Looking to try a new 1/2IM in 05. I would appreciate an eval. Thanks.
I did that this year… effingham right? Well I have mixed things to say about it… First of all I am STILL waiting for my award to be mailed! Ok, the race director is super nice, she tried really hard. The swim was good but tons of people were cheating, cutting the course short. the bike is flat, really flat, goes over train tracks and yes, slower people got caught with a train passing by… Imagine that! Chaos… The run was ok, except I had to pour my own water in the the cups from the jugs… and I was 4th overall (woman) so that says enough about what was left for the rest of the crowd… Anyway, she tried hard, it was fun but definitly not catered and definitly has nowhere to go but better! The prize money was incredible for a small race… I mean I was racing for 700$… me… an averaged age grouper… so the top 3 made good money! I will be happy to answer any others questions 
Chappy - Come on up to Michigan for the Whirlpool Steelhead 1/2 Ironman - August 6th, - you will not find a better 1/2! www.steelheadtriathlon.com - registration will open in mid-December. Z
I did the race last year as well. Placed 2nd in the 30-34 AG, Becca mailed my award right away. She certainly loves the sport and tries very hard. Problem was she had ZERO support. Half the aid stations were not manned, the course got changed last minute because she could not get any police to work the course, and the swim was so freaking far off from being 1.2 miles it hardly mattered whetehr people were cheating or not. The course itself is not that bad, RR tracks were a problem for some. The run course was decent, but very lonely. The worst part was they used the HEED crap, nobody was at most of the aid stations. I grabbed a couple cups that I thought was water… well it was HEED… stung my eyes… made my fingers stick together… very unpleasant. At the finish line they had run out of water and I think I finished top 10…
I will probably go back this year if I do not do Lake Plaicd jsut because I liek the timing and I am pretty much self sufficient during the race anyway. this race would be a pain if you were not one of the first 10 or so to finish.
Becca is cool and really wants to put on a good race, jsut dont know if she has community support for it.
I did the race this year as well. I don’t remember my place overall but probably something like 20. Everything Ken said goes for me. I love small races and am very self sufficient, so I loved this race. If you need a personal attendant every mile, don’t do this race.
Swim course was ridiculously long. The pro nicknamed “the shark” swam something like 38 minutes. I generally finish in 32’ and she passed me like I was standing still. I think I finished the swim in 40 or 42’!
The run was pretty lonely, it was hard to push myself at all times with no competition in sight.
The weather was good, the location was good, the course was fun, the price was good.
All in all, I would do this race again.
Tom, Ken, Marisol, and anyone else,
Are you guys doing this race again? I’ll be there…physically at least (flying into Chicago on a last minute planned red eye on Sat. morning…ughhh…). Anyway, judging by recent weather patterns it’s going to be a HOT run. I had a lot of fun at this race last year (granted I didn’t get caught up by any of the train/run aid station snafu’s) and the price is awesome for a half. Hopefully the RDs learned from last year’s shortcomings. See you guys there.
when is it? I don’t think I want to drive that far, we have 2 halves here in ohio in august that are within 100 miles
The 17th of July. It IS kind of in the middle of nowhere, but meh, you don’t see things like 100ft tall aluminum crosses in the city!
Does anyone have any idea of where to stay for this race? It seems as thought there are a number of hotels right along the highway. I have heard that the course is flat as can be. Is this true?
Thanks-JTG
yes, very flat… i stayed accross the street from goodyear:-) can’t remember where but it was close by.
Course was pretty darn flat from what I remember. Two rollers in the beginning and then only one quasi-hill about 2/3 through each lap (2 loop course).
Last year I camped at the campground RIGHT next to Lake Sara. Was dirt cheap ($12) but with the weather this year, I think I will fork over ~30 more bucks for some AC and a bed. There are a bunch of hotels right off the highway at the same exit you get off of to go to Lake Sara (the lake is only about a 5-10 minute drive from the highway).
I did the May Madness sprint there this year and found the location pretty good. It’s flat. Rural Illinois flat. The timing of the 1/2 means it’s going to be very warm. The vibe from the May Madness event was relaxed. And, there was a great cross section of first timers and relatively elite or experienced racers (more disks than mountain bikes but who cares). I’m assuming that the 1/2 would have a similar feel. For sure, the May sprint is on my calendar for next year.
The RD (Becca) is a great ambassador for the sport. But, I still haven’t received my award from May either.
Having said that, the locals won’t care one bit about you having a race so you probably need to bring some volunteers with you or be really self-sufficient as you leave T1. We had a pickup fly through the course at 60 mph with cyclists in both directions in May. The pickup was pulling a heavy trailer too. But, at least he was kind enough to honk feverishly while straddling the yellow line. Though, that kind of thoughtfulness would have been better used upon his brake pedal. So, carry a pedal wrench in your singlet.
Anyway, stay at the campgrounds (starting line). I’d do this race except that I have another 1/2 the following weekend. I am considering it for next year though.
-jeff
Wow!! I can’t believe there were slowtwitchers at this rinky-dink race I did last year! That’s cool!
Yes, all of the above comments about the course, organization, unmanned aid stations, etc, are true. I’m going back this year. It’s only an hour from here, and at 8 weeks before wisconsin, it’s at a good time for me. It’s pan flat here in Urbana, as well, so the flatness isn’t an issue for me.
I also agree with people who say that there is no where for this race to go but up. This season, I believe it’s part of some “midwest tri series” so there might be a bit more to it this year.
it was my first 1/2IM last year. 6:12, with a longer run split than bike split! This year I’m calling the race “Colin’s Revenge”. I think I can take 90 minutes off my time. That would be a sweet improvement! If you people in the top 20 had problems, imagine what I had. At the last aid station, a kid gave me water in a plastic baggie, because they ran out of cups! But I’ll bet that a lot of those issues are resolved.
It’ll be fun! See you all down there!
-Colin
" you don’t see things like 100ft tall aluminum crosses in the city!"
I saw that thing on a roadtrip a few years back, it’s huge, but definately in the middle of nowhere.