Ok, here’s my story. I live in Argentina and been practicing triathlon for a couple of years. As from now, I am recovering from a knee surgery, it will take a couple of months to start training again and in the meanwhile I was thinking of participating in a IM maybe in 2013. I am not particularly fast, it would be my first 140.6 and I intend to finish it within 11 hours. The idea is to travel with my wife and my two sons and have a two week vacation with an IM in the middle, enjoy the scenerios and travel through places we have never seen. IM´s taking place in Europe, Australia or NZ are not in my plans because air tickets are expensive, there is an IM in Brazil but it’s a place we already know. My preferences are for races with few laps, almost no wind, flat bike course since I like riding fast but I am open to alternatives. What IM would you suggest me to participate that is held in the USA and why?
IMFL or IMAZ would be right up your alley, but they are both in November and that would be right when you are coming out of your winter. Not sure what kind of training you can get during your “winter”. Maybe a better bet would be IMTX in May around the same time as Brazil. Beware, has the potentional to be very warm. AZ (Phoenix) and TX (Houston) would be the easier/cheaper ones to fly into more than likely. FL would probably be the cheapest for lodging (off-season for tourists). Not sure of touristy things in Phoenix or Houston areas, but if you did FL, it’s about 6 hours to Orlando and most every them park type activity you could think of for your family.
I would suggest Ironman Canada; not in the USA, but still in the North American continent and probably no more or less expensive to get to from Argentina than any of the other US IMs. It’s hilly, and not an easy course, but you mentioned you have a family and want them to have a good time. I think Penticton and BC in general is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Tempe is kind of… blah. Lots of desert. I guess you could go to Tucson to vacation. I just finished living on the Gulf Coast for 2 years, and that place would kind of suck for a vacation, I would think. They DO have some of the nicest beaches on the FL Gulf Coast though, so if beach is what you want, then it might not be a bad choice.
And your english is pretty darn good! A lot better than some of the only-english-speaking members we have here.
Great reply. You are right on IMFL and IMAZ being held when I am coming out of my winter but it does not snow where I live and since I am not even close to qualifying to Kona I guess that not having my peek performance by November is not much of a problem, not that I wouldn’t like it. FL is almost an obvious choice because it´s near Orlando but I intend to make some sightseeing rather than spending an hour queuing on every Disney ride, I´ve also read on ST that there is way to much drafting on that race. and IMNY is out too since I´ve been there before. So, I am narrowing things to IMAZ and IMTX? How about St. George? Can you tell me something about the race itself?
Take you family to South Africa. It’s a shorter flight and much more interesting then going to IM Florida or IMAZ. I have done IM races on five continents and IMSA is one of the best.
Flight ticket to South Africa is about half the cost to Canada, that is something important to think of but why do you think it´s more interesting? country itself? the location the race is held on?
extrememan in salou, spain, early june - fits your criteria (1 bike loop - moderatly hilly, 4 flat run loops), very beautiful, great weather, relatively inexpensive and well organized - and in spanish to boot! i did it this year and am for sure returning in 2012
Not saying it’s more interesting then North America. I am saying it’s more interesting as a destination / family adventure then any race in NA. It’s also cheaper and, in the southern hemisphere and faster to get to. Do some research on google.
Cozumel is a very nice place to race and you can stay at Cancun/Playa del Carmen post-race, I really liked it last year (some race day photos here).
Race course is flat-flat and very scenic, it can be windy and hot but if you come from the “pampa húmeda” it is not a big deal and the date is good if you train year around and do the specific prep. in spring.
Cozumel is a very nice place to race and you can stay at Cancun/Playa del Carmen post-race, I really liked it last year (some race day photos here).
Race course is flat-flat and very scenic, it can be windy and hot but if you come from the “pampa húmeda” it is not a big deal and the date is good if you train year around and do the specific prep. in spring.
FL is almost an obvious choice because it´s near Orlando but I intend to make some sightseeing rather than spending an hour queuing on every Disney ride
Note that Florida is a surprisingly large state, and it’s more than a five hour drive from Panama City Beach to Disneyworld. (And figure on about 3 hours total travel time from arriving at the Panama City Beach airport to collecting luggage in Orlando if you fly between the two cities)
If you’re into national parks and camping and such, St. George really is in a great location convenient to about five major national parks, including the north rim of the Grand Canyon.
Ok, here’s my story. I live in Argentina and been practicing triathlon for a couple of years. As from now, I am recovering from a knee surgery, it will take a couple of months to start training again and in the meanwhile I was thinking of participating in a IM maybe in 2013. I am not particularly fast, it would be my first 140.6 and I intend to finish it within 11 hours. The idea is to travel with my wife and my two sons and have a two week vacation with an IM in the middle, enjoy the scenerios and travel through places we have never seen. IM´s taking place in Europe, Australia or NZ are not in my plans because air tickets are expensive, there is an IM in Brazil but it’s a place we already know. My preferences are for races with few laps, almost no wind, flat bike course since I like riding fast but I am open to alternatives. What IM would you suggest me to participate that is held in the USA and why?
PS: Pardon my English.
as stated below, Cozumel would be nice and flat (though somewhat windy) and across on the mainland you’ll be surrounded by Argentines (yes, we are in Mexico but Playa del Carmen has a HUGE Italian and Argentine population). But, I’m very biased as I live down here.