IM Los Cabos

Thanks for the responses. That's a crazy DNF rate.

I found a pretty large facebook group for people doing the race. Seems like the bike course was the real killer. I did IM Louisville last year and this venue seems similar. Hilly course and warm/hot temps. It would just be a destination race, so I wouldn't worry about time too much. Would be a nice vacation and my wife would enjoy it. She's already given the green light. I'm always up for a challenge.

I'm on that group so you've seen my thoughts. Few people expected the hilly bike. I and many people I spoke to thought it would be fairly flat with some climbs and rollers. I'm not sure why we all thought that, perhaps from back last year when we signed up that was the plan at the time. Certainly that's the training I did. 

Come race day we found the bike was relentless up down up down for 56 miles, then do it all again. Only one big climb at the toll plaza, but at that point it felt like Richter Pass.  Not that hot nor that windy. You can see on this link the wind wasn't gusting badly nor did it change direction.  http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/MMSD/2013/3/17/DailyHistory.html?req_city=San+Jose+Del+Cabo&req_state=&req_statename=Mexico 

I'm already signed up for next year. This was a fabulous destination race, and my wife and I really enjoyed the trip. I'm typing this on my Surface tablet next to the pool at Hola Grand Faro, the host hotel. Glorious weather. Next year I'll know what to expect on the bike. 

comments from my friend who just did it said it was really hot. The bike course was "legit" meaning hard (and she's very experienced IM'er...)

I think the bike is FAR more difficult then Louisville. If the trend keeps the way over the next couple years WTC might make this a 70.3 or yank it off the list.

Thanks for all the feedback.

I'd love to do a flat course, but I live in a very hilly area, so I'm not afraid of it but it sure does sound brutal.

For you guys who went, did you stay at the host hotel or near the course? If so, any recommendations? I know it's a long ways out, just trying to do some research.

I will say that IM Cabo was not only a legit race, but one of the best I've seen put on.  Yes it was 7700' of climbing on the bike with a solid wind and around 90 degrees with not a cloud in the sky.

I feel it was the best run race out of all the IM races I've done and would even say it rivaled what I saw in Kona in regards to race day support.  You would have never known it was a first year race.

I stayed at one of the host hotels (Best Western) which was a .5 mile walk from the host hotel.  Saved tons of money and had access to everything there.  Mechanic was on-site (free) and race day transportation from our front door.  Wal-Mart across the street for anything you needed.  Those staying on hotel road would have to go a mile for 'food shopping'.  We got a suite because it had a kitchenette for some cooking and such.

Local transportation was very easy to navigate.  Yes, you could cab it or you could spend 10 pesos (>$1) to hop on a local bus and go anywhere you want.  And I don't speak Spanish.

In all, great destination race, but be ready for some hella hard work on course.  And the swim was a one loop awesome animal.

100% agree on this.  Louisville is a cake walk compared to Cabo's course.  I've done Lake Placid and Wisconsin and this was a harder bike course than both of those. 

Excellent information. Thanks so much, Dan. Much appreciated.

my friend's fb post on cabo

"Final impression of Ironman Los Cabos... Great race! Challenging course and conditions, friendly volunteers, beautiful venue. I'd definitely come back!"

race recap...

http://www.teamtbb.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=1564