I’ll be ready for another IM next year and can’t for the life of me decide between these 3 races. I have only done IMC and Kona. I don’t mind climbing, heat, hills. I am a fairly strong swimmer/biker, and a verrrrrrry poor runner in comparison!
Thanks
HC
My response is biased since I’ve only done IMLP out of the three, but if its climbing/heat/hills you’re looking for, LP is the place.
If you’re looking for climbing, heat and hills, IM WI will do ya’ nicely. The bike course is almost constant up n’ down with a couple of stand up n’ grind hills thrown in for good measure. Very pretty in spots - in a kinda Midwest way, and nice quiet backroads for the most part. If your running ain’t all that, you’ll like the run course - pretty flat except for the one nasty hill on Observatory Dr which you’ll get to enjoy twice. The run course isn’t all that pretty, but the stretch through downtown is pretty cool - lots of enthusiastic co-eds yelling for ya’. The view of Monona Terrace from out on the swim course is pretty cool as well, and of course the volunteers in Madison can’t be beat. Can’t comment on the other races, since I haven’t done 'em (yet).
All three races - LP, Wis, and CDA are winners - I enjoy LP and CDA as I can bring my family up since school is out. Wis. is also a great race with lots of spectators and support.
I guess it depends on when you want to train - spring for CDA, early summer for LP or all summer for Wis. Z
CDA has everything your looking for and more! The volunteer and crowd support is awesome. Plus if you’ve never been to CDA you’ll find it beautiful!
I’m going back to CDA - I loved it the first time around in '03.
If you’re a 35-39 CLY and you’re fast - DON"T do CDA - I don’t need the competition!!!
Seriously - I was in CDA over the weekend for the race - it is beautiful - I signed up!
IMW is very different from CDA and I believe LP as well, although I’ve never done LP. IMW has lots of rollers, pretty technical. I dig hills, but I’m more of a Canda course gal, I like the long climbs. The rollers are tough, but IMW is a beautiful course with a ton of spectators! The run is also challenging if running isn’t your thing. There are a few hills. I wasn’t impressed with CDA. WHY? You’re in this BEAUTIFUL place and I think the bike course could have been better…you do an industrial out and back and then ride around a dog track!? The run is pretty but you do have a couple hills as well. I would say IMW and CDA runs are similiar in difficulty!
I’m dying to do Placid! It’s the only IMNA race I haven’t done yet besides IMFL, which I have no desire to do, as flat courses aren’t my thing. The only thing holding me back is $$, as I think it’s the more pricier race due to logistics!!
You should do LP! I’ve done LP, the FLA course at Panama City, IM WI, and spectated at CDA. I found LP to be the most enjoyable for the swim, bike, run, crowds, surrounding towns, etc. The only reason I’m going back to WI instead this year is it kicked my a_ _ last time, and I cannot leave it like that!
But I could not say enough about the whole northern NY area. I cannot wait to go back again!