Silverman???
I've got Vineman 70.3 in July, and am hoping to find a late season IM. I've signed up for the Kona lottery (I'll never qualify), but assuming I don't get selected, I'll need a backup. So, I thought about Silverman - I can drive there from NCAL, my sister lives close, the timing is right, and the cost is right. But the hills? I've read about it, and looked at the profile. Wondering if anyone on the team has ever done it, or looked at the course. All else failing, I guess I could ride up Mt Diablo three times and see if I feel like running after.
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Bob- I know Eric Kenny has done Silverman in the past a few times and I'm pretty sure he's got a race report as well as some other really good info posted back on the EN 3.0 forum. He did a video at one point that walked through the course map and described what to expect- I remember 'cause my first thought was "note to self, never do Silverman" and my next thought of course was "note to self, some day I gotta do Silverman!".
Go over there and do a search for Silverman and you should be able to find the content.
EDIT: I feel like I left you hanging a bit- there's lots of great RR's and info in the 3.0 Forum, so please go over there and search on Silverman. But in addition, here's a quick link to the thread I mentioned that Eric put together- really good stuff here:
http://www.endurancenation.us/en_fo...=silverman
Nemo - thanks - don't know why I didn't think of that.
Hi Bob, I live in Henderson, just south of Las Vegas if your not familiar with the area. I can ride the course from my house. I ride at least some section of the course at least once a month. I have never ridden the whole thing at one time but have probably touched most of it at one time or another. Hills? Ya there are hills, almost no flat sections, you are either going up or your going down it's not too bad though the hills are not very long. The longest ones, maybe a quarter mile if that and there are only a couple of those. There are three hills on a section of trail that are called the Three Ladies, we call them the Three B#$@%@# there pretty tough, although I can get up them without standing up and I don't have a compact crank yet. (On its way) I am doing the Half Silverman this year. If you are in the area I would be more than happy to take you out and show you the course. As it gets warmer every Saturday I will be out at the lake swimming and then going for a ride on part of the course. Just let me know.
I haven't raced it, but a friend raced last year, and just keeps raving about it. Awesome course, great support, terrific race management, great schwag, etc. If I spend any more time around her, I'm going to end up signing up.
I've done the full Silverman each year since its debut in '05 (except '08 - woke up too sick race morning to start). It is my A race each year and by far and away my favorite. Beautiful course, outstanding volunteers and the best run race I have come across. And oh yeah, it is a bit challenging! The hills on the bike are relentless - mostly big rollers but there is not really a flat spot on the course. You do need some hill work in your training but the key here is endurance. It is more of a mental challenge than anything else. There is one tough section called the 3 sisters - three short pitches (about 300 yds.), one right after the other, averaging 14%, 16% and 18% which, at about mile 95 and 9,000' plus of climbing in your legs, get a bit intense (Z5 plus). Then its uphill at about 3% into the wind for about 8 miles, until some ferocious descents (50-60 mph) through Henderson to T2. The run is virtually all uphill or downhill - nothing really too steep. Again, some hill work in training would be of benefit but again, mental focus and endurance are the keys. In three of the last five years the toughest part of the race has been the swim. The race mornings had cold fronts moving through with some typical Nevada winds (20-50mph), churning up 2-3' chop, which turned it into more of a survival contest for "average" swimmers like me (typically a 1:20 IM swimmer).
Mental preparation is the key to this race. Realize that you will not go fast - no one goes fast at the Silverman (Pro men finish 10hrs plus and women 11 hrs plus). Accept that and plan your race accordingly and you will do fine.
The Silverman is probably not for everyone but if you are looking for an IM race that is physically and mentally a notch above any other IM race, you need to sign up.
http://endurancenation.us.dnnmax.co...fault.aspx
Here is a link to my 2009 RR. I did the half. Full considered hardest one in North America.
A Montrealer's take on the Esprit ...
This event is popular among athletes doing their first iron distance race because it's in a "controlled" setting i.e., it is held on Ile Notre Dame, most famous for hosting Montreal's Formula 1 grand prix auto race. In fact the bike segment is on the 4.4km F1 circuit ... 40+ mind numbing laps. That's the rub ... and for some the attraction.
The swim is in the Olympic Basin where the rowing events were held during the 1976 Summer Olympics -- generally awful to swim in ... water is filtered however ,there're lots of overgrown algae-like weeds! No joke.
Finally, the run is laps around - you guessed it - the Olympic Basin!
The course is crowded on race day because the organizers run all distances - from try a tri to iron - on the same day! Support is lacklustre and volunteers sparse.
Alessandro, a.k.a., ENzero - Montreal Sleeper Cell
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One of my reasons for thinking about silverman is that I have family in the area and I can drive, so my wife would come and we'd have a good time. I actually did redman in OKC last year. That's pretty flat and very well run. But between getting there and back I was gone for 5 days and it cost quite a bit all things considered. I'd do the full vineman except I've already committed to a a group of friends to do the half. I know people say they do both - but it doesn't sound like something I'd want to do - a half and a full two weeks apart.