Thoughts on race selection - Timberman versus 70.3 Syracuse versus 70.3 Muskoka
I'm having a tough time nailing down my "A" race for this year. So to help swing the vote, I was wondering if anyone on the team was planning to do one of:
- Timberman Ironman 70.3 New Hampshire
- Ironman 70.3 Muskoka
- Ironman 70.3 Syracuse
Also, any thoughts on Timberman would be appreciated.
Any takers?
Mike
0
Comments
Mike,
I did Timberman last year. There was a huge EN contingent (Patrick, Chris G, Halligan, Keith, Steve, myself, am I missing someone?). It's a nice swim, followed by a good but challenging bike. You basically bike out of town about 8 miles, go up and over a pretty tough hill (where most people will be doing it wrong and crushing themselves), then a long out-and-back on a slight downhill out, slight uphill back. Very fast here. Back over the hill, and back into town. Fun bike course. The run is two loops next to the lake, and last year, it was really really hot. I just melted on the run.
Overall, a great race, usually attracts some top pro's. Last year, Chrissie Wellington stuck around after winning it to hand out medals. Very cool! Good vibe all around.
Mike
Mike,
I've done Timberman 70.3 twice, Mooseman 70.3 once, and Mooseman Oly once. Keith Jordan and his crew put on a top notch event.
Mike gave a good description of the course, I couldn't add much more. However, I wouldn't wait too long, it will sell out soon.
Sometimes Keith updates how many slots remain on his website http://timbermantri.com/forum
Good luck,
Dave
I'll be at Syracuse! Can't comment on what a great race it is, 'cuz this is the first year of course. I've seen rumbles of a few other people doing Syracuse as well.
Best reason to do Timberman...cause I will be there
then again I am pretty sure that I will be at IM cuse as well as my little sister is racing. A was mentioned as a new race it is hard to say what cuse will be like but having done a lot in that area and knowing where the course is I bet the swim will be fine as that is a decent state park type beach in a smaller lake, the bike should be great as that is an awesome area of the world to ride, awesome rolling hills, good roads with great shoulders as you have to put all the snow somewhere. The run is point to point down hill which is a good thing. It is along major highways, through strip mall heaven and crap areas of town which is not so good. As for the finish in the "inner harbor" well OK, gonna have to wait and see what that is all about.
Never been to Muskoka but all the Canuckistanis really seem to dig it up there. Hard for anything to compete with Timberman, it just feels like a shorter IM. Racing against Chrissie and Andy Potts and the like is really cool. Plus I hear that KJ is moving the beer tent right next to the finish line this year.
Lynne
1) An 8 hour car ride to get there (and back)
2) I think the hotels are typically $200 with a minimum of 3 night stay, which gets a bit pricey.
But I hear the race is very nice. Would be great to hook up with EN folks who will be there also ..
The only other drawback to consider re: Timberman is race site arrival on race morning. There's one lane in, and one lane out, so there's quite literally a two mile backup on the highway to get your car parked. There's a significant tradeoff between getting there insanely early, or sitting in the car for an extra 45 minutes going 1/2 mph, with anxiety levels rising.
Worth noting, especially if you look at lodging a little further from the race site. I stayed with my cousin in Deerfield, NH (about 35 minutes away), and it was a long drive that morning, for sure. I'd still do it again, but an important consideration, given how far you're coming from.
Mike
My training buds and I were going to do it again, but we decided on a change of venue and opted for Syracuse. It's the first year of the event so anything could happen. I've asked locals about SYR 70.3 and they say it should be a nice course (see Chris G's comments above).
Timberman ended up being a pricey weekend which was another consideration. But, I would definitely do it again.
Timberman '09 Bonus: Chrissie Wellington was at the finish line put my finisher's medal on me!
BTW the tip on lodging is easy, don't stay to the west, stay to the east! The road in on the morning from the east is empty. So you can stay in Portsmouth (fun little town) which is about an hour away and you won't hit a lick of traffic.
Coming in from 93 (west side) is horrible, never done it but everytime we sneek in the back way I see how bad the traffic is and wince
-Dave
If there is enough interest in the Syracuse race, I would be wiling to try to coordinate a Finger Lakes training weekend get together in August. I'm based down the road in Rochester.
http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/bike-ride-map/new-hampshire/gilford/571150
I'd go easier until the turn around and then pick it up on the way back in as others will be suffering on the false flat return