Has anyone done both of these races? Is IMMOO tougher than GFT with the hills or are they about the same? Thanks for the imput.
Give me two weeks, I will let you know. The hills at Moo are not bad at all.
Have done both. The IMMoo hills just keep coming at you , but like any course you deal with it. I did GF before the course change, but even if they keep the hilly course they were changing to it isn’t too bad. Sugar Loaf is a pretty good hill and you want to make sure you are ready.
As for the run, GF has some pretty good hills to start with and then goes around the lake a couple of times which is flat flat. There were some plans to make the run end at the hospital and that would be tough, but doable.
“There were some plans to make the run end at the hospital”
Cool, I could job straight into the ER!
Here is sugarloaf at GFT.
I’ve been told that the course at IMMOO is similar by a guy who did it this year and was out riding the “old new” GFT course a few weeks ago. If that’s not a convoluted sentence I don’t know what is… Anyway, the problem with the GFT course is not really the number of rollers, which are pretty non-stop. It’s the number of extremely steep (several >10% grade) fortunately short hills. Two I measured in excess of 15% grade (Sugarloaf and the first one on Buckhill Rd.). If you aren’t prepared for these it’ll kick yer butt, especially when you hit them again at mile 90ish.
"If you aren’t prepared for these it’ll kick yer butt, especially when you hit them again at mile 90ish. "
Tell me about it. The first time I did the GFT, I thought I was doing great until both calves cramped up on the 2nd loop while climbing Sugarloaf. Luckily for me, they were giving free massages on the run course.
Is the GFT really as hilly as IMMoo? I thought the analysis in the other threads showed IMMoo to be the slowest course of the IMs in NA. I thought GFT was supposed to be a good beginner race.
Is the GFT really as hilly as IMMoo? I thought the analysis in the other threads showed IMMoo to be the slowest course of the IMs in NA. I thought GFT was supposed to be a good beginner race.
IMFL is a good beginner’s course. I did the GFT as a beginner and would not consider it to be an easy bike course. The run is fine, but the bike is mean unless you are a hillclimber. I’m made for 5 hour flatlands IMs, not climbing 18% grades.
http://www.ironmannorthamerica.com/comparebike.html
Check out the elevation gain on IMFL compared with IMMOO. One profile had the GFT with 5200ft of climbing, I’ll have an exact number after the race. I know the old “new” course that was just changed was in the 3500ft range. Not exactly flat. If you want the profile afterwards just PM me.