OK want to do Ironman 70.3 next year (Page 2)

I was originally thinking Syracuse but Timberman keeps looking better and better. Can someone tell me about the hills.
From the Ironman website "There are several challenging hills ranging from 3% to 9% grade. Watch out for the Marsh Hill Monstah!"
I enjoy some rolling hills but how much of the course is 9% grade and how bad is the Monstah?

I don't understand what's special about a branded 70.3 versus a race like Beach to Battleship or White Lake. I like supporting local races and local venues.

Because you get a cool hat and shirt that says Ironman 70.3 on it and get to experience a race put on by the same brand that puts on the one race a year that most people actually know about and see on TV. You get to experience a big event...It's really not that hard to understand to me. I'd have no issue racing a non-branded event, but all else being equal I'd opt for the big 2000+ person race instead of one of the smaller HIM races around me with 500 or so people, because that just seems more fun to me. You get to see some big name pros and meet alot of people from all over the place. Seems pretty cool to me.

It's not that bad. If you are a decent cyclist you can just spin up it without blowing up your legs. I'm not saying it's super easy, but if you ride hilly terrain in training you'd be fine. I will note that I passed alot of people going up that hill and a few of them were walking their bikes. But that is a small % of the total. It is nothing like what I hear and read about Savageman or anything. The descent on the way back is super fun. You're not going to go as fast as you would on a flat course though, that's for sure.

FYI, I think that a marathon is more challenging than a 70.3.  A 70.3 takes longer to train for and complete but the race and training is much more enjoyable than a 26.2 mile run. 

+1 register for White Lake and Augusta.  Train normally (minimally) through the winter for White Lake as your "just finish" event.  Then increase your training over the summer in preparation for Augusta. 

WL is an easy drive, go by yourself or with a buddy.  Do WL as a "just finish", so it's all about you, few distractions, do your thing, see what you learn. 

Augusta is a reasonable drive, make a full weekend of it, take the family, there's stuff to see and do.  Do Augusta as a celebration of the end of summer's hard work.  The whole "Ironman 70.3" thing.  It's "the big time".  Big name pro's, fun town, glamorous field, great course.  Do your race and enjoy the day.

You might do a sprint, or 1 sprint and 1 Oly, in between, but no more.  You want to build your training schedule around your A races.   Include some  recovery weeks, every 4th or 5th week, with a few "zero" days, and only short workouts of low intensity.  Train to peak, and not be burned out.  Rest and full recovery are key for doing hard workouts.

Good luck!

The big difference is the brand itself. Think the difference between tissue and facial paper, they both do the same thing yet one is a better product. It is what the company puts into the final product. Of course you get what you pay for, meaning the branded races are usually more expensive. Yes, you get a shirt and a hat that have the Ironman logo, but the big difference is on the course. I have found everything from checking in to the volunteers at the aid stations are better prepared and trained during Ironman events (take this with a grain of salt as I am sure just about anyone can find one example of a bad or great volunteer).

The bottom line is WTC, World Triathlon Corp, puts together a great product and treats all the athletes like they are elite. There are lots of fantastic races that are worth doing, however, when you are at an Ironman event you know it.

Exactly what I would recommend as well.  I have not done WL, but heard it is an awesome event.  Setup always does a great job.  I did Augusta and would love to do it again, but recently signed up for IMKY.  It was an awesome event.  I will do Augusta again in 2011.

It was not bad at all..........I was pleasantly surpirised at how easy this bike course actaully was. Monster was not  too terribly monstrous IMHO. But then again I LOVE hills.....yes I am weird.   

No one has mentioned a race relatively close to you. Macon, Ga. The Rock -n- Rollman HIM. I've only done the sprint there (am doing the HIM in '10 hopefully as a fund raiser for the family of a 28 yo guy who died from cancer and left wife and 5 kids...I hope to have a link to post at some point). I loved the event. Well organized. Nice lake swim. Wetsuit legal. The bike has a lot of hills. The sprint portion is s nice ride around the lake. The half is tougher, or so I am told by friends who did the 1/2. Run has some hills as well. Plenty of support. Plenty of food/water. It was well organized. I stuck around for a lot of the HIM finishers and talked with a couple of the top 15 or 20 finishers. They all really liked the course. I think it is now a long course championship qualifying race (those who know can correct me if I am wrong on that). Anyway, you get a great race that is $130 (before Jan 1) compared to $225 for Augusta. (Not knocking it. Heard it was good. But for me, I cannot justify an extra 100 bucks to run the same distances with a brand name jacking up the cost).

come to canada and do Ironman 70.3 Newfoundland or Muskoka!!

I signed up for Lake Stevens next aug but you are in NC and if you want a really easy swim I hear Augusta has a nice down stream swim.  I would have signed up for Augusta but its just too far for me.

The Newfoundland race has moved to Calgary.