IM Louisville for first IM?

I can only speak from an experience level of 1 IM but IMKY was my first (only) and I thought it was an absolutely incredible event! The best endorsement of the race I can give is the fact that I am signed up for next year.

As far as difficulty....the swim was cake; the bike was tough - hilly but not windy; the run was pancake flat. The weather was beautiful but a little warm.

Just my opinion - your mileage may vary.

~Mike

It will be my first as well! I was a spectator this year and had a blast. All 5 of the people I knew racing loved the event (they had done many IM's already).

IMKY 08 will be my first.

Louisville was my 7th IM, and I thought it was great! Would highly recommend it, I would do it again.

I don't think there is any one IM that is easier than another. IMKY was my first and talked to many other people who had done other IM events. One person said he thought the bike was harder than IMWI which is supposed to be the hardest. I thought that IMAZ would be easy until someone told me they have some really strong winds that even makes the swim hard let alone bikes being blown off the course. I took my time and made it so I think if I can make it anyone should be able to. The bike is hilly so you may not be as fast unless you have hills to train on. The swim in the river was challenging to me, but thats cuz I suck at swimming. The run is flat so no problems there. There were plenty of aid stations on the bike and run staffed with great volunteers. The finish line on 4th street live is awesome. The weather will be warm, but I would rather have that than nasty cold,rainy, windy conditions. Keep hydrated, practice hills on your bike and you'll do great.

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Ooh well then I guess that rules me out for signing up

It's going to be my first.

Picking your first IM is really all about what YOU care about. What you are OK with not OK with.

I thought IMAZ would be a good first... but then I knew I wouldn't train like I needed to in the winter months. Then I read about the high winds and I knew I would NOT go to that one.

So then I looked to IMFL. VERY popular for a first IM. Then I heard about how it has been cold on race day, there can be jelly fish in the water (yes, they sting too!), and even though it's flat there are winds.

I was never really keen on the idea of an ocean swim either.

I then knew that if I had to choose hills or wind- I would choose hills. You can find hills to train on. You can SEE when the torture is going to end - at the top of the hill. You know the hills will be there on race day. Oh, and what goes up must come down.

IMKY fit the bill all the way around for me:
Warm
River Swim
Hills vs. Wind

And then reading all the reports sold me on it.

Good luck on making your decision!

yeah it will be my first. yeah the hills have me scared on the bike. why can't the run be hilly? oh well. My other choices was going to be IMWI because of location or IMFL because of the flat bike but honestly I choice IMKY based on reviews and the fact I knew I could get in.

It'll be my first . . . I think there are quite a few BTers for whom IM Louisville will be their first IM next year. 

the key to finishing any IM or even marathon is training. the better you train the more likely you are to finish.

The bike is hilly but very doable.  I am 240 and climbed the hills pretty easy.  It also helps that the run  is literally totally flat. This helps after the bike.  The swim is really not that bad but remenber this year we did not do a shotgun start.  May be different with the original course. I was a ironman Florida two years ago to watch my brother.  This race (louisville) is far more fan friendly and it also a great  city to host the race.  lots of events for the family to do while you are racing and the family will be able to see the participants many times.

Edited by stephen strange 2007-09-12 10:54 AM