Anyone know anything about a run course change for IM 70.3 Hawaii / Honu? The athlete guide from the end of April has the historical Fairmont Orchid finish course, but the course page shows a two loop variation with a lot of the resort road running cut out. If this is official the road to hell gets two shots at everyone:( I don’t see anything on the event FB page.
Yeah, just saw that myself after it was mentioned off-hand in the sleeved top thread.
Personally, I think I’ll prefer this to the one-loop mess through the golf course with so many dumb out-and-backs, but it’s still going to suck.
I’m kinda curious, but since it won’t affect my training, I didn’t reach out to anyone official about it.
It looks like the bike course cuts across the run path.??
It looks like the bike course cuts across the run path.??
There are two underpasses/tunnels where the run course goes under the bike course near T2.
how is that race? I’m looking at doing it next year as a gift to myself for finishing my anesthesiology residency next June. Looking for a good destination 70.3 that doesn’t cost a fortune to travel to (like Europe or Oz).
I just noticed the change. I swear it was the old way when I looked at it yesterday. I did this race twice and I am doing it this year. Not looking forward to doing the out and back on that straight away twice. That part of the run is really hot and in the past when you got to that part you knew that it was almost done. I guess we will see how this works in a few weeks.
It is a well run event and a good destination venue. The conditions can vary wildly and make the course more challenging. This latest run course change will put the majority of the run on golf course grass and golf cart concrete paths along with doubling the very hot and sometimes dusty out and back along the service road. I would guess this will make the run more challenging. We’ll just have to try it and see what happens.
Same here. Someone asked me about the course changing and I had the athlete guide downloaded and said “no way.” Then checked the latest map. Finishing was always the motivator on the way back south along the road to hell. Not sure how it is going to go with it there for a second lap. This is my sixth time at the race and that run always makes me think it is my last time at the event. Hawaii access is just too easy. And even with the worst weather we don’t end up with an IM Whistler, IM AZ or 70.3 StG. Though watch now I’ve jinxed us…
someone from Big Island said this concerning the run course mods…
"There’s a boatload of construction along the road on parts of the old run course that might be interfering with it this year.
And there’s a very serious volunteer shortage. It’s graduation week in Kona."
I can’t believe the registration is still open. I guess without any world championship slots no one is signing up. Last year they didn’t have any slots, but it was full by January.
Still not looking forward to two runs on the road to hell.
The bib list sure shows a lot of international participants this year. Lots of Aussies. Perhaps the 70.3 WC Gold Coast location is encouraging Hawaii participation for qualifying?
Yeah, just saw that myself after it was mentioned off-hand in the sleeved top thread.
Personally, I think I’ll prefer this to the one-loop mess through the golf course with so many dumb out-and-backs, but it’s still going to suck.
I’m kinda curious, but since it won’t affect my training, I didn’t reach out to anyone official about it.
When I did this race from 2011-13, I kind of liked the 1 loop course in a sense that you could constantly see people ahead of you and behind you with all the out and backs. That and mentally I knew where sucky parts of the race were…and knowing I only had to do them once was one less mental hurdle I had to put myself through. The parts I especially hated were the sections through the longer grass and those sharp inclines on the cart paths. This new two loop also removes all the asphalt running (with the exception of the road to nowhere)…which was the fastest part of the course.
This makes the run course much more spectator friendly though…the one bad thing about the single loop course was other than the volunteers, you didn’t see too many spectators except coming out of T2 and as you ran down the last fairway before the finish.
Overall though, this is probably a good move to make it two loops as it reduces the need for as many aid stations, being that you can hit them twice. Anyone who’s done this course when it’s hot and humid knows that aid stations every mile is something you look forward to so you can get ice.
The aide station reduction was my first thought too, but I think the change only reduced the count by one total. And that last aide station on the old course was practically worthless anyway as it was so close to the finish. The new format may put them a little closer and easier to access.
I think this change eliminates some of those stupid hills going to/near the old S. Kaniku dr. portion - liking that. More grass time will be interesting - last year that grass was so humid it was like running into a sauna every time you left the cart path. I’m happy with 2 rounds of the long out/back “death march” section, at least you know where you’re going at that point! Should be a fun and interesting change.
Just ran around the Mauna Lani property, no construction at all. Must be the “downsizing” trend of this event…
Lol. I would have been surprised if there was construction on the road. Maybe new condo properties, but private road improvements not so much;) It is what it is.
Also noted that athlete guide says bikes will again be racked in order of arrival at T1 as was done for the first time last year. The claim was it saves space, but after watching volunteers spend several hours putting bike rack stickers on at 70.3 StG I’m sure I know the real reason for no assigned rack spots for Honu…
Just talked to a person “in the know”. He said the run course change was due to the home owners complaining of traffic.
Just talked to a person “in the know”. He said the run course change was due to the home owners complaining of traffic.
That portion of the course (the part they cut out) has some of the more expensive developments on the Mauna Lani resort, so no doubt. Money talks. It’s also the entrance to the Beach Club, which serves the entire resort.
Ian
Also noted that athlete guide says bikes will again be racked in order of arrival at T1 as was done for the first time last year. The claim was it saves space, but after watching volunteers spend several hours putting bike rack stickers on at 70.3 StG I’m sure I know the real reason for no assigned rack spots for Honu…
Just checked in my bike - racking was by first come, first choice. AND, they went through the trouble to put “dot” stickers on every other rack slot. Why that instead of numbers??
I believe those dots were to signify the directions of the bike. Dot meant rear wheel is how I took it.