My First Ironman

My First Ironman – Chapter 1: The Search for a Race

I put a call out to a couple places for recommendations for a first Ironman. I told them that the few factors I had in mind were that I’d prefer that it be in North America so family and friends could come without too much hassle and that my primary limiter, performance wise, is swim speed. There are, however, other factors to consider. Do I want an official Ironman event or non-sanctioned event? Event size? Crowd Support? Time of year? Some of these issues I still don’t have answers to. Most of the suggestions were positive, though a few offered suggestions of events, or situations, to avoid. I’ll try and break it all down with dates, locations, entry fees, comment summaries, event descriptions from the official websites and my own personal pros and cons.

Bear in mind, I’m speaking in generalities, there are exceptions to every rule.

Ironman© v. Independent Ironman distance – First of all, it seems like the first thing you’ll notice in the difference between an M-Dot race and an Indy is the registration cost. Most M-Dots will cost about $500-600 and you’ll need to register a year in advance. In some cases, you may have a window as small as an hour to get registered (such as IM Florida). On the other hand, IM AZ still has open slots and registration has been open for 2.5 months, so it depends on the individual race. The Great Floridian, on the other hand, offers a three race package, including their Iron-distance, for $375 with early registration. The difference between the events is usually a matter of three things, larger crowd support, more hoopla/hype/sponsorship and the M-Dot. Official IM races will usually be superior in those categories (though not always) but when it comes down to it, the three most important things, the 2.4 mile swim, the 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run, are all going to be present whether you do Kona or a self-supported race.

Event Size – An Official IM event is, usually, going to draw a larger field of competitors, a larger crowd of spectators, more volunteers, a larger race expo and more media coverage. The field is also likely to be more competitive, though for a first timer, that’s probably not going to be too much of an issue. Some people might find all the hype, pomp and excitement to be empowering and motivating. Other people may find it distracting, intimidating or even stressful. For a first timer, I’d look at what kinds of races do I enjoy? Do I prefer small marathons run on back roads or massive events like the Chicago marathon?
Personally, my first marathon (or any road race) was the NYC Marathon. I wanted a major event, I wanted the throngs of spectators and I wanted the whole day to feel like a celebration of my training and achievement. I also felt like the excitement around the event (because at that scale it is as much event as race) helped keep me excited and motivated about the race.

Time of Year – This isn’t something I felt too picky about coming into the search but has been emphasized as an important factor in my feedback. If your event is early in the season (such as IM AZ) you’re going to have to do the bulk of your training indoors unless you’re in a very warm climate (like Arizona). I’ll be training in Boulder, Cincinnati and/or Boston. During the winter, that means lots of treadmill work, lots of computrainer work and no open water swims.
The other factor is the social factor. While I’m very much accustomed to training alone, in fact I largely prefr it, some people prefer to train with a group, or to at least have a group of people who are training at a similar intensity as they are for support, even if they don’t train together too often. That’s tough to find over the winter since most triathletes are in recovery or maintenance mode.
Racing late in the season, such as for IM Florida, presents similar problems for social trainers. While the weather won’t be such an issue, the fall is a darn fine time to be training; most other triathletes are starting to dial back their workouts a lot and you could be spending a lot of time training alone.

Locale – The location of the race isn’t too crucial to me. I don’t mind traveling to an event that I have put so much time, energy and planning into and that becomes so significant to me. However, I chose to restrict my search to North America so that any family members or friends who want to come and support me can do so without having to break the bank. Some people may want something more local, if that’s important to you, there are IM and indy races in all quarters of the country.

Priorities – It’s going to be tough to find a race that meets every single criterion that you establish. You may find the perfect race, you may not. For those of us who don’t find a perfect race, prioritizing your criteria is a very helpful step. Make a list of your priorities. Is cost a big issue? Then a local independent race may be the way to go. Are you looking for an easy course (easy being a relative term, this is Ironman after all)? Then IM Florida or a similar race may be for you.

The Events

Silverman – This event was actually strongly recommended AGAINST because it is a slower course with some tough cutoffs. Does it get worse than training for an IM and then not being allowed to complete it? Another source said this was the toughest Iron-distance race he knew of. Not a good choice for a first timer. Unless you're a sadist.

