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Race Details Ratings 17 Reports 19

Race Reports for Great Floridian Triathlon - Ultra Distance Race

[1]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Great Floridian is an awesome and tough race. With tons of hills there is no chance of drafting.
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[2]
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Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Let me explain my thoughts on a couple of ratings here. First, though the bike was tough, it's not much more than what I trained on at home. So, I don't consider this course too tough wrt my abilities. Not like Savageman! THAT course is too tough! That said, I would've preferred a flatter course. So, make no mistake...if you're looking for a flat Ironman distance course to start with, this is not it. You really will need to train on either hills or some sort of rollers or simulate them as such or suffer the consequences. 45 folks out of 200 DNF, probably due to the cumulative effects of heat, rollers, and headwinds on route 19 while on the 3-lap bike course. Next, I have a difficult time with rating Post Race activities. I have given "Good" rating to events with similar post race levels. Still, it's a "weak" Good for an event of this level. I did appreciate the 5 min massage I got but I have had complimentary 20 min massages at Eagleman and Savageman. And, I will say that
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[3]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I love independent full distance races, and the Great Floridian definitely falls in there. Entry was ΒΌ of the price of IMFL. Smaller number of racers. A very welcoming staffing, and the volunteers were freaking great. This course is definitely hard core, so do not go into it thinking it is Florida so it must be flat. There are hills, there are climbs, and this course will force you to dig deep. Do not take it for granted. However, that being said if you really want to challenge yourself at the full distance, then this course is for you. Just know it is not a PR course, and you are good.
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[4]
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Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I love the location and the course. The police and volunteers are superb. They need to work on their website and communications a little - the information is dated (says 2010 in several of the FAQs) and there was conflicting information regarding the bike course and the swim lap counter location. Also, a pet peave of mine - -I am petite and a unisex size small is huge. I now have one more night shirt to add to my collection. It's a shame I rarely get to wear the race shirts. I just wish they would order a few extra smalls or at least some womens smalls. Plus, it amazes me that in this day and age, that there is no electronic website tracking for the athletes. For those who can't make it to the race, they like to watch the status online - not here. They said to check their facebook page, but you can't check specific athletes on a facebook page. People like to see the splits as they are happening. It's a small venue and part of the charm for me, is the smaller size. There is very
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[5]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Very first Ironman! I loved it! Goal was to finish and I did!
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[6]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I really enjoyed the race. Smaller race and local feel. Bike course is tough since it is an open course. It was AMAZING to have so many friends there to see and cheer. Made the bike and run that much easier to handle. I would do this one again, as the course is a challenge, and isn't that part of the point?
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[7]
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Race rating (2)
User photo
  • Organised?No
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: Disappointed on the race overall as far as organization. No timing mats on bike laps, or run laps. No food on bike course, only fluids. No volunteers in changing tents. Cotton T-shirts. Not much in the goody bag. Bike course on busy highway type roads, have narrow shoulder to ride, no room to pass other riders.
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[8]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: verry happy with the outcome and i cant wait to do it again.
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[9]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This race was a comeback race for me. Back in 2007 I was signed up and ready to go for Ironman Coeur D'Alene. Unfortunately the race didn't go my way and I was pulled from the water, but because the water conditions were so bad I was allowed to do the bike and the swim. Even after doing the bike and the run, it sill wasn't the same. Coming back from Idaho, I registered for the Great Floridian in 2007 hoping that it would be my race. Again, my luck didn't go my way and while doing my last 100 mile ride, I crashed injuring myself a month out from the race. This year, I didn't even intend on doing an iron distance race, but after doing long workouts with a friend of mine that was doing Louisville, I decided to go ahead and do The Great Floridian. I made sure that I didn't do anything out of the ordinary, stayed healthy, and avoided any chances of getting in an accident on a bike. Crossing that finish made all the trouble I had last year of doing an iron distance race go away.
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[10]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This was a well orgainzed race. Nice volunteers. Smaller than a M-dot race, but just as challenging. Since it is smaller (number of participants), there are times on the course where you are totally alone. Not a big deal if you are used to training alone. Kind of nice and quiet. I had a great time and would love to participate in this race again!!!
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[11]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: The volunteers were the best I have seen. I loved the themed water stops and all the costumes. Every lap you would still have to smile no matter how bad I felt when you saw them. They stayed until the very end!!!!!
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[12]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: What an amazing first IM experience. I could not have asked for a better race, on a better day, put on by a better group of people. The volunteers were great, the cops were all smiling (except one by Cherry Lake Rd around mile 105) and the whole experience was wonderful. I would highly recommend this race to everyone and especially anyone for their first IM. I can't imagine doing my first as an M-dot race. My next IM is 2008 IM CDA so I have one great IM under my belt before I attempt that. I can't complain- my first time out I placed 10th in my age group and won an award! That's a story for the grandkinds one day! IM CDA here I come!
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[13]
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User photo
  • Organised?
  • Events on time?

  • Lots of volunteers to help?
  • Plenty of drink stations?

  • Post race activities?
  • Overall course based on my ability:

  • Comments: Huge thanks to my support crew (wife, mom, and dad). I couldn't have done it without them. They all wore Carolina blue t-shirts with my name on it and some motivational sayings. Knowing they were there cheering me on got me through some tough moments on the run when my knee was really hurting. GFT is a great independent IM race. It was well run and much lower stress than what I'm guessing an m-dot race is like. This was my first (and likely my last) iron distance race. I couldn't be happier with the experience, my time, or my support crew. I owe everyone who helped me, trained with me, etc. along the way.
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[14]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: This is a great race!!
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[15]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: We all know that not everyone is going to be happy, and that there is always room for improvement. So, with that said, I do not want to insult the dedication and hard work of the race director/producer and volunteers by even providing constructive criticism. They had a lot in their hands this time around, record high temperatures, a lot of new and unexperienced athletes, road constructions, and reduced police assistance among others. Under the circumstances, I stronly believe they all did an exceptional job at adapting to those last minute changes and made it possible for all to enjoy a high-quality event.
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[16]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: i made it
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[17]
Reported by:
Race rating (5)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

  • Post race activities? Good
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: The Great Floridian is a classic race for good reason. It's well-run and extremely enjoyable. I'll certainly never forget this race in record high temperatures where I had my goggles kicked off, saw a guy get hit by a car on his bike, and was spit on during the run. While that doesn't sound like too much fun, the Great Floridian was executed in a way that was just superb, and the stories become numerous. Overall, I can't thank the Race Director, his staff, and volunteers enough. They did an amazing job in horrible conditions. I just hope they'll return the iPod that I left in my warmup bag to me....
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