so just how hilly is it?

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2009-09-09 10:52 AM

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Subject: so just how hilly is it?

 yes, another thread about which ironman to do.  I'm thinking about signing up for IMKY as my first IM, but I'm a little concerned about the hills.  I will have 3 HIMs under my belt (FL 70.3, Cancun 70.3 and the REV3 race in Knoxville).  I want to do something earlier in the season, so I'm trying not to wait on IMFL and I'm trying to keep from flying anywhere.  (bike fees to get a bike to Cancun are awful)

For any of you guys who have done it, how much of a difference did the hills make in your overall performance and ability to handle the run?

2009-09-09 11:17 AM
in reply to: #2396688

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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?

I think it just comes down to what you've trained for.  I've heard people say that IMKY is hilly, and I've heard others say the course wasn't bad at all.  I train on similar terrain, so I'm more in the latter category.  I don't think it was the hills that made the run difficult.

Either way, the good news is that once you get off the bike, the run is pretty flat.  I've heard people from the 07 and 08 races describe the run as "flat as a frying pan."



Edited by wiky 2009-09-09 11:21 AM
2009-09-09 11:22 AM
in reply to: #2396688

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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?

I haven't done IMKY, but the heat/humidity scare me far more than the hills.  I know this year was unusually cold (so was IMCdA). 

2009-09-09 12:46 PM
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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?
I live in Dallas, TX. It's flat here.

I did very little hill training and did fine in Kentucky in 2008. The hills were very manageable in my opinion.

So was the heat and humidity!

2009-09-09 9:01 PM
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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?
Well, I live in Iowa and I would call it hilly.  I know it's described as rolling, but I'd call it hilly.  One of my friends who did Idaho last year though KY was much worse.   As long you are prepared for it though it isn't unbearable.

Good luck!
2009-09-09 9:12 PM
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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?

In the early out-and-back, there are a few steeper hills, but they're not overly long and you can spin up them.  During the loops, it's a fair number of rolling hills - nothing too steep or long.  There are a some sections where it might be a debate between "rolling" and "mostly flat", just depends on your perspective.  Then pretty flat for the last 20 miles back to town.

I'm from Dallas, where the only "hills" are the overpasses.  :-) 

2009-09-10 1:34 AM
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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?
I did KY this year and according to the trusty Garmin there was exactly 7611 feet of climbing. No matter which way you dice it, the run isn't gonna be fun.... you just deal with it and move forward. With hills and all, it was an incredibly gorgeous ride, tops the list below my last big training ride in Southern California up the coast for 110 miles... I too live in Texas... Fort Worth to be exact and there are a  few rollers here, but nothing like the constant ups and downs of the Louisville course. It was an incredible race, in an incredibly beautiful part of the country, and one I would recommend for sure!!!

Dan
www.trimywill.com
2009-09-10 1:37 AM
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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?
And an FYI for the "Flat run"..... Garmin reported 2000+ feet of climb... not entirely flat, but not too bad. It was mostly false flats and a couple underpasses and a couple small rollers....
2009-09-10 7:07 AM
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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?
I love my Garmin for a bunch of reasons, but it is notoriously off on elevation calculations. Mine says my IM Lou run had over 9k feet of climbing on the RUN. I read somewhere else that the IMLou bike course has about 4k of climbing.

To the OP, I ride a good bit of rolling terrain and the IM Lou course, while not the hardest out there, is certainly challenging. There really is no one hill that stands out (other than maybe the out and back more for the crowded course than anything), but the rollers are relentless and keep coming all day.
2009-09-10 7:34 AM
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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?
Keep in mind that, because of the way the geometry and the math with the satellite's works out, a GPS unit like my Garmin 405 is MUCH less accurate with vertical distance measurements than it is with normal distance. To get precise vertical info from a GPS, you have to spend quite a bit of money. You see that error in BT postings all the time........Same course on the same day, some will report 3000 ft and others will report 6000 ft of climb. You've got to take all the climb & elevation data with a huge grain of salt. 
2009-09-10 7:42 AM
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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?
Well I live in pancake flat southern Ontario and while I would class it as hilly, if I can do it with no hill training, anyone can. Then again, my run blew up, but I'm blaming that more on the 94 deg and humidity in 2008, than the bike.

I would highly recommend this race, it was excellent and you won't regret it.

FishHog

2009-09-10 8:35 AM
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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?
dancbjammin - 2009-09-10 2:37 AM And an FYI for the "Flat run"..... Garmin reported 2000+ feet of climb... not entirely flat, but not too bad. It was mostly false flats and a couple underpasses and a couple small rollers....


That's a good point about the run.  I was expecting "fyring pan flat", and was pretty disappointed when I encountered those non-flat sections.  It was more psychological than anything else, but still worth driving/riding the run course before race day if you can.
2009-09-10 7:53 PM
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Subject: RE: so just how hilly is it?

I live in Cincinnati - fairly hilly.  Lousiville is similar.  Mainly rollers.  Nothing too big.  Did Louisville IM 2008 & 2009.  I love the bike course.  The rollers keep it fun and interesting.  I had no problem going to the run due to the hills.

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