So Why Ironman Wisconsin?

IMWI, also known as IMoooo due to the bike course through rural Wisconsin dairy country, nerver really appealed to me.  On the North American Ironman circuit, it always seemed that there were several other races I would prefer to do.  So, why Wisconsin?

There is a lot of thought and planning that goes into picking which Ironman race you want to do, at least there should be.  Signing up for an Ironman a year in advance is kinda like 9 months of pregnancy (I’m gonna get slapped for this one!)  But what I mean…

… is that you get months and months to endure pain and suffering to prepare for the big day.  One huge difference (other than the whole baby + 18 years thing) is that for the money, in a Ironman you have access an all you can eat buffet out on the course….during labor you’re lucky if you can get a cup of ice chips!

Back to selecting a race.

Damn, I'm starving...again!

Timing, expense and logistics burden are in my opinion the three keys to planning which race is right for you.  There is no such things as an easy Ironman, so if you think traveling to pancake flat Florida is automatically your best option, you’re might want to reconsider.

I like to train outside, so in Michigan that means no guarantee until at least May.  Also, flying to a race can be a huge pain in the ass.  The cost, planning and potential stress that’s involved IMO is best avoided, especially if it’s your first!  That crossed off  IM Texas, St George and Coeur D’Alene.   So for me, that meant find a  race that is drivable from MI, after June but before fall hibernation begins (scratch IM Florida and Arizona).  That left IM Lake Placid (10hr drive), IM Louisville (7 hrs) and IM Wisconsin (7hrs). 

LP - Not a ghetto

I’ve done Lake Placid twice now and it’s a phenomenal course and an amazing place to bring the family.  It makes for a great summer vacation, even though you get gouged a little due to its’ isolation. It’ll be really hard not to go back (unfinished business), but I had to pass on the re-sign for 2012. 

I did Louisville in 2009 and I had a great race down there.  It’s potentially a hot race with a non-wetsuit swim but neither of those things are enough to turn me away.  The bike is a nice rolling course through horse country but the run course is through the ghetto.  For me, the biggest downfall of IMLOU is the turnaround time if your goal is to qualify for Kona.  6 weeks is hardly enough time to recover, build and then taper for another Ironman, let alone plan for a major trip.  Too much fatigue, too much planning stress and not enough time to bask in the excitement of such a huge trip!  Been there, done that.  Pass.

That left Ironman Wisconsin.  The big daddy of them all for us Mid-Westerns.  It’s drivable, it’s timing makes it a Kona qualifier for the following year and it allows for a great span of training months to allow for our highly volatile Michigan spring.

So that’s it, the long story -  Ironman Wisconsin it is.

The short story - WI is known for cheese.  I love cheese.  I love IMoooooo!  Sign me up!

 

*note to Wisconsin-ites - how much longer before I can milk this heaven straight from the utter!

Until next time, hope things are great!