IM Canada – Late August – Penticton, B.C. Canada - ~$500
Comments: Lots of support for this race, especially due to the crowds which I’ve heard are absolutely awesome, even before I started digging.
IM Canada is awesome (my favorite) and would be good for a first timer...
The crowds at Canada and Wisconsin are probably the best for cheering you on, but Wisconsin is a tougher course.
I just find that, for all the money, time, training that goes into an IM, it's just so nice to have a bigger race with more pomp and excitement. I think that's why people pay so much for the IM events...
If you can't commit a whole year in advance, though - the non-IM give you opportunity to sign-up days before the race. -IM
http://www.ironman.ca
Summary From Ironman.com: When the cannon called "Maranatha" fires at 7AM on the last Sunday before Labor Day, more than 2,000 athletes will embark on the long day that includes a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile marathon run in Penticton, British Columbia. Since it began as an "ultra-distance" event in 1983, Ironman Canada has been a popular fixture on the triathlon "map".
The race starts at Okanagan Lake Beach, which offers one of the widest swim starts of any Ironman race in the world ... a necessary feature, considering Sunday's race will likely have more people heading off at once than any other Ironman!
After exiting the water the riders start the bike course with a gradual climb up Penticton's Main Street. Apart from one significant hill at about the 10-mile point (McLean Creek Road), the first 30 miles of the course are relatively flat or downhill. It is one of the most beautiful bike courses in the world - the athletes enjoy incredible views of mountains and lakes almost throughout the ride -- but all that great scenery can distract the riders from the task at hand -- getting through those major climbs and descents!
Like the bike course, the run course is incredibly beautiful, but it also has its challenges! Even with the thousands of athletes, spectators, and volunteers that line the course, it is the beautiful scenery along this run course that stands out. The wonderful views provide a welcome distraction to the pain of the race!

IM Florida – Early November – Panama City Beach, Florida - ~$500
Lots of positive comments about IM Florida. Flat run, flat bike and it’s the first event after Kona. It also sold out in an hour last year. Yup, one hour. Flat bike and run which means it’s a fast ride, but you’re also not going to find many chances to coast on downhills.
A lot of people would pick IM Florida for their first. The course is flat, so for many people, it's the easiest (I have back problems, so I have always wanted to do courses with changes in terrain). It's well organized, too.
There are a lot of good non-IM races out there, like Vineman, but there is something about the hoopla surrounding an IM race that makes one of them good for a first. Finishing is a big event, so you might as well celebrate it. -JM
I would recommend, based on my experience, IMFlorida. It gives you the best chances at a good, strong first IM experience:
- Great race and location. Because of the time of year, it is not congested with tourists and the costs are held in check.
- Being a November race, it gives you the entire summer to train. You can take advantage of all the season races to help you prepare and gauge your fitness.
- Even though it is Florida, it is a wetsuit swim. Based on your swim comment, you might need that like I did smiley. Every second counts.
- The bike course is flat. This brings in other challenges like staying in the same position for 6-7 hours straight but it beats getting trashed by hills. -BD
http://www.ironmanflorida.com
Since it comes just weeks after the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Hawaii, one would think that Ford Ironman Florida would offer a relatively easy opportunity to qualify for the next year's "big show" in Kona. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Ford Ironman Florida is typically one of the most competitive age-group races of the year. Add to that an impressive pro field, and you have the makings for one very exciting event!
The swim takes place in the Gulf of Mexico. The water is warm enough for a comfortable swim, but cool enough to allow wetsuits -- every triathletes dream.
The flat and fast bike course offers a perfect opportunity for a big-time personal best. The run passes through one of America's most popular state parks.
Just as it is on the bike, the Ironman Florida run course is flat, and, in theory, fast. The run starts with a mile along the beachfront before winding its way through a series of residential neighborhoods. During this part of the course, the athletes enjoy almost non-stop support as people wait outside their houses to greet them.
Sold out in 45 minutes

