"Easiest" Ironman or Iron Distance (Page 2)

I'm doing IM FL and yes- it's already full.  It actually filled up within a few hours after registration opened.

devo27 - 2006-02-15 11:51 AM Since we are interested in word play...I'll do you one better. Ironmans ARE easy. That doesn't mean they are EFFORTLESS though. It takes effort to get out of bed at 4:30am to go to a cold(ish) pool. It takes effort to get out and run or ride when it's cold, snowing, raining or all three at the same time. It takes effort to schedule your workouts and family life so that one or the other doesn't suffer. But it is easy. You keep putting one foot in front of the other every day: to the end of your workout, to the end of the day, end of the week, end of the month, and then to the finish line of your race. You keep going, you keep driving. It takes effort, but it's easy. For those that don't put in the effort...the race will weed you out. Are Ironmans easy? You bet! Are the effortless...not on your life. Rhonda and Nancy...you let me know where you'll be doing your race and I'll do what I can to be there to cheer you on. Clearly, you have the will to put in the work necessary to get to the finish. And WHEN you make it to the finish, I'll be happy to call you Ironmen. Regardless of how easy it was...

I totally disagree.   Although my farthest tri is only a 1/2 IM, I am certain that an IM is not easy.  There may be parts of the race where it seems easy because you feel great, but that doesn't last forever.  Like any other race there's going to be ups and downs and it's not easy dealing with the mental/emotional rollercoaster.   

Training is also not easy- it's not easy to give up other aspects of your life because you have to train.  It's a HUGE sacrifice.  It's do-able, but also not easy- you have to constantly keep reminding yourself of your IM goal.  It's easier to quit than to train.  It's hard to make yourself go bed early because you're so tired.  Or skip out on junk food becuase you know you'll stomach will be upset for eating it when you train.  It's not easy waking up early before anyone else gets up to train when you know you can sleep in.  Easy?  I hardly think so.  You think it's easy to ride a bike for about 7 hours and deal with a sore butt?  Or deal with your legs hurting so badly while you're trying to finsih a marathon?  Or swimming 2.4 miles in choppy ocean waters?  Easy- I doubt it.  But I'll let you know how "easy" my first IM is after I complete it this fall.

HERE TRI THIS http://www.esprittriathlon.com/ as far as I know this one seems easier :

SWIM: 3.8 Km (2.4 mi.) Time Limit: 2 hrs

The 3.8 Km (2.4 mi) swim will be in the Olympic Rowing Basin. The Basin is a 2 km long, 100 m wide and 3 m deep swimming pool. There is no current in the basin.  The water has been tested and is superior for  swimming.  Wind will have zero wave effect. The expected water temperature will be 22°C (around 72°F) and we recommend wet suits. The course is 2 laps of 1900 metres, a down-and-back swim.  Spectators can walk along the basin wall on the stands side and watch the swimmers.

BIKE: 180 Km (112 mi) Time Limit: 10 hours

The 180 km (112 mi) cycle will consist of 41 laps of the Circuit Gilles- Villeneuve which is the site of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand-Prix. The 4.4 km loop has the best road surface in North America. Our computer timing system will count the laps for the triathletes.  On each lap you will have access to the aid station or "PITS" (see info on aid stations).  The distance on your bike computer will give you a good idea of where you are on the course and you can check this against our count which is shown on a large screen video monitor coming out of the hair pin turn. This monitor indicates your bib number and the number of laps which you have completed. REMEMBER, EXIT THE COURSE WHEN THE MONITOR INDICATES 40 LAPS!

MARATHON: 42.2 Km (26.2 mi) Time Limit: 16 hours

The 42.2 Km (26.2 mi) marathon starts on the Voie Maritime on the SEAWAY side of the transition area. You enter the Voie Maritime behind boat hanger No. 9 in the transition area.  On the Voie Maritime you will complete the first 2 Km of the marathon with a turn-around after 1 Km.  You will then return to the basin and circle the Olympic Rowing Basin 9 times.   The first 8 laps are 4.5 Km and the 9th lap is 4.2 Km ending at the Finish Line.  The course will have you pass to the right of the Finish Line on the water side and through the transition area 8 times.  In the transition area you wil go over any swimmers exiting the basin on our run bridge.  This is the only hill on the course!  The run course is flat and fast.  On your 9th lap you will be given a wristband. This will signify to the course marshals that you have now completed the marathon and may enter the "home stretch" to the finish line.

I wish I could of jumped in this thread sooner to address Rocket Man's comment.

When I joined this site last year I too was shopping around what IM to race.  I posted a similar post asking for recommendations on an "easier" IM.  RocketMan (Brett) responded with almost the same response....."There is no such thing."  At the time I was kind of putt off by this statement.  Months later and much more smarter I now know what he was saying.  Brett is right in defending the sacredness (?) of the challenge called Ironman.  Maybe the use of the word "easy" was inappropriate.  I know it was when I posted this question.  Like someone said earlier, a more appropriate question may have been "which IM is better for a bad swimmer"  which is my case.

I don't want to speak for Brett but I think I know where he's coming from.  A person gives so much of themselves training for a full IM and during the event itself that using words like "easy" cheapens it. 

I appreciate Brett's comments.  He is right to defend the race and those who have completed one.

On another note to the original poster.  Don't limit yourself to only "IronmanM" M-Dot races.  There are a few Independent 140.6 races out there worth looking at.  Some mentioned Chesapeake Man.  There's also Redman (Oklahoma) and Grand Columbian (Washington).  I was leaning towards Cheeseman until I learned that the 2.4 miles might be upstream against a current all while bouncing off of 100's of stinging jellyfish.  Apparently someone has posted that the current will be against the swimmers this year.  Because of this I'm looking at Redman.  Its a lake swim, two laps.  The bike is rolling hills w/flats and the run is on a running path.  Sounds nice but its two weeks sooner, which will be two weeks closer to my Half IM which is August 20th.  Give independent races a chance.  Do some research.  Good luck!

http://www.redmantriathlon.com/

http://www.thegrandcolumbian.com/course.htm

http://www.tricolumbia.org/chesapeakeman.html

I’m looking for an easy 5K, anyone offended?

I’m looking for an easy 10K, how about now?

An easy sprint or Olympic try, anyone?

Easy charity ride, century, or road race?

How about an easy marathon or ultra?

An easy open water swim?

An easy Ironman or Iron distance triathlon?

I’m just trying to figure out where is the line drawn between an easy event and the sacred cows so I can phrase future post correctly.

Writers2, IMCDA is a good event.  Some hills but nothing crazy and the location is great.

As Mad Cow stated in his post....any person who completes a 140.6 race is an Ironman by definition.  This topic has been discussed to death in this forum.  I have yet to hear anyone in person or on this board or Slowtwitch etc disagree.  If you're caught up on the "Ironman" name brand then think about how watered down the brand is.  Ironman, the company, makes weight scales, bike gloves, sweatbands, stretch cords, bouncy balls, etc etc etc. 

In MY opinion, there's Ironman the PERSON......then there's Ironman the PRODUCT.

When I complete my 140.6 mile triathlon I will be an Ironman.......period.  And so will you regardless what race you do.  Anyone disagree?