2008 1/2 IM Races
209
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1314 days
jmcglos posted 35 weeks ago.
The Florida 1/2 was my first 1/2 IM distance and I really liked it. The water is warm (so no wetsuits) - that could be good or bad depending on your opinions of wearing a wetsuit. The bike course is a lot of fun - mostly flat so you can get a pretty high avg mph. And the run course is ok - they keep changing it to try to get you in more shade. The first time I did it - it was 2 loops, the second time it was a 3 loop course which had more shade. I'm not sure what their plans for 2008 are.
The only con for me for this race is the heat. In 2005, it was in the high 80s, low 90s. In 2006, by the time I got on the run course, it was about 95 degrees, full blast sun, and humid.
But I would definitely recommend this race - it's alot of fun, good crowd support, and you're at Disney!
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603 days
davidharrit44 posted 35 weeks ago.
i did vineman 70.3. it was hot and tough but i am for sure going back next year. lots of fun
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36
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504 days
calilargeguy posted 35 weeks ago.
I did Oceanside 70.3 as my first half last year, and am definately doing it this year. Very nice course, ride is through Camp Pendelton, and the run is along the boardwalk. Nice views and great volunteers along the entire course.
10
Member
796 days
mccalip posted 35 weeks ago.
I did it in 06 and it was my 1st HIM. I live in MS so I'm use the heat/humidity. I signed up in Jan-Feb and they have a ton of waves which brings on more heat. The pros started at 0645 and I started about an hr later. The bike course is nice BUT it has a lot of turns which = lots of crashes; I saw 2 bad ones. The run is OK but I didn't like the trail part of it. It had uneven ground and it was soaked with food/water by the 2nd lap. Would I do it again? Probably not but mainly b/c of the distance to the race. I did Gulf Coast HIM this yr and will do it again next yr. If you choose to do FL HIM then stay at the Fort Wilderness Cabins. This is where the tri takes place and makes the logistics easier.
Randy
258
Member
1116 days
triNick posted 35 weeks ago.
I did the FL 70.3 last year, it was good, I would do it again.
I did a Race Review on the race, here is the link:
Ironman 70.3 Florida Triathlon Race Review
TRImapper.com - visual triathlon finder
TRIJUICE.com - triathlon resource blog
86
Member
678 days
Tri Fanatic posted 35 weeks ago.
calilargeguy;83927 wrote:
I did Oceanside 70.3 as my first half last year, and am definately doing it this year. Very nice course, ride is through Camp Pendelton, and the run is along the boardwalk. Nice views and great volunteers along the entire course.
I am going to be doing oceanside 70.3 for my first half. Do you know what the total ascent is for the whole ride? The give the elevation profile for it, but not total feet of climbing or anything.
I have heard about 30 miles into the ride you get a nasty hill that some people have been known to walk.
36
Member
504 days
calilargeguy posted 35 weeks ago.
On my garmin i got a total ascent of 3369. And yes there is a brutal hill at about mile 30, i have it at a 17% grade, but it is less than a mile long. there was a marine drill instructor with a bull horn at the bottom screaming to get up his hill. there were a few people walking up the hill, but i didn't think it was that bad, and i'm not a hill climber.
402
Member
1175 days
Tamara posted 35 weeks ago.
Janelle ~ If you want something closer to home, check out the Great Buckeye Challenge in the Cincinnati area in mid-August. It's not a 70.3 event, but is put on by HFP Racing which has a good track record. We're originally from Ohio so are looking at doing it next summer.
"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." ~George Sheehan
I am considering doing the FL 1/2 IM on May 18th this will be my first 1/2
What do you all think about the race? What are the pros and cons of this race? What other races do you suggest? And finally, how fast does registration fill up, as of now its still open.
Thanks in advance!
“Tough girls come from NY, sweet girls come from Georgia. But us Kentucky girls, we have fire and ice in our blood. We can ride horses and drink with the boys, all while making sweet tea, dalrin”