IM Louisville vs Maryland

Triathlon Forum
1

Sorry for another Maryland post.

I live in the Philly area and I was planning on doing Louisville. I havent registered yet since I can pretty much wait a while since it doesnt really sell out and I can make sure training is tracking well, no injuries etc.

This would be my first IM distance tri. Originally I was considering ones that are relatively close to Philly. I had looked at Chesapeake Man but given that it was about 150-200 people the last 2 years (IM only, although I realize there are the other distances), I figured for all the effort you might as well have more of the atmosphere for your first that a larger event brings, crowd support, finish line etc. So I’m not considering MD now purely for the IM name, but for the overall atmosphere that a larger event brings rather than doing one that just feels smaller if that makes sense.

Anyone have a strong opinion either way?

The both seem to have pluses and minuses, but I had been looking forward to the Louisville finish line in my head. That one will be hot and humid, but MD not necessarily too much better as far as weather and everyone talks about the wind on the bike. Chesapeake Man has been 2 loops and 3 loops on the bike and run? A 3 loop run doesnt sound too exciting, but we dont know if that will stay the same? The bike and run loops sound like they would be really crowded too. Overall, from what I have read, lots of people seem to say that the Chesapeake Man course was a bit boring, and I havent read too much that positive.

MD is a lot closer and gives me an extra month to train, so those are 2 big pluses. (had planned on driving to Louisville which is maybe a 9.5 to 10 hour drive).
How is the Choptank swim? I would assume it’s wetsuit legal where Louisville won’t be, which is a bonus, but I’m assuming it wont have the potential current that Louisville might have, which never hurts.

Any other considerations/thoughts/feedback would be much appreciated.

2

Maryland will likely be a flatter, cooler draftfest. Both the Choptank and Ohio River are pretty nasty.

One thing to consider is that hotels are minimal out in Cambridge. If you can’t get a spot at the Hyatt, which is expensive, the options are pretty minimal.

3

Can’t personally speak to MD but I thought Louisville was awesome. The finish really is great. The city really supports the race well. There are plenty of hotel rooms and restaurants within walking distance of the start and finish.

The bike course, while tough, is scenic. The run is super flat and you can find an occasional shade through some of the residential areas, though not a lot. The heat is a challenge but it’s an Ironman.

IMO, the finish and available hotel space would certainly weigh heavily in my decision.

4

I have done both. did IMLOO in 2010 and 2012 (the uber hot years) and did Chessie in 2013.

Loo: It was 97-100 degees in 2010, 92-97 in 2012. I faced wind the later in the day I was at Loo, mainly on the way home. I remember fighting back tears in 2010 thinking, oh come on, all I was looking forward to was the last 6 miles!! But considering the amount of ambulances I saw (from wrecks and heat related issues), I was so happy to finish both Loo races. The run to me is phenomenal–there are people EVERYWHERE. My friend was really ill in 2012, so we had fun during the run, actually played Jenga with the University of Louisville students along the way. The volunteers were fantastic, a bit of that southern charm really shone through. Now in 2012 there was the tack and guys jumping out from behind bushes incident, but that was the only real negative experience. Also, it will be non-wetsuit. I still had plenty of contact since the first 1000 meters or so are very narrow. But it is an easy swim (no current or with you). The bike is constant rolling hills, but is fair.

Chessie: I’ve done Eman 6 times and this is 2 hours away from me, so we trained on the course and did all the local centuries leading up. The jellies were horrendous. I fortuntately brought my long sleeve wetsuit, but still got stung on the face and in the nose. My friends with sleeveless got stung in the armpits–gross! The Choptank is always a crapshoot, and it was pretty rough this time. Not as bad as it can be, but not glasslike either. The wind was brutal–15 mph sustained with 35 mph gusts that were pretty frequent. There is also a bad stretch of road in the flood plain that is torn up. It doesn’t last too long, but it is rough. We also had 4 strips of about 8 feet of gravel that had a 2 inch dip or so, having to go through that twice wasn’t pleasant either.

