I did this race last year in Vonore, Tn. You cross one set of railroad tracks four times. Railroad tracks themselves don’t bother me, but these are missing ties, have gaps between the metal rails, and large nails sticking up. I dismounted four times, to be safe.
I need another half this year, to prep for IM Fl, and this one is convenient for me. What I want to know, is how other people who have done the race feel about that crossing. Am I overreacting? Is it safer than I think? I don’t want to do the dismount thing again this year, but I also don’t want to be stupid and get hurt over a warmup race.
I did the race in 05 when is was out at Melton Hill Dam. I watched it last year at the Vonore location so I dont really know anything about the railroad tracks, but in 05 when I did it, it prepared me great for IMFL.
I’ve done this race before and didn’t let the tracks bother me (in fact I don’t even remember them!). I’m doing Florida this year and will be looking to do AtomicMan, Duke, or Greenwood. I can’t vouch for Duke or Greenwood, but I’ve heard good things about both. Good luck on your build for Florida.
I did Atomicman last year and did not have any trouble crossing those tracks. Since they are just after the turn you are not going very fast when you cross them.
The race venue was different for 2006, so the tracks weren’t there before then.
So, your strategy, Amstel, was to not go too fast? Obviously, one needs to go across perpendicular to the tracks. I looked at them before the race, and didn’t really see a clean line across them that didn’t have a spot I felt might grab my wheel in the gaps, so I thought maybe a little more speed would help “float” you across?
Thanks for your input. I’d like to do the race and put my mind at ease. Having a strategy in mind helps, as well as knowing how other people feel about it and whether it is as real or imagined concern.
Where are the races duke and greenwood? Are they half irons as well? I ask because i am in the same spot looking for a half to see where im at/what needs work before silverman…preferably in the southeast so i can drive but i’d fly for the right race.
Here are the races I’ve found:
9/8 Patriot’s Half, Williamsburg, VA
9/15 Halfmax National Championships (I time qualified earlier this year)
9/16 Duke Liver Half: Raleigh, NC
9/22 Lake Barkley, Cadiz, KY 1/2 iron
9/23 Atomicman
9/23 Previously called Pineman, now 2007 Toyota Challenge
at Deer Creek, near Columbus, OH
9/30 South Carolina Half, Greenwood, SC
I’m just looking for something convenient, since I’m not really planning to race, and I’m trying to make peace with myself over those RR tracks at Atomicman. It’s the closest race for me, and would require the least energy to get to (although perhaps not the least energy to do!) I would also prefer a relatively flat run, since I have achilles issues.
Awesome, thanks for the heads up on all of the races. Are you familiar with the duke or lake barley races, ive never heard of them previously and they would be very doable as well. Also, I looked on the Atomicman website but didnt see an elevation profile of the course. From your last response im guessing there is some climbing involved?
There are hills on Atomicman, and some are steep, but they are short. The bike is kind of up and down, up and down - short hills, not really climbing. You’re out of the saddle, but it isn’t a mountain. It is always hard to describe elevation! The run also has some hills, so it is far from a flat course.
I looked at the Lake Barkley site: http://www.headfirstperformance.com/Iron/annoucement.htm , and it is hard to find out much about it. As far as I can put together, they had to postpone one day last year due to flooding, and had 5-6 people do the full, and 15 do the half. What I have heard about the run course makes me worry about my achilles. It was described as the hardest 1/2 IM run out there, and one person wrote a blog that the only course they could compare it to was a trail marathon, it was so hilly. Apparently it starts with a 2 mile climb out of transition (I think also the bike? I’m not sure, I don’t worry to much about hills on the bike).
The Duke run is described as: long gradual hills on the run on grass and dirt trail, described as moderately hilly run. That’s all I know about Lake Barkley and Duke, I’ve never done them. Duke is significantly farther away for me.
If you do Atomicman, let me know, maybe we can meet.
Regarding the Duke 1/2, I have done it a few times. There are plenty of hotels near by in Cary, NC or SW Raleigh.
Overall Set-Up does a great job. The swim is in Jordon Lake in a cove. It typically is calm but if the winds are up it will be choppy as any lake will. There are plenty of buoys and larger ones at the two turns so sighting is fine on the swim.
The bike has decent rolling hills through out the course. There are two hills that are maybe a little more of note but nothing that I would consider major climbs. Last year there was two bumpy road sections but the RD really lets us know before the race that the road was under construction and made several references to it. Additionally the bumpy spots were well marked with neon orange spray chalk. You do cross over RR tracks I think two times but they are your average tracks. You will see a couple of behind the seat bottles get launched but nothing that could potentially cause a flat.
The run is on a gravel type fire road trail and the footing is excellent. Set-Up does a good job grooming the trail before the race. The run like the bike is rolling hills. The most notable hill is about 2/3 a mile long that begins within a ½ mile of starting the run. The good news is you run down that same hill going into the finish and the run turn around. It is a two loop run with about 50% in the shade.
I did the race at Lake Barkley, KY last year. Here are a few reports I wrote:
what I thought about the conditions and deciding to do the race
my race report
I personally believe that the venue is the best of any race I’ve done. The cycling on “the trace” was great, I also liked the swim set up. It is unfortunate that the flooding occurred b/c it really put the race director in a poor position. The 6 of us that decided to start the full distance race obviously had more to prove to ourselves than racing others. (I wanted to know I could complete the distance prior to going to IMMOO this year).
My own opinion is that venues like this one is where great races could be held, it seems way more optimal than the IMLOU course and venue… but I guess LOU has the city to support it and that is very important too. Plus the resturants, etc, etc…
I read your race report when I was looking at the race! I did a search, and it popped up. Good report, and thanks for posting it! It helped me decide that my achilles would probably not like the race, but it does sound like a nice area.
I guess I should mention the one thing I didn’t like about the course… you have to bike from the lodge / swim area over a bridge to the trace road (the road running the length of the lakes that you ride on)…
Passing over the bridge was a little nerve wrecking the first time… I didn’t think about it the other 3 times (2 loops for full distance).