I am doing IM Moo on 9/12. I scheduled HalfMax on 6/20 as one of my other races as a tune-up/practice run for Moo. I intend to do it fairly easy just to get used to racing based on HR etc… So that gives me 10 weeks between the half and the IM.
Question, before I had decided to do Moo, I had paid for an entry to Dairyland (aka “Spirit of Racine” (what a crappy name)). That race is on July 25.
I am now considering doing Dairyland also, rather than just skipping it. Is it rational to do one half 10 weeks out, and another 6 weeks out from an IM if I do them pretty easy and just consider them brick workouts? Or should I just stick with the Halfmax race only?
BTW, Moo will be my first IM and Halfmax will be my first half. And I realize that this is a “Only you know your level of fitness…” question. I am just curious about first impressions.
With no prior HIM, IM experience doing both HIM’s will give you an extra race to test out your pacing and nutrition. At this point you can wait on the D.Land race whether to race it or use it as a brick. Just for consideration – I’ve never been able to brick-it on race day. I did the 1/2Max last year, toughest run I’ve ever encountered, pace yourself well on the bike.
I did 1/2max last year also Understand they have changed the course somewhat. That being said for me the bike last year was easy it was the run that was really difficult. The only flat part was the step you took before you went up or down. There are some false flats that seem easy comparied to the rest. The race was very well run and great awards. First got full aquaman wetsuit and second a nice QR sleevless bike jersey. Like he said it may have been the toughtest race I,ve done and I,ve done IMx2 and Buffalo springs 1/2IM. If your young and have great fittness you might do both 1/2,s but reserve your judgment until after you,ve done Ultramax. One problem is when you get in a race can you truly “take it easy” and pace your self. I have had a problem with that. One time I ran a 1/2 marathon(easy just as a training run but averaged 6:25, felt great) 2 wks before a marathon I was on track to break 3hr . At 15mi I was under 3hr but shortly after I lost it.
Good Luck mike
Doing 1/2 July 4th and 25th and then IMC August 29th.
you’ll be fine 
That’s fine johnt. You’ll do awesome. I think it will help you at IM.
Good luck!
Thanks. I guess I can just gauge how I feel after Halfmax, too.
Hey - sounds like we’re essentially on the same schedule. I’m also doing Madison and the-race-formerly-known-as-Dairyland. Don’t sweat it - 10 weeks out will be plenty of time to recover, and as the others said, it’s a great chance to get some ‘on the job’ training for IMW. Actually, I’m probably going to do the Midwest Regional Championship race (oly) in Indy 2 weeks out just as a final tune-up. Don’t know if you were at Racine last year, but pray that it won’t be as windy this year. Smart plan to go EZ at Half-Max - you can always crank it up a notch at Racine.