The run is not fun. Three loops on one road. It is fun now to go around the high school loop so you get to see everyone and get a “victory” lap at the end. However, its then just and out and back. The wind continued, two tents blew over. Then it started to rain and all the bugs came out. If you’re slow like me, they had NO lights on the course, so I ran the last 4 miles in total darkness–the clouds took away any moonlight and there are few houses on the street. I’m sure that will change, but I’m giving you all my info.

It could be a spectacular race. My hope is that the bike would go to Salisbury since there is great riding out there and away from the two loop course. The run, well, its awful. My vote would be for Louisville, since the atmosphere is just electric. Prepare by doing your long runs at 1:00 in the afternoon!

Hope this helps.

5

I’ve done IMLOU 4x, Eagleman many times.

Louisville
Easy to find hotels, urban setting, Best finish line environment of all IM’s I’ve done, HOT as hades, Some years had very high dewpoints which is challenging to deal with

Swim - no wetsuit, freshwater (not saltwater), I’ve swam in worse water, never found it as bad as some, liked TT start, water can be HOT!, a couple of years I came out dehydrated, not a good way to start a hot day

Bike - FUN, rolling hills, good roads, can be very crowded till you hit the out and back, entertaining course

Run - flat, HOT, 2 loops makes it easy to break the course down into parts

IMMD
Lack of hotels, easy to get to (I live in Annapolis area), could be hot or perfect conditions, potentially very fast course

Swim - Choptank, brackus(sp?) water, probably wetsuit, current will have impact on swim times, good or bad, maybe jellies, but probably not that late in the season, I don’t understand the comment about poor water quality

Bike - flat as a pancake, I like hillier courses, drafting, everything that goes with a flat course, potentially windy

Run - flat, definitely not as entertaining as Lou, unless you like cornfields

I hope registration stays open 10 days so I can transfer from another race. I believe it will stay open for a while.

Good Luck

6

Can’t personally speak to MD but I thought Louisville was awesome. The finish really is great. The city really supports the race well. There are plenty of hotel rooms and restaurants within walking distance of the start and finish.

The bike course, while tough, is scenic. The run is super flat and you can find an occasional shade through some of the residential areas, though not a lot. The heat is a challenge but it’s an Ironman.

IMO, the finish and available hotel space would certainly weigh heavily in my decision.

x2 from a 2x IM Louisville finisher.

7

“they had NO lights on the course, so I ran the last 4 miles in total darkness–the clouds took away any moonlight and there are few houses on the street”

That’s one of the things I liked :slight_smile:
.

8

Last year you could wear a wetsuit at Lou. You had to get at the back of the line but you wear one. Given how cold it has been this year it could be wetsuit legal again. While going to the back of the line may be a pain, just think of all that free speed you could have by passing all those people on the bike. Legally of course, because no one on slowtwitch drafts.
I’ve only done Eagleman but given it shares much of IMMD I would lean to Lou. Much more interesting place. But given proximity I could see why you would go with MD. But think of that exciting drive through Ohio you will miss if you choose IMMD.

9

I’ve done IMLOU 4x, Eagleman many times.

Louisville
Easy to find hotels, urban setting, Best finish line environment of all IM’s I’ve done, HOT as hades, Some years had very high dewpoints which is challenging to deal with

Swim - no wetsuit, freshwater (not saltwater), I’ve swam in worse water, never found it as bad as some, liked TT start, water can be HOT!, a couple of years I came out dehydrated, not a good way to start a hot day

Bike - FUN, rolling hills, good roads, can be very crowded till you hit the out and back, entertaining course

Run - flat, HOT, 2 loops makes it easy to break the course down into parts

IMMD
Lack of hotels, easy to get to (I live in Annapolis area), could be hot or perfect conditions, potentially very fast course

Swim - Choptank, brackus(sp?) water, probably wetsuit, current will have impact on swim times, good or bad, maybe jellies, but probably not that late in the season, I don’t understand the comment about poor water quality

Bike - flat as a pancake, I like hillier courses, drafting, everything that goes with a flat course, potentially windy

Run - flat, definitely not as entertaining as Lou, unless you like cornfields

I hope registration stays open 10 days so I can transfer from another race. I believe it will stay open for a while.

