Ironman 70.3 comes to Georgia in 2009 (Page 2)

Yah, I am really interested in the New Orleans 70.3 but nervous about doing an inaugural race as my first.  It seems like the transition is wonky because things are really spread out.

I'll be interested to read about the course and see how things are set up.  I'm pretty much planning on doing the Augusta race.  

I think I may have found my calling.  Other people that plan things a year and a half in advance...I'm home.

I'll definitely add this to my list of possibles for my first HIM.

I'm so curious what the bike course will be.  If it goes into SC like it says that means there's going to be quite a bit of climbing in the beginning- going away from the river and all.  I would hope they don't make us climb up GA Ave- that would be brutal.  If they had us ride over 5th street bridge, then we'd have to climb up Martintown Road- so I guess regardless it will be an uphill battle in the beginning.  Martintown Rd wouldn't be too bad and we'd miss a lot of climbing if we turned off and went out toward Aiken in the beginning as soon as we cross over the bridge.  I just wonder if they'll have us ride out more toward Aiken or Edgefield?  Or they could always route us into SC by riding out to Beech Island and go out that way in SC- that would be flatter.  That route would probably make the most sense since T1 is somewhere near the Boathouse when we exit the swim and it would be easy to direct bike traffic onto Sandbar Ferry.  I can't wait to find out all the details!

I'm hoping they take us up Bergen Rd. Seriously, it wouldn't be hard to design a course with a good coupleof thousand feet of climbing. Really, the harder the better...

The one good thing is that the run should be flat, if it's a 2 loop course downtown.  So if the bike is hilly at least we won't have to worry about running hills afterwards.  I am almost expecting a super hilly bike course just because of the routes I've ridden here- it's hard to find flats.  If they wanted to be cruel they would have us ride up Storm Brach Rd- not as bad as Bergen, but it's a lot of climbing.

The run will probably follow the Augusta half marathon course, going through the Hill and either up MIllege or Walton Way. Either way...steep.

 hypothetical bike course: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ga/augusta/582218247033

Cool ... same RD as Steelhead?  Sounds like the beginnings of a quality race.

I was thinking mroe of the lines of 2 loops of something simliar to the Braod Street Ramble course.  Because the descirption says it's a 2 loop run downtown.  If it followed the 1/2 mary course then it'd only be one loop.

Another possibility. This one is flatter, less interesting but more likely because the roads are much less busy, and an out-and-back would be pretty easy to manage (half the aid stations).

http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ga/augusta/419023757755

That route would be pretty "blah" but makes sense.  I would think for good scenary they'd have us start on Old Jackson Highway and then turn off on some back roads to ride one big loop- that would be good.

Ooh- the anticipation is killing me!

If you have suggestions for the bike course, I bet that he is probably eager for the local guidance.  Drop him a line ... in the end, it will mean a better bike course for all of us!

Atlanta Sports and Fitness magazine has a nice write up on the race:

The article gets you excited, that is for sure.  It will still be blazing hot, but definitely going to be a great race.  We can only hope for a full IM at some point in the future. 

I am really new to all this but my long term gaol is to be able to complete a half iron man.  I am in pretty good shape and I think the ride and swim distances I could do within six months of training..The run is a different story.  I have a LONG way to go to get to be able to do a 13 mile run.  If this race is in Sept 2009 do you experienced folks think I could get myself trained for the run within the next 15 months?