Am I crazy in considering these two events as my first attempt at the long course? With only 2 70.3’s under my belt (CA and FL) should I look at IMAZ instead? I’ve looked at both courses and profiles and they both look really tough. I know, I know it is an Ironman, but you can’t tell me that these two courses aren’t harder than IMAZ. There is a side of me that is drawn towards the Silverman because of its reputation and lets face it, they’re alot less of participants than IM events. Also, Silverman is the closest to where I live and we love going to Vegas. So lets hear it, Am I crazy? What are the pros and cons for those who have done Silverman and are familiar with St George? What about IMAZ? Good course? Good spectators? Lets have some info and help me make my decision for my first 140.6. Maybe I should call Dave Scott himself.
I did Silverman as my first iron-distance race. I did two halves before Silverman. So, it CAN be done. But, I did train my butt off. And, I trained specifically for the race (i.e. hill training for both the run and bike and I spent a week in Vegas training on the course for my peak week…). I know there are folks out there who think a person should work their way up to iron-distance…or say don’t do an ironman as your first triathlon ever…but I disagree. If you have the desire and discipline to train, I say why not?
We’re all nuts…
Go for it!!!
Great! I’ve got lots of hills where I live as well as the wind.
Any day there is crazy weather where you live, train in it…last year the hail and 50 mph winds were…fun…
If you do decide to do Silverman, you won’t be disappointed. Great race - can’t say enough good things about it.
Silverman this year will be my first shot at the ironman distance. I say go for it; i did.
I expect to see a race report out of you.
without a doubt
.
I’m sort of wondering if it would be feasible this year to do it. Just finished CA70.3 last weekend and I would think I could get it done in the 6 months remaining, but I was looking at a longer prep. time for it. Your thoughts?
Well, it is the 5th year anniversary. Wonder if anything extra will be planned or stuffed into the already stuffed back packs…
Plenty of time especially coming off a Half. You can continue to build off the base laid down for the 70.3 for another 3-4 month and then go into a good 12 week build phase. If you have been sitting on your @$$ all winter then 6 months might not cut it but you haven’t been. Or have you?
do it.
I did IMAZ last year. I am now considering adding a late season IM after telling myself I’d only do halfs. I considered IMAZ as a CF entry, but leaning towards SM since it’s a ton cheaper, a bigger challenge, won’t sell out, and it’s a MUCH more beautiful place to race over Tempe. I did the Pumpkinman half last year, that’s what desert racing should look like. the Beeline’s OK, it’s just not Lakeshore Road.
I know of at least two people that did it as their first IM distance
ETA I actually liked IMAZ course overall, surprisingly. It’s great for spectators with the loops, also for me to break up the distances. SM is a point to point, although the loop is two runs, not sure it’s spectator friendly.
Definately not been sitting on my butt over the winter. As for the past 5 days, yes. I’ll take a long hard look over the next week and make my decision soon. What’s great about these packets I hear one receives for this race? Just alot of stuff for the money? I think it would be really cool to meet Dave Scott and do a race that he holds up in so high regard. Thanks for the info.
the one possible advantage is if you respect the course enough to pace intelligently on the bike. then you could actually do as well or better than if you went too hard on the bike at a flatter ironman.
The schwag is nice at the race. Last year they had both a running hat and a warm beanie in the backpack. Both hats were handy for standing around, running hat for keeping the sun off during the day, beanie for the evening, it gets cold in the desert when the sun goes down. Basically, it was thoughtful.
Do Silverman, you won’t be disappointed. The vibe is super cool, you won’t get hordes of drafters, everyone there seems to have a good attitude, the race is every bit as well organized as any MDot race and costs a lot less. Oh yeah, Frank set up a couple of ST tables last year so we could meet people beforehand. If I were doing long course this year, this would be my pick without a doubt.
And meeting Dave Scott: he actually came up and talked to me last year. I was wearing something that said Davis on it, so we chatted about racing and training around Davis. Not too often The Man comes up and talks to you!
Nah, you’re not crazy. If you’re mentally prepared for the leap from 1/2 to full, the rest falls into place. Had it not been for the now-defunct Tri101 series, I wouldn’t have considered a full when I did, but that is just where I was mentally. Silverman was my 1st full and I’m still here to talk about it. 
My guess is that St. George will automatically inherit some of Silverman’s appeal due to the desert setting and the lemming-deterring difficulty. Time will tell (and I’ve got my opinion) whether the full scope of Silverman’s appeal will ever be matched by an official Ironman. When it comes down to it, Silverman is just an extraordinary example of what a long-course race should be in all regards.
Whether you pick Silverman or St. George, you’ve got this bright side to look at: with a few far-scattered exceptions, all subsequent IMs you do will be FAR easier! 
I have been doing Triathlons since 1985, but I have never done an IM distance race (a number of HIM races including Halfmax last year in Vegas, which was on at least a part of the bike course for Silverman). Before I fall apart, I want to get at least one under my belt. I was looking at doing St. George as my first IM, in part because, being relatively early, I can get it in and then still do some of the Oly and Half races I want to get in without feeling like I can’t taper due to an IM happening later.
But then I started reading about the profile and it’s got me hesitating. Part of the reason is I’m not really strong on hills and there seems to be plenty of them on this course. I’m worried about running a marathon up and down hills after 112 miles of hills before it.
I was pretty trained for the Halfmax HIM last fall in Lake Mead, but everyone there (and there were plenty of experienced triathletes) said it was the as hard or harder than any they had done - some said they felt as depleted as they did after an IM. Crap. If I had to double the distance of the Halfmax race, that really could be rough.
I’m still considering it, that all being said. Considering.
I haven’t done a half yet but will do at least two this year. I’m already signed up for IMSG. I signed up the day before the course profiles were put up but feel that the hills will actually allow me to do better as I will have to pace for them. If all goes well there I’ll almost certainly do Silverman in 2010 as well.
Silverman spoiled me. The 2007 race was my sixth iron-distance race, and no race I did before it, and probably nothing I will ever do in the future (other than Silverman 2010 
), compares to Silverman in terms of a personal challenge. I was quite reluctant to give it a try, having read the stories of how difficult it was. But, I had to see if I could fiinish it. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering whether or not I could. Now, having conquered that beast, it stands as the most memorable event I’ve done, and the one of which I’m the most proud.
Long live Silverman. I look forward to being challenged again in 2010.
My 2007 race report (28 pages; 5 MB; .pdf).
My home video of the Nevada trip (pardon the tourist-type stuff) and Silverman (103 MB; Flash; broadband highly recommended).
Jim
I did April version of IMAZ twice, the Silverman half once, and then the full Silverman last year. I’m going back to do the full Silverman again this year. If you are ready for a 140.6, you can do Silverman. You won’t have a PR time there, but it is the most fun I’ve had at a triathlon. Other than having the M-dot logo everywhere, I don’t see what IMSG will offer that you can’t get at Silverman (for half the price). I’m guessing IMSG will rival Silverman for the bike and run course, but swimming in Lake Mead has got to beat the swim at St. George. The vibe at Silverman last year was so much better than it was with 2000 people lining up at IMAZ. I like the fact that my Silverman training is during the summer as opposed to getting ready for IMSG in Jan-Apr. I hate riding the trainer/running on a treadmill/trying to ride and bike outdoors in the cold/wet/dark. Bottom line, you can do either of these races as your first IM, and I know you’d really enjoy the Silverman experience.