Shallow comparison: Maryland bike is very, very flat. Louisville bike is very, very hilly.

Also, the run course at Louisville is better (both run courses are flat).

Maryland more of a home town feel, lots of loyalty and repeat customers as the race director is great.

Louisville big city feel, lots of hills.

Maryland is my choice, going back there for round 2 this year Plus Mike Reily will be there announcing

---

Yellowfin Endurance Coaching and Bike Fits
USAT Level 1, USAC Level 3

I debated between those two races and went with Louisville. Everyone I talked to that had done Louisville, had great things to say. The same was not true for Maryland...by a long shot.

No deep comparison here but I like the Louisville race. I prefer the hillier bike in particular.

---

----
Michael

Maryland has a very small town feel. There is great community support for the race, but the downside is that accommodations and logistics (especially after the race) can be a challenge. Both the bike and the run are very flat.

Louisville is definitely much bigger than Maryland. I'd never been to Louisville and enjoyed the city, the people, and the food. The bike is hilly, but it can still be a quick course. The run is basically two long out and backs, which I really liked. One thing I really didn't like about Louisville was the number of cars on the bike course. It's really bad on the 'loop' part of the course you do twice, there were a number of times I felt it was unsafe. I enjoyed everything about this race except the car issue, but that would likely stop me from doing it again.

So far it sounds like Louisville may be a better fit in terms of logistics. I've got a follow up now and I guess it's worth asking since the timing is within a couple weeks of Louisville: What about Chattanooga? How would you compare it with Louisville?

EVERYONE voted Maryland as the best race ever, not just because they need more people to attend.
http://www.ironman.com/media-library/images/galleries/non-event/2018/02/2017-athletes-choice-awards.aspx#axzz56tezlcod


* footnote... yeah, I'm making fun but I'm doing it again this year too... I want to swim in the choptank, not just run through it #2016IMMD

---

808 > NYC > PDX > YVR
2024 Races: Taupo

I'm going to be racing Chattanooga this year, and I'm really excited about it. It'll be my first time in Tennessee, I've heard it's a fast swim/bike, and then really tough run. The photos I've seen from the race look great.

Having done Chatt, and ALMOST signed up for Lou (was going to last year, but my buddy backed out) I have studied both courses greatly. Lou swim is in pretty darn dirty water, but it's a river swim that you'll get some current help vs Chatt which is much cleaner, and down river the whole way. Bike, Lou is going to be tougher, relentless rollers. Chatt is a pretty easy bike course, nothing too challenging if you pace right, but it's 4 miles longer. Lou run is, as has been said, a two loop out and back and flat as a pancake, plus the finish line is in 4th st Live, which is kind of cool. Chatt run will ruin you if you are not prepared. Lots of hills on the back 1/2 of each lap, but the crowd support there is incredible.

Louisville has more hotel rooms downtown within easy walking distance to the center of the action, and they are a little cheaper. Chatt will probably be sold out of rooms downtown that are walkable (if not already), but there are plenty of places to stay, and race day logistics are not bad at all... PLENTY of parking downtown.

After all that, I'm going back to do Chatt again this year vs Lou. I just get more excited when I think about racing there again vs going to Lou for some reason. The town is awesome, and I've actually spent some significant time there since my first race because I have enjoyed it so much.