General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Clough Rss Feed  
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2009-09-07 8:17 AM

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Subject: Clough

Who is racing Clough State Park this weekend? Has anyone been on the course or in the water there? Any scouting tips?



2009-09-07 1:42 PM
in reply to: #2393024

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Subject: RE: Clough

Bike Route is somewhat rough. The park has been closed all summer. On the roadways in the park there is a fair amount of debris and the pavement is rough. Mansion Road and Rte 13 (Stark Highway) are somewhat rough with grooved pavement on both the right side of the road and in the middle. Gorham Pond Road is in good shape and Clough Park Road is a little rough in spots.

 

Good luck!

2009-09-07 9:20 PM
in reply to: #2393024

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Subject: RE: Clough
Plan on doing the tri this weekend. Heading over Wed to do the Swim and the bike...
2009-09-08 11:28 AM
in reply to: #2393024

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New Hampshire
Subject: RE: Clough
I'm racing this weekend.  I did this race for the first time last year.  I did the swim without a wetsuit last year.  It's certainly tolerable for a half mile.  This year I have a wetsuit so definitely taking advantage of that.

Regarding the bike route, Mansion Rd is in pretty rough shape as you described.  It really is the only significant hill on the course.  That road is largely all uphill so the rough pavement isn't really a safety concern just more of a nuisance.  Gorham Pond Rd, River Rd, and Clough Rd are all relatively flat with rolling hills.  You can certainly give Mansion Rd your all and recover pretty easily on Rt 13 and Gorham Pond Rd.

From the registration email it sounds like the run course is different than past years so I can't comment on that.
2009-09-08 12:13 PM
in reply to: #2393024

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Concord, NH
Subject: RE: Clough
I will be doing it as a relay and I am doing the bike leg.  I am going out after work on Wednesday.  The roads are not that bad of shape compared to the past.  I have ridden out there hundreds of times and to me it is typical conditions it has been for years.  The road out of the park will be rough though.
2009-09-08 6:15 PM
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New Hampsha
Subject: RE: Clough
im doing it this weekend. i remember doing the bike on a relay a couple years back with a huge hill, hope its still in it

im also going up tomorrow around 11am to check out the bike and run


2009-09-09 9:15 AM
in reply to: #2393024

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MA
Subject: RE: Clough
I'm in for the race this weekend.  How big of a hill are we talking about?  Start on the 34 ring big?  I was hoping to check it out before Saturday, but I won't have a chance.  Any visibility in the water?
2009-09-09 3:17 PM
in reply to: #2396359

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New Hampsha
Subject: RE: Clough
i did the ride and part of the run. theres a steep hill right out of the transition. you will want to be in your granny gear no doubt. you will drive the hill to get into the park. i hope they sweep the hill because theres lots of pine needles on the sides

the bike itself doesnt have any huge hills on it. there are however some nice downhills, so if you ride slow stay to the right. i hit 40mph without pedalling!

the run is flat for the 1st 1/2 mile, then its turns into a dirt road with a loose climb. i stopped at the top and turned back, but it looks flat for a bit from then on

im not sure how theyre gonna get a 1/2 mile swim without going into the marshy areas

the park has been closed all season and it shows!

there will be a long run from the water to the transition on carpets, so if your feet hurt when running barefoot, id recommend some crocs or wetshoes
2009-09-09 3:30 PM
in reply to: #2393024

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Western MA near the VT & NH border on the CT river
Subject: RE: Clough
Last year the swim was a triangle.  start on the left of the beach, swim out, turn left, turn left again and back to shore.  The run to transition is long.  Many people do leave sneakers or flip flops on the side.
The starting hill is steep and theres 1 steep downhill with a sharp right turn.  they had volunteers stationed there last year telling people to slow down b/c the road was wet.  I loved the bike course - lots o fun.
I guess they also changed the run too.  Last year it was an out and back on the fire road.  They had an aid station at mile 1, so you also got it coming back at mile 2.  I'm interested to see wht they did to change it.  I liked this race, but decided to do the Hyannis Sprint instead (wish they were different weekends)
2009-09-09 8:19 PM
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Subject: RE: Clough

Did the swim and Bike today. Swim wasn't bad, started on the beach closest to the parking lot went out to the point, sharp left along the west side, then left again back to Shore. Easley 1/2 mile. Water is brown and murky no visibility, hit one dead fish along the way. Very long Trans area...  The hill out of the Trans is VERY steep and dirty... as mentioned Tons of pine needles, flattens out then gets to the first big hill on Mansion rd. Otherwise FUN ride nice and smooth rolling bumps with some very fast downhill’s... HUGE sharp turn with no warning just past the golf Course as you fly down the hill.. (Had to put both breaks on hard to keep from going out into traffic).  The Hill leading out of Trans for the run that goes to the top of the dam is going to be a fun one.... pretty steep..

Good luck all
See you Saturday... (I'll be the one with the dead fish Trophy)

2009-09-11 8:28 AM
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MA
Subject: RE: Clough
I appreciate the course run through.  The swim sounds....um, interesting.  Maybe I'll go with the full wetsuit instead of sleeveless.  Good luck everyone.


2009-09-12 5:15 PM
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New Hampsha
Subject: RE: Clough
good race. im glad they switched the run, the dirt road would have sucked in the rain. i gotta work on my running tho Frown
2009-09-12 8:34 PM
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Subject: RE: Clough
Great race.  The volunteers were awesome, given the weather that says a lot.  Maybe I'm just used to riding the flatter roads of Mass, but I thought portions of the bike were a killer.  I did hit 44.5 on a downhill though, a new high speed for me; that was pretty cool.  The run was pretty tough too; either uphill or speeding downhill.  I can't believe how many people did the swim with no wetsuit; that was some chilly water.  Is it me, or did that seem longer than .5 miles? 
2009-09-14 7:34 AM
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Concord, NH
Subject: RE: Clough
That was a good time.  I did the relay and my 14yo nephew had the 21st fastest swim time of the day.  I was very impressed with thtat.  The tree pruning crew on the bike course was interesting.  They were leaf blowing stuff out of the way though when I came through.
2009-09-14 3:41 PM
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New Hampshire
Subject: RE: Clough
Yeah, the initial part of the bike is very tough, but fortunately gets much better after that.  I also hit 44.5 MPH MAX!  I too thought the swim leg seemed longer than 0.5 mi.  I compared swim split times from last year to this year and last year's were faster across the board, so I'm guessing longer than 0.5 mi.  Overall, a great race to finish off the year for me.
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