Looking for any comments or insight on this course - from what I gather from forum and google searches, it’s flat and windy on the bike and flat and unshaded on the run. But that’s about all I can see.
At least a few things I’m thinking about:
Are we talking “don’t dare use a disk” wind?
Gearing suggestions?
when people say the course is flat, do they mean Flat compared to other IM races? IMFL Flat? Diamondman flat? or completely pancake flat?
Average temperatures or normal weather conditions in those parts at that time of the year? I see a few people wearing arm warmers in last year’s race pics.
Any other tips that might make my day a bit easier?
parenthetically, I signed up for the race a few weeks ago and I’m finding myself thinking more and more "Now this is how it ought to be: signing up 6 weeks before instead of a full year… none of this race fills in 10 minutes gotta get on Active on three computers simultaneously stress … hotels didn’t have a minimum stay or a 300% “athletes special” room rate increase … and so on.
I’m doing it for the first time this year too. I have done EagleMan 3 times and it’s pretty much in the same area/course. It is FLAT. The swim will have more hills than the bike and run course. Wind is always a possiblity over there but I saw plenty of discs at EagleMan.
Weather could be in the 60’s or the 80’s that time of year in Cambridge…We will just have to wait until it gets closer to see.
See ya at the race and good luck!
The bike CAN be windy but in the three years I have been there it hasn’t been particularly windy. I think there would be more wind on hot summer days.
There is no shade on the run, but the temps are usually quite moderate.
As for hills it’s like diamondman without the bridge. I think the highest point on the course is 10 feet above sea level.
The bike special needs is about mile 65, not halfway. Special needs is special needs, there’sno water or gatorade bottles there. It is close to the run out so you might be able to go over there ad steal some stuff, but don’t count on it. Also you may have a har time coming across water and gatorade at that point, so put osme in your special needs bag.
Yeah
A friend of mine did it last year and said heading back out for the 3rd out and back is pretty miserable. I guess on the plus side, you can get to your run special nees bag twice (i think)
“The newly designed run is a flat out and back will consist of 3 loops along rural, unshaded roads ( Egypt Road), the last loop leading into a 3/4 lap around the High School Track to the finish line.”
Having done Blackwater this year I can tell you that Egypt Rd is one of the most boring, desolate places on earth. Seriously, take a moment and imagine what you would consider in response to the phrase “nothing at all to look at” and then take that down three notches and you get Egypt Rd.
Having done Blackwater this year I can tell you that Egypt Rd is one of the most boring, desolate places on earth. Seriously, take a moment and imagine what you would consider in response to the phrase “nothing at all to look at” and then take that down three notches and you get Egypt Rd.
Having spent a few dozen hours pool running last season, I like to think that I developed a pretty deep understanding of nothingness.
Egypt Rd really will test your ability to keep the mind quiet. I don’t mean that in a bad way, it is simply a lonely farm road. At least when you’re pool running or something you have stuff to look at.
With regard to Blackwater, I have a RR on my blog about it. It was a good race (All of Vig’s are), but it was hotter than hell. Egypt Rd was appropriate that day becasue it was about as hot. I don’t know if it’ll be long course next year, but if so I’ll go again if there are no conflicts.
I’ve raced eagleman last 3 years and am doing chesepeake man this year. It can be windy, but I used a disk each time and will use it again for this race.
The road is boring I guess, but not as bad as everyone is saying. Your racing, who cares about the scenery?
Rode through 95% of the course yesterday morning. Extremely flat, but good road surfaces. The only exception being the first 2ish miles on Maple Dam Road (part of the loop), which is quite bumpy. Very little traffic, and cyclist friendly from what I saw yesterday.
