Hey, I did IM Kentucky this year!
I did IM Kentucky with only one Oly and HIM under my feet, along with many sprints. I signed up for IMKY before I even did my first HIM.
I had never done a marathon. And I had only ridden 100 miles one time.
If you want my full RR email me: energizerbunny25_98@yahoo.com.
I liked IMKY.
The swim start and the swim itself will be the best one you will find. It's a time trial start, and you swim down river 80% of the swim. I never once felt crowded or got hit on the swim. It's also warm water so no wetsuit, which I love.
The bike is hilly. I wanted hills myself, but you don't like hills you won't like Kentucky. It's not the hilliest course out there...but my whole day was me going 10 mph or 30 mph. Mind you, I live in Dallas TX and trained on very few hills, and I still held a solid 16.5 mph average on the bike (that was my average on my computer- w/rest stops my results were slower.).
The run is flat. Pancake flat. But it's a bit boring because you only get the spectators near the finish line. Once you go out into the neighborhoods, it's empty, quiet and dark. The neighborhood does not get into the race. Which reminds me, at mile 13 you pass within inches of the finish line, and then you go back out for another loop.
Otherwise, you have to ready for HEAT and HUMIDITY if you do Kentucky. You will need to know how to race in that kind of climate. The heat and humidity took a lot of people down this year. Which just meant they didn't understand how to hydrate and keep on top of their nutrients. As for me, I was fine, but I train in 100 degree heat on a regular basis.
It's a solid race and I don't have any complaints about it.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside thoroughly used-up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: WOW WHAT A RIDE!!!!"