I am looking to do my first Ironman Triathlon and I wanted to know peoples thoughts between Ironman Kentucky and Ironman Wisconsin? Anyone have a great or horrible story to share? I would love to hear from someone who has done both!
Thanks for the feedback!
I have watched IMLou, but, not done it. That river is nasty, nasty, nasty! Also, the time trial start looks like it sucked.
I have done IMWI 3 times. My first IM was in 2006 when it was brutally cold. Froze my ass off in the horizontal rain. Sucked. In 2005, I watched as people try to race in 95+ degree weather. In 2007 and 2008, the weather was perfect. Bike course is rough. Swim course is great. Of course, in 2009, there was a body in the swim area (seriously, the race pulled up the missing body).
Wisconsin is the better race by far.
I have done them both and Wisconsin is better. Lou is ok but the course is boring. Wisconsin is beautiful! the ride and run are awesome.
The TT start at IMKY was pretty cool, actually awesome. I would love to see more races like that. I was a little leery of it but thought it was the best part of IMKY
go to Wisconsin, much better
I disaggree with the negative comments about IMLOU. I did it last year and loved it, granted we were blessed with perfect weather. I’ve done IM Florida twice and Lake Placid once and IMLOU is actually my favorite out of the 3. The river was not nasty, at least not any worse then many of the lake swims I do. And personally I liked the TT swim start. I was in the water about 10 mintues after the age group start and I didn’t camp out ridiculously early or anything to get in line. Once the swim starts the line moves fast. I went to transition when it opened to drop of my bottles and stuff and then walked down to the swim start. I loved the bike course! It is through beautiful horse country and constant rolling hills - no killer climbs just lots and lots of rollers. The first and last ~20 miles are pretty flat and fast so that was nice too. The run course was 2 loops, plus a short out and back over the bridge to Indiana, so yes 2 loops can get boring. But I don’t think this run was any more or less boring then Florida or Lake Placid (I haven’t done Wisconsin so I can’t compare to that one). The finish at IMLOU is also really cool at 4th Street Live. I finished, met my family, and we went to the pub right at the finish line and got a burger while watching the other finishers come in. I really loved IMLOU and plan to do it again next year, so I would definitely recommend it!
Glad to read some nice comments about Lou. I am looking to do that one in 2012. I have already seen Wisc and not really psyched about it. Also, isnt it quite hard to sign up for Wisc if you dont volunteer? I have noticed Lou has not been the same way but I could be wrong. I also just want the horseshoe medal! What is the wisconsin one?
Not sure why the hate for IMLOU. I did it last year and really liked it. I was skepitcal of the river swim…as I heard so many people bitching about it. I think people like to hype/make a big deal about it…it was not gross at all. I liked the TT start…and you will go without a wetsuit for sure. The bike is a nice rolling course. first 8 and last 8 miles are flat, the rest is pretty much rolling the entire time…nothing steep or all that long…just rolling. Run is flat as a pancake. Finish was great! 2 thumbs up from me
Did IMKY trained on IMMOO. IMky is great. River is not bad at all. Time trial start was great. The bike course in Kentucky is very nice. The run isn’t as nice as wisc. Finish line in Kentucky is awesome. Night life/food in Kentucky is great. Weather in Kentucky is more reliable.
I tried to look it up and didnt find it but no wetsuits needed at Lou?
I tried to look it up and didnt find it but no wetsuits needed at Lou?
water is warm in the south in August 
.
Never been to IMLou. Have been to IMWisco a couple of times plus ridden in the area several times as well.
I agree with the others. Nothing against IMLou, but IMWisco is an amazing event. Very cool and unique transition area. Perhaps the most demanding and honest bike course on the circut.The course is just one hill and turn after another. A true gem. Unbelievable, spectator support. If the aid stations are not enough, you can pull over just about anywhere on the bike and have a bratwurst and a beer from all the spectators picnicking along the course! Run is more urban with a nice trip through the University of W campus with amazing support at each of the aid stations and along the route.
The weather in the first few years was wild - crazy heat and then cold and wet. It seems to have settled into what it is typical for that time of year in Madison, which is ideal for a triathlon - sunny and temps in the mid to low 70’s
Been to both.
Overall, IMWI is the better race/experience. Swim at IMLou better (but won’t likely ever be wetsuit legal-this matters to some), bike is much harder at IMWI - both are scenic. Plenty of hills/rollers at IMLou, but the location/spacing makes the course faster. Run pretty yucky at IMLou. Finish line MUCH better at IMLou - actually probably the best of them all.
