Loveland Lake to Lake

It is a really nice course, especially the bike.

I don't remember the start time being so early last year, perhaps they changed it.

The race is a nice, smallish one.  I agree, the bike course is pretty.  The swim is in Lake Loveland and the run is mostly in residential neighborhoods.  A good "all comers" tri.

I was given some hints from a friendly MHM coach at my OWS last weekend (this will be my first time too)

1) The transition from the water to bike is kinda long.  So prepare to run in your wetsuit a bit.
2) The first part of the bike leg is slightly uphill so don't be concerned if you aren't going at your normal speed.  The way back should be faster.
3) Toward the end of the run, where the spectators stand, they will be shouting you're almost there, but you really have a significant loop to go, so don't start sprinting.

Hope that helps!

-Derek

Is there a website for this one? what is the date?

http://www.lovelandlaketolake.com/ It'snext weekend, the 20th. It's a long Oly (30 mile bike)  I'll be there!

Edited by lodewey 2009-06-13 2:26 PM

This will be my first Olympic tri. Very nervous!!!  Wish I had another month to get ready for it but my goal is not to win but just to finish   I have ridden the bike course so at least I know what to expect. I hear it is a "friendly" tri  and the race director has been amazing about answering questions.

Thanks for the info. Does anybody know the water temp?

This was posted on the race website today:

WATER TEMPERATURE:
Due to the cooler weather and amount of water being run through Lake Loveland you should expect the usually very pleasant waters to be cooler than they have ever been on race day. On Monday the temperature range was from 61-64. The weather forecast is for warmer temps this week, but don't anticipate the water will be warmer than in the 60's.

Cheers,
Joe

Edited by garryowen96 2009-06-15 10:01 PM

These are good tips.  It sounds like the bike information is conservative, but if you are from Colorado it is nothing unexpected.  You can see a bike elevation profile on the race website, here is a direct link to the elevation: http://www.lovelandlaketolake.com/text/bike-elevation.pdf

The race website was provided elsewhere in this thread. 

I also was deceived by the finish last year.  The run is an out and back around the lake through residential neighborhoods.  as you start getting near the finish, it is a teaser, you hear the music, see finishers walking around, cheering, THEN you get directed around a small pond which you must run around before finishing.  It is nothing to be worried about, maybe .25mile or so, but if you are like me and think you are about to finish only to face 2 more mins of running it is a wake up call.  I actually thought the mile markers were off (passing mile 5 and could already see/hear the finish almost), but they are accurate so base your effort off the mile markers and you will be good to go.

I really love this course. It was my first ever triathlon in 2005 and I returned in 2006, 2007 but missed it last year (it sold out before I was ready to register). I am back this year and I'm hoping to put my fastest time in. The bike course is awesome and at 30 miles is a benefit to the slower swimmers/stronger cyclist types. The course can be pretty fast in spite of the climbing. In my opinion you should attack the uphills and scorch the descents. The run is flat so do not try to conserve your energy on the bike. Although not as many competitors as at the Boulder Peak, it is a first class event and great athlete's in all divisions turn out to race. It is a typically competitive Colorado race.