Hi,
I’m looking to compete in my first half-iron distance event next year. Does anybody have any event suggestions for somebody new at this distance? Nothing that will blow me up. My significant other (not a triathlete) wants to go someplace nice as well, so I’ll have to keep that in mind as I decide on a venue.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
There are people with much more first hand knowledge than me but I’ve heard Timberman is a good race and a nice location. They have “Timberfest” the whole weekend so there’s some activity for the non-competitor…
Where do you live? You can check this calendar for a listing:
Half Ironman Race Listings
There are infinite suggestions. If your budget allows, really nice destinations can be had (Honu half in Hawaii, St. Croix, etc.)
Stateside? Depends if you want to drive or not and where you live! If it is your 1st, I’ll assume you are just going for a good finish and not too worried about time. An easy course that comes to mind that has lots of other stuff for the family would be the Disney 1/2 in Orlando.
Jay
Good site, but no vineman 70.3 listed?
Check out the Superfrog in San Diego, it’s a pretty easy event (swim/bike easy, run not so) and you can stay at the Hotel Del Coronado and walk to the event. The 1/2 that is up in Bend Oregon is really nice also, fantastic bike course.
How about Honu, if you want someplace nice.
Transition, Great question as I was toying with the same idea.
Anyone have a critique of Eagleman? I was looking for an early season event (more focussed in fall/winter months -go figure)
and I too wanted something that wouldn’t “blow me up.”
I looked at Wildflower, but the bike course scared the heck outta me 
Also, is the typical cutoff for HIM 8 hours?
Thanks!
Where do you live? Eagleman is a good/flat race. The host hotel is nice too if your sig. other wants to hang out there. I just did PatriotMan in S.E. Mass and it was GREAT - best 1.2 Iron course I’ve done. You could do the race and then go to the Cape, Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard for the week after.
Just do a search of Eagleman. Tons of posts about it including race reports.
1/2 IMs make great vacations because you are not as tourqued up as you are for an IM. Just pick one in a nice location that you want to visit. I did St. Croix as my first 1/2. I blew up completely, came and close to last, and needed 2 IVs at the finish line. But the education I received there was unbelievable, the vacation was really nice, and I can’t wait to go back some time in the future. Eagleman is great race, and because it is so flat, you probably will not have trouble finishing. Its a tough swim, so work on your swim if you decide on Eagleman. Mooseman is nice. Harriman is a great race, but its more of a local race, not much of a vacation and it is very difficult and the weather is unpredictable. But if you live close by to Harriman you can train on the course.
Where are you located, and how far are ya willing to travel?
I’ll 2nd Timberman as a great HIM to do. Closest thing to the M-dot IM “event” atmosphere yer gonna get at a non-IM race I think.
Tupper Lake is another fantastic first HIM, there were a ton of HIM cherries popped there 2 weeks ago.
More low-key however, but for some this is probably a good thing.
Both of these races are in great vacation locales, scenic, with lots of other non-race things to do in the general area.
Other than being flat and fast, I can’t think of much to recommend Eagleman. It is an overcrowded draft-fest, full of fast folks trying to qualify for one thing or another, or set a PB.
I’m currently in Vancouver, BC and I’m willing to go someplace nice for a vacation without breaking the bank (hopefully), since I’m just a grad student.
I hear Honu is nice. Maybe Florida? Cancun? Can you stay at one of the all-inclusive resorts and make your way to the site comfortably?
Another question I had is - what’s the big difference that sets the M-dot and the non-M-dot events apart? Aside from the qualification and world championships thing.
the m dot thing depends, There are lots of non m-dot races that have huge fields, great volunteers and top notch fields…like soma, then there are small races with less competition and much smaller crowds, and participants, like deuces wild. it just depends on what you are looking for. I think in general, its hard to go wrong with an M-dot race weather its 140.6 or 70.3, but there are tons of sweet races that dont fall into the m-dot group. Im sure there are resorts you can stay at that are close to the event, go to the event web pages and see if you can find anything helpful there. If you are in BC, isnt there the new balance half? (you said next year right?) or the desert triathlon?
Thanks for your reply. Maybe I should just stick with a 70.3, since I guess I can’t go wrong with that?
I know about the NB Half, but the better half wants to go someplace nice (outside of BC, and probably out of country) - so I need to accommodate her. 
Having just returned from a vacation in Vancouver and environs, I would caution you about some of the hotter venues for a half iron. If you’re at all tyypical of first timers, you’ll probably be doing the run in the 11am to 1pm range. Many of the races that were listed by others can be stinkin hot by that time. If you decide to do one of the tropical races, I’d recommend you do some training farther inland from Vancouver.