I’ve done IMLou twice. Don’t listen to any BS about the the water quality of the river. It’s fine. The worst thing you’ll deal with his the oppressive heat and humidity that is typical of Louisville in August (although last year the temps were great). And, as Rod pointed out, the finish at 4th Street Live is fantastic. I think your decision will come down to which venue is easier for you to get to.
The people along the side of the course in WI have more teeth too.
No offense to Jamie but I would not say that WI is better by far.
I have raced Wisconsin twice and Louisville twice.
The Swim - I would have to say that the swim is a wash. WI has wetsuits and Louisville has the time trial start (I like it). Louisville is a fast swim so there might be a little edge there
The Bike - Both are nice. I would say they are about even. Maybe a little edge to WI
The Run - Again I would say that they are about the same. WI has the portion through State Street which is cool but it also has the hill by the red gym. LV is sort of boring but it is flat. The downside is there is no shade on the run in LV so you are out in the open most of the time.
The Finish - my heart belongs to WI because it was my first BUT 4th street is great.
Overall I have to lean towards Louisville. The ride goes by fast and there is great support. I do look forward to going back to WI but if I had to choose between the two… It Louisville.
Then again if I qualified for Kona in Wisconsin it would be my favorite race as well. Good job JJ.
I thought the water in KY was clean for all I heard about nasty nasty nasty (Especially not doing the race). maybe some of these guys are really slow and scared to venture away from the edges from the weeds, grass and trash that could occasionally gather …for me it was clean and the best part. No wet suit though. It was warm. Have fun either way…It can get really hot there.
Is there any possibility to sign up for Wisc?
I have done both and loved both of them. I actually like the course at IM Lou slightly better: the bike is a little easier and I am not a fan of the IMWI run course—it just seems like they slopped the course together to make sure they hit 26 miles. Also, I think it is easier to get an affordable and available hotel making it easier for family to go back to their room to kill time. Also, 4th street live is a great ending of a long day.
That said, if I could only do one of them, I would go back to IMWI. The swim is great for spectators, the bike is a great route, and the overall vibe is excellent. I don’t know what it is about IMWI that makes it “better” because in so many ways the two races are kind of similar.
If you do either, you should have fun. The water at IM Lou isn’t really an issue despite all the bad press—the lake in WI really isn’t the model of cleanliness given all the farm run off either. If you want clean water, then you should do IMLP.
I live in Louisville, did the first IM here, and volunteered all the others. Done IM Wisc once (the 95+ degree race JSA talks about above), spectated and rode/ran the course twice. Feel free to PM with any questions. Both races fairly equal. GJ makes a good point in that Louisville is a much bigger city than Madison and there are more options for hotel lodging in and around downtown where the nexus of the race is. Both finish lines are outstanding, but more ability to drink at the finish at IM Lou. Madison is a cool town and the run course is more spectator friendly, plus you run up the hill (twice) from Back To School when Rodney drives into campus and walks into the sorority house. Sections of the Lou run course are not scenic, but it is hard to do a marathon course in a relatively large city without hitting some less-than-scenic spots. Run in Lou is flat as a pancake, Wisc run is much harder.
I’ve done both (both of each venues inaugural races…IMWisc '02 and IMLou in '07).
Swim: IMWisc water probably a bit cleaner and wetsuit legal, but I like the TT start at IMLou better and like no wetsuits. I’m an average swimmer coming out of water in 1:00-1:05 range generally)
Bike: Both are rolling courses, IMWisc is a bit more technical and seems like the hills a just a bit tougher (either longer or steeper). The crowds at Verona (Wisc) were way better than La Grange (Lou) and I felt like a rock star riding through the crowd. I liked the Wisc course a little better because I generally prefer hills. I’m an average cyclist w/ bike splits in the 5:35-5:50 range on these courses.
Run: IMLou is dead flat so if you have good legs, you can bust a fast marathon. IMWisc has some hills (I think there are less hills nowadays vs. in '02), but there are way more chances for family and friends to see you on the course to motivate, plus the overall crowds were much better/bigger. For time I prefer IMLou, for everything else I prefer IMWisc. I am an average runner with run splits in the 3:25 - 3:45 range.
Overall venue: I live only a couple hours from Louisville and will default to that venue for proximity, but my preference would be Madison. I felt like IMLou is a little lost in the downtown area while at IMWisc it is THE thing going on.
Of the 6 IM distance races (each being different venues including Hawaii), these two are my favorite. So in my opinion, you can’t go wrong with either.
Good luck.