IMTX 2012 - Who is in? Who is on the fence?
Looks like registration is still open. Who is in so far? Who is on the fence and why?
From a spectator's point of view, it is a great race - probably the best of the there we've been to (CDA, IMAZ, IMTX). The three loop run is easy to navigate and you can see your person in multiple points each loop. It is a family-friendly venue. Great restaurants abound. Yes, it is hot and humid. But, the mosquitos didn't show up this year!
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Also about 800 newbies raced if I remember correctly. Maybe one is enough
Agree with Penny that it is a very spectator friendly place with lots to do during the day. The event was very professional and I think everything went very well. The Marriott hotel was a great place for the dinner & athlete meeting.
I think a two loop bike course would have been better, but I liked the course and roads were in quite good condition.
The locals where great and very hospitable. Lots of places to stay around the venue. Much better than Lake Placid accommodations.
Heat and humidity beat the cold water and hills from St. George two weeks earlier!
This was my first IM and I can't imagine doing one out of town, without all the support and family and friends. I knew at least a few people at EVERY aid station and had friends from town scattered all over the run course. If I ever am competitive at this distance, this along with training on the actual course will be a distinct advantage.
IMTX is home for me for now.
Here are some very basic stats using the runtri.com analysis:
http://www.runtri.com/2011/05/
IMTX ended as one of the top 5 toughest Ironman events in the world. In fact, the 13:19 average finishing time was the 3rd slowest of all Ironman events -- behind only IM St. George (13:47) and IM Malaysia (13:36). The average run of 5:25 was the second slowest average marathon on the Ironman circuit and only 1 minute behind the slowest -- IM China. The average swim time of 1:26 appears to have tied IM Malaysia as the slowest swim time on the IM circuit. The bike appeared to be the only saving grace as the average bike time puts IMTX among the fastest 1/3rd or so of IM events.
In summary...
3rd slowest average finishing time
Tied for 1st slowest average swim time
2nd slowest average run time
Things may have been different had the race been the weekend earlier when the temp was 75 and there was hardly any humidity. The swim and bike times wouldn't have changed all that much but the run times would have probably dropped quite a bit. The heat potential definitely makes this race a tough one.
I signed up on site on Sunday morning, I would say less then 100 people in line. I live in Houston (again after 4.5 years overseas) and I am really looking forward to a 'home' race.
How was the finishing part of the swim, it went through a narrow canal and seemed that it could get real congested?
I agree with Vic, that I would never do another IM besides IMTX. It is a huge advantage having it in our own back yard. I'm looking forward to volunteering in 2012. I never thought I would volunteer at a WTC event, but I was humbled by how awesome the support was during the event.
The swim will always be slow at IMTX. The logistics of that swim will always dictate slow average times. There isn't anything that will change that. The bike is fast but not super fast. The run will always be the X Factor. On a cooler day, the run course will be very fast. Had it been 75 degrees and not 95 degrees, that average run time would have dropped to a time more similar to FL or AZ. On a hot day, the run course will be very, very slow. It slowed me down by at least 30 minutes.
The RD said it was over 50% sold early last week.
There was a HUGE first-timers field of over 700 people. I think that significantly skewes the timing results. Living here, I know there were a lot of people who signed up because it was in their back yard and who had no business doing an IM distance race. I talked with several people who didn't know how to eat while the bike was moving (yes, I'm serious). We'll see what next year holds.
Once is enough. I think we got lucky with some cloud cover on the run. They need to move this race to April.
Start one up. I started the '11 group but I'm not doing the race next year so I have no dog in that fight beyond cheering for everyone next May.