IMAZ vs IMNC 2017?
I was thinking of IMAZ in 2017, I see now IMNC is an EN official race, although I expect there will still be tons of EN people in Arizona. What are the pros and cons to each? I will be racing the long course ITU worlds in Penticton Aug 27 2017 so, IMNC will be only 7 weeks later but would make for a less prolonged season.
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I know IMAZ sells out fast, what about IMNC ?
Swim: NC is in protected salt-water intracoastal, usually with tide/current. AZ is in a very cold, man-made lake that's more like a river.
Bike: AZ very gradually leans up and down, very fast. NC is dead flat, probably half the elevation gain of FL. Staying comfortably aero and wind are the keys to both.
Run: Both flat, two loops.
Field: Less KQ slots at NC, but field is half the size (NC has a 70.3 at the same time, each field capped at 1,500). For me, this is big. Half the people in the water, on the roads, at the aid stations.
Logistics: More hotels in Phoenix, but it's just a big city (to me). And PHX is a much longer flight. Wilmington is smaller, but there's the beach (my family is staying at the beach for the swim start and will just drive the 10 miles to downtown to watch the run/finish). For NC, lots of flights to Raleigh (2-hr drive) and tons to Charlotte (3-hr drive).
Race logistics: AZ has a single TA. NC has two, so there's driving the day before and busses on race day. I prefer the former, but can deal with the latter.
Team race: one or more coach, and lots of EN, at NC.
Time of year: this is big for me. Training in Aug and Sep in the NE is quite nice (for NC). Training in Oct and Nov in the NE can and usually does blow (for AZ).
Hope this helps a bit.
As for selling out, just sign up and commit. If really on the fence, sign up for NC, transfer to AZ for $75.
Thanks Mike!
Will make my decision after IMAZ to see how I handle the 2 IM in the same season.
Every year since they moved AZ from April to November I've seen a LOT of people struggle with motivation issues for such a late season race.
I'll echo Mike's comments about the crowded bike course. I've ridden moto support the last 4-5 years and it's a very stressful 4-6hr game of Frogger for me. I can't imagine it would be much different on a bicycle.
The course is FAST...or at least a lot of fast guys show up. I recall one year that EN had two guys, Chris Whyte and I believe Dave Tallo who when ~9:45-48...and got 17th, 18th in M35-39, I believe.
If I ever wanted to punch my sub-10 ticket I'd pick IMFL or AZ but I'd wouldn't be hopeful of KQ'ing, due to drafting in FL and suspect similar in AZ. Or rather, very easy to slingshot for 2 full loops of the AZ bike course. Then again, at FL I could eat at a dozen Waffle Houses in a 3mi radius, get an air brushed license plate and spectate the local wildlife at Walmart, so those are all big pro's...
I'm starting to lean more towards IMNC as well. I'm thinking it would be a long dark stretch until IM-A at the end of November.
as for me, I'll register to IMNC and IMMT, I wanna do 2 key races next year.
would be fun to coordinate on lodging- I'll circle back in a few weeks
what does one need to do at Miamiman to qualify?
It's a numbers, not a time thing. USAT, in all its wisdom, has 18 slots allowed in *each* and every AG; roll down goes to 25. NB: the actual AG for you would be 49-53, as they have an "age-up" system. You are competing for spots on the subsequent year's team, and those who race in, say 2018 @ the world's will be 50-54, so in '17, they take the top 18 49-53 y/o's. As of today, there are about 60 guys registered in 50-54 for the 2016 MiamiMan qualifier...it's probably less competitive than qualifying for the 70.3 WC.
1) Much easier to qualify.
2) Smaller field and thus, not characterized by the rampant drafting that exists at IM70.3 and IM WC.
3) No slowtwitch threads on ITU draftfests like there are after every IM/IM70.3 championship.
4) All competitors in national uniform...this is very cool.
5) Parade of Nations looks like the parade of nations instead of the pretend gaggle when WTC tries to mimic ITU
6) While not as deep as WTC, at the pointy end, ITU is extremely competitive. Many don't play in the WTC world at all, yet are extremely fast.
I like to do both so am well aware of the differences. I also want to KQ, but if it doesn't happen, I'll hit 12 next year...which means it will probably be 2019 or 2020 before I actually get to race in Kona given the growing backlog on the legacy wait list.
http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/north-carolina.aspx#axzz4PMUbmHvP