can anyone tell me about this race and where to stay?
Thanks,
Neal
Anywhere down in south county rhode island should be convenient.
The race is ok for a small HIM. Swim goes with the longshore current, pretty fast. A lot of the bike is on the shoulder of a highway, road is good, but not very scenic. Run is through a lot of neighborhoods, kinda nice though, a lot of people come out in their yards to cheer. Last 1/4 mile is on the beach through the sand. All in all I have enjoyed it both times I raced it, nothing super special, but the weather is usually pretty nice. Try staying here http://www.lighthouse-inn-ri.com/
AWESOME RACE!!! Not sure where to stay, but definitely do it if youre considering it. It’s super well organized and a ton of fun. Plus its only 175 you cant beat that.
This is a fantastic local race. The course is fairly challenging. The swim can go either way, being its in the ocean. All athletes walk almost one mile down the beach ot the start area so you are basically only swimming in one direction. One year ('02?) it was tough because the current was working against everyone, other times the current was a non-factor. There are many rolling hills on the bike but nothing crazy. The run is basically two ‘out and backs’ through residential areas. The run layout is good for keeping tabs on where other racers are. I love the last few hundred yards of the run as it is on the beach in the soft sand. I’ve heard other racers gripe about it but what is better than a final kick in the nuts after hours of self-torture?
Staying anywhere in Narragansett is convenient. Newport is nice and not too far (just be ready to pay a $4 toll for each trip across the Newport Bridge). There are a lot of hotels in Warwick, RI but that is 25 minutes away. Look anywhere in South County and you’ll be fine.
This will be my 5th time doing the race and I would recommend it to anyone.
FIRMMAN was my first half and I really enjoyed the experience. Inexpensive, well run, great course, ocean swim, mostly flat bike course, and a challenging but fun run course.
Swim: As others mentioned its a left to right swim down the beach. The walk down the beach to the start by everyone in wetsuits as the sun rises is a sight to behold (march of the penguins). Its a moment I won’t soon forget. Almost guaranteed to be wetsuit legal with water temps in the high 60s/low 70s that time of year. Last year we had a bit of help from the current and a bunch of chop and swells to make it interesting. If you’ve never swam in the ocean before, I’d pick another race as conditions can be anything from dead flat calm to 6’ waves / swells / and chop at the beach.
Bike: Mostly flat bike course down route 1 with one challenging more technical section of rollers and windy bits in the middle known as the “KFR Loop” as Kings Factory Road is the turn off to start that section. The rest is a long boring out and back on a very non scenic highway. Often its a headwind on the way out / tailwind on the way back. Last year in a cruel twist of fate it was the opposite of that. Road condtions aren’t bad at all and I like the way you can break the course up into sections mentally with the way its laid out.
Run: Great run course through various local neighborhoods. Great crowd support, and lots of people out in their front yards to cheer you on. Plenty of well equipped aid stations with great volunteers although the concentration of the sports drink on the course varied greatly between aid stations. The run course rolls a bit but nothing too bad at all and can be quite fast and offers some decent shade as well. Lots of out and back sections to see where your placed / friends your racing with etc. The last 1/4 mile on the beach is painfull but fun and that poor volunteer that routes everyone onto the beach has to listen to everyone go “NO!!! I don’t wanna!” all day long. Make your best pain face and sprint down the sand to the finish. Stay on the harder packed sand closer to the ocean for as long as you can before turning up to the finish.
Plenty for family / supporters to do in the area or they can just enjoy a beach day if thats their thing. Lots of restaurants etc in the area as well. Cheapest place to stay would be Warwick area (30 minute drive) but there are also plenty of hotels in Narragansett (South County) areas as well. Newport is also close by (20-30 minute drive) and offers lots of attractions as well. You could easily make a weekend or longer trip out of the race. I’m local to the area so let me know if you have any other questions and I’ll do my best to help.