IM Wisconsin – Early September – Madison, WI - ~$500
Comparable to IM Canada for crowd support but a tougher course (as if there is such a thing as an easy Ironman!).
I did Ironman Wisconsin for my first Ironman. It was 100% awesome! Crowd support was fabulous (which always helps in any endurance event). I would highly recommend it for a first Ironman. - EC
I had a great experience with Ironman Wisconsin as my first, and only to date. I don't mind a few hills on the bike, but I am particular about where I swim. Not too much into being shark food (IM FL) or sucked down by nast Ohio River currents (IM Louisville). Madison is also such a great atmosphere. -IS
http://www.ironmanwisconsin.com
Ford Ironman Wisconsin takes place in a sports-crazy town that is known as one of the best spots to bike in the United States, along with being the site of the University of Wisconsin, America's premier "party college." Those two attributes have a bit to do with why this race is so popular and so successful, but there is a lot more to the magic that makes this such a hugely successful event.
The two-loop Ironman Wisconsin swim takes place in the warm waters (75 degrees Fahrenheit/ 24 degrees Celsius) of Lake Monona. The competitors don't have to leave the water at the end of the first loop - they'll just swim straight around the corner of the swim start to begin the second loop.
Like the swim, the bike course in Madison is a two-loop affair. After running up the "helix" or ramp up to the transition area in the parking lot here at the Monona terrace, the competitors jump on their bikes and ride down the opposite "helix" to start the ride.
After coming through T2 in the Monona terrace, the competitors embark on the marathon run. The run goes through the University of Wisconsin campus (including a loop around Camp Randall Stadium), which provides an abundant spectator base as the students cheer the competitors on through the course.
Sold out Same Day

Vineman – Early August – Guerneville, CA - ~$300
The interesting thing about Vineman is that they’re affiliated with Ironman 70.3™ for their half IM distance, but not for their full. I have to wonder if that’s some sort of trial period to see how the Vineman/Ironman relationship fits. As things currently stand, IM does not have a race in California.
http://www.vineman.com/index_main.php3?l=f
2007 will mark the 18th Anniversary running of the Full Vineman Triathlon, making it the oldest Ironman distance triathlon held in the continental United States. The experience which Vineman athletes have will be unmatched, as they swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles through beautiful Sonoma County California’s wine country.
If you want to complete an Ironman distance triathlon in an established and well respected event, here is your chance to do it with a relatively small field of entrants.
Whatever your reason or motivation for competing, the Full Vineman and its friendly staff of more than 800 volunteers look forward to making your experience a great one.
Registration still open one month before event!

IM Lake Placid – Late July - Lake Placid, NY - ~$500
If you go the M-Dot route, I recommend Lake Placid. The bike is no joke. Check the comparison profile to see how it puts all other NA race except for IM Canada to shame: http://www.nasports.com/compare/comparebike.php but this town was built to house big time events (The Olympics) so you won’t find another venue that can beat it. Also, if you don’t like heat the chances probably less likely than anywhere else that you’ll face a scorcher. -MG
http://www.ironmanusa.com
Centered amidst the northern beauty of the Adirondack region, Lake Placid is a solid choice as host for the Ironman Lake Placid Triathlon. The Lake Placid course presents challenging sections on both the bike and run courses that gave last year's nearly 2,000 competitors a workout to remember. Famous champions include Thomas Hellriegel, Heather Fuhr, Melissa Spooner, Steve Larsen, and Cameron Widoff.
The course is nothing short of spectacular. The swim takes place in the pristine Mirror Lake.
The challenging bike course winds through the Adirondack Mountains, and is both scenic and tough - what more could a triathlete want?
The run is no picnic, either, and offers up some more great scenery, along with some more challenging hills.
Put it all together and you have the essence of Ironman ... a race that captures both the beauty and the challenges of the area, and the sport.
Sold out in 90 minutes

The Great Floridian – Late October - Clermont, FL - ~$350
Probably the most highly recommended independent race from the emails and correspondence I've received.
I love GFT for the atmosphere, but it’s a hard hard race. Most people are shocked at how hilly a ride in FL can be…but trust me, it’s hilly. In the end, it’s usually the heat that will beat you down. If you want a tough race out of the gate to earn your stripes, you will find yourself in the company of a large number of first timers….and if the sun breaks you, you’ll be chatting with a bunch of them while walking around the lake! The community is very welcoming to newbies. -MG
http://www.sommersports.com/events/greatfloridian/
Clermont Waterfront Park, Clermont, Florida. Clermont is centrally located just 22 miles west of Orlando at the junction of US 27 and SR 50. Major Orlando tourist attractions are only 30 minutes away and the ocean beaches are just an hour away. Orlando International Airport is 40 minutes southeast of Clermont.
Course
Swim Course: A 2.4 mile swim in picturesque Lake Minneola, designated as "Outstanding Waters" by the State of Florida. Projected water temperature: 72-80. Swim cut-off is 2 hours and 30 minutes after the start. Participants still swimming after the cut-off time will not be allowed to continue.
Bike Course: A 112 mile course consisting of two 56 mile loops along rural country roads. No major elevation changes, but several short, steep hills in the first 40 miles. Winds of 10-20 mph can usually be expected on the course in the afternoon. Technical support teams will travel the course and support/aid stations will be located no more than 10 miles apart. Bike cut-off is at 6:30 pm. All participants still on the course at that time will not be allowed to continue and will be removed from the course.
Run Course: The 26.2 mile course is criterion style, starting with a five mile loop with rolling hills, followed by three laps around Lake Minneola. Support/aid stations will be located approximately one mile apart. Each support station is equipped with water, Gatorade, ice, sponges, cola (defizzed), fruit and assorted foods. The run course officially closes at 1:00am.
Eligibility: Open to individuals 18 years of age or older on race day and two or three person relay teams. The Great Floridian Triathlon is an event designed for experienced triathletes only. The right to accept or reject any entry is reserved. Please be aware that there are several cut-off times during the event that all participants must adhere to. Failure to meet cut-off times will result in disqualification and removal from the course.
Support: More than 1000 volunteers from numerous Central Florida civic organizations are committed to make your race a safe and memorable experience.
Weather: Average temperature on race day: low 65 - high 85.
Registration still open for '07

