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First IM Race - IM-FLA or IM-AZ?

wareagledustywareagledusty
in Races & Places 🏁⛺

Morning all,

I am going to be scheduling my first Ironman in 2011.  I want to make sure that I have a strong training base so that come race day I can execute on the fitness I have built so I am looking at IMFL or IMAZ.   I still have quite a few weeks before the registration for either event but I wanted to poll the experts about which race I should choose as my first IM. 

I am planning to doing one, possible two 1/2 IM's next year (with appropriate guideance from the EN team of course) in advance of the full IM.  (considering the White Lake 1/2 in May and haven't picked another one yet)

Any guideance for a noob IM guy on which IM to pick?  FL or AZ?

Oh, one advantage for FL is that my in-laws have a condo 1/2 mile from the swim start....

 

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

dusty

Comments

  • mariannemarianne
    FLA cuz you have free lodging!!! the whole thing is expensive enough but with free digs, much more enjoyable. on the beach too. I have done FLA so flat and windy so not much recon required!! ocean swim, 2 loops. one loop of a bike course and 2 loops of run. a bit earlier than AZ and with free lodging, like I said, that would sway me!! btw, I am doing AZ!! so love to have you out there too. m
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    I did IMFL for my first...great course for first time, but that doesn't mean it's a picnic.
  • David AmbroseDavid Ambrose
    I love IMFL for the crystal clear swim. I will be doing IMAZ in 2011 (first time) and I doubt will enjoy such water clarity. I suspect the bike courses are comparable to some degree in that no real hills to speak of. Free lodging......go for FL.
  • Linda PatchLinda Patch

    Learning to train the EN way means you can pick any IM and do it. Riding.running EN-style allows you to race your own race well whether it be FL or WI or any other.

    That said, I love the ease of the whole FL set up. Condos right there (and you have a free one!). Easy and cheap to fly in and out. The Gulf is beautiful. PCB is what it is, but you're there to race not spring break. image

    FL can be very, very windy. The first time I did it, I could actually stand up and pedal like I was going uphill, but it was flat and into the wind.  It's late in the season so you're chasing daylight in training. The time changes, so there is an early sunset and you spend lots of time running in the dark (well at least I do image). When it's over though, you go home to winter, the holidays, and a perfect time to kick back and take some time off!

    Have fun deciding.

     

  • Nemo BrauchNemo Brauch
    Considering those two races are the same time of year and the differences in course just aren't that big a deal, I agree completely with Marianne! FREE trumps pretty much any other bonus I could think of as a reason to go to Tempe vs Panama City.
  • wareagledustywareagledusty

    Thanks for all the feedback folks!  It sounds like free lodging makes IMFL the way to go.  That is the way I was leaning but I wanted to bounce it off the team.  The cool thing is I'll have quite a bit of family there by doing it in FL.  I'll be on the computer the minute the registration opens up! 

    I'm loving how helpful and open everyone is here in EN.  What a rocking great vibe!

     

    dusty

  • rah2774rah2774

    @Dusty - I'm doing FL in a few weeks as my first... when I signed up, it being "easy" (relatively speaking - no Ironman is easy, each course has it's own challenges - FL: ocean swim; flat and boring and windy and did I mention boring ride; run in the dark for a solid number of competitors) was a factor...  

    I did 2 HIMs this season (June, Aug) and I'm quickly approaching burn out, and I'm a goal oriented race/exercise junky.  Here's how my season went down:  14 weeks of OS starting in Jan (if you're doing a late season race, please please please don't start OS sooner... trust me), followed by 6 weeks of HIM prep for my first HIM in mid June (after OS, which is HARD, 4-6 weeks will be plenty of time to up the volume and be ready, I promise).  1 week off.   8 weeks of general prep (actually, per coach R, I went back and did 8 weeks of OS for more "fast" work) then 5 weeks of HIM prep for a second HIM in mid August after which I follwed the recovery program for a week and jumped immediately into 12 week IM plan at week 3.

    I think with a season this long, you can definitely do 2 HIMs... but if you do,  learn from me and try to time them a bit better to give yourself adequate transition time... and be prepared for a looooooooong season. 

  • wareagledustywareagledusty

     Becky, this is really helpful.  Thanks for your input!

     

    dusty

  • Barbara SpitlerBarbara Spitler
    Dusty, I too, will be trying to sign up for Florida! Hope we can bogth get in! And you are definately smart to do the free loding thing! Nice!
    Hope we both get in and can start our OS fairly soon. I'm looking at January start, assuming I get in to FL. I'll be doing 2 half-irons as well, in the summer.
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