As I suspected going into it, Traverse City was not a “fast” course. Fun and fair, but not fast - specifically the bike. So what is the “fastest” course in the midwest? Obviously there is variation depending on individual strengths, but I’m generally pretty even between the three legs. I was discussing with a friend and I think we settled on Muncie.
The TC swim was great - smooth water and wetsuit legal. Steelhead varies a lot depending on the lake. Muncie is in the resevoir and was wetsuit legal when I did it, but we had an unseasonably cool day and I hear it is often non-wetsuit.
Muncie’s bike is similar to Steelhead’s, maybe a bit faster. Both much easier than TC
Muncie is not an “easy” run course (sorry for all the scare quotes) but maybe a bit easier than Steelhead. I think Traverse City is the fastest run of the ones I’ve done, even though my time didn’t support that.
I hear Ohio is a fast course, but that time of year is especially hot. I haven’t raced that one yet, so no idea really. I’m tall and race much better when it is cooler. Steelhead is a little earlier than Muncie and probably better odds for cooler temps, but I’m not sure how much of a difference.
No real idea on Wisconsin, but I assume tough. And snakes.
I would say Muncie is the fastest. Easy swim, easy bike, and I would say easy run too. The only thing that makes the run challenging (for me) is the heat, but there’s nothing about the terrain itself that I found challenging. FWIW I finished Muncie a whole hour faster than I did Steelhead (we had 5 foot waves in Lake Michigan)
I’m going to go to Traverse City next year because I like hilly courses
I think the answer would have been Racine before it ended. Independent of weather, Muncie is probably the fastest course but it is almost always going to be hot and humid. Steelhead is a little more rolling but still a really fast course if Lake Michigan cooperates. With Steelhead now in June it should avoid really hot weather with the early season lake temperatures.
Madison is really tough and I can’t speak to Ohio, I’ve never done it.
I’ve done Ohio, Steelhead and Racine (when it was around). Racine was super fast. Steelhead is faster than Ohio. The run course at Steelhead is not as hilly as Ohio. Ohio run course is up and down constantly. Steelhead just has 2 big hills. The swim is faster in Ohio and the bike course is about the same. Parking is a lot worse at Steelhead, unless you get the VIP Package.
I think the answer would have been Racine before it ended. Independent of weather, Muncie is probably the fastest course but it is almost always going to be hot and humid. Steelhead is a little more rolling but still a really fast course if Lake Michigan cooperates. With Steelhead now in June it should avoid really hot weather with the early season lake temperatures.
Madison is really tough and I can’t speak to Ohio, I’ve never done it.
I agree with this word for word, except I only spectated at Racine, didn’t race it.
Des Moines will likely be a fast course.
To OP, there’s definitely some faster options if not racing WTC/IM races.
I’ve wondered about Grand Rapids, although friends weren’t really enthused. I did Michigan Titanium and enjoyed it - not fast, but fair and fun.
For me a 70.3 is a big event. I’d race non IM brand, but would need persuading. I love local for short and an occasional big production like Nationals or IM brand.
TC was my first race with pros - that was also fun as a guy who follows that scene.
Caseville has a half distance race in July. It might be hot, but I’m betting it’s a fast/flat course. Yes, there were only 28 total people who raced the distance, but I would’ve won my class with my TC time. Although, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s cancelled next year with that kind of turn out.
There’s one in Springfield, IL in late July that was called ‘Route 66 Half Iron’ for years until WTC stepped in. The race still exists, but I don’t know what it’s called. It’s really well done and the logistics of a small race can be really nice. I have been a couple of times and will go back. The bike is really fast since your only elevation is a couple of overpasses. The run is surprisingly shaded and pretty flat. It’s typically not wetsuit legal which kills a couple of minutes, but it’s a really easy course to swim. It’s so well marked that it’s hard to go off course. My 70.3 PR swim is there and I know the distance was right. The transition area is small and right off of the water which saves a couple of minutes over the race.
