I was out on the West-side of Michigan this weekend and rode the Grand Haven 1/2 IM bike course. The course is very fast and I’d describe it as mostly flat with a few rollers. Very scenic with lots of shade. I’m sure we’ll see some 24+mph bike average again this year.
There is one mini-climb right away as you head away (East) from the beach and again when you return to town, but really nothing to worry about. This hill and a couple of over-passes are really the only things that prevent this course from being completely flat. There was no wind on Saturday but the tree lined Lake Shore Blvd should knock down anything from the East or West. Anything out of the North or South should fight you one way…and hopefully push you the other.
Unfortunately, the first and last mile of the bike course could possibly be the worst pavement I’ve ridden on. It’s about a mile of pure body shaking, wheel un-truing, bottle launching, sand blown nastiness. If your racing there this year, try to steer clear of the major potholes and just hold on tight for the unavoidable ones. Other than this tiny section, a very nice, fast and fair bike course.
I saw a couple guys swimming…burrrr. Local weather station said water temp at GHSP was 56…but as we’ve all heard, the water temp in the Great Lakes can swing +15 degrees overnight. I wouldn’t sweat it.
Didn’t venture out onto the run course but I’ve heard they’re re-routing the last mile to avoid the sandy trail run and I’m sure many participants will appreciate that move.
Forecast isn’t looking too good. It is starting to look just like last year except windier!! This morning weather.com says that winds will be 20 - 30 mph and increasing waves to rip current conditions!! Just great! Might as well just figure it to be a du already. I don’t mind the heat (it is starting to warm the lake nicely), but the wind blows!!
I was expecting something epic when you wrote, “Unfortunately, the first and last mile of the bike course could possibly be the worst pavement I’ve ridden on. It’s about a mile of pure body shaking, wheel un-truing, bottle launching, sand blown nastiness.”
It was nothing of the sort.
Your training routes must be like glass…
The bike course is very nice. The run course is banal. But it is what it is.
A “banal” run course? Would you rather have run out to the power plant & back? In cast you didn’t notice, there were thousands & thousands of tourists in GH Sunday - blocking off even more intersections for 100+ IM/2 athletes to run through would have been impossible. Given the race location, I thought the run course was pretty good. The only improvement would be running up Mulligan’s Hollow twice.
How did the race go Eric, I Saw you placed 2nd overall, though I’m sure you would have preferred the swim not to be shortened for a second year in a row. Nice run off the bike as well!
Who was the guy that won, his ride time looks crazy fast.
How about heading back up to the neighborhood we ride our bikes through. Maybe there are reasons that can’t be done.
Anyway–it is what it is. I realize there are 1000’s of tourists and only a 100 or so people doing the 1/2 and that’s why the course is that way. But I was laughing to myself as I ran around little patches of grass. It felt kind of silly.
And I’m sure 3D put together the best run course they could. At the same time, if I was the RD, I might acknowledge that my run course is convoluted, but it’s the best I can do.
