So I went out this morning and rode the Disney 1/2 bike course with my buddy Jim Barber. I do the course starting out here in Clermont at the Hartwood Marsh Publix / at the mile 23 turn-around. The course is still very rough as far as pavement (that rocky pavement stuff) goes from Williams Road to Reams Road…rocky at least I think. There are still some hills and some pretty nice winds (windy today at least) out there.
The ride refreshed my memory from last year when I was preparing for this race…as the course is tougher on the bike then on paper. The road was only repaved from last year in one of the rough sections for about 162 yards or so (at the beginning of Porter Rd.). There is also some new construction out there on Seidel Rd. so the out and back U-turn probably won’t be out as far out I would figure…just a little shorter (maybe 151 yards at most) Here is the link so you have some idea what the heck “local-yocal” is talking about.
We did also stop at the Ft. Wilderness Beach. The water was very clear (compared to my orange Clermont lakes) and the water was warm…probably like 80/85 or so at 10 am… Yes, I went in a did some strokes in the bike shorts… Should make for a very nice swim…not as fast as Gulf Coast with the wetsuits and salty water/buoyancy there…but a true swimmer will tear this swim up at Disney…
Havent really looked at the entire run course as a whole so I wont comment too much. I do know its different than last year…flatter…and hopefully faster…but from what I saw today, not much shade on World Dr. or Vista Dr. which is a majority of the course…
Some things to remember from last year: -Transition had no lights…so bring a flashlight or headlamp just in case it doesn’t this year too. -You dont have to check your bike in till raceday; so don’t…(it just rained here at 9 pm out of no where). -Wear a top on the Bike and Run (the Disney Boz rule). -Transition is carpeting on top of sand for whatever its worth (carry your bike everywhere right?). -The bike is not as flat as you think and the first 20 miles are the fastest/easiest so be patient. -It will be really hot on the run so be patient on the bike.
Hope some of this helped folks coming in. Did I forget anything ST’ers?
Looking forward to it already…see ya Sunday. Gonna miss my guys MLBE and Boz this year…get healthy guys!
Doing my first half at Disney this weekend, unfortunately I did not get time to ride the bike course prior. Can you give any other tidbits about it. A friend of mine suggests to go easy on the fast part at the beginning and save it for the hills.
KG’s description is dead-on. The first 20 or so miles is blisteringly fast, then you hit an out and back stretch of road that has some tough rollers (Marsh), then you’ll turn on to 545 with some large rollers. While the hills are not bad comparatively speaking to “hills” from other states, they have some steep stretches and it has been painfully windy as of late. The wind, I think, is what has been difficult lately. Rode part of the course this past week and the wind just comes up out of nowhere, lately about 12-15 MPH. The wind has a tendency to come out of the east, so again, the first section will be fast, heading back east on the out and back section of Marsh will be the toughest stretch of this course, as it has the toughest hills and usually the headwind. So think of the bike course with a tough middle section. Looks like it will be a hot weekend too. Hydrate very well on this course. It’s hot.
I was very curious about this race, especially after the Clermont race (where I discovered there ARE hills in Florida).
Your post is the best I could’ve hoped for, and i’m especially happy about the swim being suited for a strong swimmer. Can’t wait for that one. So thanks KGrog.
My only question is, are the miles marked on the run? This is my second Half IM, and the other (Eagleman) has them all marked.
I’ll be there Thursday night, and I hope to see some peeps floating around on Friday/Saturday. If you wonder what I look like, there’s some pics on this website: www.teammoosenuggets.com
don’t ask what a moosenugget is, these guys are jokers.
Kevin, Thanks for the bike info (What was your bike split last yr?)… I pulled the FW PDF off the Disney site and it appears much of the run will be shaded has it loops around the paths and roads of FW.
Thanks for the info. So its safe to say no wetsuit come Sunday? Was it wesuit legal last year?
Also, for those who did this one last year, is it any different from your normal tri? I mean its set IN Walt Disney Resort?? So does that complicate things? Do we need entry fees (doubt it) for guests and such? Is it tough to navigate if the park is all around. Please excuse my ignorance, I’m unfamiliar w/ the area.
Thunder, The swim bike run part is no more or less complicated than any other IM event, however the logistics of traveling around WDW property with & without your bike can make or break your experience. That said, where your staying is going to affect your timing and stress level come race morning if you don’t know how to get around.
2:26 bike for me last year. Tried to take it easy for the run but that didnt work as the run was just plain tough for me. No wetsuits last year and no wetsuits this year.
The only time Disney wants you to see that stuff (Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain) is with a paid admission ticket in your hand the day before the race! The Grogans strongly encourage it too if you are really really fast and in the M30-34 or W25-29 AG…lol…(another wise tip…stay away from the parks Sat.!)
English muffin(glyn) and I (margaret) are travelling from Cali back to do this race. It will be my 1st half so I am looking forward to the flats as we call it out here. Florida doesnt have hills!!! Will be nice to swim without a wetsuit. Did the danskin race last year and the swim was perfect in the lake at Disney with no wetsuits.
Both will be wearing Team Javelin stuff so give us a shout!
Just flew into Florida last night and it is hot so be prepared. I flew in from Cali so its definitely a difference. Very hot and humid.
Went to the LBS last night and talked to a few people that did the course last year and he said the slowest he went on the hills was about 18mph and said they are more like rollers than hills. Good news!
There is a fun run tonight at South Lake Bikes in Clermont at 6:15 pm…45 minutes/all abilities if anyone out there is interested. PM if you want more details…beer, water, and pizza to follow the run too!
Heavy D.- It is a camp ground all around the expo/transition so I would think pets are welcome.