Rhode Island 70.3???
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wirebook posted 30 weeks ago.
I've done it two years now, and don't find it a particularily hilly course. Keep in mind the elevations on the course are actually fairly minimal - despite how it actually looks on the map. Meaning, because they are condensed down they tend to make mountains out of mole hills.
From a training perspective, you can get very solid hill training on a trainer. You can do pretty much everything on a trainer with some creativity. Another option is riding into the wind, but I find that's really not as realistic as a well put together trainer ride.
That all said - here's my previous two race reports:
Race reports:
http://dcrainmaker.blogspot.com/2009/07/ironman-rhode-island-703-2009-ra... (2009)
http://dcrainmaker.blogspot.com/2008/07/rhode-island-ironman-703-race-re... (2008)
The course is a blast though!
-Ray
Tri Blog: Http://dcrainmaker.blogspot.com
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davidinnb posted 30 weeks ago.
I agree. The bike course is made up of rolling hills and is a pretty flat fast course. I believe that at mile 45 there is one hill that I needed to get out of the big ring for. I would suggest looking at the run course for the hill. There is one hill on the run course that is just nasty. I come from NH and run hills all the time but this one is a very big challenge. The race is really well run and a lot of fun. I really enjoy the point to point racing and the clean transition area is nice also. The other nice things was that the Hilton Hotel had its Starbucks open at 3am this year.
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1513 days
gfd posted 30 weeks ago.
Toni,
A friend of mine did it last year and it is the one big hill that gives the bike course its rep. Other than that he loved it and was faster than he was down in Buck's County.
Think about doing the BlackBear Sprint, in Lehighton, in May. If you can handle the hills, (and I am sure you can), then you will have the confidence to do any bike course.
"If we help someone else up a steep hill, we get nearer to the top ourselves." ~Unknown~
~Garen~
http://baldhungariantriproject.blogspot.com/
986
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798 days
TonisTri posted 30 weeks ago.
Thanks guys. Much appreciated. I could not see the fine print on the elevation map, so those hills do indeed look like mountains without being able to read the data.
Gfd, I will def take a look at that race as I put my calendar together for next year.
wirebook, I have not read your RRs yet but I will tonight. Did you have any trouble making reservations in the area? if you discuss this in your RRs then disregard. thanks.
david, my hubby will not go anywhere there is not a Starbucks, but then, is there anywhere that does not have a Starbucks. glad to hear we can get in at 3am!
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -T. Roosevelt
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867 days
longhair posted 30 weeks ago.
I am also a two time finisher of this race. The bike course is flat and fast to start, and then rolling hills, a lot of them. I found it hard to maintain a rhythm once the hills started. The course is by no means mountainous and it is a lot of fun.
My two cents about training for hills if you only have flat terrain for training is push big gears.
It is worth mentioning that the killer hill on the run that davidinnb mentioned is run twice.
I posted a race report about a month ago on this forum if you care to read it.
Good luck. I plan to race it again next year.
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dollfin04 posted 30 weeks ago.
I did this as my first half this year and I loved the bike course! Its very scenic. Do you have one good hill in your hometown? Instead of doing a hilly long ride sometimes I just find one nasty hill and go up it 4 or 6 times. If not working in a bigger gear or on your trainer sounds like good advice!
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TonisTri posted 30 weeks ago.
Holy $%*! I did it! I signed up! No backing out now. Hmm...guess I better go put my trainers on and get outside!
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -T. Roosevelt
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jtrimom posted 30 weeks ago.
yay- way to do it Toni! I am sure you will train hard and do great! :)
Taper Naked
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dollfin04 posted 30 weeks ago.
Woot woot! I didn't realize registration was open. I'm signing up too then. I'm really excited to do that race again next year!! =)
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davidinnb posted 30 weeks ago.
Congrats on signing up. It is a very fun race and make sure you hit the hills on the run. I would recommend getting there earlier on saturday for registration. You need to bring your bike to Roger Wheeler state park on saturday and the traffic gets really bad later in the afternoon. A lot of people to the beach and all seem to be returning when you are trying to get back to providence.
986
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798 days
TonisTri posted 30 weeks ago.
davidinnb wrote:
Congrats on signing up. It is a very fun race and make sure you hit the hills on the run. I would recommend getting there earlier on saturday for registration. You need to bring your bike to Roger Wheeler state park on saturday and the traffic gets really bad later in the afternoon. A lot of people to the beach and all seem to be returning when you are trying to get back to providence.
great advice. thanks.
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -T. Roosevelt
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nyfan21 posted 29 weeks ago.
Did this race two years in a row also; not too hilly. good course a little bumpy at the end of the bike; the hills are on the run not the bike anyways...lol
I want to do a 70.3 next season, my first. I am leaning towards RI. My concern is the bike elevation. I have almost no way to practice hills in my very flat hometown. Has anyone done this race? What can you tell me about it? How does one train for a hilly terrain with no hills?
"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -T. Roosevelt