Recomendations - which 70.3?

I've raced Augusta (when it was 94 deg.). September in Georgia is a crapshoot. I'd go back, but it would not be my first choice.

You didn't mention Chattanooga. That was a wonderful experience, this year. "Might" have gotten to 77 deg. Wetsuit legal with a mostly (ALL, this year) downstream swim.

Choo would be my 1st choice.



Edited by nc452010 2017-06-19 1:10 PM

I was under the impression I had to qualify for Choo with it being the 70.3 World Championships. Is that not the case? I didn't even look into it, assuming that was the case.

I have done Augusta HIM. The swim is with the current and the year I did it it was wet suit legal for non-pros. (did a PR for the swim by 12 minutes) The bike course is rolling but no serious long hills. I did not find it very technical and I am not a great bike handler. The run is flat. It is downtown so there is some shade on parts of the course. I was warm, but not exceptionally hot for that time of year. The run is spectator friendly for what it is worth.

The race is very well organized and the venue is easy to get around.

I would recommend Augusta.


I am planning on going back in 2018 if my schedule and fitness match up.

They are two separate races (and separate courses). The WC's are only in Choo, this year.

The Augusta race is excellent. The heat didn't bother me but I grew up in Georgia and live in South Carolina.

The swim is fast, the bike route is fun and enjoyable. The run has great community support with cow bells and cheering. Plenty of aid stations in the race to help beat the heat.

One of my favorite races I ever did.

I raced Muncie last year and here are my thoughts:

Swim: was not wetsuit legal. It's in a rock quarry, but warms up quickly. Be prepared for this.

Bike: it is not completely flat. There are some hills, but nothing too challenging.

Run: Yep. It's hilly. Rollers the entire way.

Heat: 85 + Humidity. Toward the end of the run, it can be dreadful. Lots of salt and fluids.

Site: There really is nothing in Muncie besides Ball State. That's about it. Lodging is sketchy at best and not a damn thing to do if you have family. I ate at the only respectable place in town. The local pub.

However, I did PR at Muncie.

Good luck.

I'll second what JeffB says about Muncie.

Except...when I did it...it was wetsuit legal by one degree.
Bike course....not technical at all. The first and last 2-4 miles or so feature the only turns. It's the road out of the lake area and a few quick turns through some streets with homes. Not quite subdivision, but close. Wasn't at all worried about cars or anything. The neighbors are probably well used to it and clear out. They were a bit pot holey (a few years ago), but WELL marked with orange spray paint. Once you're on the county highway, it's essentially totally closed to traffic.

Yah, I guess there's a few spots you can call "hills"...."inclines" or "not flat" is more accurate? No need to get off the big ring.
Yah, I guess. Again it's a 'hilly' run. It's not flat, but that's really all you can say about it. I run more elevation in just over half the mileage regularly without complaint or even mild grouchiness. And I'm not serious about racing in any way.

The bike, quite boring in terms of visuals. The run's a little better because there's some shade, and some trees ringing the lake. At times you get a glimpse of the lake. Year I was there, the run aid stations were awesome. They hold a competition every year and ask competitors to vote via Facebook on their favorite, so they do seem to take an extra step to encourage you or make a little non-invasive 'production' out of it. They're usually school groups and such (with parents) who get a little prize money or something if they win. Nice little tactic by the race producer.

Nothing to see or do in Muncie. Most people stay in Anderson. 20 minutes or so away? Bunch of hotels...some, but not all open their breakfast early, chain restaurants and a Meijer food store.

The biggest plus for Muncie is you can hit up all the porn shops and fireworks stands on your way across Missouri on 70.

Muncie pro tips from a non-pro:
1. If you stay in Anderson, the Meijer will run out of bagels from their bakery and you might wind up with pre-packaged ones.
2. Research the hotels through "Muncie race reports" or "where to stay in Muncie" on tri forums on which ones will serve breakfast early.
3. There's a White Castle where you get on the highway to go home.
4. Read up on the swim tactic. Plenty of info on forums if you plug in the right search terms. If you do the math, lining up way to the left of your wave gives you a little more elbow room and actually a shorter swim than if you hug the buoys.
5. Don't forget, you'll lose an hour if you're driving there Friday for packet pickup. I may be dumb, but I'm smart enough to have left myself some extra time in case of a flat/traffic/etc.

I'll throw in Steelhead 70.3 (Benton Harbor, Michigan), which is the same drive from Kansas City as Muncie, give or take 20 minutes.

This year it was August 13th, so fits your timeline.

Flat bike and roads were in really good condition. Bike elevation charts show 732 ft total gain versus 1,021 for Muncie
Flat run

Benton Harbor is a small town (10,000 - ish), so you'd be going for the race, but I hit Chicago and some touristy stuff on the way back.

Chicago Shmicago....while Benton Harbor isn't terribly appealing, South Haven, Holland, Saugatuck, and Grand Haven are all easy striking distance.

I desperately want to do Steelhead. It's an hour so from where we vacation....Michigan being St. Louis' Air Conditioner.
I would have done that as my first, but..at the time it might have been my "only"...and I was worried about the swim being cancelled. I know it's been cancelled on rare occasions. One storm in the wrong place on that lake, and that lake can get quite dangerous.

You're right. It's only 30-40 minutes further than Muncie. I just looked. I would have thought it more as getting around the lake and getting through Gary always feels brutal. Plus, 55 through Illinois, for once, is not under construction for long stretches. Prolly 'cause Illinois is broke.

The odds of it being non-wetsuit legal are slim to none. The odds of it being blazing hot are quite low, even at that time of year, but it's possible. Not likely, but possible.


Edited by jhaack39 2017-06-20 4:09 PM

Thanks for all the input, everyone!

Choo sounds like a good race, but the timing won't work for me this year with the Nashville full. I think I've decided on Steelhead after looking it up. It's closer than Augusta, has a flat bike course with a couple of nice straight sections (well, at least a couple of sections without 90 degree turns), which I like.

The time frame also gives me another month to train. My biggest fear with Muncie was not having enough time for specific SBR training after the Nashville marathon. While I will still be swimming and cycling during the marathon training, it's likely long swim and bike workouts will take a backseat to long runs. With Steelhead, I'll have time to work up from 15-30 mile rides to race distance training rides and to get my time in the pool and lake in.

Thanks again for all the advice and support! It really means a lot that I can come here and get this kind of support.

Steelhead has had to cancel the swim before in prior years due to strong under currents in Lake Michigan. I don't believe it has happened in the past few years, but there is a history of it occurring. Just be prepared that you may only be completing a 69.1....also known as a long-course Duathlon.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature can "F" up our plans at any moment.

Good luck.