Which would you pick IM Arizona or IM Cozumel?

Triathlon Forum
1

Since both races are the same day, which race would you pick for a first race?

IM Arizona Pros

Driving distance from Southern California

Flat course and fast course

Mike Reilly will call out your name

Cheaper than Cozumel

Wetsuit legal

IM Arizona Cons

Boring course compared to Cozumel

Might be cold at the end

Heard bike course has a lot of turns

Not the best water quality

IM Cozumel Pros

Swimming with current, so will have fast swim times even without wetsuit

Gorgeous swim, ranked one of the best swims

Can make a vacation out of it and go diving after

Read there was good crowd support

Can register later vs Arizona which sells out quickly

Flat bike and run course

IM Cozumel Cons

Can’t use a wetsuit

More expensive than Arizona

Heard the headwinds are very strong just like Kona

2

Don’t confuse the 70.3 AZ bike course with the IMAZ course. There are a ton of turns on the 70.3 course. There are hardly any on the IMAZ course.

IMAZ has one thing going for it that almost no other race has… weather stability. I can tell you within 5 degrees what the high and low temp will be and that it will be mostly sunny and dry. There are no worries about hurricanes, floods, rain, wind, too cold, or too hot. It’s easy to travel to and while it’s not the most exciting bike course around I’m not sure how Cozumel is any less boring. Cozumel is the flattest bike course imaginable. Unless you prefer looking at palm trees over cacti.

The swim at Coz is going to be a million times nicer than AZ. Certainly no comparison there. There’s also a lot more spectators and fans on the Coz run course. There’s also much more logistical concerns with international travel plus getting your bike to and from Coz is not always a super simple thing.

3

It really depends on you but in my situation, IMAZ for sure. A couple thing to consider:

Are you traveling with family/kids? If so, IMAZ would be my choice without question.

Are you ok with traveling with your bike or using a service where you will be bikeless (or w/o race bike anyway) for a couple weeks? Something to consider for Cozumel, a big ‘con’ in your situation being driving distance from IMAZ. Bike boxes/baggage fees and TriBike Transport aren’t cheap (TBT is $450 to Cozumel).

4

I love both races and have been trying to decide which late fall race to enter. I live in Canada to I would have to fly to either race to the difference on travel is very small. My current thinking is that Cozumel will be the choice this year.

Pros:
Swim is amazing
Love the ocean views on the bike course, the winds are tough but after training in October in Canada at least the wind is warm.
Crowd support is awesome on the run (its also excellent in Arizona)
After the race can spend sometime on the beach and I would get bonus points from my wife if I book into an ‘all inclusive’ resort for the week’

5

another “pro” for IMAZ is that you’ll pay normal everyday rates for your hotel, which are plentiful. Phoenix is a big city and there’s none of the price gouging that you’d see at a smaller venue IM.

6

When the wife did Coz, I didn’t notice any crazy hotel prices, all pretty normal for an all inclusive resort.

Swim is absolutely beautiful, I did the practice swim with my wife and there is all sorts of stuff to look at below you. She did it in 2012, before they made the swim point to point so that was brutal, now, not so much.

Yes the bike is flat, but its not easy with the wind.

Coz was a blast from a spectator standpoint. Run is an 8 mile out and back, so I saw my wife every 1/2 hour-45 min or so. It was really easy to step into a bar and grab a drink along the course while I waited for her return. The crowd chanting “si se puede” was pretty fun too.

We popped back over to Cancun the day after and spent some time with friends there. Was very easy.

7

I just got back from Mexico, I was spectating at Cozumel then travelled around Mexico for a week, and I think it’s a great spot for a race. There’s a wide range of accommodations, beautiful swim, I didn’t see too much drafting out on the bike (albeit I was around town and didn’t see the other side of the island), and lots of people out on the run. Never been to Arizona, so I can’t comment there, but Cozumel definitely jumped up on my list of potential race destinations.

