Great Buckeye Challenge

This is my "home race."  I did the Sprint there last year, but know people who have done the half.  HFP runs a great race in my opinion, and I've never had any problems from them as far as water or nutrition on the course.

The bike course is mostly rolling hills on country roads with one good climb on the half route into Catawba.  (I've ridden it in training).  Half does 2 loops of the route I believe.  Old Columbus Road was just repaved and is SMOOTH sailing for a good part of the route.  On the Sprint Course, I don't recall having much trouble with vehicles (the course is open to traffic, but all intersections are traffic controlled and they weren't letting too many cars through at a time).  I had one awkward moment where the deputy was holding traffic and I had to pass a line of cars waiting, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The run course is an out and back on a bike/recreation path, and the half runners do two loops.  The crossing over Robert Eastman road is closed to traffic during the race, and the other crossing over Croft Road is controlled by a deputy.

I think the run for the Half at Cedar Point is also a 2 loop course, the bike might be a single loop (if it bothers you to do multiple loops).

The only complaints I ever hear are that the % of people doing the HIM is quite low, so it gets very lonely out there compared to doing, say Steelhead 70.3 or something, where everyone is doing the whole thing.

I have done several HFP half-irons and have had great experiences. Even at the end of the HIM at Deer Creek, I was running with a group of people.

Buckeye Challenge is a great venue. I have done the Mini/Olympic there and loved it.

Just watch out for the crazed homeowner next to the water bottle exchange.

Does anyone have an elevation profile of the bike course?  Or, can you compare "Rolling" to the highway 42 section on the IMKY course?   Also, is the running surface paved?

Thanks!

There's a good stretch going out that is somewhat rolling, mostly uphill.  Then you go into a more gentle rolling/slightly downhill section as you turn north until you come to a decent 1/2 mile climb into Catawba.  Once you leave Catawba, it's gentle rolling and mostly downhill the rest of the way home with one hill in there somewhere.  I just rode the route last week.

Olympic route on gmaps

Matt Kapp and I swam the reservoir this morning.  I had a great time.  The water was very comfortable with a full wetsuit on.  Not sure I would have braved it without one, but not once did I feel the slightest bit cold.  Feet only felt cold when treading water and they got below the surface a ways, but never that bad.

I'm going to plan on swimming out there pretty regularly this season, so I'll let you all know when that'll be.

it is good to hear that. - because right now I am sitting in my office and looking through the window at the perfect weather

IF I will signup for Half at Great Buckeye -- I will definitely ask you to make me a company in swimming-biking there. I've heard you are a good swimmer , may be you can help me to fix my poor stroke.

I can do it on Sundays, 6/19 is the closest I am available. I did not registered yet, but probably will do soon for HIM.

I'm looking to compete in my first triathalon and considering to do mini olympic.  I haven't purchased a bike yet but I have been doing a lot of running and cycling at the gym, and swimming laps at a pool. 

Next week I was looking to try my first open water swim sometime durring the week. I only work weekends so I have a lot of spair time to train.  If any of guys are planning on swimming next week please let me know and any other advice would be greatly appreciated. 

The past week+ I have been trying to educate myself as much as possible but there's is A LOT to know.   

If you want to do it on 6/19 we would have to start really early since it is fathers day.

Just signed up for this race, using it as a yardstick for my HIM Miami training. Any idea what the water temperature is? will I be roasting in a full suit, or should I pick up a tri suit or speed suit?

Current water temps

Looks to be around 28 C or 82 F at the surface presently.

Edit:

Here's a better link with the data spelled out instead of in fancy graph form: link