IM Maryland racers… what did you think of this race?? How quickly do folks think it will sell out for 2015?
Thanks!
IM Maryland racers… what did you think of this race?? How quickly do folks think it will sell out for 2015?
Thanks!
I’d guess it won’t. With Louisville and Chattanooga both within a month, I’ll bet only Chattanooga sells out among the three. But that is pure speculation.
I really enjoyed the course yesterday. Couldn’t have asked for better weather and the atmosphere was a lot of fun. Could tell the locals were happy to have the race there. Spectators were into it and the main parts of the run course were lined with people. The volunteers were some of the best I’ve experienced at any race.
Swim felt fast but it looks like most times were slow 5+ minutes. To me it looked like the buoys curved in between turns. Little tough at points but the swim start process allowed for some great drafting in the water…marathon style start.
Bike is obviously fast and flat. Tough to stay aero that long but it is a nice course. Drafters were out in full force and I maybe saw 1 marshall the entire bike.
Run got a little crowded and the 3 loops were tough on the mind. Finish strip was a lot of fun running down that brick road.
I’ll likely do it again eventually. I highly doubt it’s anywhere near selling out for 2015. I’m not sure how many race Saturday but it couldn’t have been more than 1,700 and I’m sure WTC would like to cram 2,500 onto that course if the demand was there. I believe I heard Maryland was the most represented state and there were a lot of of first timers out there. I talked to a few that really hadn’t trained properly for the distance. Based on that I’m thinking there will be even less demand for next year.
any conversation about changing any portion of the course for next year?
I really enjoyed the course yesterday. Couldn’t have asked for better weather and the atmosphere was a lot of fun. Could tell the locals were happy to have the race there. Spectators were into it and the main parts of the run course were lined with people. The volunteers were some of the best I’ve experienced at any race.
Swim felt fast but it looks like most times were slow 5+ minutes. To me it looked like the buoys curved in between turns. Little tough at points but the swim start process allowed for some great drafting in the water…marathon style start.
Bike is obviously fast and flat. Tough to stay aero that long but it is a nice course. Drafters were out in full force and I maybe saw 1 marshall the entire bike.
Run got a little crowded and the 3 loops were tough on the mind. Finish strip was a lot of fun running down that brick road.
I’ll likely do it again eventually. I highly doubt it’s anywhere near selling out for 2015. I’m not sure how many race Saturday but it couldn’t have been more than 1,700 and I’m sure WTC would like to cram 2,500 onto that course if the demand was there. I believe I heard Maryland was the most represented state and there were a lot of of first timers out there. I talked to a few that really hadn’t trained properly for the distance. Based on that I’m thinking there will be even less demand for next year.
That bike seemed ridiculously fast…Some of my friends were saying that the tailwind was absolutely awesome through 80 miles, or so. Too bad about drafters.
Did the race also yesterday, it is a great race for first timers and anyone looking for a PR.
Lots of good things to say, some opportunities for improvement also. Like everyone else the swim was long but course was very well set up, not confusing at all for the two lap system. I liked the rolling start, while not a mass start it is pretty close to it. Transitions were well organized, all typical WTC standard.
Bike course was flat and fast on very nice roads. Other then a few sections there were no cars on the road. Aid stations seemed understaffed (didn’t use them). Very few intersections or turns so your legs will experience the same thing like riding on a trainer. Run had lots of spectators but this is a small town, so if everybody comes out there still won’t be huge numbers of people. You can’t compare it to, say, Wisconsin. But enough to have a great atmosphere. Aid stations here seemed again understaffed also and weren’t set up consistently. Sometimes water was in the beginning, next time at the end, next time in the middle, etc. loved the finish chute, location at Long Wharf is pretty spectacular. All volunteers did the very best they could, my sense overall was this being a first IM they got it 95% right and just have some smaller things to take care of to make it perfect by the time it becomes a sell out event.
I think this race will be a great alternative to Florida, people will quickly realize there’s a new fast ‘easy’ race on the calendar and jump on it.
Big issue with this race is lack of hotel rooms. There are not very many rooms in the town and surrounding towns. Even with 1700 racers many had to stay 35+ minutes away.
If you want to sign up for this race for next year, find a room asap.
IM Maryland racers… what did you think of this race?? How quickly do folks think it will sell out for 2015?
Thanks!
I’d guess it won’t. With Louisville and Chattanooga both within a month, I’ll bet only Chattanooga sells out among the three. But that is pure speculation.
