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2013-12-18 9:35 PM

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Subject: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Alright, let's hear what YOU think is the best 1/2 IM and why.

I've only done 2. I'd vote for Savageman. Spectaculair views and super-challenging. Great support too.

Anyone else?


2013-12-18 9:48 PM
in reply to: dtoce

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Lake Stevens Gets My Vote. It's The Only Half I've Done,
But I Would Highly Recommend it.
2013-12-18 9:55 PM
in reply to: dtoce

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Savageman can't be the best 1/2 IM race because it is not a 1/2 IM race.
2013-12-19 12:08 AM
in reply to: dtoce


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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
If you go to Europe, Gerardmer XL triathlon is awesome (it's in France, close to Germany, in a mountain area). This is not an official 70.3 race, but the distances (1.9km/90km/21.1km) are the same.
2013-12-19 7:40 AM
in reply to: japarker24

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Originally posted by japarker24

Savageman can't be the best 1/2 IM race because it is not a 1/2 IM race.



Didn't even realize I wrote IM rather than 70.3 distance...so sorry...

although it's not 'technically' a 1/2 Ironman, or even a 70.3, I still think it was a fabulous race. If I wasn't so distracted by those pesky hills, it would have been very enjoyable.

I'd like to hear which 70.3/long course triathlon races people really liked and why...and I realize that not every 'half' is a true 'half ironman'.


Why don't you let me know your favororite?
2013-12-19 7:47 AM
in reply to: dtoce

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race

I think the point was that Savageman isn't even a 70.3 distance, it's a 70.0.  

Anyway, I've done two - Mont Tremblant and Miami.  Picking between those two is easy, Mont Tremblant all the way.  It's a fantastic venue for both spectators and competitors.  Great scenery with a challenging course - beautiful smooth pavement for the bike.  Great crowd support, it has it all.



2013-12-19 8:07 AM
in reply to: axteraa

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Originally posted by axteraa

I think the point was that Savageman isn't even a 70.3 distance, it's a 70.0.  

Anyway, I've done two - Mont Tremblant and Miami.  Picking between those two is easy, Mont Tremblant all the way.  It's a fantastic venue for both spectators and competitors.  Great scenery with a challenging course - beautiful smooth pavement for the bike.  Great crowd support, it has it all.




I'll second Tremblant : beer and poutine at the finish line !!

In order

Tremblant for all the reasons Arend stated
Muskoka, hard, but beautiful. Not a PB course since the bike is long
Miami. OK, but way too much drafting.
Vegas. Beautiful bike, crappy run course, yukky swim, although I think Silverman will be slightly different
Syracuse. Same. Nice bike, nice swim, average run. Tough course but easier than Vegas
Florida 70.3. Felt like I was swimming in a sewer. I much preferred the Disney site.
2013-12-19 8:10 AM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race

I'm a huge fan of both Musselman and Savageman.

ETA:  Assuming I'm healthy, this year will be the 5th consecutive year that I've done Musselman, so I vote with my money.  

 



Edited by TriMyBest 2013-12-19 8:11 AM
2013-12-19 8:17 AM
in reply to: Manu3172

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race

Originally posted by Manu3172 If you go to Europe, Gerardmer XL triathlon is awesome (it's in France, close to Germany, in a mountain area). This is not an official 70.3 race, but the distances (1.9km/90km/21.1km) are the same.

That bike course must be brutal!  Less than 20 bike splits under 3 hours (out of 1200+).

2013-12-19 8:27 AM
in reply to: axteraa

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race

I've done Eagleman, Skipjack (which is an odd distance half ironman. about a 68 mile bike and 10 mile run), Austin, Patriots in Williamsburg, Rev3 Williamsburg, Triple T which has an HIM at the end. Can't remember what else...I do love Eagleman, but its two hours away, I love flat courses, and its very very well run.  Patriots was a set-up events race that was ok.  Rev 3 Williamsburg was a first year race and it showed.  Austin was fantastic.  And if you've done Triple T, and survive the half, well, its amazing.  Just a different kind of weekend. Some people go to only do that (I think its called the Little Smokies half?) but its more fun to do the whole weekend.

Looking forward to doing Vineman 70.3 and Savageman this year.  Wildflower is on my to-do list as well.

