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Race Details Ratings 27 Reports 37

Race Reports for Florida Challenge Triathlon - Long Course

[1]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?Yes
  • Plenty of drink stations?No

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

  • Comments: My only complain is that there was only 1 aid station during the bike course. I run out of liquid and I had to wait until mile 40ish to get some... Other than that, fantastic race, well organized, amazing course design, and great people.
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[2]
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: Too hard

  • Comments: Had to be on the hottest day of the year so far! Only issue was the not having the 2nd water stop on the bike ready when I got there. Otherwise I'm doing this race again as its a great early spring race to get the winter training in focus. Besides it was only $100 to do!
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[3]
Reported by:
Race rating (2)
User photo
  • Organised?No
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?No
  • Plenty of drink stations?No

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

  • Comments: I don't want to be too tough because this was an awesome deal on an early season 70.3. The post race food was pizza or rice? Didn't hang out for awards but looked like they were water bottles. It sucks because I enjoyed the course. It's a great challenge for Fl athletes. I'd be skeptical to do this again or the GFT due to the bike experience.
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[4]
Reported by:
Race rating (2)
User photo
  • Organised?No
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?No
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

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

  • Comments: This was my return to Triathlon racing after a long hiatus and I was really looking forward to this event. Although I placed in my division I left with very mixed emotions about it. With so many race choices these days I'm not sure if I will come back. The Florida Challenge is billed as a unique and challenging half ironman with great athlete amenities and a beautiful course. The course did not dissapoint but I got the distinct impression that the race organizers "Sommer Sports" is spread to thin. On saturday they ran a half marathon, 10k, and 5k at the half ironman site. They should have had an expo, athlete's dinner, race instructions and bike check in with overnight security (the main reason race organizations don't do this is to save money). This always inceases the quality and safety of an event and makes race day much less chaotic and more enjoyable. They had a sprint tri on the same morning of the H.I.(the main reason that race companies will do this is to make more money and it
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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? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I like this race. We had friends up, so seeing people I knew while running was a big plus. Watching Nick do pushups at mile 12 was crazy.
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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? Below average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: this is one challenging race. last year I felt it was harder than Ironman. It's sooooo hot and humid, seems it doesnt' matter if it's june or september....Like the challenge and will go back until I feel I've conquered the course!!! Fastest time was a 4:46...fast but not blazing...slowest time 8:55...man, to be out there that long is impressive!!
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[7]
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: Too hard

  • Comments: This was an AWESOME race!! I will definately be back eventhough it just about killed me ;-)...The race is small but just fantastic. I highly recommended it.
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[8]
Reported by:
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: This was harder than Ironman!! WOW. Brutal. I ended up 10/66 female, 42/239 overall..and it would appear only 170/239 people finished the race...which means there were 69 DNFs!!! That's like almost 1/3 :o
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[9]
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: Too hard

  • Comments: If you are going to have one of the hardest HIM's around, you need to back it up with support and they did just that. The aid stations were great and well organized. I can't thank the volunteers enough who worked through the same tough conditions I just complained about. This is a perfect race for anyone who wants to have a good mental picture of what to compare future tough conditions against. I can say that I doubt I will see a tougher bike course or hotter conditions on the run any time soon during a HIM! This was the 26th year of the race and I have to imagine the reputation either hurts the race from growing any larger or these are the same sick people that come out every year:)
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[10]
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: Too hard

  • Comments: Two of the aid stations ran out of water toward the end and one went unmanned for quite a while - racers ended up using discarded cups and having to tilt the water buckets to get some fluids. Other than that, though, it was a very well run race
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[11]
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: Great race, all of the volunteers were very encouraging and supportive of all the racers. Good organization, no complaints from me. This was my 50th birthday present, what a way to spend a great day. I loved it.
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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? Average
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: I want to race 2 more half distances (at least) before Ironman. I want to get that experience so that I can better predict how hard I can push. But I do know that with the commitment, I will sign up for Ironman 2010. This race did a lot for my confidence. I got so much from the other racers out on the course and never once felt like I didn’t belong. I earned that respect. As much as I was ready to cringe when I saw pictures from the race, I found myself looking at them with a different eye. My body did amazing things for me out on that course and in training. And I owe it to myself to make peace with my body and get to a healthy place and weight. I’m ready to step up to a new challenge. As much as I was ready to cringe when I saw pictures from the race, I found myself looking at them with a different eye. Maybe how you guys have always looked at them. My body did amazing things for me out on that course and in training. And I owe it to myself to make peace with my body
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[13]
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: Too hard

  • Comments: Great Venue - I highly recommend. Beautiful country ride. Anybody not from here wouldnt believe the hills. My slow was 5 mph and coast down at 38 + mph. Sugarloaf Mountain was very cool.
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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: The RD is one of the most experienced guys around and I think it shows. Watching those folks get through the full IronDistance is truly inspirational -
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[15]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?No
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?No
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

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

  • Comments: I though the event could have been much classier. But- I was not there into the wee hours with the Ironmen. Alos felt they could have sold some merchandise after the race on race day.
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[16]
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?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Too hard

