IM Kansas 70.3 (Page 12)

 It's all relative. Everybody has to ride the same hills. The only thing you can change is weather or not you are prepared. Having seen the hills from my saddle. I'm not as excited about qualifying for Clearwater but you can damn sure bet come race day I will put it ALL out there!!!

You want hills? Ride around Jefferson City, MO; the Ozarks, Bella Vista, AR; those area's qualify as hilly and make IMKS look pretty smooth!

Geesh we are only talking about maybe 3,000' of vertical climb spread out over 56 miles and don't for get, you can rest going down the hills!

 I think what people are trying to say is that compared to where they regularly train, KS70.3 has a lot more climbing. I have posted before that the hills are not killer but they will make an average cyclist beg for mercy. UNLESS you train on similar terrain. I grew up in the Ozarks so I know what hills are. I haven't trained there other than the occasional ride while visiting family.  You live in OP and have the ability to regularly train on hills whereas most of the mid-westerners don't. On race day it is all going to come down to who has the higher pain tolerance. I have faith in my ability and I know I will put it out there mentally. We are just saying if you don't train on hills you should try to get a couple of good quality hilly rides in pre June 15!

RunningJayhawk - 2008-05-15 10:26 PM There were a few references on Motion Based around 2800 feet. I'd love it if it's around 2000-2500.

@ a total climb of 2800', it averages out to 1' of vertical for every 105.6' of horizontal!

My 305 gives me consistently ridiculous numbers for elevation gain.  It seems to me to overestimate the amount of climbing by 50-100%.

Does that mean that the course is actually flat? 

VeganMan - 2008-05-16 8:20 AM

moneyman - 2008-05-16 9:13 AM

VeganMan - 2008-05-15 7:45 AM

ballyard7 - 2008-05-15 8:29 AM I mapped the course on my route tracker here on BT and it said 2021ft of climbing. Does this sound right?

My 305 showed 2,575'

My 305 gives me consistently ridiculous numbers for elevation gain.  It seems to me to overestimate the amount of climbing by 50-100%.

Does that mean that the course is actually flat? 

Yes, if this is flat:

Enough of this depressing talk of hills.

How is the wind?

lisac957 - 2008-05-16 11:41 AM Oh it has been windy in Kansas, but that's normal for this time of year. Most of the central region had a 'wind advisory' on Monday (4 days ago) because of 40mph gusts. Usually by June the winds subside. Also, just from personal observation (not a meterologist), winds usually pick up in the afternoon as opposed to the morning. Did an OWS here in Wichita the other day... winds picked up (6 p.m. timeframe) and it was a VERY different experience swimming the leg back in. Swallowed a buncha water because of the waves, and ended up 'sighting' more than I planned. Ya'll, I'm getting SO excited!

Thanks for the info.

Actually, I was just kidding about the hills and the wind.  I keep trying to convince myself that it is going to be what it's going to be.  I have put in my time on the hills and I have ridden in some hellacious wind (where do you think the Kansas wind comes from).  With the race 4 weeks and 2 days away, there is not much more we can do in any event.

I can't believe I we are down to the last 2 hard weeks, then its taper time.