The entry fee for the full GFT goes from $295 to $350 on 3/31/05 so I have a month to decide if I should go to Orlando/Clermont or to Raleigh, NC for the Blue Devil.
Who has done them and which one would you pick if given the choice? Why?
One thing for me is that I can drive to Raleigh which will save on airfare/bike shipping etc. If I go to GFT it would be via airline/car rental etc.
I’m interested in what people’s thoughts were about how the event was run. Good organization? What about course support from vols, etc?
Details about either of these races is welcome.
I also can think about CheasapeakeMan but not sure if that race is mature enough. With only ~100 racers that event would probably feel more like just another training day as there’d be a lot of time by yourself…
I’ve only done the GFT, that that was in 2002. The swim was ridiculously short, and the bike was 5 miles too long. I understand there were last minute changes in the course due to construction and low water levels, but I was pretty disappointed to do my first iron-distance race, and not have to be iron-distance. Everything else with the race was great, good support, aid stations, etc… Oh, also, there was a 1/2 IM going on at the same time… I just didn’t like that, having people waaay in front of me, only going 1/2 the distance, somehow I just didn’t dig that.
If it were me, I would do the Blue Devil. Of course, that’s because I live 45 minutes away.
I’ve volunteered at two of the races and done about a dozen races by the organizer and have found everything to be top notch. The first year they did the race it ended with a point to point marathon ending at the Duke University campus. Now, I think the run course is a 5 lap event. That means greater access to aid stations but I would imagine it would get a little boring.
Good luck and let us know what you decide. I’ll probably volunteer at the Blue Devil again this year.
I’ve done the BD for the past three years (since it’s in my backyard) and I find it’s a great race. I agree with fatmouse that it’s top-notch in terms of organization and the volunteers are great. The course is pretty challenging. Bike and run courses are continuous rollers. I really liked the point to point marathon the first year but the logistics of that course were too hard. The BD has been relatively small (around 250 racers) and has more of a home-town race feel than most ironmans. Haven’t done GFT so I can’t say anything about that. Let me know if you want any more details about the BD.
I’ve done both. GFT is more challenging due to heat and steeper climbs on bike, though Duke now has that circuit run inside park that is pretty hilly. Both were well organized the years I did them. GFT has a bigger production, Duke gives most of the money to charity. So, it really depends on what you’re looking for.
Yes, the fact that the BD gives most of your registration fee to charity (Duke Cancer Center) makes for a nice co-benefit. There is a much larger “feel good” factor to the race. I’m always half tearing up at the banquet.
Weather wise: The first year the BD was held in mid-Sept (and we had a fluke rain/chilly temp day) and now it is early Oct. The weather here can be just about anything that time of the year. For the past two years, it’s been pretty cool temps (60’s as high temps). Last year it was downright cold with the temp only in the upper 40’s at the start and windy. Personally I like hot and humid…maybe I should do GFT sometime!
I’ve done the GFT the last 2 years, and it’s always been a really well-organized race. Last year the horrible pavement sections had been repaved, so that’s no longer an issue. I haven’t done the BD so I can’t compare, but the support at GFT is outstanding. Every station stocked with enough of anything you would want up until the closing bell. The course is pretty tough, and seems to always be very windy (and hot-first year was in the 90s), but I’ll be doing it again this year barring any major injuries.
Yes, I would characterize the BD as constant small hills. None longer than a quarter to half a mile in length. Okay, maybe one that is a good steady 1 mile climb. I rode with 53-42 upfront and 11-23 cassette in the back and without any problems…but the hills are never-ending and do wear on you so a 12-25 cassette wouldn’t be a bad idea. There are only a couple of flat segments that you can really get down in your bars and get a steady pace going. The rest of the time you are either going up or down.
No organizational issues to speak of. They did have issues the first two years with it getting dark and having no lighting on the run course but they solved that last year with portable stadium lights set up around the course.
The Duke venue is nicer, but it will most likely be cool and /or raining at Duke. GFT can be a scorcher with temps easily into the high 80’s and even the 90’s some years. If you are not acclimated to heat, Duke might be a better choice. Also, Duke has a few more hills than GFT, so unless you are a goat, you might prefer GFT.
Both races are well run. Fred has his race well-oiled with friendly support folks. The run is flat too.
Duke’s run course is a demanding marathon for bigger guys because of the hills. Not quite as many spectators either because of temps. The beauty of the area that time of year is transcendent.
I’ve done BD, GFT, and ChesapeakeMan and if I had to pick which one I liked best, it would be GFT. But BD runs a close second. Best swim is BD, best bike course is GFT and best run couse is GFT. CM is flat while BD and GFT have hills. Nothing hard though. You’re right about CM. It was very islolated on the bike course. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if I was going the right way. I liked BD in that your entry fee goes to cancer research. My dad died from lung cancer. Another plus for GFT, you can go to Disney World afterwards for recovery. Nothing better then walking miles and miles around the theme parks. Worked for me. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the 3 races. All have excellent RDs, volunteers and organization.
The real question you need to ask yourself is how you will feel if I kick the everliving shit out of you at GFT? Duke may be the answer you seek. PS, I still haven’t started training since UK1/2 in August…I am well tapered for October.
as a race committee member every year for the BD, along with the rest of the committee, i know we do our very best to give each and every racer a great iron distance experience. we take to heart everything we do wrong each year and try not to make the same mistake the next year. most of all the race committee members have competed in I DOT races all over the world, couple that with a great race director and a great cause and you have a great race. come join us.
