My husband and I are contemplating our first Ironman for 2008. We can’t decide between Wisconsin and Florida. What are the pros and cons of both races? Is Wisconsin hilly?
For the race venue and atmosphere go to Madison, not even a question. If you are looking for the easier layout, go to Panama City.
My personal two favorite venues are Lake Placid and Pentiction. Those are two perfect events.
My 2c, and worth evey penny.
The Wisconsin race course and the volunteers are awesome. I looked forward to the hills where are the people were cheering…it was like riding up the Alps in the Tour de France. I highly recommend IM Moo…it was my first IM, and a great experience…
Spot
If you live or can train a lot of hills, IMWI is for you. It’s especially helpful to ride the course a few times before race day.
But be prepared for ANY kind of weather. Except for the inaugural year (2002), IMWI has either been an oven (2003-2005) or fridge (2006).
IMFL has the most consistent WEATHER of the IMNA races, I believe. If you decide on it, though, be prepared for endless pedaling in the same position and possible back issues when getting off the bike unless you are proactive about stretching, changing positions and gears on the bike.
I’ve done IMWI and except for the weather think it’s a great race. I have no desire to do IMFL because it’s pancake flat, but that’s what attracts so many people there–great place to set a PR
Florida was my first IM. It was nice. But my next 3 have been at Wisconsin. IM-Moo is a much more difficult course but it also has a better staging venue, rolling bike course, scenic run. The volunteers are great at both events…but the spectators are better at Moo.
Living in Michigan…I like being able to drive to Madison and have a car with all my gear. A mid-September race perfectly closes out my season.
Some first timers don’t like the salt water / ocean. I think your first IM swim start will freak you out no matter where it’s done.
The DNF rate at Madison is much higher than at Panama City Beach. (weather & course difficulty play into that). If you train on the hills (bike-run) you will be okay. If you live in the flats…Florida might suite you. All-in-all…I will not do Florida again…but would indeed return to Madison.
My wife also does IM’s…be prepared for your house-laundry room to turn into one giant lockeroom. You will have to put a lot of things on hold (house work, friends, family functions). It’s a sacrifice. Good luck.
I have done both. You need to decide what your strengths and weaknesses are. Both courses are very dissimilar. Florida bike & run are flat…did I say flat? Wisc bike course has been described as one of the 2-3 most difficult bike courses on the IM (M-dot) schedule. Bike course hills are not long, just never ending. It is hard to get into a rhythm due to constant shifting, etc. The Wisc run course is not bad, just one real hill (done 4 times as it is a loop course). Your location too. Can you drive to one? Or are both fly to? You also have about 2 more months to train for Florida. Can be good or bad - depending on where you live, training in Sept-Oct can be dicey. Less daylight that time of year too. Then, lake swim vs. ocean swim - I think that is self explanatory.
Good luck!
I went to high school and college in Madison years ago and still have family there, so I am partial to the city. The bike course is tough and the weather has been a big variable…but the support that place gives the race! The volunteers this year, in the cold and dark, were absolutely tremendous.
Both would be awesome…FL is flat and fastest but ocean,salt water swimming…WI is very hilly but flatter water…wouldnt be dissappointed with either
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Both are fine races … frankly as are all the IMNA races. The real issue is whether you get in the training that you need and your mental attitude for race day. Probably the biggest issue is being aware of how to enter successfully as all these races fill rapidly on signup day and obviously no one is entered yet for 2008. Best of luck to you both.
Dave
Madison was my first IM, and I’m signed up for Florida in 07.
IM Moo is a rolling hilly course, that doesn’t have any really long climbs but has roller after roller that can get you in trouble if you’re not prepared for it.
Historically the weather has been the biggest variable for Madison, except for the first year or two.
As others have said the spectator/volunteer support is great in Madison, the town has really embraced Ironman and the participants
I faced this same decsion a couple of months ago. My Tri buddy took IMOO and I took IMFL. Why? Well timing for one, but mostly I live in a very flat place anddo not get alot of opportunity to ride or run hills. Since I wantto finish my first IM I chose the course that most closely resembled my local terrain.
