Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens : Official Thread (Page 3)

halfironmike - 2010-08-05 9:38 AM



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?

i am riding with a compact double and an 11-23 cassette. for those of you that have done this course, would you say that this gearing is adequate?

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?

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.

halfironmike - 2010-08-11 8:43 AM

Anyone seen or heard anything about water temp?

Will be hot in Lake Stevens area.

magic - 2010-08-15 6:45 PM We'll I get to join an other Official Thread, Clearwater! Took 6th in my Age Group and got a roll down spot. Missed 5th by like 10 seconds, but there were 4 spots in the 40 to 44 group. 5:00:33 finish time. Had a crappy swim, like 37mins and could not go in a straight line to save my life. Did not settle into the swim till the way back in. Ok T1 Flatted on the bike, think I have leaky valve on the tire. Stopped and took care of that just into the 2nd lap as the rear tire was getting really sloppy. Disc cover on the rear and aero helmet make a huge speed difference. Saw 55+ mph on the one very step downhill. Never saw that on the Tri bike with regular wheels and helmet. Crap T2. There was a garbage can that I put my bag next to as a means to mark my location. The can was gone when I came in. took me about :30 longer than last year to do T2. Run was tough, puked up a little twice and could not eat anything. I had really nailed my nutrition and electrolytes on the bike, so plenty in the gut to see me through. Will chill on training for a few weeks and then put a plan together to get schooled at Clearwater by the really fast peoples.