General Discussion Triathlon Talk » I Need help!! Which race for my 1st IM???? Rss Feed  
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2009-07-01 1:47 PM

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Denver
Subject: I Need help!! Which race for my 1st IM????
So I think Ive determined I am going to do my 1st IM next year. I am a part of a local Tri group and there are people doing 2 different races, IM St. George and IM Coeur d'Alene. There is alos another group that will be training for IM Austria. I definitely dont want to be training for this by myself so these are the 3 options I have, or at least thats how I see it. I will, hopefully, have at least 2 and maybe 3 Half's under my belt by then, Vineman, Longhorn, and maybe Oceanside Next March. So to all you IM Vets out there, any ideas on how I should choose between these 3?? Im leaning towards ST George or CDA because it is in teh states and would be cheaper. But is there anything else I need to look at when making this decision?? I know CDA is close to filling up as well. Thoughts??


2009-07-01 1:51 PM
in reply to: #2256384

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Master
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Subject: RE: I Need help!! Which race for my 1st IM????

A few things that factored into my decision were:
1.  driving distance (vs. flying) b/c i wanted to be able to train the course
2.  crowd support at the race
3.  enough time to get the training in.  I have family in CDA, but I was nervous about it being too early and not getting enough bike time in (b/c i'm a wuss and don't like to bike outside in the cold all winter!). 

2009-07-01 2:07 PM
in reply to: #2256384

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Cycling Guru
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Subject: RE: I Need help!! Which race for my 1st IM????
Things to factor:

Travel

Time of year

Accommodation costs

Family obligations

I did FL in '07 which is in November.  Couldn't take the family because of school, but it is off season there so rates for a place were pretty good.  Also late in the year so I could get the training in that I needed outside.

LP last year worked out better for the family so we made it a vacation, but it was more expensive (even sharing a house with another athlete and his family).  We had more fun though at LP than I did at FL.  FL was more like a "business" trip while LP was actually a good time.
2009-07-01 3:26 PM
in reply to: #2256384

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Champion
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Subject: RE: I Need help!! Which race for my 1st IM????

I just got back from CdA.  It's a great place to race. 

There is the logistics of getting to/from the race.  CdA is a long way from anywhere besides Spokane.  St. George might be easier to get to/from being relatively close to Las Vegas. 

Which is more likely to have what you consider "good" race weather?  I can't see signing up for IMKY even though it is 300 miles (instead of 2000) away because Louisville at the end of August is HOT and HUMID (I know, nothing like Louisiana or South Carolina hot and humid).  CdA does give you your best chance at a "daylight finish" since it's fairly far North and right around the Summer Solstice.  I finished at 8:38 PM, and we still had an hour of daylight left (although it was overcast). 

Which has bike/run courses that align with your temperment?  If you want a pancake-flat bike, then skip CdA, it's fairly technical.  Don't know about Utah. 

We made the race a destination, and it was our excuse to drive out through South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming and hit Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park. 

CdA and Austria are 2 weeks apart, so you could train with the CdA group and race either CdA or Austria (you may need to do one long ride by yourself, since the CdA guys might taper just before your biggest ride.  St. George is much earlier. 

2009-07-01 3:28 PM
in reply to: #2256384

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Subject: RE: I Need help!! Which race for my 1st IM????
Unless you are going CF, St George is full

But St George is going to go down as one tough race, possibly the hardest stateside MDOT 
2009-07-02 7:46 AM
in reply to: #2256384

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: I Need help!! Which race for my 1st IM????
Another thing to think about is time of year you want your big training months to fall into. I signed up for IM-Lou this year, which means my "big" months are the hottest months of the year (June - early August). I'm thinking about doing one of the early summer races or late fall races next year, just to shift the big months to a little cooler time of year. The same timing issue could apply if you have family or work issues that eat up certain times of the year.


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