1st IM in KY?

Did IMKY as my first, not a strong swimmer so that gave me a bit of a workout 1:48:00 for the swim. Waited in line 25 min after the gun sounded for my turn to jump in.  Long line, about a mile with family and friends waiting with swimmers.
 The Bike was nice, just constant rollers, was able to stay in aero the whole race. Just used momentum to carry you down and up. Two hills that were fairly long, but over all nothing killer. Rode the course in 6:13 about 18 mph. We had a temp of 78 deg which is way below normal. That will play a role in the ride.
 Run was two loops of out and back and very flat. one hill on a out and back in the first 2 miles.
 Run course was very nice tree lined street can see all the racers all day.
 If your local I only trained at Kensington /IL for Ky and used a BT training plan. We did go down and Raced the Cardnil HIM which bikes a lot of the course, Run is not the same and a diffrent part of the river for the swim. still a good version of the day.

IMKY has a great finish area and the Galt was very nice place to stay

Just Im if you have any other questions   hope this helps

Ditto for me for basically the same reasons.  I have my first 140.6 choices narrowed down to IMKY in Aug, Rev3 Cedar Point in September or the new MI IRON right here in GR in Aug.

Heat/Humitidy definately concerns me for KY in August.  I just completed REV3 Cedar Point for my first 70.3 last weekend and REV3 puts a very, very good race/atmosphere, but it is after school starts and that makes it a little harder if my family is to attend with me.

Read on MLIVE.com that the GR Iron race will bike mostly in the Cannonsburg/Belding area and the run will go out Beltline to Meijer Gardens and back - 2 loops i think i read.

Does IMKY ever sell out?  What is our time window to decide if anyone knows?

Big Big factor for me, wife works for school and daughter attends.

I am going to make my decision this weekend.  In doing some final research last night, I did learn that you almost never are allowed to wear a wetsuit for IMKY due to temps.  Hmmmm don't know if that is a deal breaker or not for me, but I definately prefer to wear it. 

IMKY is a decent choice for a first IM. As mentioned the swim will be too warm for wetsuits but with the time trial start, I think that takes away some of the anxiety of the "washing machine."

The bike course is a nice bike course. I have done KY, AZ, WI, CDA, Rev 3 and Redman and I would say it is the 3rd toughest behind CDA and WI. The hills aren't too bad, seemed like a lot of them but nothing like WI and CDA. The out and back stretch before getting on the double loop has a wicked downhill on the way out where I hit 47mph and was braking. People were coming by me like I was standing still. I am not a big fan of those speed on hills so that was probably the only part of the bike I didn't care for. Obviously you get to climb back up it too

The run is very flat and the finish is awesome on 4th st live. Host hotel is on the best set ups I have seen because it is all right there and fairly easy to get a room for not a ton of dough.

WOT, any decision yet?  I think I'm going to sign up for KY today or tomorrow.  I've watched Youtube video of the course and it looks tough in spots but managable.  My plan for bike training will be hills, hills and more hills.  I'm also going to invest in the Spinnervals IMKY DVD for some more perspective on the course.  The swim is probably what draws me the most.  I like warm water and swimming with the current will be a big plus.  A time trial start will be a little less hectic too.  

BCYoder--which Fink Ironfit plan are you trying?  I think I'm going to follow the "just finish" plan but increase some of the bike times.  I'd be interested in hearing how your training goes as we get closer.

Just made my hotel reservations!  Bring on H3's.. Heat, Humidity and Hills!

Congrats for signing up everyone!  It's exciting.  I signed up for my first 140.6 at IM Wisconsin as opposed to IM KY with the heat and wetsuit issues already mentioned.  I really wanted to be able to wear my wetsuit.  I'm pretty nervous about the bike as well but fear is a good thing.  I already rode most of the course and I just plan on getting as strong on the bike as possible before race day next year.  Hills, hills, hills is my mantra.  There is potential for Mi Iron to be a bit hilly as well in NE GR depending on which roads they take off of Cannonsburg Rd.

It looks like most of us already chose our Ironman race for 2012.  Maybe we'll see some of you at the Mi Iron in 2013?! Brad/WOT, are you planning on doing that one in the future?  I may, assuming I do another one and it's not the Rev3 in Cedar Point. 

I just wanted to say good luck to some people who are/were trying to make some of the same choices I was making!  Have a great year training.