  • Comments: The best part of the race was the end. My little girls ran the last .2 miles with me. They were so excited. When they put the medal around my neck, my 7 year old yell to my 5 year old "Daddy won, look they gave him the medal!" Also, Alltom1 stayed 90 minutes after his race to root for me all the way across the line. A real stand up guy! He had some great words of encouragement for me at the end. Overall, I loved it. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. It was a great personnel challenge. I am hooked! Already thinking about the next one.
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[17]
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: See you next year!
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[18]
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: Too hard

  • Comments: It was a nice race, just not a nice day. Plenty of water, gatorade, and snacks. So many people had so many medical problems. I probably should have gone in the med. tent but I knew they wouldn't really be able to help that much. No one at the finished asked if I was alright (a first for me). The post food was some some drinks and some sandwhiches but the flys got to the food before I could. I really have the most respect in the world for all of those people who finished. If you finished this you are awesome. I can't imagine the full.
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[19]
Reported by:
Race rating (2)
User photo
  • Organised?No
  • Events on time?Yes

  • Lots of volunteers to help?No
  • Plenty of drink stations?No

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

  • Comments: The bike and run course had problems with traffic. I am very hesitant to race on this course again because we (my wife and I) did not feel too safe on the bike course. There was alot of traffic on the roads, and I almost got clipped a few times. My wife (and I) got caught behind alot of cars, and other triathletes and did not have anyway to get out avoid drafting. She got a penalty. I was in a different part of the ride and could not pass very many cars, or other triathletes, and had to slow down and ride at a crawl. The second half of the run was on a crappy road with no shoulder and a very cambered road side, and again I felt like a target for cars. There was no food at the finish, and they ran out of water at the finish when I came across. Then the championchip time did not register, and It did not pick up my time at the finish. Fred still has not responded to my e-mail about my run time. And I am still listed at DNF on the results. I think I finished around 7:15:00, but
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[20]
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: Too hard

  • Comments: Despite everything, I think this is a good race and I would consider doing it again. Having a record setting heat for the day certainly made it that much harder, but I thought it was a good race. I learned alot about myself during this race #1) I have more determination than I thought; when that police officer threatened to pull the plug on my race by calling the paramedics I got mad and made myself move; I couldn't handle the thought of giving up on the bike with only 4 miles to go #2)I need to ride my bike much, much more if I ever want to be competitive on a hilly course; this is a tough bike and I wasn't exactly up to the challenge and I am going to work on that all winter #3) my BT friends are the best, a big thanks to Wendy for keeping me relaxed before the race and for making me laugh with her Whoop whoops :), and for her and Sue trying to make sure that I was OK during the race and making sure that I finished; you guys are the best!!
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[21]
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?
  • Overall course based on my ability: Just right

  • Comments: Life is full of coulda/shoulda's - I had much higher expectations for this race and I think my overall fitness level was ready to deliver a PR. I fully expect to make other stupid mistakes in the future, it just won't be this one again ;-) PS It really looks like times were slower this year across the board - My time last year was good for 18th in AG. Same time this year would have gotten me 5th. Obviously, I wasn't the only one who was slowed down by the conditions - How those folks doing the full coped with the heat is a testament to will power - Way to go, guys!
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[22]
Reported by:
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: **Edited to put splits in..I think my mother could've walked that fast with me on the "run". Well, at least if she had her comfortable shoes on.** Quick race synopsis if you don't feel like reading all of this: The race was a fiasco, or to be positive, a learning experience. I had a total meltdown, and ended up shuffling probably 12 miles of the run. I did finish, but had to throw out any time goals in favor of staying out of the med tent or the hospital. I am doing this race report mainly to look back at later and pick out things to avoid doing ever, ever again. I arrived in Clermont about 3 PM, registered, and checked my bike in. I then went for a brief swim, mainly to see what the water temp was like, and to get that incomparable feeling of not being able to see 6" in front of your nose. The water was very warm; I have the feeling that the race directors were very creative to come up with a wet suit legal water temp. Went over to the homestay, where I met some interesting
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[23]
Reported by:
Race rating (2)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?Yes

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

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

  • Comments: Sommer Sports did a good job with what they had given the fact that a hurricane (Wilma) would hit Fl only a day later... It was a very difficult race, a fact that was pounded home as I talked to more and more people who had completed half's in the past who were very unhappy with there performances... It strangely made me feel better knowing how difficult of a time I had and hoping to salvage any future hope of meeting personal goals for completing an Ironman. My hat goes off to those who completed the full!
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[24]
Reported by:
Race rating (3)
User photo
  • Organised?No
  • Events on time?No

  • Lots of volunteers to help?No
  • Plenty of drink stations?Yes

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

  • Comments: Hurricane Wilma tried her best to affect this race. There were more issues than normal at a Sommer Sports event & both Wilma and the departure of some SS staffers during the prior week created some poor organization experienced by the full IM participants. Some of the aid stations were out of water & some of the aid stations abandoned during the evening hours as full IMers came around. I'm taking a few weeks off from training & then plan on working on some things over the winter. Over & Out...
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[25]
Reported by:
Race rating (4)
User photo
  • Organised?Yes
  • Events on time?No

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

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

  • Comments: My only complaint was a few miles on the run course was on a road with no shoulder, and open to traffic. It would have been nicer to have a lane blocked off. Unfortunately I can see how that really isn't possible without redoing the run course altogether. The race started 30 mins late.
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