Ironman Thoughts

So after doing just of these things this year -- and enjoying them even with my nutrition issues -- I'm pretty sure I want to try a full Ironman next year.  Being a teacher I've pretty much got to do it in the summer -- though I'm still thinking a 2011 OH IM FL romp would be a blast -- it leaves me with CDA/USA/or Canada.  I drove through Cour D'Alene last summer and was amazed with how beautiful that area was.  I've never been to upstate NY, but everything I've read/saw looks amazing.  IM Canada has a great tradition of being a great course.
Love to get your thoughts on those races
Thanks guys!
--Dan 

I too have the IMFL itch for 2011!!!!! 

IMCdA is on my list...but with an baby it seems logistically a nightmare. I can drive to IMFL easily.

I LOVED Lake Placid. Hardest Race I ever did. I wish I was more trained for it. Coach didn't taper me. Wasn't my A race. I do have plans to go back...whether it's in 5 or 10 years and do a "proper job"

IMCanada looks HARD!

I have no desire to do Louisville or Wisconsin!

Forgot to mention AZ is good if you like flats (a lot of folks don't). I missed peak training on that one due to a car accident a month before the race.

Interesting day. Lost swim cap and chip in swim.
Massive PR on bike.
Back was killing me...massive PW on run :(

I'm also a teacher. I took personal days and a docked day to do AZ....made a vacation out of it. It works well b/c Thanksgiving is right after it. We went to Grand Canyon, Sedona and Las Vegas.

I took 3 personal days to do IMFL. It's a Saturday race, so you can travel home on Sunday.

tri bike transport is $$$, but well worth it in my opinion.

I still have yet to participate in my first sprint although it is only a short 10 days away. I am so excited. I love the training in all events and cant wait to put it all together in a tri. I have set a goal to do IM Florida in 2011. I also plan on doing IM Longhorn 70.3 Oct  2010. Like you two I am also a teacher as well as a football, basketball, and track coach. This next year I thave changed schools to move down to the middle school level to do football and track only. My coaching hours will cut in half. After this next year, I am also considering getting out of coaching all together for a couple of years in order to meet these goals I have set. I can always coach later and I am definately not getting younger. If I am going to make a lifestyle change of being fit through triathlon, NOW is definately the time.

I am doing Louiseville Full  in August.... I will let you know how torturous it is, and if it isn't too bad, (Yeah right... heat humidity hills etc....) I will probably do it again next year. I will let you know.

Dan I was in for IMFL this year but it got pre-empted with the invite to the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.  WTC moved my registration to IMCDA 2010.   A.J. is doing IMCDA (bib 1072) this weekend and I'm sure he'll be on after the race to post about his experience.   I've had many guys do it in my tri club and they all rave about it saying it was one of the best venues in the country.  

Enjoy your journey.   I was very bummed out that I wouldn't get to do my Ironman this year but what's an extra 8 months to participate in an event I plan on doing at least once a year for the rest of my life?   I'll be a much stronger triathlete with 30+ triathlons under my belt when I finally get to hear Mike Reilly proclaim that I am "Ironman".  I guess it boils down to my feelings about what the race means to me personally and knowing that, for me, it's about the journey and not necessarily how fast I got there.  

Hope you see you (and other OH pals) there in June 2010. :)

Chad

 Hey Dan, I'm definitely thinking about it as well, but for 2010!  As you may remember, I live not too far away, and if I just make the commitment, I think it'll be a blast!

Linn

 Linn,
Drove through Missoula last year -- stayed in Big Sky and we drove into Yellowstone for about 4 days.  Actually the family drove in, I did about 30-40 miles from the resort over towards the park.  Best cycling I've ever done:)
I'm hoping on-line registration opens up for CdA for 2010 -- I've decided I'm gonna do it.  Can't believe I'm gonna sign-up for it, but been googling race reports and I'm pumped.  I say sign-up for it, Chad's already registered for it, it'll be a blast!
--Dan