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2013. North American "flat" courses.

robin sarnerrobin sarner
in Races & Places 🏁⛺

Looking on setting up my 2013 season.       Kona dreams/hopes.        Big man so looking for bike flat courses.    Will do two races in 2013.

In November will be doing Arizona or Florida or Cozumel.  

The question is, which one of the other two:         Texas in May or Kentucky in August ???

Kentucky was not on my radar until recently.      But, according to the website, only 2060 feet for the whole 112 miles.    Is this really a "flat" bike course?

So Texas or Kentucky ???

I understand the heat issues I think.   Probably worse in Kentucky.  Though that is a crap shoot.

Three months or six months between Ironmans.     Either will work for me.

 Need your thoughts by Wednesday,   Texas sign up day.     Thanks.

Comments

  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    FWIW, I did IMLou last yr. Great race, but I would not call it a "flat course". I would describe it as "rolling" hills for most of the ride. My Garmin file shows 4,478' on the bike which I think is nearly 2x what Texas has: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/112402324 The run, however, is perfectly flat at IMLou.
  • Nate ParadyNate Parady
    Robin,
    The biggest thing that stands out to me with TX versus KY is the time of year. For TX, What's the early season IM training situation for you in Tacoma Washington? How's your mind with the idea of doing long rides on the trainer??

    Would you attend the IM TX camp? I haven't been, but I believe there was a pretty big EN presence at the camp the last two years. You also have an age group winner to give you lots of tips on how to nail the IMTX course...there is also a camp for KY but believe its not as well attended for some reason.

  • robin sarnerrobin sarner

    John.  Nate.   Thanks.

    Yes the early season thing is not fun with the trainer sessions.

     

    According to the ironman site:

    Texas is 1601 feet for the 112 mile bike course.

    Kentucky is 2060 feet for the bike course.   Unclear if this is for one or two loops though.    Maybe for one loop with your Garmin data.   So 4120 official feet elevation change for the whole 112 miles?               So I guess this is not a flat course?

    Of course there is the constant issue with accurate bike elevation data, how it is measured, etc.                       

  • Coach RichCoach Rich
    FWIW, I would trust the elevation on a Joule or other barometric altimeter vs GPS.

    Louisville is not a flat bike course. It's a "fair" course, with nothing crazy on it, but it's not flat.
  • Jeff BraatenJeff Braaten
    Robin, I can give you my perspective on both races having done both in the last year ( Tx twice ) and I am big at 180lbs. The Texas bike course is relatively flat, there are some elevation changes but nothing drastic and easily handled by us big guys. The Louisville course is rolling with some pretty steep parts inserted. by way of comparison I have done the Tx course in 5:25 ish twice and the Louisville course was 5:56. That being said the swim is better in Louisville and for me the run was much better. The heat of IMTX is tough.
  • robin sarnerrobin sarner

     Thx jeff.   coach.    Good info.

  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

     Robin...see your Celtman thread for my comments on GPS vs topo vs barometric for elevation totals. GPS is artficially high IMO.

    I have no comment re course. Three months between races is plenty, assuming a full OS.

    Do Im Coz with me in 2013, unless you get so close in Tempe this fall you have to come back.

  • Nate ParadyNate Parady
    John's Garmin file must be right for elevation...I just went through this same iteration on elevation of bike courses trying to compare IMLP and IMTahoe. I think the IM Louisville bike profile PDF is labeled poorly. It says two laps but at the bottom axis has 112 miles. I think it should really just show 56 miles and 2060 feet of gain which you do twice.

    The IMLP course bike profile shows gain for 1 lap of a two lap course. The IMTahoe profile map shows a 112 mile profile with total gain.
    Ironman websites are not consistant with how they show the courses.

    Makes me wonder how many people show up to LP or Louisville thinking the course only has 2,000 feet of gain... image
  • scott dinhoferscott dinhofer
    IMFL is flatter than IMAZ, the false flat on the IMAZ bike course actually puts you up to about 2400 ft of climbing. The run is flat, but not IMKY flat. THere are some small rises and one decent hill in Papago Park.

    IMFL is flat, but you have the winds, so those are hills. Oh, and you will have wind at IMAZ as well, so they are even there.. Can't comment on the other courses except to say that i know coz is windy....

    @AL, coz in 13? hmmm was thinking IMAZ again, but that might work, i don't have my kids that thanksgiving ;-)
  • Dave TalloDave Tallo
    Robin, why not do Austria, and cover off your european IM?
  • robin sarnerrobin sarner

     Dave.   Why austria?   More than 7000 ft per most sources i can find.     Frankfurt flatter.   Austria gets fast times?   Because fast europeans?

    Al.    Yes would be nice to have good and reliable elevation data from wtc, especially for nonusa races.      Yes maybe see you in coz for 2013.    Maybe paul h. Can do it again too.

    Nate.   Yes confusing.    So yes, kentucky must be over 4000 ft.

    Scott.  Thanks.

     

     

  • Dave TalloDave Tallo
    I thought Austria was completely flat. 7000 ft? Dang. Scratch that.



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