Ironman Lake Tahoe 70.3?

Dino Sarti

Two races on one course on one day?  What will the WTC think of next?

Here is the email I got from the TriClub liaison extolling the virtues of filling the Tahoe course with 70.3 races while an Ironman is taking place....

"Clubbers!

 

Exciting news – for the first time in North America, IRONMAN is offering both an IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 race on the same day, in the same venue.

IRONMAN 70.3 Lake Tahoe will take place on September 21, 2014 and will be held in conjunction with IRONMAN Lake Tahoe.

 

IRONMAN 70.3 Lake Tahoe will be a great opportunity to “test drive” the full distance course. Many of you have athletes already scheduled to race the full distance – by adding the 70.3 we believe that we will be able to expand the club presence on site – and build on an already exciting race day!

 

Like last year, IRONMAN will host food and a beer garden in the TriClub Village. We will begin serving around 3:00 pm, giving your IRONMAN 70.3 teammates plenty of time to head for the showers and then come back to the TriClub Village in Squaw Valley to help us build one of the best cheering, motivation stations on the IRONMAN circuit.

Because your club is local to the Lake Tahoe area, we are pleased to offer your team members priority entry to IRONMAN 70.3 Lake Tahoe."

What do you think?  

bmr94539

The full distance race hasn't filled up, so maybe it will be OK. Wonder how they'll stagger the start? With the race being full last year the T1 changing tent was so crowded. Hopefully they have something figured out to keep that from happening again. I thought the run course was going to be pretty packed last year, too given the small bike trail out and back. However, that worked out pretty well so maybe they can accommodate more.

Last year with the cold the race was so tough I haven't signed up to do it again. It's a beautiful course, but I really enjoy Big Kahuna which is earlier in September. Should be interesting.

GMAN 19030

I'd say this means IMLT is two and done. This is St. George all over again.

Steve Ross

As we all think and see the usual pattern by the WTC as an event that is ready to be closed out.The 70.3 is being put on to fill the field so not so lonely out there and all in one day(financial/contractual obligations?). If they pan a good half field it stay's if not close the book and call it a day.

"Two races in one day" alot of differ races do this. Only WTC IM events has balked at this but it may be the norm in the the future.If they have bottom line numbers they expect, but do not get well let's see how we can get the math to work !

 

Dino Sarti

Slowman's take on the matter:



http://www.slowtwitch.com/News/Tahoe_gets_bigger_easier_4292.html

Seems like the race got "easier" as well....  For the record, I am glad I did it last year when it was "hard".  

Al Truscott

New bike course does not seem significantly easier...the long hard pass, which took me about 20+ minutes each time, is still in there. Hills in northstar still,appear, just not in the gated community, so course can be ridden inits entirety pre race. And there are some extra turns, in Truckee and Northstar, so it becomes more " technical" like the original IM CDA. Do not think this race has been "dumbed down". You should still add 30-60 minutes to the average IM bike split.

Coach Rich

I agree with Al. The course isn't dumbed down and I wondering of Empfield has even ridden the course, given that he describes the climbs in Martis Camp as "tortuous steep." That's BS. They aren't steep the difficulty is that you are / were climbing continuously for 20-25 minutes in Martis and another ~20-25' on Brockway, x 2 for the IM course. Not many people in the IM world can wrap their heads around 2 x 20-25' climbs per lap and _that's_ where the difficulty was...not the steepness.

Paul Hough

I read on ST that IM Tahoe is firm through 2015, but I bet that will be the last one unless the combo makes financial sense and they get some reasonable numbers in the IM. I'm also betting that IM Los Cabos 2015 will be the last at that venue.

It's too bad for those that want to do it, but Tahoe holds no interest for me -- not because it's hard, but because it is not possible to train for it in Florida:
1) We don't have the topography to practice long climbs. Yeah, I get the Power to Weight ratio concept, but practicing it would help to practice long climbs.
2) In addition to no long climbs, we don't have the opportunity to practice technical descents
3) No opportunity for altitude acclimization
4) No ability to prepare for the possibility of cold weather when training through an extremely hot summer.

Coach Rich

Posted By Paul Hough on 22 Apr 2014 03:52 PM


I read on ST that IM Tahoe is firm through 2015, but I bet that will be the last one unless the combo makes financial sense and they get some reasonable numbers in the IM. I'm also betting that IM Los Cabos 2015 will be the last at that venue.



It's too bad for those that want to do it, but Tahoe holds no interest for me -- not because it's hard, but because it is not possible to train for it in Florida:

1) We don't have the topography to practice long climbs. Yeah, I get the Power to Weight ratio concept, but practicing it would help to practice long climbs.  It's gearing, w/kg, and perspective, I guess. IE, not thinking that a 20' climb is a big deal. 

2) In addition to no long climbs, we don't have the opportunity to practice technical descents No technical descents. One downhill has 2, maybe three sweeping turns with good visibility but that's it. 

3) No opportunity for altitude acclimization 98% of the field is in the same boat.

4) No ability to prepare for the possibility of cold weather when training through an extremely hot summer. I'll buy that...just wear more clothes though :-)

GMAN 19030

The climbing on that course isn't what scared me but did give me pause when this race was first announced. The altitude and temperatures did. I come from a similar climate and topography as Paul. It was still 95 degrees here in mid-September. That 30-something temperature would've crushed me.

That weather last year was a worst case scenario for IMLT. It scared off everyone on the fence about the race.

Al Truscott

I have a solution for anyone who really wants to do LT IM or 70.3, but shares Paul's concerns ... Come train with me in Colorado Aug 15-Sep 15, or any portion thereof. All those issues are solved. Seriously, mi casa es su casa.

Paul Hough

Look at Rich and Al trying to talk me into IM Tahoe. Coach, I'm listening to your cornering talk right now. I can tell you my pucker factor really goes up when the bike speed tops 40-45 mph. If I must do a race in it's final death throes in the fall of 2015 it will probably be Los Cabos over Lake Tahoe. I get SAUs for Cabos and lose them for Tahoe.

Coach Rich

Top speed at LT is probably high 30's, FYI.