Races

Back to all races
Race Details Ratings 248 Reports 277

Race Reports for Ironman Wisconsin

[176]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This is a wonderful race, well supported. The people of Madison love this race and support it with unbelievable enthusiasim. Wow.
read full report
[177]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Now - after all this complaining...I WOULD TOTALLY RECOMMEND YOU GIVE THIS RACE A SHOT! It's a great time, and you find out things about yourself that you'll probably never know otherwise. A year ago, I was a 240+ lbs. dude that had completed 1 sprint distance this century. I got down to 205, and loved nearly every minute of the race.The crowds are awesome, volunteers really went above and beyond. Other than the dark times where I knew I was in a nutrition hole, I loved being out there. I'm disappointed that I didn't execute as well as I should have. If you are are a soon-to-be first timer reading this in the future, here's my advice - BIKE SLOWER THAN YOU CAN HANDLE DOING FOR THE FIRST TWO HOURS! I'm talking stupid slow. You shouldn't pass anyone for the first few hours. Even me, at 15mph average, passed a hundred or so people from Cross Plains to Verona on the second loop. Why? Because nearly everyone else goes out too hard, and dies in the last 40 miles and the marathon. Keep
read full report
[178]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Best Ironman time yet. Should have broken 12:00:00 if not for some bad transitions, having to stop for a bathroom break...
read full report
[179]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: My only complaint, large portions of the run course are really, really dark, can't see the trail in front of you dark. When you know that maybe 1,000 atheletes will be out after nightfall after a gruelling day, lighting up the course might not be a bad idea.
read full report
[180]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Awesome venue, awesome crowds, volunteers, etc, etc. having all the donks race too was a great treat and I am blessed to know all of ya! This race and the community support are well worth the cost, etc, etc.
read full report
[181]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Man, that is a tough course.
read full report
[182]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: This is one of the highlights in my life. Even a DNF couldn't change that. (It could have been a DNS--I contemplated that idea often). I went in as a wannabe...and finished as a WANNABE (in capital letters). Congratulations to those who were able to finish....and to those who were not able to...congratulations to you for trying. Being a part of IMOO 09 is very precious. 2176 finished out of 2401 who started. 4 people didn’t get out of the water 88 didn’t finish the bike including one pro 131 didn’t finish the run including 4 pros I also hope we were not alone in all the fun we had doing the race: We (my sister and I) went as far as we could (timed out), made our goal of finishing the swim, completed an entire loop of the bike (first time I ever rode it);and was congratulated by friends at a champagne party!! We had a day we will remember for a long time. The most important part: we came in 7th for the Janus Charity Challenge by raising over $13,000 for Doctors
read full report
[183]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: It's Ironman. Nothing more to say! As a post script, you might be wondering why it took me over 9 months to do this race report. I had completed most of it shortly after the race. However, I was not ready to "let go" of this race until recently. I am now ready to put it behind me and start my next challenge.
read full report
[184]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Reflection - The Ironman experience is amazing I think what makes it so amazing is you are reduced to the lowest level at mile 50 on the bike I was in the biggest blackest hole ever to drag myself out of there took so much courage and to go on and almost break 11:30 in my first IM on a really hard course is something I will always be proud of. I do think a 11:20 would have been a better reflection of my fitness but I will take 11:33 it could have so easily been a DNF. What Next - IM Canada in 2009, I need to build my bike FTP North of 300 to get a bike split close to 5:30hrs, I also am gonna do some work on my run I have ignored it for the last two years as I have tried to work on my two weaker legs, the Canada marathon is supposed to be very hilly and tough. My goal for Canada will be to get my time down to something starting with a 10. As for now gonna take some nice down time with my family until November then start Offseason program. Thanks to you all for your support especaily my
read full report
[185]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was soooo much fun! It was the second best day of my life (next to my wedding day of course) and my race could not have gone any more perfect. I finished about 1 hour faster than I thought I would! I have wanted this for so long so it was nice to have all of my training and preperation pay off in a very big way. Loved it!!!!!
read full report
[186]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Perfect day or an IM race. I set my goals, followed my race plan and destroyed them beyond what I knew I was even capable of accomplishing. The organization of the race, volunteers and fans are incredible. Definitely a race I will return to.
read full report
[187]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Despite feeling not too good for the majority of the race I still managed to maintain a relatively positive attitude and tried to enjoy my first IM experience. I say first, because barring any dire comments from my GI doc regarding future IMs, I would like to do another one day. I'm extremely proud of the race I ran. I keep moving and did achieve my goal of finishing with a smile! An incredible experience that at one point in my life I never thought possible.
read full report
