Who can give me a compare/contrast between the 70.3s at Racine, WI and Steelhead in Michigan?
Temperatures/road/weather conditions? Like/dislike about the courses?
The only thing I’ll mention is that Steelhead is the same weekend as USAT Nationals… so competition is possibly a little thinner at than Racine. Racine and Steelhead are both full of IMWI participants. I think Steelhead fits perfectly into training for IMWI as it sits right at the end of the final build and marks the start of a 3 week taper.
I can’t add much else, as I haven’t yet done either.
I have not raced Steelhead, but can give you a little info on Racine as i raced it this past summer.
Swim: things to keep in mind are that you will have to walk about a mile from transition up the beach to where the start is. Although this is not a huge issue, it does need to be factored into your race morning prep. I brought an extra pair of sandals to walk down in as there were rocks all over in the sand. I simply ditched them right before my swim wave. Another thing to take into consideration was the order of the AG swim start…I was in the 18-24 M group and they made us start second to last which was hell to have to swim around all the old slow people. Still trying to figure out what the hell they were thinking with this. And the last thing to take into account is that the waves will be pushing you towards shore. I say this because yo swim roughly 100-150yds strait into the waves then take a right around the first swim bouy to swim a mile along the shore until you take another right and head back towards shore (note: there are more than two swim bouys, just trying to paint you a picture of the swim). I have never swam in such conditions prior and although it wasnt a huge issue, it needs to be thought about. Lastly, i am also a “breath on my left side only” kinda guy as im a lefty and im pretty sure i accidentally drank half the lake trying to breath and having a wave come over the top of me…not cool.
Bike: The only things i can note are that you will have to leave T1 wearing your bike shoes, as they only let the pros transition barefoot. This is mostly due to the hill right outside of the Bike Out and im guessing they didnt want a bunch of age groupers to be falling over each other while trying to get into their shoes and trying to ride up the hill at the same time. The first 5 miles/last 5 miles (same section) was a bit rough so take note of that. Otherwise it was a beautiful route and cant complain about anything.
Run: Loved the run. Its a 2 lap run, that also runs along the beach. There are only a few roller hills but nothing too bad. Run goes through a few neighborhoods with the community out to support all the racers. I believe you also run through some kinda zoo. Cant remember much about it , but it was nothing spectacular…didnt even get to see a god damn monkey…
I have not done Steelhead (will be doing it this year though) but have done Racine. Racine is a nice race. We got lucky last year with relatively mild temperatures but it can get hot there that time of year. The swim is a nice point to point in the lake and is usually pretty calm (expect last year). There is a longish hike up the beach for T1 but nothing crazy. The bike course is one loop which is nice but the roads are a little rough going out of town due to expansion cracks. Once you get out of town the roads are pretty good but there are a lot of turns, nothing crazy but just be prepared to turn a lot. The run course can get hot as there is not much shade and depending what wave you are the aid stations can get a little picked over- ie. some didnt have cold water or perform (just warmish). The town comes out to watch it though, which was cool to see. There is a really cool vibe downtown the day before and the transition area is pretty cool- right on the beach. Overall a good race that I am doing again this year.
That is an interesting point. Thanks!
I’ve done both and they are very similar. Beach walk to start, Lake Michigan Swim, long beach run to T1, fast bike course and two loop run. Better chance of heat at Racine and better chance of rough water at Steelhead. I would say I prefer Steelhead but the differences are minor.
Thank you everyone for your input! Very useful.
Racine is flat with a terrible road surface on the bike. Potentially super hot, but otherwise very easy course.
Have done both, though not in the same year.
Steelhead - beginning to mid August, Walk from transition down beach to the swim start. Swim is typically south to north (with slight current), but could go the other way if current changes. If windy swim has potential to be canceled (and has been in the past). Water quality there is very good. Good road quality, most of the time on Blue Star hwy. Easy rolling hills and scenic. Will get a nice tail wind either on the way out or the way back. Nice run course - stick with 2 loops around Whirlpool campus, varied terrain, some hills. Overall great HIM course.
