Steelhead vs. Racine
12
Member
460 days
kelle1ds posted 1 year ago.
I've done the steelhead for the last four years. It has been a great race and has grown in popularity. This year there was way too many people in the race (2700). The bike leg was one big peleton. The bike and run courses are fast. The bike has a lot of rolling hills but a fast course. The swim is in lake michigan which can be choppy. It's a straight course paralleling the shore which can be boring. The run course changed this year and was fast.
The race organizers should cap the race at 2000 participants. Drafting on the bike course was common, if not unavoidable. The bike leg was also dangerious. I was in a pack of rides averaging 23-24 mph. It's difficult trying to dodge riders going 17-19. Ironman rules were in play, but the referees had trouble enforcing them.
3354
Member
1412 days
RV posted 1 year ago.
I have done Racine several times, but haven't yet done Steelhead - actually looking at that on for next year.
The swim for Racine is a point to point swim in Lake Michigan. Water temps are always wetsuit legal. And they are recommended due to the typical chop in Lake Michigan. Each of the last 3 years the swim has been different in terms of water/wave conditions. This year relatively smooth - tho the previous two were pretty rough. Lots of people failed to complete the swim. Usually worse on the initial leg away from the beach. Once make the turn to parallel the beach not so bad.
The new bike course is fast, and the run is flat.
It is a great race.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
25
Member
519 days
triyodie posted 1 year ago.
I can only help you with Steelhead and I agree that the bike course was a bit crowded. I thought it was fast with rolling hills but not to bad. I really liked the point to point swim, it was nice and smooth race am but you can never be sure with lake mi. The run was a two loop course so it wasn't too bad either. Well run race, I'd recommend it.
Next year I was considering either doing the Steelhead race or Racine in Wisconsin-is there anyone who can give me some insight into either of these races as far as a comparison-I know Steelhead is a qualifying race but I was looking for some info regarding how the swims compare to each other, the bike, etc.
Thanks!