I have heard that the venue at IMoo is nicer, but I had to go with course profile for my first IM
I can’t tell you which is better, but I’ll be on the line at MOO this year and it will be my first IM so I’ll let you know!!!
Swim: If you are a poor swimmer, then go with IMoo (IM Wisconsin).
Bike: Don’t be fooled by the IMFL bike course - it may be flat, but there is usually a 10-15mph headwind to fight against and no opportunity to rest the legs b/c there are no hills. If you have low back problems IMFL you are in the aero position. Yes, the IMoo bike course has rolling hills, but personally I think if you can train hills in your area then you can prepare yourself for it.
Run: Shouldn’t really be a factor. IMFL is flat. IMoo is for the most part flat - no major hills.
Weather: As people have said, IMoo is usually hot with humidity. IMFL is cooler but in some years it has been hot too but not as hot as IMoo.
Race Atmosphere: IMoo is 10 times better with a much better race atmosphere. Fans, crowds, support in IMoo is one of the best you’ll get.
Aside from all the other thoughts would be the time of the year. I remember doing a 5.5 hour MTB ride with 2" of snow and 28-degrees in prep for IMFL…no way I was going to ride a trainer for that long inside. I did that once and I’m still nutty from it.
IMoo for the most part flat??? Where do you live? IMoo is not flat really ever and those “rollers” only happen really on one 2 mile section of the course. There are 4 difficult climbs outside of the rollers (each you will ride twice, so 8 tough climbs) and a handful of little bastard climbs. The first is riding into Mt. Horeb and is about 20 miles in the first time. What’s deceiving is you are riding at about a 4% incline for about 2 miles prior to that, you will notice it. Then there are three climbs beginning around mile 45 or so, all within 10 miles of each other. The first is about 6/10 of a mile, winding and seemingly never ending. The 2nd is less than 1 mile later and is only maybe 1/8 of a mile, but is REALLY steep. The 3rd is an evil combination of the two, not as long as the first and not as steep as the 2nd, but somewhere in the middle of both. None of these climbs are preceeded by a downhill making it possible to “roll” up them a ways.
Like everyone has said, the venue is awesome. I love the race, but I DNF’d there in 2004 in my first IM attempt and I trained on the course all summer. That isn’t meant to scare you off, plenty of first timers there are successful, but it isn’t easy. Ride the course if possible prior to race day. It pays to know where you can gain some free speed, best places to hydrate, etc.
You mis-read my post or you were not paying attention. I said the RUN WAS FOR THE MOST PART FLAT and the BIKE HAD ROLLING HILLS.
Something also to note:
If tying to register by computer…you are not guaranteed to get into IMWI. I know a few people who tried to get in but it sold out while they we trying. Get yourself a stable internet connection and be ready to possibly have a few people try for you as well.
IMFL could be your backup…
History has shown: Wisconsin bites back. Read this:
totally misread, sorry dude.
Good article and pretty much sums it up. Madison was my first IM and in retrospect was probably about the worst course for me as a first IMer, but I wouldn’t have changed it for anything.
The conditions are the wildcard at all of the races and this past year even made what is usually a benign lake swim into a tough one. When Hillary Biscay and Andrea Fischer get out of the water in the mid to high 50 min range it isn’t easy. Granted there wasn’t a deep men’s filed, but only one male broke five hours on the bike.
Getting to the OP I think a lot depends on where you are in the the IM prep process. I would think that if someone was a 16 hourish sort of finisher at either Arizona or Florida under good condtions they might have a tough time finsihing Madison. Not only is the bike tougher, but you loose a lot of time on the transitions. I know this past year Frank Farrar DNFed by two minutes and just getting up and down the parking ramp was the difference between finising and not.
If you are a strong cyclist then you don’t have anything to worry about. If memory serves me Lar Dog’s first time on the course was race day and not only did he have a good ride he qualified for Kona.
So I would say it is probably more about where you are in your overall fitness and the bike in particular then the fact that it is your first IM. You’ll absolutley love Madison.