The Superiorman in Duluth was fairly flat and fast with good roads. Not as flat as Springfield or the 70.3 events already mentioned. I go faster in cooler weather, so it’s a good for me. I can make back the time on the run if it’s closer to 60 degrees than 70 or 80. You may be different. I think they re-routed a little this year, so I don’t know what that course was like.
Steelhead 70.3. is my only MI race, Muncie 70.3 is my only IN race, and Challenge Full is my only OH race so I can’t speak much about those states. I mostly stick to the rivers and the lakes that I’m used to.
I went back and looked up the course for Steelhead and Muncie. If the weather is cooperative, I think Steelhead might be one of the faster venues of everything I mentioned. The bike course is crazy flat. I forgot just how flat it is. If the run isn’t too hot and the lake is cooperative, this might be the winner. The last time I was there it was not wetsuit legal and the run was blazing hot. Maybe that’s why I don’t remember it being fast.
Yup! Most of the races around there have some slow bike courses. The road surfaces haven’t been great either. I thought I could escape some of the hills by going closer to Milwaukee and doing one in Oconomowoc, but the bike course there was no joke.
Did you do Steelhead in 2016? That was my year there - no wetsuit, hot AF. First 70.3. I also didn’t have power yet and my watch died the day before so i was running without pace or HR.
You can guess how the back half of the run went! I’ve wanted a rematch ever cents, and I think that maybe next on my list.
Chisago Lakes 70.3 in Chisago City Minnesota. Last weekend in July. Flat bike and run. Roads are super smooth.
They have a sprint and an aqua bike the same day. I think the half had over 600 entries.
I did! I had some of the first Corsa Speeds available and flatted at mile 46 or so on their first ride. What a painful tire to change on the side of the road. I decided to enjoy (walk) the run afterwards since it was so freaking hot and my day was basically over. It was crazy hot. I will never forget some old lady calling me a pussy when she went by me (during one of many walk breaks) 3 miles from the end.
I’d be curious to compare our splits. Definitely was getting passed by women with 50s and maybe 60s on their calves once the piano fell on my back the second time I went into the Whirlpool campus! In retrospect, the fact that I Still did a 5:11 there after falling apart compared to a 5:04 at a better-paced, cool Muncie the next year indicates how fast Steelhead is.
I am from the Midwest and favor the 70.3 distance.
I did not do Traverse City this year but have done Steelhead (3x), Madison (2x), Muncie (2x), Racine (2x), Springifeld Rt. 66 (2x) and Ohio (1x) all in the last five years. In respect to fastest I’d vote for Steelhead. Keep in mind the swim at Steelhead is in Lake Michigan and there have been years when the swells/waves made the swim both difficult and slow. My vote on the toughest of these Midwest 70.3 races is Madison 70.3. Weather usually does not cooperate and the bike can be tough.
That TC bike was no joke. My friends haven’t done Madison, but they said it was second only to Muskoka or Tremblant - whichever the hard one is. Pavement was great and you have a full lane, so it was fun, but lots of work.
I’m a decent rough water/ ocean swimmer, so I’m not as worried about the lake - that being said, rough water is slow. In 2016 it was super calm and no wetsuit, which is so odd.
ETA - 5 minutes more on the swim is worth 15 minutes fewer on the bike!
2016 Steelhead was not terribly hot…it was just humid as fuck with almost no wind. Plus having that run in the whirlpool campus is just a bowl of stagnant humid air…never seen so many people melt down as I did that day.
Run looked like t1…everyone was that saturated with sweat
Maybe it was humidity instead. It was just an awful day for a run. That was also the year that was the qualifier for worlds in the USA (Chattanooga?) the next year. It felt like there were some pretty competive times at midwest races that year.
I think all midwest tris would be faster if they stopped picking the BALLS HOTTEST time of year (mid/late july) to host that shit.
Luckily, most midwest tris this year dodged that awful heatwave, but the idea that late july in Indiana/Ohio/Michigan is ideal is pretty laughable. When was the last time any of the swims were even wetsuit legal in Muncie or Delaware?