8

I’ve raced them both and vote for Cozumel. Mainly because I KQed at Cozumel and didn’t the two times I raced Arizona.
But if you’re not interested my backdoor Kona brag the differences boil down to this.
One is at a somewhat exotic vacation resort area, the other offers the convenience of suburban America.
Cozumel will be hotter. Arizona has some false flats. Cozumel is totally flat. The Cozumel swim is awesome.
Both places have very good Mexican food.

9

Hands down the coz race was my best IM experience - even tho it was a horrible race for me

I got lost on the swim following a school of fish… the bike along the coast was awesome. Run support was great

A bit of a production to get there - we flew to Cancun, taxi to ferry, taxi to our all inclusive. But once we got there it was awesome. Nothing i wouldn’t do again, tho

I’ve never done AZ tho

10

I’ve not done AZ but I’d do Coz again in a heartbeat. Great course but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s an easy one. I have a friend that’s done like 15 IMs and DNFd twice at Coz.

The swim is generally against the current the first half. Don’t freak out if your times start really slow. Usually on the back half the current changes and speeds up. I’m a terrible swimmer and generally rely on a wetsuit; the buoyancy of the salt water seemed to be a fair trade off.

The bike is flat but the crosswinds are brutal for the 10-15 miles (x3 laps) on the back side of the island. The run is probably the easiest of the three on this course. Almost constant crowd support on the run, and lots of aid stations. It will be warm and humid, but it’s Mexico.

11

I’ve done both races twice. Both times at Arizona were before ever doing Cozumel, and now personally I would never go back to Arizona. There was a lot to like about IM Arizona, but that swim just sucks, and is an awful way to start the day. Having said that, if it is your first IM and you are a strong swimmer or nervous at all about International travel than I would suggest Arizona. I will try to add on to your list below.

edited to add: if you are travelling with someone, which you should, I would ask them and see what they want, that way they will let you do a second!

Since both races are the same day, which race would you pick for a first race?

IM Arizona Pros

Driving distance from Southern California

Flat course and fast course

Mike Reilly will call out your name

Cheaper than Cozumel (why is it cheaper? Plenty of cheap accomodation in Cozumel)

Wetsuit legal (because it is so freaking cold in the dark mud puddle of a swim…)

IM Arizona Cons

Boring course compared to Cozumel (Cozumel has the Ocean on the bike, but AZ has the mountains, draw)

Might be cold at the end (yes, I knew someone who had to pull out of the run because of this)

Heard bike course has a lot of turns (more than COZ, but not that bad on the full)

Not the best water quality (!)

IM Cozumel Pros

Swimming with current, so will have fast swim times even without wetsuit (this year I actually came to a stop against a small current, you never know)

Gorgeous swim, ranked one of the best swims *(*yes)

Can make a vacation out of it and go diving after (yes, although the first year we did AZ we went to Grand Canyon after)

Read there was good crowd support (same, more or less)

Can register later vs Arizona which sells out quickly

Flat bike and run course (there is a ~14km section that feels like a gradual uphill due to the wind, along the coast)

IM Cozumel Cons

Can’t use a wetsuit

More expensive than Arizona

Heard the headwinds are very strong just like Kona
***Bike aid stations are a bit hit or miss, they are all staffed by kids, and when it gets hot mid-day they slow down and over-heat, just like the competitors.*****Stays warm for the whole run, and gets dark for sections, **

12

Cozumel is great. Swim is beautiful, current assisted fast as hell at least for the 70.3. Raced the 70.3 loved it. I love flat and windy so not a huge deal for me that being said you better like a brutally hot run. Ive done hot races, eagleman, IMTX, IMWC and the WC when it was in vegas and 100 degrees. This was the worst I have ever raced in. The second loop of the run was just a grindy shuffle. If I were to do another full I would totally do CZ. Too many friends froze their asses off in AZ not just this year but several years. Im not down with hypothermia and DNFing because the damn water/air temp was too cold.

