BOOYAAH Ironman 70.3 Raleigh

Also:  Press release from IM:

http://ironman.com/mediacenter/pressreleases/ironman-70.3-raleigh#axzz22y7Kx6AZ

It should be pretty warm that time of year. Normal high is 84, low of 62, according to the national weather service site. The record high on that day is 99; record low is 43. The COLDEST maximum temp ever on that day is 76. So an average of 84, range of 76-99 for record excursions. I think we're pretty much assured of a hot run. It can also get very humid that time of year. Normally the real humidity hasn't kicked in yet but I wouldn't rate this an "easy" race at all. I imagine the swim will be iffy in terms of wetsuits. This year the water temp was 79 around that time of year (courtesy of the army corps of engineers who tracks all that stuff!).

sweet!  3 hour drive, tons of friends to crash with!  sounds like a good first HIM since my plans for this year got derailed!

Little surprised about this one but glad to see it.  If you live in the Southeast and are training for a mid/late summer IM, there were slim pickings for a tune-up HIM.  Wonder what impact this will have on the Macon race?  Last year I drove down for that one but probably wouldn't with Raleigh being availble almost the same weekend.

Agree with the above comment about Asheville.  That could be a spectacular venue for an early summer HIM and certainly better than Raleigh.  Can't be too picky, though.  At least we got one down here.

FYI: The race is only $200 until September 6.  Nice price for an IM event.

The only thing that is bad for me, is that ever since I moved to "The City of Oakes"  I get knocked on my back for about a week and half in the spring when the oak trees release their pollen.  If I remember the time frame, I believe it would fall right in the middle of a build training block. 

Not complaining though.  I am stoked about having an IM event in my backyard! 

I'm wishing they'd/someone would host a half Ironman in asheville. It would be grueling, but incredibly popular

St George was grueling, but not incredibly popular..........

LOL, thats 90% of the race! Seriously though, it is generally "rolling" hills, some more rolling than others. I think they said the course has 1200ft of climbing on the bike. I ride that route a lot in training and, while you have to put forth some effort to get over the top, they are not "standing up" hills to me, and I don't ever have to drop to my small chainring. Others may differ but they are at most 100ft or so vertical climb and maybe a 5-10% grade at most (guesses on the details). So not flat but not mountainous by any means. Think 1 min of hard effort to get up most. Pea Ridge is a long gradual climb (5 mins maybe?). Hope that helps. I am not worried about the hills as much as I would worry about heat and humidity. While it SHOULD be nice that time of year, it can be nasty.