I have to admit that I was reluctant to go to this race just outside of St Louis… mostly because I hate the nam ‘ultramax’… sounds like some over testosteroned corporate bastardization from the journey/vanhalen era. But this was a quality production.
Great facility, a difficult course and plenty of support. Your choice of a half iron distance and something near an olympic. The swim course was extremely well marked… with very fresh clean water. A technical start to a moderately rolling bike course (with a few rough pavement spots that led to a relentless run course. There was nothing flat… just constant hillsthoguth the woods with an even split of gravel and pavement. Great transition, great festivities before, during and after, and exceptionally well coached volunteers.
It wasn’t an IMNA race, but it was very very impressive as an innaugural event. I wish there were more halves in the midwest like this one.
“Relentless” is an extremely appropriate description of that run course. There was one 200m stretch that could be considered flat (as you ran along the horse pasture) and you got to run it twice (course was modified out and back), but everything else was a hill of an obscene grade, whether up or down! Including the last 2-300m into the finish! It would’ve been fun as a stand alone run, but after the bike, it was hard on the system.
Not that the bike course was that difficult as it was laid out. Just that you had what I later found out was a solid 15 knot headwind (gusting higher) along the back stretch. So, basically, you flew through the first part and then got hammered on the second part and, if you were doing the Half Max, as opposed to the Quarter Max, you got to do it twice! Side note: From talking to the volunteer warning the racers, only one person bit it on the last speed bump and everyone got serious air off of it!
And, yeah, the swim course was wonderful. Large marker buoys about every 50m and huge markers at each turn. Only a few people got “lost” enough to make any difference and I’m guessing they were gauging on the shoreline instead of the buoy-line.
It was very well ordered and the staff and volunteers were excellent. The RD has run a series of smaller events and runs the UltraMax iron distance race, as well (I’m pretty sure), so has become adept at running a smooth, efficient race.
This was my first race this year. Ouch! I can barely walk today. The swim was excellent, very clean water and the lake was protected well from the wind. The roads on the bike course were in great shape for Missouri (known to have the worst roads in the nation). The course was fair even with the brutal headwind on the westerly section. The run course was the most scenic that I have seen, but, the hills were too much. I’m talking about billy-goat hills, 13.1 miles of them. I guestimate that 1/2 the participants were walking up them (me included). That doesn’t seem like racing. Everything else about the race was excellent, including, registration, body marking, and post race party!
I too wish that there were more half and full iron events locally. If it’s so hard to get into Ironman events, why don’t other groups sponsor iron-distance events?
I was looking forward to that ‘flat spot’ for three miles on the way back… only to have it not be so flat… and go by in like 30 seconds… I stood at the base of the first gravel hill and thought… ‘this is just plain mean!’.
Speed bump… the guy warning you about it was standing on it… way to late to make a dif, I think I did a nose wheelie for about 10 yards!!! Thanks god for mountain biking experience!
Your right the windwas tough, but I live where the wind is home so I barely noticed it. Just another ride with a puishing breeze!
Yes, same RD as the UltraMax race. I did UM last year and it was great (except for the super hilly bike course) and I’ll be going back again this year.
Great race “experience”, but then again you knew it would be with Mark Livesay as the race director. My wife and kids were manning a bike aid station and said that all of the athletes were gracious. Talk about a beautiful setting wow. I think that run course is likely to become legendary in years to come. I already can’t wait for next year’s edition.
I would definitely recommend this race. Given that there are not any other 1/2 IMs in the area and it affiliation with a late season ironman it is sure to become a popular one.
The lake was excellent. The roads for the bike were very good. I am not sure that the technical sections of the loop inside the resort will survive for round 2 of the race. Seemed like there were some crashes on that section, but I had fun with all the turns. No challenging climbs on the bike, but a stiff headwind on the back half of the loop yesterday.
It was the hardest run I have ever done in a race. Anyone not reduced to walking at some point should get a special prize. If you like running hills, this is your race.
We had nice weather yesterday, but if you added some heat to this race the run might turn into a real death march.
Great swim, solid test on the bike, all-time toughest run course I’ve ever been on. That thing would set a high mark for a challenge as a run-only course.
As was mentioned I also have issue with the positioning of the guy standing on the speed bump just before the finish. I was down on the bars going hard, caught it just in time. About 3-4 miles before the finish there was a fast section where you came over a little rise then a quick slightly banked right hander – I got a little sideways for a moment. Did not make the same mistake the second time around.
If you add heat to the event, I’m certain I would have been road kill some where out on the run.
If any one has done LP and this event I’d like to hear the comparison.
Yes, did IMUSA last two years; wish I was doing it again this year but just can’t afford it (doing IMMOO in Sept instead). Agree with you that the heat would have killed me on those hills Sunday, the price I paid for the headwind on the bike was refunded with the cool breeze on the run. How would I compare LP with MO? Lots of rollers vs a few long climbs/descents. I trained for LP using I 70 n outer rd from St. Charles (MO) to Danville (and back). It worked for me. The roads up there in NY are in great shape (makes you realize where are tax money is going). Course is beautiful! I’ve seen more than one detailed description of the course on various tri web sites; I believe I linked to one from here. Good luck!
Great race organization, good pre-race expo, tons of well-organized volunteers, probably the best marked course I’ve seen in a long while, good post-race BBQ and music…and yes the run was tough.
I agree this was a very well run race. I’m not sure I would go back though, the run bacame more of a survival event for me, just too many steep hills. I dont mind a good challenge but I never got into any kind of a groove on the run, it just seemed like either straight up or straight down. Running is normally my strong point and I was nothing but a waste case at the end. You are right though, that was absolutely the finest swim course I have ever seen.