Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens : Official Thread (Page 2)

I was just checking out the website and the information notes that there are two aid stations on the bike. For those you that have done the course before is it one or two aid stations per loop? The map doesn't show their location.

I remember two separate aid stations - one about 10 miles into the loop portion (maybe mile 18 or so) and then another right at the end of the loop (mile 26ish?).  You pass both stations twice, so again around 38 and then somewhere close to mile 46.

Yep, that sounds right. I think last year I just consumed my aero bottle in between stations, and then re-filled it on the fly at the next one.

Has anyone done Lake Stevens and Chelan Man? If so how do the bike and runs match up?

Thanks guys. I was a little concerned that there was only going to be one aid station per lap, this makes more sense.

So this is going to be my first half ironman.  I have done a lot of sprints and a few olympics.  I am a little stressed out because of the distance.  I have been training hard but am more worried about the nutrition and fluids.  any suggestions as I have 3 spots for fluids on my bike.  also,  i am getting a new wetsuit any suggestions on good ones?  Thanks... any input to help me through my first 70.3 would be greatly appreciated.

only a month a way! 

well, im a noob to triathlon this year, but FWIW here's what I did during FL 70.3 in May...

2 bottles of perpeteum and alternating water/gatorade in the aero bottle. 

the bike course is what im worried about.... 

This is my first time doing Lake Stevens with some friends and I was wondering about the logistics
of getting to Lake Stevens from Everett. Is it possible to just ride over to Lake Stevens from Everett
and check out the site & course prior to the race (mileage wise it doesn't seem that long, but one can never tell) and then on race day take the hotel shuttle over to the race site.  We're trying to avoid renting a car if possible. 

It takes about 15-20 minutes to drive from Everett to transition, so I guess you're right - mileagewise, it's not that far.  I just don't know how easy it would be to ride the distance.  It's kind of like a freeway most of the way.  I'm sure there are some options, but that might add some mileage (and it might be more than you want to ride the day before a race).  You also have to check your bike on Saturday, so you would have to figure out how to get back to your hotel.

I usually just have 2 (rear) spots for fluid, but I added one on the downtube for Coeur d'Alene and it worked out pretty well.  I start with a disposable bottle up front and swap it out with water at the aid stations.  I use the rear bottles for my fluids with calories.

That being said, I may only go with 1 or 2 bottles for this race, depending on temperature.  I usually end up carrying around too much fluid for entire races and with 4 opportunities to get fluids, I don't know how much I need to stock on the bike.  I also use a feed box and stock it with Shot Bloks and Saltstick tabs.

For the wetsuit, I would typically recommend Xterra (great prices and customer service), but you're going to want to try on some suits at your local tri shop to be sure you get one that fits perfectly.  Whichever brand you choose, you're probably going to want to get it sooner than later so that you can get in the water as many times as possible before race day.

I'm in for Lake Stevens and just noticed this thread now!  It's my 2nd HIM, the other being Timberman.  Tman is also known for being a hilly, tougher course but I'm having a hard time finding someone who'd done both (opposite sides of the country) to confirm.  Anyway, I know I have a long way to go to get my climbing (on the bike and run) where I want it to be.

I am living in Seattle for the summer and was planning on just staying here Sat night.  It's only a 45 min drive (with no traffic at that hour) but does that sound like a mess to go up and back both Sat and Sunday?  Or does everyone stay more locally?

I'm hoping to go up there in 2 weeks to check out the course- if not I've heard it's very technical and I like to know what I'm descending, especially.  Is it a closed course?

I was considering Tman this year and from what I was able to gather, it appears that Lake Stevens is a tougher bike (and run) course.

I don't know that I would necessary call it technical - more hilly and rolling.  There are a couple of screaming descents, but they are not too twisty and you can pretty much see what's coming.  It always seems that you're going up or down and there are a lot of false flat sections that feel tougher than they look like like should.

It is not a closed course.  I think there are sections close to town that are closed, but the big loop is open to local traffic.

Thanks for the info! Sounds like we better get a car.

Has anyone done the Lake Stevens and the Chelan Man? I would like to know how the courses matchs up as far as hills. Thanks for the help.

Re the registration and bike drop off.... that is such a drag now. When I first did this race, ('05 maybe?) the packet pick up and whatnot was right there at the school near the bike drop off. That was fine, get there Saturday take care of things and be good to go for Sunday morning (still need to do the final final final bike tire pump up pre race).

Now you have go to Everett, sit through the race briefing (I advise getting to the briefing just late enough you "have to" stand in the back. Makes for rapid exit), get stamped post briefing, stand in line for packet pick up, then put your numbers on your bike, then head over to Lk Steven's to drop your bike off all on Saturday, kinda ties up a good chunk of the afternoon. I drive up Hwy 9 to Lake Steven's so the Everett loop added in really increases my driving time.

What really don't get is that they have shuttles running to the race Sunday morning from the Host Hotel. They DON'T have shuttles running back post race. So what's the incentive to leave your car in Everett? Unless you want to bike back to Everett or can manage an other ride.