[188]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This race was everything I had hoped it would be. I mean, when I started the run at 4:06 PM, I had my sights set on a 14:30-14:45 finish but it just didn't work out that way. But I know now that I am capable of completing the distances and if I have a good day on all 3 sports and transitions, I should be able to pull off a 14:30 or less IM. Yes, this means I want to do another one. Not sure when I will be able to do it as our adoption will happen by next summer, and IM is a year long commitment, but I know that i will indeed tackle the distance again. The crowds and the volunteers were AWESOME!! The pirates on the bike course were my favorites. They stayed at it all day and looked like they were having so much fun. The folks that lined the hills and partied and cheered for us all have my gratitude. It made me look forward to those dang hills. At home we just have a hill. At this race we had fans! The whole atmosphere of the race was electric. Everyone, young and old, fat and fit,
read full report
[189]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Clearly the pinacle/apex of the last 3 years of my life.. It doesn't get any better then IRONMAN! This was the greatest venue I have ever attended and absolutely organized... This site and the people in these races are some of the nicest and most empathic people I know.. its truly amazing...and part of what keeps me coming for more of the high I get from this sport. Thanks to my family and friends for coming out and supporting me the whole time.. you all rock!!... I just totally enjoyed the whole expereience from end to end I am not sure I will sign up for another IM next year.. but 2010 looks likely to me though.. as I will be 40 and likely itching to do 'something' to consumate 4 decades on the lonely planet. maybe a internation IM.. not sure though.. I will stick to 1/2 IM and lower for next year.. maybe concentrate on the run segment as my key weakness.. Thanks to all for the relationships and conversations.. its been a heck of a ride... I LOVED IT..
read full report
[190]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Ironman Wisconsin September 7, 2008 Dudes….here is my race report. One of my very best dude friends, Quinton sez “dude” a lot, so I can’t get it out of my head. I just finished the Ironman Wisconsin Race affectionately known to many as IMOO, for obvious reasons. Everyone except Quinton, who asked “Dude, what is that IMOO thing?” I had to “school” Quinton about the course, take him on a “bike preview” (we drove the course the day before the race), to show him the ropes, and told him that the run was flat as a pancake and not to worry about it. Post race, Quinton “Q”, said, “Dude, that run course was full of hills, what the hell were you talkin about; dude!” I had the fun of doing IMOO 2006 & 2008. The two events were so different; it is hard to describe. Even though they were on the exact same course, it felt like an entirely different event to me. Funny how HUGE a factor weather is for a multi-hour endurance event, its effect on the athletes, the attitudes, the spectators,
read full report
[191]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Best race I have ever done. The volunteers are incredible and they really go all out. I wish the water, cola, and gatorade was a little colder out there. I think in a couple of years, we will have 2000 BTers at this race. Its crazy!
read full report
[192]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Great race, great people, great experience.
read full report
[193]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This race was amazing. The organization is great, the volunteers are out of this world, it's well supported on the course and with spectators. They really do a great job. I would absolutely do it again and I can't wait to go out and volunteer and cheer for those who do it next year.
read full report
[194]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: I love this race. It is a truly incredible event.
read full report
[195]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: IMWI is amazing and everyone should do an IM here :)
read full report
[196]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I didn't sign up for 09. Linda and I had a nice chat about it, so I've decided to do some shorter distance stuff (<70.3) that has less impact on our home life next year. It was really good to see my BT buddies on site and I'm really happy to see the MN contingent do well. Congrats to Rabka, MnDiver, Goalie, and MNBrian. Sorry to see Birkie suffer, but good to chat with him. An IM weekend is quite the event. I'd highly recommend it.
read full report
[197]
Reported by:
User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: I was pretty happy with my performance. This was my first IM. The training plan that I made for myself was based on volume for a few reasons: 1) I really enjoy training; 2) I recover pretty well; and 3) I was a pretty poor cyclist and I thought the best way to improve that would be by riding lots (but having a focus for each ride). I am still not a good cyclist but I have improved a lot and I am happy about that. My goal was 10:15. I made that goal based on paying attention to what I was doing in training. So it was more like "if I stick to my plan and my plan goes well I should finish in 10:15". I figured 1hr swim, 5:40 bike, 3:25 run, 10min transitions. I came pretty close to that. I think I benefited from having some idea of what to do when the train goes a little bit off-track like it did on the run. All in all, it was a good race for me. I am not sure I want to continue at IM distance, but we'll see. The fans and volunteers for this race were spectacular. THANK
read full report
[198]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: long lines at registration but other than that nothing bad for me at all, and even those lines werent all THAT bad. i had a blast doing this and even tho i might have been quoted about not doing another one, you betchya booty that i will be back to the moomoo!!! (maybe as soon as '09?)
read full report
[199]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: This is probably the hardest thing I've ever done. Giving birth may have been easier. I may volunteer next year and sign up for 2010. Am recovering much faster than I thought I would, even the blisters. Ended up with only three blisters, the biggest on right little toes that topped out at approx. the same size as the toes they were on, but no underlying dermis damage so they are healing quickly too. It was too hard, but sometimes too hard is good. GF told me that my mom didn't believe I'd finish until about 15min before I actually did finish....HA! It took forever, but I did it. Now I just need to recover, continue to be active and train to improve my fitness from this base!
read full report
[200]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This event ROCKED! Just a really super time!
read full report
Show Per page
 
 
of 10