Is Ironman for me?

It's that time of the year on Team Z.  The votes have been cast, the next year's Ironmans selected, and the campaigning has begun.  And the same as every year, people will put pressure on their friends and teammates to sign up for this Ironman or that Ironman.  I'm as guilty on that front as anyone.

So take what I'm about to write with a heavy dose of salt stick.

Some people get talked into their first Ironman for all the wrong reasons, so here's a short primer on what you should consider as you make your decision, yeah or nay.

Please note - I'm mixing up "Is Ironman right for me?" and "Is Ironman next year right for me?"

Reasons for Doing Ironman Next Year

1. It's the most amazing thing you'll ever do.  I mean, you've read my race report, right?  
2. FOMO. OMG!!!  My BFF is doing Ironman next year!!!  Yeah - it is wonderful to have friends to ride and run with, a posse.  And the more Ironman seasons you go through, the bigger that posse gets.  The bonds you will form with the people you train with for your first Ironman will last forever.
3. It's a challenge.  There is such a joy in pushing yourself to tackle something you know is hard. You will have so many "firsts" over the next year, so many triumphs, so many obstacles you will overcome.  
4. It's a logical progression.  You don't have to be driven to do Ironman, but when you look at the grand arc of your athletic life, Ironman often just fits in.  My first Ironman was the culmination of five years of the Transformation of Mary through first weight loss and then fitness gain and then entering the world of triathlon.

Reasons for Not Doing Ironman Next Year

1. It's not the most amazing thing you've done.  Wait … didn't you just say that it's the most amazing thing you'll ever do?  Well, yes, I did.  But to be perfectly honest, when I look back over the my ten years of athletic endeavors, my first triathlon (a tiny women's only sprint) was my greatest accomplishment.  But my first Ironman did blow it out of the water in terms of emotion and magnitude.  So, I guess I'm saying - if you're relatively new to triathlon, maybe take a few seasons to revel in the accomplishments of your greatest accomplishment before you tackle Ironman?  Which leads me to …
2. It's not going anywhere.  Ironman's been around for a while and considering the interest, I suspect it'll be around for a while.  2015 for the team is IMMD & IMCHOO.  My prediction for 2016 will be IMMD and IMMOO or IMLP.  2017 will be IMCOZ, IMMD and IMMT.    Some repetition, but always one flat and one hilly, and mostly great courses.  And whoever you end up training with will be extraordinary and become great friends if they aren't already and without whom you can't imagine ever having done Ironman.
3. Your friends aren't going anywhere.  Now FOMO is a huge factor in signing up.  But there are two kinds of people who do Ironman:
1. One and done.  Who the hell wants them as friends?
2. Addicts.  They'll be back - maybe even next year.  And if you love training with your friends, you're going to ADORE cheering for them.  And then maybe having them cheer for you in 2016.
4. It's expensive.  Probably now isn't the time for me to add up how much Ironman has cost me this year, but to give you a sense:
1. Registration ($700)
2. Hotel (5-6 nights @ $150-250 per night - and that'd be cheap for some places)
3. Travel ($750 in airfare - multiple by family members, otherwise in fuel, eating out etc.)
4. Finishers gear ($3-500)
5. Nutrition ($500 for the year?)
6. New bike ($2,500-$5,000 + tax, fitting, pedals, saddle, blah, blah, blah)
7. Other races ($1,000 ea for registration, travel & accommodation, depending on how experienced a racer you are)
5. It's hard.  Really really hard.  The training is hard, it's a year long, the long ride days will start at 4 and end at 6.  The long run days will have you napping in the afternoon.  Four days during the week will be two workouts a day.  There will be days of riding in temperatures well below zero, days you'll feel faint from the heat and humidity.  Days of driving rain and a headwind, whatever direction you turn.  Your entire body will ache - muscles, ligaments and tendons.  And after all that, you may still flirt with cutoff.  
6. FOMO.  Yeah, this one appears on both lists.  Your BFF may get injured.  You may find that over time you're faster or slower than your posse and can no longer ride or run with them.  And if your friends were your major reason for doing this, it's going to color the experience for you in maybe a negative light.  
7. It's an illogical progression.  While it may seem that that sprint, oly, half, Ironman is a logical progression, it is only in distance.  Not necessarily in experience, smarts, or life.  Nor is sprint-Ironman a logical progression.  Or first tri-first Ironman (even Ed would agree!).  Maybe consider sitting at the half distance for a while - you will nail down your transitions, pacing, nutrition, all of which are huge advantages in Ironman.  There are so many things to learn and gain experience with just on the endurance front when training for your first Ironman - imagine already knowing what you'll wear, what you'll eat, how to hold back on the bike, what it's like to spend hours in aero, etc.etc.etc.

Please don't take the above as a scolding to folks who sign up for things on a whim or do everything I say don't do and yet have a great time. Each to their own and more power to your elbow.  In fact, I'm actively trying to be a less boringly sensible person myself.  But for those of you who are planners like I am and don't typically do things spontaneously, I hope you find this useful.

Whatever you decide, you're going to have a great 2015 triathlon season!