July Key 70.3 -- Racine or Door County or...?

Coach Rich

MidWesterners,

What should be the TeamEN key 70.3 race for 2014? This year it was Racine, which we chose for it's timing and location relative to Ironman Wisconsin, our other key race, and the fact that we have so many members in the area. 

But the consistent feedback was:

• The swim was rough, due to the wind. Dunno if this was a one-time thing.
• The bike course was VERY rough, hammered. 

So...Door County is the same weekend. Please give me your feedback on Racine vs Door County vs Something Else I Don't Know About in the same region and similar timing. Thanks!

Kathleen Spillane

Door county no question in my mind between the two. Great venue, organization and atmosphere. Downside is that there is a 1,000 cap and filled by end of Jan. so get word out soon. Entry opens Jan 1.

Coach Rich

Ugg...that makes it tough, as it's not something we can offer to new members, if that makes sense. But we can't with IMTX, IMMT and IMWI so not really sure if it matters....

rlh2000

I'd vote Door County. Never done Racine but did Door County in 2012 and it is a great race. Great venue for families. A lot more fun to go to Door County, the "Cape Cod of the Midwest", than Racine. Very well organized, and I believe they are completely non-profit, giving all the $$ back to the community. While there have been two recent years where it was really hot, I believe in general they should have cooler temps than Racine. I think the bike is pretty flat, but the run is definitely a challenge. It's got a real small time feel to it but lots of support out there. You don't have to jump through any of the WTC hoops- I think there is even race morning packet pickup.

rlh2000

To add with the cap- they allow transfers of race entries and I know on their facebook page there are always a ton of people looking for a spot or trying to get rid of one, so it definitely is still possible to get one after they sell out. And how awesome is it that they do that- Ironman would never think of allowing transfers!

JeremyBehler

I vote for Door Cty. Other option would be IM Racine which is the same week or 1 week prior. Steelhead is 1 week later I think.

rlh2000

Steelhead is now not til Aug 10, so that is getting late for IMWI peeps. Love that race though too. Only thing with Steelhead is the chance of the swim getting cancelled (2-3 times before?) due to rough water.

MattAaronson

The swim at Racine was not rough at all in 2011 and 2012...perfect conditions. The bike is rough at the beginning and end but really the majority of the course is not that bad. But that last part is what sticks in folks' minds. Racine is closer for Chicago-based folks. Door County gets a lot of positive reviews but it is a lot smaller field (a little less than half the size of a typical MDOT race).

Bruce Thompson

Muncie 70.3 if you want a hot race in July.  Also, the Rev3 70.3 Wisconsin Dells event has been moved to June 22 for 2014.  it is about an hour northwest of Madison, and is a challenging course I'm told.

Dave Mehl

I'm wrestling with my 70.3 A-race choice for next year, too. I did Racine in 2012 (no swim issues) and it is "fine", although my wife didn't really enjoy being stuck in Racine for the weekend. I did Rev3 Wis Dells in 2012, also. Obviously a great venue for families - we stayed at The Wilderness and I was able to walk to transition on race morning. Definitely a challenging course for both bike and run, but right up EN's alley. I think they've changed the bike course a little, but still plenty of hills, I'm sure. I'd love to race Door County, too - likewise I've heard it's a great race, and my family and I love DC in general. So I guess my vote would be for Door County, then Rev3 Dell's.

Daniel Huhn

Door County is a great race and just an overall well run event. Not only does it fill fast, lodging can be an issue. If you're in Door County, anything north of Sturgeon Bay, you're looking at a multi night min. You can stay in Green Bay, but that's about an hour away. If you can plan in advance, you will really enjoy everything about this race (done it 3 times).

rlh2000

For housing at Door County we could probably rent a few houses for lots of the team to share- that would be some fun team mojo!

Sue Chapman

Love Door County - I've done it twice and love the venue and atmosphere and it's Door County!  The swim can be be calm or crazy wavy - just like Racine.  Roads are good - just a few rolling hills.  Run is denitely more challenging - two crazy hills.  Agree on accommodations - need to book early if possible.  I'll be doing this race again - but not next year - too close to Mt. Tremblant. Not a fan of Racine (crappy roads and boring run).  Rev 3 was a great venue - especially the swim - staged at the Tommy Bartlett Water Ski venue - bike was hilly (in 2011 - not sure about course changes) and I thought harder than IMWI, with hills on the run - which is boring.

Other options - but earlier in the summer - Boulder 70.3 (June 15)? or Kansas (June 8)?

Coach Rich

Ok, since no one / not many have stepped up to defend Racine and keep it on the calendar, let's now talk about Rev3 Wisconsin Dells (June 22) vs Door County (July 20-ish)

I'm liking the Rev3 race and timing because:

• It's not a WTC race and kinda goes well with EN also targeting Quassy on the east coast 3wks before this race. 
• 12wks out from IMWI, the date that I would put you into your IM training plans, is June 16th. So racing a half on June 22 fits in with that pretty well.
• Appears you guys like the course?

Sue, I not leaning towards KS or Boulder because I want to keep travel costs down for everyone and think it would be fun to venture out of the WTC box?

MattAaronson

I'd be game to try Rev3 Dells for sure. I don't konw how the bike course is but if it's hilly then it could be good for the folks training for IMWI.

That said, based on the title of the post I didn't mention Kansas...but you raised it above as a possibility. That is an awesome race and I'd highly recommend it. It is driveable from Chicago and the atmosphere and spectator support out there is really great. The bike is not at all flat but not brutal either. It is very well-run. I've done it twice and am seriously thinking of doing it again.

William Jenks

I got into this a bit late, but I believe Dells is fairly hilly on the bike, which might be good for WI peeps. Timing looks good.

I'm with Matt on KS being a great race...pretty WI-like. Nothing special on the swim, though it has been rough once or twice and non wetsuit once or twice. Bike is relatively uppy-downy and always windy. Not technical, from a turn standpoint. Run is extremely fan-friendly, as it's a two looper constrained in a park, with easy access to multiple points on the loop. The run is flat with one descent/hill ("observatory KS") :-) Also, it doesn't sell out early; you can usually sign up for it even on race week. It has had weather scares, but never had to cancel or stop the swim once it got started. KS is June 8 and it almost always attracts a couple big name pros. I've met Wellington and Crowie there. (Minor consideration, but still cool.) KS is about an 8 hour drive from Chicago, it looks like, though, and that is a disadvantage.

I have never done Door County and can't comment.
Racine has been very, very hot once or twice, too...but then, so has been Kansas.

I'm totally an n=1, and KS might be a little early for me this year, since I'm doing Boston, but you shouldn't schedule around me.

Dave Mehl

I think Rev3 Dells would be fun. I'm not sure if/what changes they made for 2013 and beyond, but I agree that the swim was neat at TB's, and a time trial start was nice, too. Looks like they've changed the bike some since 2012 - still plenty of hills but avoiding at least one major state highway. And the run course looks to have changed, as well. It used to go into downtown Wis Dells (which I thought was fun), but it did create quite the traffic jam and running through the fumes wasn't too great - now the course stays South of downtown and runs along a golf course and some of the waterparks.