OK. I’ll state an interest here in that Madison is in many ways sort of a “hometown” to me and it is a great city. But I really do get a sense that people have a real affinity, almost an affection, for this race. As difficult as the course is, and as variable as the weather has been, it’s become almost a touchstone for folks who do this kind of thing. And while almost all IM races fill fast, Wisconsin fills lightning fast, and will again next Monday morning.
Maybe it has something to do with what Tom Demerly wrote a year or so ago…it’s an “everyman’s” place to take a shot at the big dance. Ordinary folks taking on a truly challenging course and making it home. Maybe it’s Madison itself…you go there and you find tremendous intellectual and physical energy, with all levels of athletes working out at all sorts of venues and events, with bike rides that start at Frank Lloyd Wright’s convention center and wind there way out to his Taliesen home in Spring Green.
Without a doubt, Kona is our Super Bowl and deserves to be. But I’m thinking that IM-Wisconsin is becoming our Rose Bowl (yeah…go Badgers)…and deserves to be.
I think it’s a tough but fair IM. It’s been plagued by really bad weather. I think the bike is the hardest in NA but then I haven’t done Placid. I do know that statistically it’s the slowest.
The town loves it thing may be a bit overstated as witnessed by the tractor protests of a few years ago.
If you’re going to do 5-10 IMs, then you should definately do this one. I did it and I’m extremely pleased I did–but I won’t do it again.
I went to IMWisco last Sept. for the first time. I admit that to me it seemed a bit odd, bu that’s just my IM back ground. I have been to many IM races, but they had always been in small towns( Penticton, Lake Placid, Kona etc. .), where the race had more or less taken over the town. It seemed odd for me to be at an IM race in a larger city such as Madison. That being said, I was very impressed with what I saw and experienced in Madison and environs. Spectator support on the bike and the run courses was the BEST I had seen at any IM race that I have been to and last year it was a lousy day - pouring rain, windy and cold. I can only imagine what it’s like on a good day.
Steve,
You are absolutely right about the volunteers. I think I am STILL thankful for those folks from last year. It’s dark, it’s cold, everyone is soaked… and they were still there to help us late-markers get to the finish.
MJM
I think that you are dead wrong. IMLP and IMCDL have MUCH more soul. The locals at Madison could give a fuck less that we are there (based on percentage). You want to see a great IM week…go to IMLP.
Oh and as for the bike start…ignorant. I much prefer a tent in a field.
You have a point. IM Wisconsin is an important race. It’s centrally located to a lot of big population centers, it is a tough course with moody weather and it comes at the end of the Midwest training season.
Frankly, the race gives me the whillies because of all the horror stories my customers have told me. They have me scared half out of wits over the thing. Thankfully my good friend Paulo is so supportive as a shoulder to cry on and an endless oasis of inspiration and support- otherwise I doubt I could bear it…
In all seriousness though- it is a classic for many people I think. I’ve never done it- so I can’t speak from experience. This Sunday is my first IMMoo. It’s the real deal I imagine. No hula dancers, no mistic shaman or island lore, just heat, cold, hills, rain and 140.6 pissed-off Midwestern miles ready to make you honest.
Having finished Kona twice and WI once, but never IMUSA, I’ll have to grant you my ignorance on Lake Placid. But… I don’t know Chip. The more time I spend in Madison during the summer, you get a sense of how the race has impacted people…local racers, shops, older folks who didn’t have a clue about IM till it came to their front door. People I never dream would have an association with the race…moms of my students here in Illinois… It has given them an awareness and something to maybe hook into. There will always be naysayers…that’s life anywhere…but I think it has got a very positive feel to it.
All of the Ironman races have some special, but no other Ironman in North America has the Verona Loop - it is truely special to see 10,000 spectators in the middle of no where Wisconsin cheering on 2,400 triathletes - sorta like the county fair meets triathlon with carnival rides (pony rides, scrambler, etc.) food booths sponsors by the local high school and 2 miles of road painted (chalked) with athletes numbers and names.
My favorite triathlon hat is a Verona Loop Triathlon cap from the second Ironman Wisconsin race.
Ask anyone who has done Ironman Wisconsin - it’s all about the crowds and volunteers. Z
i totally agree. i have done all the north american races (except Kona) and did IMLOU this year. I did IMMOO in 2005 and it is my least favorite town. I like when the race plays #1 priority in the town…not the UW football game the day before. When I drove in on Wed…you could not even tell an ironman was going to happen in 4 days.
swim - just like any other race
t1 - kind of funky having to run up ramp to get to top of parking garage
bike - lots of rolling hills (which is fine) but WAY WAY WAY to many turns
t2 - same deal as t1 on top of parking structure
run - nice run with 1 or 2 hills. kind of cool to run through football stadium
great fan support which is always nice…i just perfer a smaller town but it is nice to have big hotels to stay at.
still like placid and canada better!
worth doing but i really loves all the IM races in North America.
IMOO Rocks! I am bummed I wont be there to race, spectate, or volunteer this year. Last year did show the tru testament of the volunteers and spectators staying out there in the miserable weather. Ive done it three times(03,04,06), my next will IM will most likely be somewhere else but I will eventually go back to IMOO.
I thought that Louisville had much more of a rural feel to it…the bike course, anyways.
Though I really like CDA, I was blown away by the beauty of the Louisville bike course. Between the bluegrass fields, horses and SMOOTH road surfaces, it just made a body want to ride.
That reminds me, the crappy road surface in Wisc was another thing that made my race there less than enjoyable.
I was very disappointed in IM Wisc after reading all the rave reviews…it just didn’t do it for me.