Good Luck

Steve, thought you were doing Kona this year. Why race IM-MD right before the big dance? You nuts? Hope all is well. Jeff

10

Hey Jeff,

Nuts yes, crazy no:-)

I signed up for IMMT before I got a slot in WI. Rather than waste an IMMT entry fee, I’ll transfer to IMMD if it’s still open after 10 days. Perfect lead in to Kona - I’ll be doing a long day anyway, why not swim, bike and short run. It would be more fun than on my own and then sign up for next year.

I don’t think MD will sell out the first year for lots of reasons.

By the way nice race at WL - esp the run! I think your doing Switzerland this yr??? You should hook up with us for weekend rides. I’ll send ou an email.

Steve

11

Thanks. Doing France and would love to get out and ride together, especially hills!

12

Side note, got a random e-mail to an old e-mail address referring to me as a “tri clubber” (I’m not in a tri club and never have been, odd) with a link to early registration to IM Maryland good through 4/17 at 11 EST. It does say “this registration is only for Matt” when I go to the link, and says it’s non transferable in the e-mail. But in any case, looks like they’re letting people access it early, no opening day freakout. Price shown $625.

13

“they had NO lights on the course, so I ran the last 4 miles in total darkness–the clouds took away any moonlight and there are few houses on the street”

That’s one of the things I liked :slight_smile:

What?? how? I would come up on people in front of me and would scare the heck outta me. And that road is not smooth–so at 24 miles your legs are jelly so a little dip here and there throws you for a loop.

This being said, I am so so so tempted to sign up. I already got a hotel room…

14

“they had NO lights on the course, so I ran the last 4 miles in total darkness–the clouds took away any moonlight and there are few houses on the street”

The year(2004) I did it was when they had a hour? delay because of fog over the river. Remember most of the run being in the dark. Would hear footsteps coming toward me but wouldn’t see anyone until they were a few feet in front of me. Sure messed with my run pace. Also remember lots of squashed snakes on the road.

15

I’ve done both, Louisville twice. The Louisville finish line is amazing but I don’t know why people are saying Louisville has an awesome run course, I found it boring and mentally challenging (but in fairness I have spent the majority of my life in rural areas and really don’t find city streets to be scenic). I actually prefered the 3 lap course at MD because it seemed to divide the run into smaller segments and I got to know the workers at the aid stations. The ones at the last aid station even had a nickname for me (legs, because my shaved legs looked good:), it got me through some rough patches knowing I had some people looking for me at the “bottom” of each loop. Also, as was previously mentioned, coming back through the HS parking lot each lap gave you a boost each time as well. I personally thought the run there was a lot more enjoyable than Lou. The swim was choppy and rough, and sighting was tough due to the chop and the sun, but with a wetsuit my swim was almost as fast as it was in Louisville despite the boost you get from the current in the Ohio river. As for the bike course, I thought parts of it were quite beautiful in both locations, though both also have parts where you will be completely miserable. The hills and heat make Louisville very challenging, but the wind made MD almost equally brutal for me. Either way, my split was 1mph faster in MD than both years in Louisville and MD came first so I believe my fitness was better in Lou. I was also smarter (having a previous experience) in Lou which could have contributed to a slower bike split (better pacing).

The hotel situation sucked in MD and I doubt WTC is going to fix that. The MD finish line was great for me at the time, but in retrospect that was mostly due to the fact that I completed my first IM, there wasn’t much going on but all I cared about was my accomplishment. Having a bigger event will certainly result in a more exciting finish line, but doubtful it will be as exciting as Louisville from a spectator standpoint. Then again… unless they change things it finishes with a lap around a high school track; if it sells out and there are 2,000 participants bringing thousands of spectators, that victory lap could be pretty darned cool.
Bottom line, I bet you can’t go wrong with either of them. If you want a fast time and the excitement of being in an inaugural event do MD. But if you want the coolest finish line outside of Kona and an established race with plenty of great hotels in an urban setting do Louisville.