Muskoka Ironman 70.3 (Page 2)

Here's an account of what the bike course will be like.  It was recently posted on the Ironman Muskoka website:

"The course is lollipop shaped and you should note the nice down hills on the way out to the loop as you will be reminded of them on the way back to Deerhurst but not in the same way. The course is very scenic. There are a number of rolling hills to begin with but you eventually find yourself on some very smooth highways, where you can just put your head down and crank up the speed (I think the trend is downhill here); this part will be very fast. There are some fun points where you ride down into some towns and one point where you ride over a single lane bridge dead centre of town (Dorset). Once you reach the end of this highway section, you will be once again on the rolling hills back to the stick of the lollipop, this section is longer then you might think, so do not anticipate you will be just pounding over a few hills to get back as this goes on for some time (save something for the end, plus you need to run afterwards). Once you make the left turn which is the stick part of the lollipop, you will now find that there are some big climbs with some short down hills to do before you get to T2 (about 8KM worth of this). Not to be alarming but this course will challenge you in the final 20KM as it has a lot of rolling hills, the total trend is uphill for much of this section. Sorry I do not have a detailed KM breakdown as I was riding blind with no computer as it is another piece of biking equipment that has seemed to fail this year of mechanical issues. I am not sure how the run will be after such a nice ride. I am almost certain already that I like this course and will consider doing it all over again next year . I hope some of this information will help for any who may be wondering and might not be able to make it on the course pre-race; please share any information you might have."

I also read another account stating that the run from the swim exit to T1 will be long and that the run out of T2 onto Canal Road will be on a long steady incline.

Okay, I heard back from Janet Fraser, who is the Timing and Registration clerk (wife of Mitch Fraser, the Race Director) and she said that they will be getting regular Gatorade, and that it will be most likely orange.

So there you go.

Hey Cathy, you'll be fine! It's just some hills and they will be small

I noticed in your list of races that you The Canadian Half last year. That was my first HIM. I really enjoyed the event and the venue and I'm thinking of doing it again this year if the weather looks to be good. How about you?

I'm in the last wave as well, can I draft off of you?

I thought the Canadian was a great first timer event.  The multiple loops on the bike was a bit boring but couldn't ask for a flatter race.  I had a lot of cramping issues that killed my run but aside from the cramps I felt great.  Was  disappointed to receive the email apology about the run being short.... I wondered during the run why we were turning around so much sooner that the full runners were.   Overall I enjoyed it and if someone was looking for a fast HIM time that would be the race to do.

I'm only doing Muskoka this year.... can't imagine doing 2 races that close together.   Nats (who you'll see on this thread)  is doing the AquaCycle at the Canadian.

Hi Morgan.... I peeked at your logs.. you swim and run faster than me so I don't think you'll be last, and I do think your time will be much less than 8 hours. My estimate for myself is:

45 min swim
4 hrs  bike
2 - 2:30 run
-------------------
6:45 - 7:15 max

As for nutrition they will have Gatorade (orange, not my favorite) and PowerGels on course.  Practice your nutrition now on your long training days. If you can use what the course offers it will simplify things for you.

I don't think that would be a good idea Dave, remember I said I could be last.   

At least it will be easy to find my bike in T1, on the empty racks.

Hello everyone!

Now that I have the athlete's manual, I am getting a little nervous.  I am adjusting my time goals and I now expect a finish time of 7.5 hours.

Swim - 45 to 50 mins
Bike - 4 hrs, including one or two pee breaks and bottle exchange
Run - Hopefully 2h30

Caius, I will indeed race the Iron 113 SwimCycle on the 30th and do my last long run the next day. Like Cathy, I could not race two HIM's two weeks apart.

Oh, by the way folks, I am heading to the Muskoka area on Sept 6th for a recon ride and to check out the race site.  I'll be staying at the Sleep Inn in Bracebridge.  Since I will be in my half taper week, I don't plan on riding the whole course.  I will drive the first half and ride the most difficult portion.  Anyone interested to join me?

What an amazing accomplishment!

The race announcers for this series seem to like to throw in a little information about the finishers, so I would definately pass this information on to the race director.

I've signed up for the 7:30 seating at the welcome banquet on friday. 

Does anyone else want to see if we can reserve a BT table at the banquet?

According to the rules, you are allowed to crawl through the run.  I should have signed up!

Oh well, next year for me a I think.  Good luck boys and girls!

Hey all, I hope you don't mind me joining in. I too am nervous after reading the athletes manual. It's also my first HIM after taking up the sport a couple years ago. Today I did my first Oly distance in Cobourg and it was a challenge, but did manage to finish in 3:44 or there abouts. The swim was a challenge with the chop in lake ontario, but was nice temperature.

 Anyway, I'm sort of looking forward to the Muskoka challenge and hope that I can get it done.

Hi Rich and congrats on your first Oly and Cobourg finish today!  I was racing there as well and boy was the swim brutal... It was pretty much the same as the sprint last year, maybe choppier today.

I was told today by one of my fellow age grouper who did the Lisa Bentley Muskoka 70.3 training camp at the beginning of the month that 1)  the swim will be great even if it will be windy; 2) the run course is overall flat except for the gradual climb out of T2 and on to Canal Rd but they were not allowed to run on the golf course (which I suspect is the hilly part) and 3) the bike course will be hilly, more so on the last 35 km or so (we all knew that already though).

On another note, I have signed up for the 7:30 seating at the welcome banquet.

Wow, we are now three weeks away from that event...  I want to wish everyone a safe last peak phase training week; half-taper and taper weeks are right around the corner! 

All of us BT'ers will finish this race, we are tough!