First IM

[Sara]

Hi,

I'm looking for a little "experienced" advice... I'm a sprint/Olympic tri-er who's doing a half-iron this September. I really want to train for a full IM next year but I'm trying to decide which one might be best for me as a first-timer. I'm a decent swimmer, decent biker, and my strongest leg is running. I'm not so good biking on hills. IM AZ is too early in the year for me. Judging by the elevation charts on the various websites, Lake Placid is scaring the heck outta me. But, the timing for that one would be perfect. Is the bike as impossible as it looks by the elevation charts? Coer d'Alene looks better, but at a higher elevation--would that be tough for a first timer used to training at sea level? IM Wisconsin looked pretty good as far as the bike elevation but it's a bit late in the year for what I was hoping for. I thought since you are all much more experienced than I am, maybe you could recommend one for an IM-newbie? Any thoughts would be helpful--thanks!

[andrewjoyce]

Sara

IMAZ is too early in the season (realistically) for any NE Ohio athlete.

Rob and I trained through the winter and it was tough - we raced and finished but will less than ideal preparation.

IM Wisconsin and Lake Placid will best be addressed by some of the other members that have raced there.

IM FLorida is regarded as the easiest of the M Dot races - only because the course is flat which throws out it's own challenges) and it is later in the season - allowing you an entire season of outdoor training to be ready.

I will do doing IM CDA next year - I was there yesterday for the race and it is very well put together.

Whichever race you decide upon - be ready to register for next year - at the time of this year's race as the races sell out FAST!!!

Andrew

[mattc]

I wouldn't judge the course by its course profile. I've done Lake Placid three times and Wisconsin once, and those races have normally had over a 90 percent finish rate. The Cleveland area has provided ample terrain to prepare for the specific challenges of the Ironmans I've done. The key is having the right tacics. All the Ironmans are hard, but you race the bike as conservatively as is reasonable for the terrain to save energy for the run.

The Lake Placid hills are long, particularly over the last 12 miles of each loop, but they are not "impossible." The wisest riders stay very aerobic, fuel and hydrate well, become friendly with their small chain rings, and let the Lance wannabees burn themselves up. All in all, I'd call it a very "fair" course. You get back in downhiill what you pay in uphill. It is very easy to get into a good rhythm here.

Wisconsin is hilly, but in a different way. Lots of rollers, much more technical than Lake Placid. Tougher to get into a rhythm here. Again, though, not "impossible." The hard part of Wisconsin for me was the run through Madison in 90 degree heat!

One thing to add - although I personally prefer Lake Placid, I think Wisconsin is timed better in the year. To prepare for the late July LP Ironman, I need to begin getting in some serious outdoor miles on the bike in March/April. And as we know, you can't count on the weather much around here in those months. In training for Wisconsin, you can push that schedule back about six weeks to the warmer months.

Of course, I can't complain. I am still trying to figure out how Rob and Andrew logged the miles to prep for Ironman Arizona!

[Sara]

Thanks--these posts are very helpful--you're right, it is hard to tell from the elevation charts so it's nice to get some seasoned perspective on the courses! I appreciate your input!

[robreddy]

Sara

IM is IM - they are all tough regardless of the course, timing, elevation or what ever. But yes some courses might suit your own style better than others.

I did IMC and IMAZ - Canada is all one loop - i think that is great. The bike is pretty easy for the first 40 miles then challenging until the last 11. You have two huge climbs (nothing like what we have here in OH) and inbetween a long set of rollers (more like our long climbs though reasonably steep) and some flats. The run is a mixture of flats, very gradual up and down hills and a few reasonable rollers.

IMAZ - mostly low grade climbs/decents and short steeper uphills (biggest challenge is most of these climbs come after a sharp turn). Run is mostly flat with a few mostes but longer inclines.

I would really say to not worry as much about the course layout, but rather pick a race that best fits into your training schedule. Once that is done you can find the right terrain to train in.