Not sure about you guys but when I plan my races it's upto 18 months in advance. Imagine my horror when i learned recently that Ironman St George starting in 2013 is cut to a 70.3.
Living in Canada and doing IMC 4x i was ready to try another one and focused on St george for 2013. We were doing the long drive down and making a vacation out of it. I was even had my 2012 race schedule mapped out in preparation for the big daddy in may 2013. I have no interest in doing a 70.3 as they are everywhere.
I heard that there is a possibility that ironman may introduce a race in Las vegas, perhaps even in 2013..........anyone hear anything?
Also, ironman CDa, how is it?
That might be my plan B.
thanks for any info.
I'm being cynical - and 100%
I'm being cynical - and 100% of this is conjecture on my part - but it was probably cut because it was (seen as) "too hard". Ironman Florida? Fills in hours. St. George? Months later, still open. From a marketing perspective, St. George sat on the shelf too long and looked stale when no one wanted it: "Why's it still open? What's wrong with it?" We do this all the time in our non-tri life: "Why is this ____ still on the shelf? I thought this was a hot item. Must not be." When a race fills quickly, it builds buzz. "OMG! I *must* drive all the way to Panama City Beach and stand in line the day-after or the world will end!" It's a perfectly self-perpetuating cycle. But no one stood in line at St. George. No one updated their Facebook status: "T-1 hour until Ironman St. George opens up for next year's registration. Wish me luck!" I suspect that WTC closed entries in previous years just to "save face" and said, "Oh yay! We're full [with many fewer than we expected]." It's easy to sell things out when you artificially (and unofficially) limit the field to many fewer than say, the 2,000+ at Florida.
In re: to CdA, I can’t speak highly enough about Ironman Coeur d’Alene – the race, the city, and competing in the Northwest/Idaho panhandle in June. It's not just the only Ironman I've done twice: Other than my hometown marathon, CdA is the only race of any kind I've done twice. It’s not what I would call a PR course (even though the 2010 was a short-lived PR). If you want to blast through an Ironman, go to Florida or Frankfurt, both of which are fast and flat. CdA is a tough bike course, but the weather is usually very accommodating (typically the start is in the 50s, with highs in the 70s), and the run is very manageable.
SWIM: 50*-something degree water. There are plenty of people wearing squid lids and neoprene booties. Not a single person did not have a wetsuit, and 99% of them wear fulls.
BIKE: It’s a tough bike course. More than 6,000’ climbing, all bunched together around miles 20-40, then 80-100. So what happens if you tear a$$ for the first 20 miles? *WHAM*! You run into several small-chainring, long, extended seated climbs. Fortunately mile 100 back into town is flat (Much like Canada's). The other challenge is in all the dang technical turns. You may think that with that many climbs you can pick up some speed on the downhill. Not really. There were so many right-angle turns at the bottom of the hills and U-turns (six, to be exact), that you spend a disappointing amount of time bleeding-off speed downhill, or coming to the end of a really nice flat stretch to only hit a U-turn timing mat. Overall it’s a great bike course: challenging enough to reward strong climbers, with enough variety to not get boring. The vistas around Hayden Lake are awesome and the road surface is about 95% crack-free. Really smooth riding surface.
RUN - Compared to the over-crowded swim and hard (for me) bike, the run is easy. Mostly flat, out-and-back along the lake, so you get to see everyone who hasn’t already finished. Only one climb (done twice) and most MOPers walk it anyways.
Disappointing....I wanted to
Disappointing....I wanted to do this race one day because it was hard and I've never been to Utah.
I am a newbie to the
I am a newbie to the triathlon addiction. Living in Utah, the IM St. George was on my list as a future full IM. I started training in August of last year and signed up for the Boise HIM as my first race since it is the closest. I have heard it is one of the eaiser of the 70.3 series. I am prepared for the bike and run, but I havent had any OWS experience. The water temp in the reserviors around here is still in the mid 40's..I know...that is probably warm to everyone in Northern US and Canada....so I have been swimming the dreadful 40 to 60 laps in a 25 meter length pool two to three times a week (which includes drills and intervals). I can only swim 400 meters at a time freestyle then I flip over on my back for 25 meters or do the breaststroke to catch my breath and then I can go again for another 400. I think it is the turns that throws of my timing/rythm and breathing. If I dont get a chance to do any OWS by June 9th, I am hoping the time I have spent working on my endurance in the pool will get me through it.
Does anyone have any advice for a first time IM participant or tips for the Boise HIM. I am hoping I do ok...my goal is 6 hours since this is my first one.
I plan on doing the IM in Arizona next year I heard it is one of the easier full IM. I know it fills up fast so I plan on volunteering for it this year. Are there any HIM anyone recommends close to Utah I could add to my schedule for practice leading up to next year?
I hear you warrenp. I was
I hear you warrenp. I was bummed when I heard this. My wife and I were going to try and do this in 2013. I'm doing IMMT this year hoping to get strong enough on the hills. We were really hoping to use this as an excuse to go out to Utah and get some sightseeing in afterwards. Oh well. TriSooner is spot on. It doesn't fill up because it's really tough. But it's harder in that you have to be in IM shape in the beginning of May. It's hard to find good mountains to train on reliably throughout the winter(as I'm sure you are aware living in Canada). As a 70.3, it will still be a tough one, but manageable from a training standpoint for May.
Thanks for the great info on
Thanks for the great info on cda it's definetly a good possibility. I'm a very focused person and when I picked ironman st George it was a focus.
My only concern for st goerge in may was training in Canada's winter as obviously its mostly indoors. This is why imc was easy for me to train as we get nice summers. If money wasn't a concern I could pick any ironman in world but not prepared to spend huge amounts on travel.
I'm picky lol, Florida would be great time of year and location but have little interest in a very flat course.
I'll stop complaining now and refocus.
yeah it really does blow. I
yeah it really does blow. I honestly think it would gain alot more traction if it were an end of May or mid June race. I would never race that course because I don't wanna be on my trainer for hours on end in the middle of winter; hence, that is why I find myself constantly signing up for IMLouisville, even though I could do IMTexas in my backyard, but again I don't wanna train for hours on end on the trainer during winter.
jarhead wrote:yeah it really
[quote=jarhead]yeah it really does blow. I honestly think it would gain alot more traction if it were an end of May or mid June race. I would never race that course because I don't wanna be on my trainer for hours on end in the middle of winter; hence, that is why I find myself constantly signing up for IMLouisville, even though I could do IMTexas in my backyard, but again I don't wanna train for hours on end on the trainer during winter.[/quote]
this winter was soooo mild. I only had to train on my trainer for ONE long ride, and that's b/c it poured all weekend. Maybe Dallas was different. and as far as IMTX, holy crap, it's gonna be a HOT one this year. The afternoon hi's are already in the 90s.
TriSooner wrote: There were
[quote=TriSooner] There were so many right-angle turns at the bottom of the hills and U-turns (six, to be exact), that you spend a disappointing amount of time bleeding-off speed downhill, or coming to the end of a really nice flat stretch to only hit a U-turn timing mat. . [/quote]
apparently they changed the bike course some. It is no longer in the small town where all the technical turns occurred. YAY for me :) I've heard that it's actually a really great town, but, those turns scared me