anyone have experience on both courses? which race would you recommend? I’m looking for a relatively fast course, as I’ve had nothing but climbing in my three halves so far this year.
Bump. I’m curious about the US 1/2 Championship, too. Plus, can anyone tell me why they have qualifying if you can just sign up? Great, so I can save $15 on registration. Is that it? It’s just a marketing gimmick, right?
The 1/2 Championships are put on very well. You will get that IM event feeling. Mark Livesay the RD puts together a great race.
The course itself is primarily short rollers, little shade, and Kansas City Farmland. The run is harder then the profile shows, its not hilly, but its certainly not flat with some long stretches of gradual hills.
There is general entry still this year to grow the race, which will most certainly grow with how well Mark puts on events. Of course a certain amount is going to be marketing to attract racers to grow the race, but there is certainly no false advertisements. Need to remember this is only its second season, you wouldn’t know it from how well its put on, but fact of the matter is you have to offer General entry to get something off the ground. It has a great first show last year, and from my understanding it will be limited to Championship only next year.
I am doing it again this year simply to send a message to the WTC that they do not own both IM and 1/2IM events with their introduction of 70.3
Should also mention that Ultramax events raises money for charity, this is a non-profit group. Mark also successfully got the USA Nationals this year as RD going on this weekend just to put things into perspective on how well organized he and his crew are.
If you are looking for a flat 1/2IM course…then the Florida Challenge (Great Floridian Half) is not the one you want. There is not much flat over the 56 miles in Clermont. Most people think Florida is flat…well its not…we do have hills, short and steep, in Central Florida. Now…“hill” is all relative as its nothing compared to the Rockies, the Blue Ridge, etc…but its not flat!
Your better choice for flat is the Gulf Coast 1/2IM Panama City, FL…now thats a FLAT course…looks exactly like a pancake for 56 miles…=…BORING!!
If you want to be considered studly, do the Great Floridian half. That bike course is one of the hardest at a half you can find.
I do the full GFT as much as possible, just because it’s a great race, in a great venue and a seriously tough bike course.
Tony
Done the half twice. Really well organized, great course with a great spirit from the volunteers. It is not however a fast course. The Playboy Bunny water stop last year was great.