CHOO vs MT?
Hello all, looking for some advise/opinions as I start to think about 2016.
Have my eyes on two races that work with my calendar. IM Chattanooga or IM Mt Tremblant.
Quick background..I have raced Wisconsin twice now so time to move to another venue. Really loved the course there...especially the crowd support, and the EN focus/people. Those "outside" factors help get me through the day in all honesty. I feel I have come along in terms of cycling strength, and an ok runner. My goals for next year is to stay injury free (still lingering hamstring issue), improve on my time...and have fun. I came 11th in AG this year....perhaps find a race where I finish higher in the rankings where I have an off chance of roll down.
I have heard great stuff about both races and know CHOO is EN focus next year.
Any opinions out there as to which one to select?
Comments
Hey Dawn,
I too am trying to figure which, if any, IM to do next summer/fall. First off, I haven't done MT or Choo, so take all of vv with an appropriate dosage of salt. From your post, looks like you've got three criteria: 1) venue mojo, 2) course that suits your strengths (opp to improve overall time and improve AG rank) and 3) relative strength of the field (opp to improve AG place).
#1 is easy - Choo. Unless you're bringing a huge group with you, an EN key race is it.
#2 isn't as easy. Choo has a very challenging run course, so it will likely attract strong runners, and strong runners will do well. It may also attract good bike/runners who can't swim. MT has a legit swim and challenging bike (harder than Choo) and run (probably easier than Choo, but still very legit). It probably caters to more of an all-arounder like you. That said, I suspect that times at Choo, on average, are quite a bit faster than at MT, so Choo may be the choice if finishing time is important. But if you really like cooler weather and think your bike is really above your S&R, then Louisville is probably best suited for you - current-aided swim, challenging bike, flat run, October weather. Of course, if your w/kg are through the roof, off to Muskoka you go.
#3 is a crap shoot. You never know who will show up. The West Coasters lose Tahoe, but gain CdA with its move to late summer, so they still have four late summer/fall races to choose from, plus AZ. The folks living east of Colorado now have eight late summer/fall IMs to choose from. So, the competition at the top will be diluted a bit, but knowing where the top ladies in your AG will race is pure speculation. Choo and MT are still relatively new, so the top AGers (most of whom are vets at the distance) may look to those two races as something new. Louisville has been around a long time, so many vets may look elsewhere. Then again, many cold-weather vets who traditionally avoided Louisville because of its heat may give it a shot now that it's in October (I would never have considered the race when it was in Aug, but now am). Many people may avoid Maryland next year after the weather this year. One final consideration, one the coaches may not like: EN key races attract a lot of ENers, who just happen to be some of the best trained/smartest IM athletes anywhere. TX was a key race, and two of the 11 guys who beat me in my AG wore familiar colors. If those other two had been typical knuckleheads, I perhaps could have landed in the top 10. So, if watered down competition is a priority, find a race with the fewest # of ENers as possible (i.e., avoid key races at Moo, Choo and LP).
Hope that helps a little. The best news: if it's really down to Choo or MT, you really can't go wrong with either one.
MR