Will be heading up to the course tomorrow for a ride and a lap or two of the run. Looking forward to it!

^^^ How was the ride?

I just wanted to know if anyone knows if we are going to get a information packet in the mail so we know everything we need to do, the pre-race meetings, the transition set up, our start times etc...  I am stressed out enough to do my first 70.3 to be worried about the other stuff.  

I drove the bike course last Tuesday and HOLY COW... that is one hilly course.  I am thinking about putting a motor on my bike so I can have some legs left for the run.    It sucks because i start doubting my ability to finish this race.  I KNOW IT IS JUST STRESS AND NERVES...  I HOPE.

Good Luck All. 

Ride was good! I kinda took the 1st lap easy'ish, more scouting out the course and thinking about gearing choices (was on 50/34 with a 11/23 cassette). That gearing was about right for me, but I'll put a 11/25 cassette on the bike for race day incase I'm looking for that extra climbing gear on the second loop. Went more at race pace the second lap which made getting over some of the rollers on the big loop easier by carrying more speed starting up them.

The one big'ish climb is about .5 mile then goes flat'ish and then has a second much shorter climb. There are certainly smaller stepper hills on the course before. Not many flat sections at all. On towards the end of the big loop you do a nice decent but near the end of it there is a bridge. The road to bridge joint is a bit abrupt. I rode over it in aero on the first lap and felt a little sketchy, carried the same speed on the second lap but moved my hands to the base bar ends for the bump. The last two times I've done this race I was on my old Litespeed frame, it seems to soak that bump up much better. I don't remember being that noticeable. My new frame is carbon and a lot stiffer, still soaked up the bump well, but not like the Litespeed.

On the run course the hill along the lake is not too bad, easier than I remember it from last year. It seem to be a bit over a quarter mile long before starting to level out (would have to dig out my Garmin log to be sure). I find the little grade after T2 up past the school to your right to be a harder hill (maybe because it so much closer to T2 than the hill along the lake).

I just got done with three weeks of 17+ hour training weeks including a 3hr run today, so looking forward to taper and racing!




Edited by magic 2010-07-26 12:39 AM

Seriously, watch out for this bump.  I hit it at 41ish mph today and got a little air.  Could be very dangerous if surrounded by other racers.  It is on Dubuque Rd. right before you turn onto S. Machias Rd.  Just remember that as you are about to cross over a bridge while you're bombing down a hill, look out for the bump. 

Kinda random regarding the "bump" anyone else do the Kirkland Tri? When you are bombing down the hill to the emergency access/ped bridge. Lots of signs up saying slow down... first time I did the course I ignored those signs hit that bridge at speed in aero, got way more air than I really would have liked. Had to drop my inside foot out of the pedals and tripod the immediate left hand turn. Think they have changed the course now to control the speed there.

I can not find the heats and starting times for this years LS 70.3.  does anyone know where to find it.

Jason 

http://ironmanlakestevens.com/2010IMSTHSwimWaves.pdf

I've done the Oceanside 70.3 a couple of times and was curious if anyone who has done both could tell me how the bike and run of lake Stevens compares to Oceanside .I also have 11-23 cassette but think I should change now that I read more.Looking forward to the race!Noah

I have done Oceanside a few times and raced Lake Stevens last year.  It's tough to compare the bike courses since they're so different.  I feel like the bike course at Oside is mostly flat with a few monster spikes.  Lake Stevens is more rolling with a lot of ups, downs and false flats.  There are some steeper inclines, but nothing like the larger two at Oceanside.  Maybe the worst at Lake Stevens is like the last (third hardest IMO) hill at Oside.

Last year, I raced with an 11-23 cassette and struggled with the bike course.  I never felt comfortable, but I don't know if that was due to my gearing or the fact that I'm not good at sitting and spinning up hills.  I usually get up and stand, but at Lake Stevens that can be tough since there aren't that many steep climbs.  You really have the opportunity to be down in aero most of the time.  I swapped out my cassette to an 11-28 for Coeur d'Alene this year and I'll keep that setup through Lake Stevens.

The run at Oceanside is pretty flat.  Yeah, there's the little one-block shot up from the boardwalk and there are a few rollers out towards the turnaround, but Lake Stevens has a pretty significant climb that you have to traverse four times.  By itself, it's not that big of a deal, but having to go up and over a big hill after mashing your quads out on that bike course is tough.  The "big" hill is out on the lake loop, just before the turnaround (go up and over, turn around and go up and over again).  And you do that loop twice.

Other than the one hill, the lake loop is pretty flat.  The first loop up by the school starts with a long steady incline and then there's another quick hitter right before coming back down to town.  Still, last year (two weeks before a PR marathon), I ran a 1:36 off the bike at Oceanside.  Then later in the year, with much less run fitness, I ran a 1:39 at Lake Stevens.  Not sure exactly what that means, but I think it just goes to show that the course won't make all that much of a difference - maybe a couple of minutes off your Oside time, depending on fitness level?