Hey Scott, I never did any of those races, but since you go way back, how do they compare to the old Worlds Toughest course. The 3m, 120m, 27m one you won back in the early 80’s…Bad news about the GFT, but that kind of thing seemed to be more than a rare occurence in those days. I must have flushed out over a dozen bad courses in my career. You probably don’t remember, but I was the first out in that famous Atlanta race where the swim was 1500ft instead of 1500yds. I got onto the bike quickly, but the park gates were still up when I got there, and had to get off and run around with the bike. They quickly opened it after I went through, not sure if any of you guys had to dismount, but then another one was down, and I remember the whole lead group just swarmed over me. I got so pissed right then, that I just quit. I told Jim Curl that morning that the swim was only a 5 minute swim, and he just looked at me like, shut the F%^k up, and just go race Monty. Always wanted to ask you, was that a real sprint between you and Tinley, or a staged photo op???
I’ve done GFT and IMLP and would agree that the first 8 miles of the marathon at GFT are very tough. But the remainder is flat.
Overall, IMHO, the IMLP course is far more difficult. lots of climbing on the bike course and a very tough run course (2x quad break hill is an ass-kicker)
It does but unlike Lake Placid the last 12 miles of Canada are a net elevation loss. At Lake Placid the last 10 miles are a net elevation gain. The difference is that in Canada you arrive at T2 with fresh legs (relatively) while at Lake Placid athletes arrive having just ascended for the past 10 miles.
how many people here have done Wisconsin and LP? I am curious, the people I have talked said Wisconsin was tougher, but I always assumed the opposite. I don’t see how its possible for Hawaii to be tougher than Wisconsin. If you are going to toss in weather, than consider it has been 90+ with brutal humidity 4 out 5 years. This year it wasn’t hot and humid, it was just 40 and raining ALL DAY! The conditions are as unpredictable as Hawaii.
from the Ims I have completed ,I would put the following
1…Norseman…horrid but great scenery, ice,hail,snow,rain,blazing sun, just look at the profile, especially the last 20km of the run.
2.IM France in Gerardmer…very tough bike and even tougher run, in hot sunny conditions
3.Lanzarote…Done it 4 times and every time the wind on the bike has been horrid,one year gusting 70mph, followed by 38 deg C on the run, No shade
Canada was a great course but not too difficult IMHO
Nimbleblade
yes, I am surprised nobody even mentions Wisconsin. The run is easy, but the bike, not so much hard as just wearing in a surprising kind of way. And the weather this year, geeehhhhh, I’d take heat anyday over that!
Bunch of stuff did go wrong that year. I think the first swimmer was out in 43 mins give or take. Bike course was 118 or so. As I recall unless people were real attentive it was easy to cut a couple of miles off the run course when coming back to the lake after that first 5 miles. The course actually was supposed to go left with an out-back before you began the 3 laps around the lake. A lot of people got to the lake and went right.
I think it was in 01 that as I was finishing the bike a sign that read “Clermont 12 miles” just as we turned into a 25 mph blow-dryer of a headwind. Took forever to get back into the barn. T-2 looked like a war zone MASH unit. Toughest thing I ever did finshing that race. 3,000 cc of IV fluids post race just to get enough steam to get back to the car. Fair winds to you at IMWA.
Think I’d have to agree with that - one of the most miserable days of my life in 2002! Thought the Lanzarote bike course was tougher, but overall Gerardemer certainly was more difficult for me.