IMFL vs IMAZ vs IMLP (Page 2)

This doesn't answer your question in any way, but:

Why do an IM next year?  Your coach's advice sounds good.  But 'tacking' an IM onto the end of a long season seems questionable.  What about just taking all of '09 to work on 'fast' (you'll still be building endurance) and come back to IM in '10?

That would be the direction I would head.  Then you could opt to do one of the late-season independents if you feel like you 'need' to do an IM for whatever reason.  Just a thought...

Best advice and really what my coach suggests for me to reach my goals...so I can focus on getting faster by doing shorter work and races; stretching the year isn't ideal you are right. I twas our compromise was to do late season IM as I could do both.

Why do an IM? Good question...lots of answers from different angles, right now I want to.  

I need to let go of my IMLP voucher and give myself time to come up with firm plan over next few months. It may turn out I love cyclecross racing and want to do that next fall which means no IM. I'm open but need to make a final decision about Lake Placid.

Another reason why keeping the independants as an option versus an mDot might make sense for you.  Of course, you'd have to be comfortable that the different 'vibe' wouldn't detract from your experience (otherwise, it wouldn't be much of an 'option' for you).

FWIW, my own plan is to keep my options open next year and have either Plymouth Rock or ChesapeakeMan as my possible IM.  I can decide in late Spring or early Summer next year instead of committing sometime this year.  And save a bunch of $$$ too. 

PennState - 2008-07-29 2:12 PM John, you are absolutely right in your approach. I am interested in doing an independent IM some day, but LP is pretty perfect for me, and it's quite beautiful. LOgistically though, the independants make much more sense

Yeah, don't get me wrong.  LP is a GREAT race venue and I'll probably go back there one day.  It's just too much for me to ask my family to make a vacation up there every year while I go race.  It's actually possible that if/when I do decide to do it, we'll take a family vacation there the year before (for registration) and then I'll head up on my own to race.

And going 'fast' is at least as fun as going 'long', too, so I don't have a problem not doing an IM in any given year. 

I would take your "chilly" days all winter long here in Michigan. Crap it hits 50 and you see more shorts, tank tops, and pale skin than you'd ever care to witness.

PennState - 2008-07-29 12:12 PM John, you are absolutely right in your approach. I am interested in doing an independent IM some day, but LP is pretty perfect for me, and it's quite beautiful. LOgistically though, the independants make much more sense

what idies are worth considering? 

greyhound - 2008-07-31 10:22 AM

PennState - 2008-07-29 12:12 PM John, you are absolutely right in your approach. I am interested in doing an independent IM some day, but LP is pretty perfect for me, and it's quite beautiful. LOgistically though, the independants make much more sense

what idies are worth considering? 

I did Redman last year and have nothing but great things to say about it

 That is totally absurd!!  Was your friend smoking something or are they just retarded?

Wow, what an a$$hat comment, I won't even get into it with you (other than to ask if you have any idea of the conditions at 4/08 IMAZ)

This year's AZ was crazy hot and somewhat windy, which made it a tough day (according to race reports I've read).

But comparing it to this year's LP one might have an entirely different opinion.

One being "harder" than another is a totally subjective opinion.

First of all, I never said he compared 4/08 IMAZ to 7/08 Lake Placid, that's an A$$umption someone made, perhaps to pump up their own accomplishments.  He did it in 06.

Second, calling 4/08 IMAZZ "crazy hot and somewhat windy" is like calling 08 LP "a bit rainy"

Third, the comment was rude and and uncalled for... and my friend's was OBVIOUSLY a subjective opinion.

Sorry, I am very loyal.  Go after my friend, might as well go after me.

I can dig it.

And I was playing happy middle ground guy trying to help resolve things here ....... I never said anything against you or your friend.

Every IM is hard, it's pretty much that simple.

My point is pretty much what Rick and Fred have stated above, although not as nicely as they put it, but If you look at your post, what you said is "AZ was head and shoulders harder than LP." Not, "04/08 AZ was head and shoulders harder than '06 LP  for him". 

To make such a blanket statement is ludicrous. 

p.s. I have made no reference to which races i have done, so any suggestion that I am self promoting is silly.