I still cant figure out why you would throw crap about a race you never completed but oh well. And if anything I feel like IMFL is going to be kind of a true test of my biking ability and my ability to stay aero since your pretty much stuck in that pose for the whole bike. Well at least thats my plan. I dont want to be the guy sitting up on the base bar most of the time. And I dont want to walk the marathon at all except for aid stations. Those are my goals for my first IM
I think it tends to be a territorial thing. Placid was the only IM in the US for a while and many folks did their first (and sometimes only) IM there. Just about everyone falls in love with what ever is there first IM. Nothing wrong with that, but it is sad that so many will flame a race they have never done.
Most people that knock IMFL will tell you that it’s too “easy”. I recall past winner Lothar Leder saying in an interview that it’s hard in a different way. It’s not easy to stay aero for 4.5 hours that way (theoretically) you can at IMFL. Also it’s a difficult course to prepare for since most folks don’t live in areas where you can ride flats for 5 hours…not to mention running after a long, flat ride.
My guess is that it’s proximity to Kona removes it from a lot of the eliter types calendars. But that doesn’t stop Barry…
I’ve done it two years in a row, am signed up for this year, and look forward to showing up the next morning to secure my spot again.
I understand what you’re saying, but if you look at the age group course records, there are some very fast, and very familiar names, as those that do very well in Kona. I think many of the elites age groupers do this to get qualified, and not have to worry about a bad race later in the year, when time is tight. Just my opinion.
Doesn’t stop Joe B. either. He even throws in the Great Floridian if it fits his schedule.
I’ve done IMF 3x and enjoy it. Not the most scenic but then I’m not there to look at the trees when I’m racing;-)
There was a thread a while back that asserted the opinion that IMFL is harder than say a middle of the road race like IMAZ. The rationale is that the course (specifically the bike) is so flat that you use one muscle group the whole time with no real variety. Those specific muscles become fatigued faster and don’t have a chance to rest or recover (like when you go up and down hills). An interesting observation.
I liked IMFL. Stayed in host hotel. Good food. Good weather. F L A T course. I couldn’t feel my balls after mile 80 (and YES… it was while peeing that I noticed this) and bought one of those seats with a hole in the middle after the race.
About 15 miles from the finish, I turned left and rode along side a backed up car queue about a mile long (stopped for us by Panama City’s finest!!). I made this mistake of making eye contact with one Pissed Off Redneck (smoking and drinking a beer in his car) who called me a “wus”. I thought this was funny. Why was I a wus? Was it my cycling outfit? Was it cause I was not smoking or drinking? Above the bible belt, we call people f*ckheads if they annoy us.
Suparuki,
As others have said, ignore the naysayers. IMFL was my first IM last November. I picked it because:
- It was at a good time of year for me.
- It was one of the cheapest IM’s to travel to.
- Most agreed it was a good course for a first-timer (ie. no hills).
- My brother and his family live in Florida, so I combined it with a visit to see him.
Accomodation was plentiful and cheap and that’s walking distance to the race and right on the beach. No complaints there.
I had no problem with the food. We bought food at the SuperWalmart and made our own stuff for the most part, and ate at the wonderfully greasy Waffle House the day after the race.
The course was good for me. I liked all the greenery (I live in brown and dry SoCal!). I did have to stand on the pedals and stretch the back every so often from being aero for 6 hours.
The event itself was outstanding and well-run with a great vibe IMO.
I’m doing IMC in 2 months, so I’ll be able to compare after that.
Have fun at IMFL!
LOL. That reminds me of a story:
4:30am, Sunday morning of IMWI, downtown Madison. I have found on-street parking and am walking to drop off my special needs bags. There is a line of cars backing up outside the parking garage next to Monona Terrace. A guy in a truck, stuck in that line, leans out and asks me, a bit gruffly, “What’s going on here today?”
I was a little bit surprised that somebody would be downtown at 4:30am on a Sunday morning and not know what was going on. A bit sleepily, I replied, “Oh, Ironman is today.”
Without hesitating, the dude fires back, “Well, FUCK Ironman.”
I laughed. That made my day, and put things in perspective. It was one of the most exciting days of my life, and for this guy it was just a big pain in the ass. Fuck Ironman, indeed.
Anyway, glad to hear you enjoyed IMFL…wus. You’re no cage fighter. 
mm
Did it once, I had a great time before, during and after the race. The race is well run, the course can be much more challenging that people realise, paticularly if the chop gets up, or wind on the bike course and if it gets real hot on the run, it can make things interesting. The bike is flat but that is ok for me. Places like PCB were totally alien to me so I found it interesting as really did not know what to expect. The locals I met were friendly. Does it compare to IMC or IM NZ, no, but I still had fun. I prefered it to IM MOO
Have fun and enjoy the whole thing.
Well, I say, “Fuck Madison weather!!!”
This had GOT to be the year that we have good weather… no wind… high of 75…
…either that or we’ll get a meteor in the Terrace… that’s probably what will happen.
I volunteered last year at a chicken soup station on Spring St. (after blowing off my entry fee) and the cold shivering wretches said they were missing the “glory days” of miserable muggy heat.
IS THERE NOTHING IN THE MIDDLE??