Not to hijack the thread, but why would Chatt sell out when Lou did not? The big draw for Chatt was the time of year, I would think. Now, Chatt and Lou are practically identical. Both are at the same time of the year, and feature down river swims, fairly easy courses compared to the “Northern summer” races (Placid, MT, Muskoka), and are in mid sized southern cities with a lot of stuff to do while you are there. Lou is still open. So, by the way is every Ironman scheduled in North America next year. I am still shocked Wisconsin is open (because of Muskoka?), and MT is still open (because of Muskoka?). Also, Chatt sold out last year before Maryland was announced. Bottom line, the days of IM sell outs,or at least immediate sell outs, are over. Which is a great thing for triathletes because now we have choices…and the time to make them. Of course, it will be interesting to see how many of these races are still around in 5 years as numbers continue to decline (and they are declining)
IM Maryland racers… what did you think of this race?? How quickly do folks think it will sell out for 2015?
Thanks!
I’d guess it won’t. With Louisville and Chattanooga both within a month, I’ll bet only Chattanooga sells out among the three. But that is pure speculation.
Not to hijack the thread, but why would Chatt sell out when Lou did not? The big draw for Chatt was the time of year, I would think. Now, Chatt and Lou are practically identical. Both are at the same time of the year, and feature down river swims, fairly easy courses compared to the “Northern summer” races (Placid, MT, Muskoka), and are in mid sized southern cities with a lot of stuff to do while you are there. Lou is still open. So, by the way is every Ironman scheduled in North America next year. I am still shocked Wisconsin is open (because of Muskoka?), and MT is still open (because of Muskoka?). Also, Chatt sold out last year before Maryland was announced. Bottom line, the days of IM sell outs,or at least immediate sell outs, are over. Which is a great thing for triathletes because now we have choices…and the time to make them. Of course, it will be interesting to see how many of these races are still around in 5 years as numbers continue to decline (and they are declining)
Again, just speculation, but there is a huge buzz around Chattanooga in the Southeast. Also the aura of such a fast sellout lest year will have (I think) people signing up immediately even if they’re on the fence. But then again, it’s sponsored by (gasp) Little Debbie and the bike course is an impossible 116 miles…
My bet: 8 days from now, IMChoo 2015 will be sold out.
My bet: 8 days from now, IMChoo 2015 will be sold out.
It’s already > 50% sold out. So my guess is it’ll sell out the first day they open Online registration.
My bet: 8 days from now, IMChoo 2015 will be sold out.
It’s already > 50% sold out. So my guess is it’ll sell out the first day they open Online registration.
Not true.
I did the Ironman.
The swim was slow (maybe 10 minutes) with the varying currents and chop, but that is what you get when you swim in the Choptank.
Bike course is blistering fast under the right conditions, which we had yesterday. Mentally and physically it is hard to stage aero for 112 miles. I saw no draft packs (unlike at Eagleman) but I am a very slow swimmer and a strong biker and passed a ton of people. However every penalty tent was packed with people.
The three-loop run worked well with lots of chances to see family and friends. Maybe with 2,500 racers (1,500 this year) it could be a problem.
I thought that all the volunteers were great. The town on Cambridge seems very happy to have the race. Hotels are very limited but lots of rental houses available. And even a place 30 miles away is a quick drive.
Next year the races moves to two weeks later in the year. I worry about the weather as the weather starts to transition to Fall in October. It could be very pleasant or cold & wet. I once raced Half Full in Columbia and it was nasty cold and wet.
That’s interesting. My guess is that Maryland sells out pretty quickly and Chattanooga stays open. The reason it say this is the flat run/bike in Maryland with a full 17 hours which I think will really appeal to first timers.
Also crab cakes make an excellent celebration meal 
Have any Garmin files you can post?
That’s interesting. My guess is that Maryland sells out pretty quickly and Chattanooga stays open. The reason it say this is the flat run/bike in Maryland with a full 17 hours which I think will really appeal to first timers.
Also crab cakes make an excellent celebration meal
While you make an excellent crab cake argument (how many crabcakes = 1 Ironman of calories?), You forget the allure of a current-assisted swim at Chattanooga! Triathletes hate nothing more than swimming…
anyone know about roll down spots?
anyone know about roll down spots?Not a single one rolled down.
Most had one slot, a couple with two and no roll downs
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Big issue with this race is lack of hotel rooms. There are not very many rooms in the town and surrounding towns. Even with 1700 racers many had to stay 35+ minutes away.
If you want to sign up for this race for next year, find a room asap.
Seems to handle the 2500+ people for Eagleman
Many other athletes I talked with this morning did not believe there were many sections with a favorable tailwind on the bike. Most were complaining about the headwinds from miles 40-55 and 85-100 (or somewhere along those lines). Also, felt like a crosswind the entire ride.
I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of drafting on the bike course. With it being so flat, I thought there’d be plenty. Next year, if there are twice as many athletes, the drafting may be more of an issue.
If you look at the swim times, there were a lot of 1:09 and up, even among the top folks. It was definitely slow. I was about 12 minutes slower than normal.