B2B vs IM

I've done IM Louisville twice.  I did B2B Half this year. 

I never did B2B with the old course, but I think the new course has put B2B on par with any triathlon out there.

I've done B2B (the half) and found it to be a very good, well run race.  However, I've done one IM-branded race (IMCdA) and was very impressed.  Everything about it was a notch above anything I've done before.  The buzz around the town before the event, the volunteers, spectators, race organization, etc. were all outstanding and, in my opinion, based on a sample size of 1, the extra fees were worth it. 

I don't get caught up in the whole you're not an Ironman unless you do an IM-branded event.  If you go 140.6, I think you're an Ironman whether WTC lets you call it that or not.  However, if I'm going to put in six months or more of hard training, I want it to feel like an Event, with a capital E.  WTC does that better than any other tri production company I've seen.  Whether that's worth extra $$$ to you is a personal decision, but to me it is.

Either way, you can't go wrong.

B2B was voted 5th best iron distance event in the world by Triathlon magazine. This includes "Ironman" brand races. First was Kona, second was the European Champs, 3rd was Roth, 4th was IM CA, 5th was B2B, making it the number 1 rated iron-distance (IM or non-branded) in the US.

I have not done an IM-branded race but have done B2B half and full. I recommend it without hesitation. My family had a great weekend at the beach and I really like the course. Loads of spectator and volunteer support, nice buzz, etc. I don't think you can go wrong doing it. And if someone wants to argue that it is somehow less of a race, have them do it and see how they like it. Plus, it is not really about what someone else thinks- your opinion and how YOU would feel having done it are what matters. Will you feel like less of an "ironman" than if you did another race? The one thing B2B doesn't have going for it is potential KONA qualifying spots, but I am not in danger of qualifying for that any time soon, so not too worried about that!

Full disclosure, I have only done Ironman full events but spectated B2B this year.

Maybe it's because I'm a rather emotional person but I love the aura that Ironman creates around their events.  It's like grown up Disneyland with the people, hoopla and price   I remember leaving IMFL last year and was so sad to see the venue packed up...the magic was over.  I personally like the big race experience, I like racing with 2000+ athletes on the same course with the same distance.  I feel like racing alongside those doing half the distance would take some of the wind out of my sails...I like knowing we are all doing the same distance that day.

I have heard that the finishline for B2B can be kinda lonely for the BOPers.  I had a rather late finish last year at IMFL but there were still plenty of people cheering on athletes that late in the day.  If that's not an issue for you, then its probably a negligible difference.

For me it's worth the price.

I guess I should ammend my request.  I'm not limiting myself just to B2B.  I just threw it out there because I live in Carolina Beach so it's convienient for me as it's only 20 minutes from my house.  Like I said before, I've run the 70.3 at B2B 3 times and I loved it but I want to hear what else is out there and what people's thoughts are. 

I would love to hear about people's experiences with other 140.6 non-Mdot brand races.  Any suggestions?  I would prefer to stay on the east coast.   

Brian,

Regarding the post by slaterson19, did you think the bike course was crowded?

I know some people dislike Florida because drafting seems to be a problem, but as a racer you can decide to draft or not, it is up to you.

Even if there are 3,000 people on the course, since it is a one loop course, I would think that the athletes would get pretty spread out over 112 miles.

I am signed up for IM Florida 2013!!!!

Alan

I raced with Jen last year and felt the same way!  I did not want it to be over either and left my wristband on for a week just to keep holding on to the experience.

I have raced both Ironman Florida (2011) and Beach2Battleship Full (2012) so I have a pretty fresh comparison. 

I agree that Ironman nails it when it comes to having an explosively awesome race experience from the time you arrive until the time you leave your hotel.  Personally, I think it is worth it to experience at least one Ironman branded race.  But having done that, I was perfectly happy with Beach2Battleship the following year because it is my "home race" and it is ranked 5th in the world (as noted above).

I have raced Beach2Battleship both on the old course (Half) and the new course (Full).  Although I wasn't crazy about the new run course, the other changes are a HUGE improvement!  HUGE!  Having the finish line downtown makes the point-to-point logistic SO much nicer and easier.  They used the new expo center this year which made it somewhat like an Ironman Village on a much smaller scale.  And T2 was inside the Expo center!  The changing tent curtains were right against a full indoor restroom which was very nice. 

B2B has a much smaller field (600 participants vs. 2600), and the spectator support/enthusiasm is immensely different.

I love Setup Events and B2B, so if you're only interested in the distance, you will not be disappointed.  It is awesome.  But as others have noted, Setups Events cannot compete with Ironman when it comes to the over-the-top race experience IMHO.

Edit:  This year I did Ironman Augusta 70.3 as the tune-up race for the B2B full.  This way I got to experience another Ironman branded AND do my home race of B2B.  This might be a good combination for you too.

Thinking about doing the same thing.  Any one have an idea when Augusta usually sells out?

If you are on Facebook, you can go to the event specific facebook page and follow the timeline to find the exact date that they posted it was full.

The last two years it has been early August when it sells out.  Might be a touch longer this year with the CLT HIM.  Lots and lots of CLT folks race Augusta so I am sure the setup event will take 500 of those entries away from Augusta.

I have done both B2B and IMCDA, first let me say I love B2B, and think it is Set-Ups best event by far.

That said IMCDA was totally superior in every way.I kinds compare it to going to a regular season Panther game or going to The Super Bowl.

The Whole City of Coeur D Alene comes out, every neighborhood is having giant block parties where locals are setting up homemade press booths and announcing runners as they come by... Aid stations are like going thru a mardi gra party (really)13 hour finishers are getting treated like they are Crowie winning Kona...you turn a corner with 9 blocks to go the streets are lined with thousands of folks who are screaming for you like  they have found there lone lost child...you can literally float to the finish. You see a giant trumbo-tron wide screen...Mike Reilly screams Kenney Claffey from Salisbury NC YOU DID IT> The crowd joins him in a massive chant saying "YOU ARE AN IRONMAN". 

I honestly didn't think there would be that much of a difference...I was wrong I get it now.

One of the greatest days of my life.

I was always certain B2B would be my Iron Distance race, but this post really makes me wonder. I've got at least a couple years, so if I can afford it I may go WTC.

yes aka as Kenney The Jet...my alter ego

One really cool thing about an Ironman finish also is what I call the Cinderella hour from 11 till midnight, almost everyone in Coeur D Alene seemed to be at the finish line. The pros come back all the previous finishers come back and it is a giant party.

This was the midnight count down at my IM...still makes me cry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndY9xptZI9w

Wow, that was pretty emotional; incredible kindness - it's like a big family.   I have only done the 70.3 distance, but I have always wanted to complete an Ironman.  I know that I will because of what I continue to see and hear about the experience.  Thanks for sharing this video, that is pretty inspiring.  I will probably do the B2B next October myself to get my feet wet and then maybe the IMFL or IM Coeur D Alene in 2014.  I have a home in Boise and I keep talking about doing that one.     

This was at midnight?  When the back of the BOPers are just finishing?

Up until today, I was totally floundering whether I would ever do a 140.6, M-Dot or any other brand.  This video has just cemented my desires.  140.6 WILL happen, and I WILL do an M-Dot race.