2013-12-19 8:44 AM
in reply to: japarker24

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race

Originally posted by japarker24 Savageman can't be the best 1/2 IM race because it is not a 1/2 IM race.

The .3 is made up in elevation, and then some. Unless you are making reference to WTC then you have a point, but you weren't specific about your objection.



2013-12-19 8:50 AM
in reply to: mrbbrad

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
ITU allows for 10% variance 70.0 is no big deal if the .3 comes off the bike.
2013-12-19 8:59 AM
in reply to: simpsonbo

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
I ll vote for REV 3 Maine. Great Venue, Very well organized. The bike course is not a killer, it does allow you to race at a higher intensity.

Cold Ocean Swim. Not much for hills on the bike as compared to Quassy or Timberman. Run course mostly on flat trails through the salt marshes and forest. Heat not really a factor.
Definitely a PR course.

2013-12-19 9:34 AM
in reply to: dtoce

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Raleigh 70.3 was a really "honest" race. Not current assisted on the swim. Bike had enough hills to test you and break up any packs that might form. Run was tough with the hills on the double loop portion. That being said, I'm looking forward to going back in 2014 with the run course change that should take the word "brutal" out of the description.

Beach to Battleship half was fun because it is a potential PR course with the current on the swim and flat bike and run courses. Set Up Events really does a great job with all their races and Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach both seem to really embrace this event.

White Lake Half (also by Set Up Events) is also a really great event, IMHO, especially with the recent date change. I am partial to this event since it is my PR course and I have done this race 4 times and the move from May to April really makes it so that the heat is not too bad (on the run). Flat bike and run course also help for fast times, but the wind on the bike can really be tough.
2013-12-19 10:56 AM
in reply to: TriMyBest

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Originally posted by TriMyBest

I'm a huge fan of both Musselman and Savageman.

ETA:  Assuming I'm healthy, this year will be the 5th consecutive year that I've done Musselman, so I vote with my money.  

 




x2 for Musselman. Great race, very well organized and a very supportive town. I highly recommend this race.
2013-12-19 11:31 AM
in reply to: turtlegirl

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race

Originally posted by turtlegirl

Wildflower is on my to-do list as well.

Wildflower is a hilly course in some beautiful country. The festival atmosphere of the entire weekend is something to be experienced, especially if you camp on-site.



2013-12-19 11:44 AM
in reply to: MOlsen

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
I really liked the Branson 70.3. I did it in 2012 and it was the last year WTC hosted. It was still quite enjoyable and pretty well organized. Now Rev3 has it and it's got to be better now. It is a challenging bike course with 9 CAT 5 climbs but nothing too steep. The climbs are just long. GPS results show 4,600-5,000 feet of climbing. The swim is in nice clean water (Table Rock Lake) and the run is flat. The run course goes through the landing at Branson which is very spectator friendly. It runs through an outdoor mall area so my kids hung out at the funnel cakes hut. The run was two loops so they got to see me a few times during the run. It's a point to point race and they buss you from T1 to T2 and move your T1 gear to T2 for pickup after the race. I haven't read any RR from this year with Rev3 though.
2013-12-19 11:03 PM
in reply to: kennyr

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Originally posted by kennyr

Lake Stevens Gets My Vote. It's The Only Half I've Done,
But I Would Highly Recommend it.


X2 Exactly this. But, if you ask me again next year my answer may be different. I'm signed up for IM Calgary 70.3 and considering the Challenge Penticton half.
2013-12-20 3:59 AM
in reply to: axteraa


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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Originally posted by axteraa

Originally posted by Manu3172 If you go to Europe, Gerardmer XL triathlon is awesome (it's in France, close to Germany, in a mountain area). This is not an official 70.3 race, but the distances (1.9km/90km/21.1km) are the same.

That bike course must be brutal!  Less than 20 bike splits under 3 hours (out of 1200+).