Racine - middle/late July, typically during the hottest weeks of the year. Walk down beach from transition to swim start. Swim north to south on other side of lake Michigan in a bit of a cove. Can be a little choppy, but water quality is very good. Bike course is where this race falls down in comparison. Hill right out of transition, pretty awful road surface, but relatively flat throughout. Run is a 2 loop out and back along the beach and through a neighborhood. Nothing too interesting here, mostly flat (climb of the beach onto the road is about it).
Both are good races, big fields, well-supported. Purely for the course I prefer Steelhead, but there is the potential for swim issues if there is weather.
OK, Steelhead wins!
In regards to Racine, either I have a taint of steel (or I am just used to riding on cr@ppy midwestern roads), or lots of people ride on carpets of asphalt.
yes, the first (and last) few miles of the course are a bit rough. And yeah, it kinda blows to have to endure them for the last 3 miles of the bike leg…but overall, the course is nowhere near as bad as some are portraying it, IMO. Many of the rougher sections have been repaved over the last few years, leaving only the section noted above as being out of the ordinary.
It really isn’t that bad at all.
I’ve done both at least twice. I have a strong preference to race Racine because the schedule and it’s closer to Chicago, but I refuse to race Racine in my race wheels because of the road conditions. It’s true that it’s been a few years since I’ve raced Racine though; so, it could have improved.
Other than the road conditions, very similar race.
In regards to Racine, either I have a taint of steel (or I am just used to riding on cr@ppy midwestern roads), or lots of people ride on carpets of asphalt.
yes, the first (and last) few miles of the course are a bit rough. And yeah, it kinda blows to have to endure them for the last 3 miles of the bike leg…but overall, the course is nowhere near as bad as some are portraying it, IMO. Many of the rougher sections have been repaved over the last few years, leaving only the section noted above as being out of the ordinary.
It really isn’t that bad at all.
Going out on Main isn’t horrible, its coming back in. You’re ready to get of the bike and those cracks in the pavement HURT. There must be some spots on that road that are better, but they can really jack you up if you hit the right spot.
In regards to Racine, either I have a taint of steel (or I am just used to riding on cr@ppy midwestern roads), or lots of people ride on carpets of asphalt.
yes, the first (and last) few miles of the course are a bit rough. And yeah, it kinda blows to have to endure them for the last 3 miles of the bike leg…but overall, the course is nowhere near as bad as some are portraying it, IMO. Many of the rougher sections have been repaved over the last few years, leaving only the section noted above as being out of the ordinary.
It really isn’t that bad at all.
Going out on Main isn’t horrible, its coming back in. You’re ready to get of the bike and those cracks in the pavement HURT. There must be some spots on that road that are better, but they can really jack you up if you hit the right spot.
Agreed…as I said, it blows having it be the last few miles of the bike leg, but it really doesn’t mean the whole course is cr@p or as bad as it has been portrayed.
That said, given how bad our winter (and currently Spring) has been, I have no idea what kind of shape the roads are in this year…I may try and scoot up there in the next couple of weeks and see how things are.
In regards to Racine, either I have a taint of steel (or I am just used to riding on cr@ppy midwestern roads), or lots of people ride on carpets of asphalt.
yes, the first (and last) few miles of the course are a bit rough. And yeah, it kinda blows to have to endure them for the last 3 miles of the bike leg…but overall, the course is nowhere near as bad as some are portraying it, IMO. Many of the rougher sections have been repaved over the last few years, leaving only the section noted above as being out of the ordinary.
It really isn’t that bad at all.
Going out on Main isn’t horrible, its coming back in. You’re ready to get of the bike and those cracks in the pavement HURT. There must be some spots on that road that are better, but they can really jack you up if you hit the right spot.
Agreed…as I said, it blows having it be the last few miles of the bike leg, but it really doesn’t mean the whole course is cr@p or as bad as it has been portrayed.
That said, given how bad our winter (and currently Spring) has been, I have no idea what kind of shape the roads are in this year…I may try and scoot up there in the next couple of weeks and see how things are.
Ya, most of the roads are perfectly fine. If I recall there is one point later on in the bike where you come down a quick hill and hit a bridge deck. That smacks pretty good and lots of bottles lost there. Other than that just normal country roads.