 
The Other TD
Don’t tell Bill Bell or some of the other IronGents. I believe Bill was in his 50s when he first took up triathlon.
clm
No way, he is imposing barriers on himself. I train and race against guys in the 60s. And on the road race circuit the masters category is ultra competitive throughout all the AGs. A good friend turned 60 this year and is on his 2nd IM (racing CDA soon), he took it up three years ago and every time I ride with him I see improvements in his fitness, technique and strenght. However, it does help that he is now retired and has all day to train!