IM South Africa vs. IM Asia Pacific - Championship Melbourne

thekidduxc

Does anyone have any experience with either IM South Africa or IM Asia Pacific - Championship Melbourne? Any suggestions or thoughts?

I have been gone for about a year after my IMWI 2013 event. I am back and looking for a international race.

I have moved overseas to Dubai and am transitioning my off season to my race season. So I am looking for a race that fits the weather and has an international venue. So that puts the end of the race season in March. Naturally I was looking at IM.com and SA and Melbourne stood out.

 

David

Paul Hough

What!? You live in Dubai and aren't doing Challenge Bahrain? How about IM Lanzarote?

thekidduxc

I know I know. I did a lot of "fun with my fitness" this year. Biked from Chicago to Boston in 10 days.... Biked coast to coast in UAE. But the swim is non existent right now so Bahrain is going to have to wait till next year.

Lanzarote is a little late in the year given May's average high is 99F. Not undoable to train through but would like to avoid it if I can.

Is Lanzarote a good race to do? If the juice is worth the squeeze I would definitely be in.

thekidduxc

I would prefer a challenging bike course that offers opportunities to race smart and gain an advantage vs others.

Peter Greagg

@ David
IM Australia at Port Macquarie, which is the first Sunday in May, has a very challenging bike course.

Paul Hough

Look at course and segment ratings here: http://www.trirating.com/course-ratings/ Australia's bike course is "only" 2:49 more difficult than the average IM bike leg while Lanzarote is 16:03 slower than average. Both courses have swim and run legs faster than average.

You really aren't close to any full distance triathlons except maybe Israman. You should go to whichever race makes you the most eager to train for it.