It is, the difference in altitude is over 1900m. And also the bike length is a little over 90km (94km).
2013-12-20 7:18 AM
in reply to: Manu3172

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
A second vote for Branson 70.3

It is one of the "slower" races because of the bike course, but I enjoyed it very much. A closed 4-lane highway is tough to beat!
2013-12-20 7:37 AM
in reply to: reecealan

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race

Originally posted by reecealan I really liked the Branson 70.3. I did it in 2012 and it was the last year WTC hosted. It was still quite enjoyable and pretty well organized. Now Rev3 has it and it's got to be better now. It is a challenging bike course with 9 CAT 5 climbs but nothing too steep. The climbs are just long. GPS results show 4,600-5,000 feet of climbing. The swim is in nice clean water (Table Rock Lake) and the run is flat. The run course goes through the landing at Branson which is very spectator friendly. It runs through an outdoor mall area so my kids hung out at the funnel cakes hut. The run was two loops so they got to see me a few times during the run. It's a point to point race and they buss you from T1 to T2 and move your T1 gear to T2 for pickup after the race. I haven't read any RR from this year with Rev3 though.

Rev 3 did a very nice job with it. I found everything very easy to find and get around. Both before, during and after the race. Much of the bike is on a closed & divided highway, so two entire lanes to use in each direction. Decent scenery around too.

Races I've done: Lake Geneva Half, Rev3 Knoxville, IM Poconos, Rev3 Quassy, Rev3 Dells, IM WC Vegas, Rev3 Branson

The one I'm most interested in going back to is Quassy. Well done event with good challenges throughout the race. Have to know how to pace over continuously varying terrain. Will be interesting to see what Rev3 does with Poconos. That was a fun course, but had trouble with congestion due to IM numbers.



2013-12-20 7:57 AM
in reply to: dtoce

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race

I have done:

Texas 70.3 (5x)

Syracuse 70.3 (2x)

Austin 70.3

I was registered to do Florida 70.3 in 2010 when it was still at Disney.  I couldn't race due to injury but I was there so I saw plenty and ran the run course (a year later).  Not that it matters since it moved to Haines City in 2012.

I also registered for the NOLA 70.3 twice but have yet to do it because that was the two years they cancelled the swim and I wasn't going to drive 6 hours to do a half-assed duathlon.

I also registered for Musselman in 2011 but I had a death in the family the week leading up to the race and couldn't race.

I love the Texas 70.3 in Galveston.  I will be back again in 2014.  It's windy on the bike and it's warm for that time of the year when nobody is acclimated to the heat.

Syracuse 70.3 is a real nice race.  The bike course is challenging, especially the first 13 miles which are literally uphill.  The run course is brutal.  I came off the bike in a 70.3 world championship qualifying position and was summarily eaten alive by the new run course.

Austin 70.3 kind of sucks, IMO.  I live 2 1/2 hours away and won't ever go back as long as they have the course where they do.

2013-12-20 8:14 AM
in reply to: GMAN 19030

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Originally posted by GMAN 19030

I have done:

Texas 70.3 (5x)

Syracuse 70.3 (2x)

Austin 70.3

I was registered to do Florida 70.3 in 2010 when it was still at Disney.  I couldn't race due to injury but I was there so I saw plenty and ran the run course (a year later).  Not that it matters since it moved to Haines City in 2012.

I also registered for the NOLA 70.3 twice but have yet to do it because that was the two years they cancelled the swim and I wasn't going to drive 6 hours to do a half-assed duathlon.

I also registered for Musselman in 2011 but I had a death in the family the week leading up to the race and couldn't race.

I love the Texas 70.3 in Galveston.  I will be back again in 2014.  It's windy on the bike and it's warm for that time of the year when nobody is acclimated to the heat.

Syracuse 70.3 is a real nice race.  The bike course is challenging, especially the first 13 miles which are literally uphill.  The run course is brutal.  I came off the bike in a 70.3 world championship qualifying position and was summarily eaten alive by the new run course.

Austin 70.3 kind of sucks, IMO.  I live 2 1/2 hours away and won't ever go back as long as they have the course where they do.




You seem to have quite a bit of bad luck leading up to races.
2013-12-20 8:17 AM
in reply to: japarker24

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race

It was bad luck for everyone in NOLA in 2011 and 2012. Not just me. 

2013-12-20 9:58 AM
in reply to: GMAN 19030

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Subject: RE: Best 1/2 IM triathlon Race
Depends on your perspective. If you are trying to get a WC slot and are a bad swimmer, a cancelled swim is good luck!
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