PS the Presidente is the BEST hotel and make sure you eat all the ceviche.

13

I’ve done both. Coz hands down. After 10 years in the sport, I haven’t figured out yet why Mike Reilly gets so many American athletes excited. He’s decent but far from the best; and he’s mostly famous for being famous.

14

Don’t bank on the “downhill swim”. I swam against the current for 1500 yards last week. WTF!

15

I would pick Cozumel 10 out of 10 times.

16

I would pick Cozumel 10 out of 10 times.

X2. I didn’t want the swim to end; it was like being in a giant aquarium! By the time I finished the third bike lap, the mangroves were providing shade. Lots of crowd support and no need for the jacket I put into the special needs bag. The swim in IMAZ is pretty gross in comparison.

17

I have done Ironman Arizona twice and Ironman Cozumel once. I pick Cozumel in a heartbeat over Arizona. I actually had a wet and cold race in Arizona in 2015. So, the weather isn’t all that consistent. Cozumel has a much better swim, bike and run in my opinion. My plan is to do Cozumel again this year.

18

Just back from Cozumel. Haven’t done AZ. It’s way down on my list. Here is my $.02 on Cozumel as my first time to race it but having been to Cozumel about 20 times prior for diving.

Everyone raves about the swim and as my strongest sport, I had a real aggressive goal but I ended up being 10 minutes slower and I didn’t enjoy it. I think it had to do mostly with the el norte (cold front) that blew in days before the race. The notorious current was non-existent and even pushed me backwards at one point. I got destroyed by jellyfish to the point that my face went completely numb. Staying on people’s feet you can’t really see the reef with all the bubbles and after about 50 minutes I was done with the saltwater in my mouth in nostrils.

The winds on the bike were legit and demoralizing as you watch your average pace decline with each lap. Good roads but boring after leaving town. I flatted (pinch) after hitting a road reflector… they are huge. Only saw one draft pack of 6 or 8 on the windy side on the last lap. Passed them. People don’t ride on the right down there but it wasn’t a big deal with the roads being closed to traffic.

The best run course and support. Amazing finish line and announcer switching between Spanish and English. Unless you’re at the pointy end, you’ll be finishing in the dark.

The weather is about as consistent as AZ and guaranteed to be hot and humid. It’s a great town with great people and contrary to recent news, it is safe unlike other parts of Mexico. I wouldn’t hesitate to bring kids and family.

Don’t stay at an all Inclusive, stay in town. We were across from the finish line and expo at El Cantil with 2 huge supermarkets across the street. Amazing and cheap food can be found in the hood (away from the cruise ships) and taxi’s are cheap if you pay in pesos. The areas around the 2 cruise terminals will get swamped with pod people (cruisers) with as many as 7 ships in port but again, avoid these areas and head into town for some authentic Mexico.

There isn’t much else to do on the island unless diving or sitting on the beach and getting drunk is your thing. My wife and daughter enjoyed training dolphins for a day. We spent the day after the race at a beach club on the south side which was perfect recovery and refuel with all you can eat buffet and full open bar. Another day we spent on the mainland touring ruins (Tulum) and snorkeling cenotes.

We found airfare direct to CZM to be really high around the holiday so we flew Southwest into CUN and did the bag drag. Wasn’t bad and a bit of adventure for my daughter but I wouldn’t do it again as it made long travel days longer.

Do TriBike Transport. Totally worth with even at $500 with insurance. I live in Denver and total time without bike was 3 weeks to the day and I haven’t missed it since the race.

19

Another one that’s done both

Coz

Not even a debate. All the reasons have been covered

20

Done Arizona 3 times: 2007, 08, 09
Done Cozumel 5 times: 2010, 11, 12, 13, 14

Hands down COZUMEL above Arizona. If I wanted to just go a “do” a race, then Arizona. But, Cozumel is a week later, and thus is more of a “season ending” race. Plus, I do several dives after the race, eat lots of chips and guac, and drink a few cervezas at Coconuts.