Ironman U.S. Championship : Official Thread (Page 12)

Ya know what would be cool, if they covered all the stairs with a six-inch layer of dirt, then wet it down with fire hoses and made it a partial-Tough Mudder obstacle course!!  They could easily turn IMNYC into the first hybrid-Ironman  

And for a second obstacle ... this is how you'd have to cross the George Washington Bridge

This is not the most active group, eh?  C'mon Ironman NYC!!! 116 Days to go - Wooo-Hoooo!!  You guys are all going to be a part of history.  Looking forward to volunteering and cheering you guys and gals on.  That'll be my part of Ironman History

Ridiculously Super-Smart Move.  SPECIFICITY is very important!

I haven't taken a look but I'd be really curious what you think.  I'm hoping to head down next month to bike/run the course.

I am staying in Manhattan, so my plan is to take the subway up to the GW, run across to NJ and run down to T2 and the 4 mile stretch that will be part of the race (at least the first hill). Then, run back over the bridge to 116, which is near where I am staying.

the weather doesn't look good, but I don't mind a little suffering. I may have to pick up a waterproof camera so i can document my enjoyment.
If nothing else, I am looking forward to running over the bridge. 

Thanks for the report.

Once you get over the bridge, the run on the green way is flat.  I think after crossing the GW Bridge back into Manhattan its pretty much a cruise control hill.

Any idea how the Dykeman Hill compares to the ski jump hill or Sentential hills at IMLP?

Random aside -- Dykeman Hill makes me think of Peter Dykeman Campbell from Mad Men -- I wonder if there's a (fictitious) connection. 

Hey IM US Championship New York City Team - how is everyone. I have not posted in a few weeks but I have been paying attention. Work and training are keeping me busy. 13 weeks into my official plan and all is well (knock wood). I really appreciate all the information that is being posted from all of you that have been on or close to the course. Please keep it coming for those of us north of the border.

KC

Absolutely, it's going to look so long- even at IMLP, where it's just a hair under .6 miles the long way (2 loop course), the buoys look a long way away.  You can't focus on the furthest away buoy- just focus on swimming from one buoy to another.

Glad to hear it about the hills not being as bad as the wall! Not so good about the run though.

So, I did manage to run up and over the bridge on Sunday, however, I didn't end up running the course aside from the bridge.

I think you others who have done more specifics have better info.

Also, for anyone riding, 9W does parallel the palisades, but only for the first 12 miles. That means there are about 14-15 miles you can't get access to on a bike. No other roads parallel the palisades as closely.

Not quite true- while the West Side bike path is basically flat, there is at least one climb into Riverside Park to where we finish. 

So with Ironman St. George turning into a 70.3 - will IMLP or IMNYC be the toughest Ironman course in North America? 

It looks as though LP has just over 1,000 more feet of climbing.  But IMNCY hands-down has a much-much more brutal run.  1600 feet gain from 4 repeats up one climb alone, not mentioning the steps that also must be traversed 4X.  And if there are heavy rains the days leading up to the race, the Hudson can be choppy and it sounds like the tide will be against athletes to start (according to the IMNCY website).  So yeah, compared to Mirror Lake, I think the swim will also pose more of a challenge.  Also the weather will likely be hotter and more humid than LP.  Based on these criteria I'm going to say IMNYC clearly will be the tougher Ironman. 

Having said all that, I plan to race IMNYC in 2013 or 2014

Now get back to your stair climb and hill repeats people!!! T-minus 101 Days to go!!!

Wait, the tide will be against us?

SUCK-O!!!