IM Coeur D’Alene – Late June - Coeur D’Alene, ID - ~$500
I JUST did my first IM, IM Coeur d'Alene...and it was an amazing experience!
Even though I'm not a fan of having to sign up a year in advance, and the experience that comes with an Ironman named race, I am very glad I chose one of the IM-sanctioned races as my first. The atmosphere was everything that a first IM racer could want. There were tons of people cheering, the volunteers outnumbered the racers (3500 volunteers vs. 2300
racers), and it was very well organized. No matter how nervous I was about my own performance, I was fully confident about the logistics and organization of the race.
I would definitely recommend doing CDA. I enjoyed having it in the earlier season, it's easy to stay motivated when the Spring weather is really warming up and people are starting to ramp-up for the summer tri season. The timing of CDA is also great because if you want to do a half IM for a tune-up race, you can do either Wildflower or Napa Valley (I did Napa...very hard race and made CDA feel like an easy course!). I'm also looking forward to the rest of the season, having a less-strict schedule, and having the flexibility to do whatever race I want. This would be different if you had an IM towards the end of the season...your training would overrule most of your summer season.
IM CDA changed their bike course this year and word was that it was much harder. However, training around Colorado, it's really not that hard. The hills are short rollers, and much more "fun" than the idea of going flat for the entire time, like in Florida. The bike course is very beautiful and there are people cheering on a lot of the course. -MN
http://www.ironmancda.com
They say they like to hold Ironman races at destination spots ... which would make Coeur d'Alene a prime contender for a race!
Named after the Coeur d'Alene Indian tribe, this former logging and lumber town boasts a population of 50,000 (although the sign on the way into town says 34,415), 150 restaurants, and enough outdoor activities to keep anyone busy for a very long time.
The two-loop swim course at Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene has the potential to be tough, but has even more potential to be a really nice start to the day. It's become the norm to hear that the water is cold ... the word is that the athletes can expect water somewhere between 63 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit (a little over 17 degrees Celsius).
All of the courses at Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene are two-loop affairs, and both the bike and the run pass by the finish line and transition area four times, so spectators are in for a great day. The bike course is more challenging than it initially would appear. The course is very technical, with enough difficulty to keep things interesting.
"It would be hard not to have a picturesque run course in Coeur d'Alene." It's relatively flat, it's fast, and it goes through some of the most picturesque neighborhoods this picturesque town has to offer. The limiting factor on the run ... the heat!
Sold out in 6 days

Redman Triathlon - Late September - Oklahoma City, OK - ~$250
http://www.redmantriathlon.com
OKLAHOMA is a word that was coined by the native American missionary Allen Wright. He combined two Choctaw words, "ukla" meaning man and "humá" meaning red to form the word that first appears in an 1866 Choctaw treaty.
Oklahoma means REDMAN and REDMAN means a flat, very fast course and ease of access, all combined with service and support that will exceed the expectations of the iron distance triathlete.
TRIATHLON is the fastest growing sport in the United States today, and the IRON DISTANCE race is the pinnacle of achievement for a triathlete. REDMAN will enhance your potential for a personal best.
Registration still open for '07

Quelle Challenge Roth – This event didn’t actually get recommended since I had restricted myself to North American events, but from what I’ve heard it would make for an absolutely awesome first IM experience. Amazing crowd support, great course and beer stations. I think if I were considering an event outside of the US, then this would be the race for me.

I’m going to narrow down my list to 3-4 events and go into a little more depth on each of those.

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