Which IM in 2012
...yes 2012:-)
I know I'm a little early for this, but I have started considering which races to do in 2012, and knowing how quickly the popular IM races fill up, I thought it would be a good idea to get some input as to which races I should to in 2012 now....
Being one of the European EN'ers, I not too familar with the North American races, but I would like to do one next year:
My ideal race would have the following charateristics:
- Race is in June, July, August or September
- Wetsuit race
- Swim is mass-start (or seeded) and in freshwater
- Bike is super flat and super fast
- Run also very flat - the fewer laps the better
- Nice and warm on race day
- Close to International airport
- No drafting issues on bike
- Kona-qualifyer....? (or Vegas)
I know it is not possible to have everything in the same race... 
What are your suggestions...where can I get closest to my ideal race?
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Comments
Are you looking for 140.6 or 70.3?
You sorta described IMLou, except for the wetsuit requirement (no wetsuits, water is too warm)
For what it's worth, IMUSA and IMWI are the most well-attended by EN athletes. Great timing and the courses are hard enough to reward the execution skills we teach here. Either race would be a great experience for you, with 40-50+ EN'ers at each.
I have been looking at IMFLO for years, but it is a little late in the year for it to be perfect..
If there is a good 70.3 race, I could be intested..but it seem like a lot of gear to haul across the pond for a half distance :-)
C'mon Bo, make it an early one so you can also sign up for Challenge Copenhagen 2012, and then let's make a push to get some EN-folks out to Denmark!
Challenge Copenhagen...maybe... there is also the one in Kalmar (Sweden) just a few weeks before...
In order, I would recommend (1) Roth (2) IM Frankfurt (3) IM Regensburg (4) IM Switzerland. All are easy to fly into and serve as great launching points for travels after the race. The top 3 of the 4 have beer tents at the finish corral.
Haven't done Austria, but I hear great things. Seems a bit less straightforward to get to, tho.
I enjoyed Challenge Barcelona, and hope to do Challenge Copenhagen in 2012. Volunteered there last year, watched some clubmates, and thought the race looked really cool.
I am too looking ahead to 2012, I am going to sign up for IM USA. I want to do a 70.3 before that, I was thinking Oceanside, St. Croix, or Eagleman. I have done Eagleman before and that is the closest to me anyone else have experience with Oceanside or St. Croix?
I'd agree with Adam, that Challenge Barcelona is a great race (have done it twice).. I'm not the biggest fan of IM Germany (Frankfurt) and I would stay waaaaaay clear of IMUK.
Lanzarote is a great race, if you like hills and wind...
Austria is generally considered a very good choice for those looking for a fast course... you'd need to travel a bit (train or rental car) from the airport, but is doable... I haven't done this one myself, though
Also, perhaps consider IM France in Nice... nice location fairly warm...hilly, though
@Bo:If you fancied a fast flat half nearer home - look at Antwerp. Apparently the only hills on the bike and run are the exit out of the tunnels! I'm doing it this year and it's a Vegas qualifier.
@Those looking for races in the UK:
The Vitruvian (Half Iron hilly bike, flat run) www.pacesetterevents.com/vitruvian-triathlon.php
The Outlaw (Full Iron) www.onestepbeyond.org.uk/the-outlaw-triathlon.php
UK70.3 is probably the hilliest 70.3 out there!
Challenge Henley (Full Iron - new for 2011) www.challengehenley.com/
Marshamn (Half Iron - flat, lake) www.velocity-events.co.uk/marshman-.../marshman/
Bala (Half Iron, hilly bike and run)
Ironman Ireland (Half) ironmanireland.com/
The UK M Dot management has just changed, so IMUK might be moving in 2012. There is also Ironman Wales (if you like hills, this will probably be a good race - technical but more like mountains than hills!). A lot of the non-M Dot races are awesome in the UK. The events section on TriTalk (Uk version of ST!) has a lot of race reports and race recommendations as well as a comprehensive list of all half iron distance events. Hope that helps.
Wetsuit Swim
Flat run (just one hill), Double Out & Back, LOTS of places for your family to see you multiple times
September
Big EN Support
Easy to fly in/out of
Both Louisville and Wisconsin have hilly bike courses, but as Rich says, these are courses that are GREAT for EN Athletes who are trained to race smart.
Louisville will absolutely be warm, in fact, it will be hot as hell. Wisconsin could be anything- nice and warm, or a bit cool. Both races will be crowded on the bike- with 3000 competitors, it's just the name of the game. But a hilly course like Lou and Wisconsin do help shake things up, especially by the second lap.
FWIW, Wisconsin is a much hillier bike course than Louisville. The Wisconsin bike course is the ultimate playground for the EN-smart, power-racing athlete.
Bo, I'd go for France if I were over there, Tough bike course where you can execute, then flat run, although multiple laps.
Good luck.
@Bo- Why did you say to stay clear of IMUK? I was thinking about that one in the future.
I was surprised that WTC did not refund peoples money as they have done in other races...I have forgot most of what they did wrong, but a few things jumps to mind:
The pre-race meeting was scheduled to take place just after swim training, but getting there on time was impossible...the organizers changed the location shortly before the briefing but did not provide any means of us getting there on time (swim was long outside of town)
The run course was changed constantly: They had one profile on their website another one in their printed material and a completely different profile on race day
Someone apparently stole all the mile markers the night before the race...but even though this very quickly became apparent for everyone...not a single sign/piece of paper/chalk on road was produced at any point during the day...
It had rained a lot in the days leading up to the race, but even though it very frequently rains in that area - T1 was a complete mess(mud)
Bike course was announced very, very late..
Generally the organizers were very unfriendly...People who complained (on forums) about the disorganizsation prior to the race were not allowed to race
+ lots more I can't recall right now... Have a look at tritalk.co.uk (I raced in 2009...try looking at the discussions around that years race for more details)
It does seem, however, that WTC have taken over running the event - and the organizers that used to organize it have nothing to do with it anymore...so it is probably better now...Still..I'm not coming back