I'm considering IM Texas 2019 and have a few questions about the course. I have read through previous posts and have not found the answers I'm looking for.
Before we start: Yes, yes, I know, flat, lots of drafting. Thanks.
Swim: Starts pretty early in the morning. Is it still pretty dark? I believe it's generally non-wetsuit, is that right? Is it right on the cusp or is a wetsuit unlikely (I'd actually prefer no wetsuit from a competition point of view, but I get pretty cold in luke warm water). If it's almost certainly non-wetsuit it would be nice to know a while in advance so I can decide if I want a swim skin or not.
Bike: Flat, I know. I have heard mention of expansion cracks. Does that mean there are road cracks every 10-20 meters the whole length of the toll road, ba-bump...ba-bump...ba-bump? I would think that would get annoying after five hours. How is the road surface (other than potential expansion cracks)? Smooth/rough asphalt, concrete, what? Gets pretty crowded on the second lap, right?
Run: Again, flat. I know in the past the course was entirely/almost entirely concrete (ugh). Is that still the case? Any shade on the run?
Thanks very much.
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Any run that doesn't include pooping in someone's front yard is a win.
Before we start: Yes, yes, I know, flat, lots of drafting. Thanks.
Swim: Starts pretty early in the morning. Is it still pretty dark? I believe it's generally non-wetsuit, is that right? Is it right on the cusp or is a wetsuit unlikely (I'd actually prefer no wetsuit from a competition point of view, but I get pretty cold in luke warm water). If it's almost certainly non-wetsuit it would be nice to know a while in advance so I can decide if I want a swim skin or not.
Bike: Flat, I know. I have heard mention of expansion cracks. Does that mean there are road cracks every 10-20 meters the whole length of the toll road, ba-bump...ba-bump...ba-bump? I would think that would get annoying after five hours. How is the road surface (other than potential expansion cracks)? Smooth/rough asphalt, concrete, what? Gets pretty crowded on the second lap, right?
Run: Again, flat. I know in the past the course was entirely/almost entirely concrete (ugh). Is that still the case? Any shade on the run?
Thanks very much.
------------------------------------------------------------
Any run that doesn't include pooping in someone's front yard is a win.