General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Silver Comet Half Marathon Rss Feed  
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2007-06-12 9:19 AM

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Subject: Silver Comet Half Marathon
Is this course fast? What section of the SC do you run?


2007-06-12 12:34 PM
in reply to: #840453

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Master
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Atlanta, Ga
Subject: RE: Silver Comet Half Marathon
It's pretty fast.. you start out on Floyd road down by the mable house ampitheater. After a mile or so on floyd rd, you hit the trail at the Floyd road trailhead. (mm4.2). Then you head out on the trail until around the 10.5 mile marker where you make a u turn, then head back and finish at the Floyd Rd Trailhead. Out has some very slight inclines, but they are long.. and will slow you down 'some'.  Back is faster. All in all, I would call it a fast course, especially for Atlanta. A unique run because you are so close to the other runners on the fairly narrow trail, relative to regular road races.
2007-06-12 3:18 PM
in reply to: #840453

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Atlanta, GA
Subject: RE: Silver Comet Half Marathon
This is actually my (not so blazingly fast) half marathon PR course - 1:55:35.

Atl Runner has it exactly right, so I'll just add some minutiae:

- There is a sharp and quick narrowing of the course when you hit the trail from Floyd Rd. You want to be thinking about position in the first mile, and watching the folks around you. It gets crowded here, and doesn't thin out for a while.

- Get there early, as parking can be really far away from the start.

- This is a great shwag race including a beautiful medal, and a choice of colors in long-sleeved shirts. I get comments on my shirt all the time.

Enjoy!

Josh


2007-06-14 8:35 AM
in reply to: #840453

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Subject: RE: Silver Comet Half Marathon
I am planning on doing my first half by the end of the year. Which would be better, the Atlanta Half, or the Silver Comet.
2007-06-14 11:04 AM
in reply to: #843864

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Marietta, GA
Subject: RE: Silver Comet Half Marathon

kevint - 2007-06-14 9:35 AM I am planning on doing my first half by the end of the year. Which would be better, the Atlanta Half, or the Silver Comet.

Hands down, no question, no competition - Silver Comet. It's a great race, well run, better course, and the shirt is always better. The temperature is usually better for the Silver Comet too, although that's no guarantee.

2007-06-14 11:08 AM
in reply to: #840453

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Atlanta, GA
Subject: RE: Silver Comet Half Marathon
I've done them both, and they're very different, so pick the one that you think you'll have more fun at:

Silver Comet - as described above.

Atlanta Half (Turkey Day): From the Lowe's up on Peachtree Industrial to Turner Field. The opposite kind of course. Urban views as opposed to path greenery, and HILLS as opposed to SCT. If you like to descend and then climb, this is the course for you. After basically running downhill into Buckhead, you do Peachtree's heartbreak hill, and are reminded that it's actually the beginning of a much longer gradual climb all the way from there to the capital, that The Peachtree misses by turning off on tenth. If you're a road racer, this is a classic road race. It has the feel of a big 10k to me. Definitely a more challenging course. On the plus side, you get to eat guilt-free afterwards, and the scenery changes more regularly. It's a real history of Atlanta course, and you do get a good feel for the city. It's also the olympic half course, so you get to compare your results against the best out there.

Both of these races blow away the USHalf in Marietta - skip that one, which is organized by monkeys (bad monkeys, not the cute helpful kind).

For me, the SCT half would be the winner overall, despite not being a real 'Atlanta' race, not finishing under the olympic torch, etc.

Hope this helps, and let me know if you have any specific questions,
Josh


2007-06-14 9:14 PM
in reply to: #843864

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MotoQueen
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Subject: RE: Silver Comet Half Marathon
Silver Comet!
2007-06-15 8:49 AM
in reply to: #840453

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Subject: RE: Silver Comet Half Marathon
I'm thinking about doing them both! Although, i'm not a cold weather type a gal and I've heard the ATL 1/2 is pretty chilly at the start.
2007-06-16 8:50 PM
in reply to: #840453

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Kennesaw, GA.
Subject: RE: Silver Comet Half Marathon
The silver comet half was easier to me because you don't have to fight the elements as much. Between the low temps. in Nov. and cross winds that hit you when you run through the intersections of downtown, I will take the silver comet in Oct. The Atl Half is better supported along the course however. Each has it's positive and negative points.
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Silver Comet Half Marathon Rss Feed