OK, if Auburn is formerly the worlds toughest half, then what is now the toughest?
Also anyone got any pearls of wisdom regarding the course, I am thinking more about the bike than anything else, or any race reports from last year.
There is a thread over on Gordo’s forum about the bike course. I’ve heard to be more worried about the run.
clm
I’m bringing my road bike and probably my Mavic Ksyriums since my tufo’s on my 404’s apparently act as brakes… I am not too worried about the bike, it’s a lot of climbing, but I did OK at Wildflower on the ride.
The run is hard. It gets super hot in the valley, so be mentally prepared for it - and bring a water bottle, you will need it between aid stations.
See you up there - I’ll be the guy with the blue Yaqui DL.
JohnA
Though the bike has changed, the race is only different in name … it’s still a bear! http://www.coachgordo.com/forum2/upload/index.php?showtopic=3624
Here is my write up from the training weekend out there: http://www.traintoendure.com/ (click on Auburn Half Course)
Dave,
Should I leave my disk at home and ride my Rear Hed Stinger?
Mike
Lighter weight for 95% of the field will win out … i don’t think you can go wrong with deep dish front & rear (especially if it’s lighter)! Don’t over think it … any questions just leave the disk at home. (if the disk is of the same weight or close you’l be OK) Me? … I don’t think the difference between the disk or deep dish will make the difference! Pacing / nutrtion and smart choices will make or break an athlete out there.
Hope that helps …
Thanks Dave.
My thoughts were that there can’t be that much climbing, but if you say the first 30 miles out are essentially uphill…whoa!!
I guess what’s important to me is how many of those miles are steep climbing hills? That’s the only time the extra weight of the disk is going to make a difference. I can see a disk being beneficial on the false flats and rollers.
Look for the TCSD (Tri Club of San Diego) group camping. Come over and have a beer or two.
Mike
Last year, after the Triple-T (I only did the 1/2 portion), Gordo said that the Triple-T course was harder.
Good account of the course!
Some info for others:
To clarify for those looking at Gordo’s thread - the 5500 or so listed on the site is pretty close. I’ve done the ride to Colfax a bunch of times and the climb out of Clementine and up to Auburn as I live right down the road. It is about 3000 in ascent as I recall from Auburn to Colfax and back and that excludes the first two climbs at the start, anything past Colfax, and the very end. Not sure how the topo is coming up with 8K-10K, but it is way off.
Re: water temp. We have had a ton of rain lately and it has been much cooler than normal. It hailed here yesterday and actually stuck to the ground for about 2 hours - freaky for this time of year! My guess would be mid to high 50s for the water temp on race day - maybe Brad can give a better update.
Race day outside temp could be 55 or it could be 90 - crap shoot. The mornings have been pretty chilly regardless. The ride also goes up to 2500-3K elevation so a cooler day in Auburn will be a very cool day up there - be prepared for both scenarios.
Hope that helps
"Race day outside temp could be 55 or it could be 90 - crap shoot. The mornings have been pretty chilly regardless. The ride also goes up to 2500-3K elevation so a cooler day in Auburn will be a very cool day up there - be prepared for both scenarios. "
I have been running out of the Overlook in February, March and April - and it has always been hot! Not sure how, but just was. Even last year, when it was cold and rainy on the bike it was hot in the valley for the run.
Well there were some nice weekends, but hot is yet to come. The rock/ground is reddish so maybe the sun reflecting off of that makes it warmer. I know this is the case when you ride around the lake and climb out the Forest Hill side. You also get warmer running than biking and the run course may be protected by the wind.
In any case you will all have a good challenging course and great scenery.
I’ll have to pop by after the race to meet a you and a some of the STers.
mwbyrd … IMO there is only 1 “steep” climb and thats at mile 50 … there are a couple bumps that some might call steep but its relative to what you train on! I know the disk will help a quicker athlete on the way back … you can really roll some sections if you want. If i was racing i don’t think i’d lose anything on the climbs with my disk and it would help in a bunch of spots on the way back! Your thoughts are similar to mine ;). Last year the issue was a long descent on twisty roads in potentially rainy weather … braking could have been ugly on wet carbon! YIKES
Shoot me an email and i’ll send the profile (trifaster@aol.com) … that might help for referance!
Dave,
I’m not worried about the profile. I checked out the webpage and your posts on the other forums. I’m going to just go with my disk. Heck, my tribike with the disk is lighter than my road bike and I climb pretty well on my road bike. But then again, I am running Tufo’s so I might actually be going backwards 
I have a Renn, so no carbon brake surface for me.
We’re getting to Auburn Thursday night and I’ll drive the course on Friday so I know what to expect.
Mike
I have an athlete in the same situation … he is going with the Renn! Good call!
Not saying it’s the new world’s toughest half, but the SBR Multisports Half Ironman in Harriman, NY on May 21 will have about 6,000 ft of climbing in its just over 57 miles…a little more than the estimated total elevation gain for Auburn of 5,460 ft. Both are scary. Harriman is a 4 loop course (1,500 ft per loop) that just ain’t going to be fun on my tri bike – folks think I should leave the Renn disc at home? If so, should I use my Hed.3 rear or just the plain jane training wheel? The run has about 1,400 ft of climbing as well. Anyone else doing this one? Just 50 miles out of NYC and a 9am race start!!
The climb out of the lake is steep. Pitches around 14% and seems to be a steady 8% climb for ~3.5km. Unlike WF there is no 4km cruise through beach city to warm up at all.
The current course has ~5500’ of climbing, last year the old course was about 1000’ more. I counted around 8 people riding discs last year.
mwbyrd … IMO there is only 1 “steep” climb and thats at mile 50 …
Is that the “Lemond climb?” That barely hits 12% and it is so short you barely notice it. Yes, unless you are really strong you will be in your climbing gear, but it is short. The first time I rode the course back in Jan my buddies and I had to really think about where it was.
Darn, I got a new computer at work and did not backup my directory with all my datalogs. All I have now is my printouts. Ugh, I am not happy. I road the course 5 times this year, so I guess I don’t need to waste time staring at it on my computer.
The run course has not changed, same as years past. Clas went 1:17 last year (IIRC). One of my buddies ran it on Sunday and said it was not as hilly as the WF run course.
It is nice to see that Brad updated his site, he was touting the course as only 3500’ of climbing. LOL
Yikes! You don’t call the 2-mile climb out of the lake steep???!! Perhap you didnt’ do that part or forgot about it. Its damn steep. Some parts are so steep you have to sit down if its wet or your rear wheel slips. So better safe than sorry when choosing gears to ride. Cheers, Scott
scott
Scott,
I bet you climb it in a 21t without any problems I am only bringing my 23t since that is what I trained on the course with and didn’t have any real issues.
Hey scott … the climb from the lake is “steep” but never thought it was too bad (ridden it 4 times over the last 2 years…always fresh w/ no swim;) … we are lucky to ride that kind of stuff every week if we want, so again it’s “relative” to what a person rides. OR maybe i have a bad memory!
I thought (and so did the other 10 folks with me) the climb at mile 50 was pretty tough (likely because of where it is in the race)
All things aside … it’s a pretty darn cool venue!
I think most people will think its steep,and after they do the race they’ll also think its the best course in the country. Oustanding challenge. Events like this get me out of bed in the morning.