Challenge Maine - Half Course : Official Thread

My wife and I are heading up this year. We did it last year and loved it. Can't wait! First we have to make it through Challenge St. Andrews though...

Good luck on Challenge St. Andrews!

Question - do you know what the elevation gain is on the HIM bike portion?

For Challenge Maine? Here's a link to my strava from last year:

https://www.strava.com/activities/185113855

Garmin says 1,166 ft. It felt like it was gently rolling ... and REALLY fast. The run has a few small rolling hills at the beginning (small) ... then it's pancake flat for the out-and-back section.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to make it my mission to do some hill work each week with the hope of making my bike ride as fast as possible.

I'm Dave btw - nice to "meet' you!

I'll be doing the half too as my first. It's just a couple of towns over from me so I should have the chance to go out and ride it before the race.

Thanks for joining us Nate! I would love to hear how the roads are on the course. It was a brutal winter in Mass and our streets are littered with potholes. How are things up there?

I just checked and they haven't yet posted an athlete's guide. Anyone know what kind of food they will offer on course?

Edited by Qua17 2015-07-06 4:26 PM

Howdy all. This will be my first time doing this race. Looking forward to it!

8 Weeks to go. Anyone doing any special prep this weekend? I'm finishing up a rest week and am looking to live vicariously

Nothing too special. 2 hour ride this morning. 4500 yds swim tomorrow followed by 6 mile run. Building up for IM Louisville as well. Using Maine as prep race.

4500 yards is a beast of a swim workout! I did Rev3 Quassy to prep for IM Mont Tremblant. I'd like to do Louisville - especially now that they moved the race til the fall.

Today I wrote Rev3 (I know it's Challenge - but it's a difficult habit to break... I really liked Rev3's spirit)... about nutrition on the course and here is their reply.

What will be served at the Bike Aid Stations?
PowerGels (assorted flavors)
Water (sport-top, plastic bottle)
Gatorade Endurance (screw-off top plastic bottle, Lemon Lime)

What will be served at the Run Aid Stations?
At all of our run aid stations we will have the following:
Water
G2 Gatorade (cups, Lemon Lime)
Pretzels
PowerBars (assortment of flavors)
PowerGels (assortment of flavors)
PowerBar Blasts (assortment of flavors)
Salt Tablets
Bananas (only at miles 3, 4, 7, 9, 11)
Cola

Thanks for getting that information. That is really helpful.

Athlete's Guide is finally up!

http://www.challenge-maine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Maine-Ath...

Sadly I'm going to have to pull out this year ... nagging injury from last year hasn't properly healed. ARG. But, on the upside, my wife is still racing, and I'm going to switch to sherpa mode - and volunteer. If any of you happen to be leading the run - I might be the guy riding the "leader" bike in front of you...

Ahh... that won't be me. However if you are bringing up the rear, I'd love to buy you a beer!