Hey,
Does anyone have an accurate figure on the amount of climbing at lake tahoe IM on the new course. WTC website says 8000 feet however some strava files I have found look closer to 6000 feet and others at 7200.
It would be cool to know an accurate figure.
Thanks
Hey,
Does anyone have an accurate figure on the amount of climbing at lake tahoe IM on the new course. WTC website says 8000 feet however some strava files I have found look closer to 6000 feet and others at 7200.
It would be cool to know an accurate figure.
Thanks
No way with the changes is it 8000 feet. That was around the first hard course. Bottom line much easier compared to the first race, but Brockway on the second loop will still be tough, especially knowing you have
a marathon to run after.
How long is Brockway climb and how steep?. I live in Australia and have some geeat climbs around where i live so i am trying to replicate it as best as possible. I thought 8000 would be on high side.
How long is Brockway climb and how steep?. I live in Australia and have some geeat climbs around where i live so i am trying to replicate it as best as possible. I thought 8000 would be on high side.
About 1000ft in 3 miles. (Constant 6.5% grade, unrelenting, for 3 miles)
My Garmin recorded 9500ft climbed on the 2013 course. I have no idea what it is now since they cut out a large portion of the big hills including Martis.
With the changes to the course it supposedly closer to 6200 feet now.
How long is Brockway climb and how steep?. I live in Australia and have some geeat climbs around where i live so i am trying to replicate it as best as possible. I thought 8000 would be on high side.
About 1000ft in 3 miles. (Constant 6.5% grade, unrelenting, for 3 miles)
My Garmin recorded 9500ft climbed on the 2013 course. I have no idea what it is now since they cut out a large portion of the big hills including Martis.
Sounds about right. It is a bitch. Is about 10% grade at the top so have the correct gearing is critical for Tahoe, if you want a good run. I recommend a 50/34 11/32. No one that did this upgrade has ever told me they wish they had not.
.
I would say run a 28 for sure. The course is (was) all time.
How long is Brockway climb and how steep?. I live in Australia and have some geeat climbs around where i live so i am trying to replicate it as best as possible. I thought 8000 would be on high side.
About 1000ft in 3 miles. (Constant 6.5% grade, unrelenting, for 3 miles)
My Garmin recorded 9500ft climbed on the 2013 course. I have no idea what it is now since they cut out a large portion of the big hills including Martis.
Sounds about right. It is a bitch. Is about 10% grade at the top so have the correct gearing is critical for Tahoe, if you want a good run. I recommend a 50/34 11/32. **No one that did this upgrade has ever told me they wish they had not. **
.
Truth!
Yes 8000’ish was the original course … last year would have been less
Brockway Climb is 1200 feet in 4,25 miles - done x 2 … that is from the bottom of the valley adjacent to the golf course as the road begins to turn up gradually
**** at 3 watts per kilo that climb will take 30’ish min … many folks will take 40+min to climb that
**** at 3 w/kilo it will take 60min to go the 8.5 miles of Brockway climb in the race … so essentially you’ll have 103 miles left after taking out the 60-90min of riding Brockway 
Dollar Hill is 250 feet done 3 x
There is a small / sharp hill in Tahoe on the road that skirts town … maybe a couple minutes? maybe 100’ish feet ? Done x 3
There are two small hills on Brockway Rd (that is a new part of the course) that might total 150 combined, x 2 loops …
Then you have a little gain from HWY 89 up to Squaw to finish the bike
Anything other than that are insignificant small rollers and gentle grades … because of the speeds you’ll be moving at altitude. There does not appear to be anything of significance
in the 5 mile out and back along the river and bike path. Also, there were alot of “technical” bits taken out in Truckee + the section last year that would have rolled through Northstar (thi swill also sped things up). I think with "normal weather (wind from the south)
Man I’m not sure where they are gonna come up with 6500 elevation gain (i don’t have a problem being wrong as my athletes would prefer the harder version courses) … the length of Brockway will slow things down a bunch because you’ll never gain that 30+ min at 9mph OR alot less for some (faster for the strong). The remainder of the course will ride reasonably fast (altitude & good pavement) with exception of the areas mentioned above & the silly out & back at Carnelion Bay (?). After the first climb of Brockway your average speed from the top all the way around back to the base of round 2 of the climb should be pretty darn quick at low power output. (at 3 w/kilo it will take 60min to go 8.5 miles)
I’ll have the team up there in AUG and we’ll know for sure
How does the run feel after all the climbing? Shaded? Thinking of doing Tahoe this year but dont plan on showing up overly fit (that was last year and cannot cash that family check twice). So looking to wing it a bit more. Not worried about going slow, just rolling the course before it goes away (think they will wind down the full some day here).
California is extremely hilly haven’t done tahoe but my brother lives in that area and I cycle out there like twice a year definitely get a compact with at least 28 preferably 32
.
Considering the sun will be setting early that time of year AND a large part of the run is aong the river with surrounding trees you’ll have a lot of relief. Pending bike and run time it could get quite chilly on the run.
The run is deceiving … no major “hills” but enough elevation change, false flats, & longer bike ride + the variety of effects from altitude = you need to be on your game. (or be mart enough to race to your fitness level)
How does the run feel after all the climbing? Shaded? Thinking of doing Tahoe this year but dont plan on showing up overly fit (that was last year and cannot cash that family check twice). So looking to wing it a bit more. Not worried about going slow, just rolling the course before it goes away (think they will wind down the full some day here).
2013 it was hot with the sun up, cold with the sun down. Put something warm in your run bag and tie it around your waist if you’re going to be out on the course later in the day.
How does the run feel after all the climbing? Shaded? Thinking of doing Tahoe this year but dont plan on showing up overly fit (that was last year and cannot cash that family check twice). So looking to wing it a bit more. Not worried about going slow, just rolling the course before it goes away (think they will wind down the full some day here).
The first couple of miles are out in the open, but the middle 10 miles (5 miles out and back) are along a reasonably shaded path. I guess this assumes time of day, when I did it I was off the bike around 4pm and considering it was September, the sun was pretty low at that point. Of course by the time I hit mile 17 they were handing out head lamps because the run course is unlit, and not long after, heat sheets.
I was smart and kept my arm warmers that I wore on the bike. When I started running it was hot and tied them to my number belt, but by the time the sun set it got cold FAST and I was glad to have the warmers.
How does the run feel after all the climbing? Shaded? Thinking of doing Tahoe this year but dont plan on showing up overly fit (that was last year and cannot cash that family check twice). So looking to wing it a bit more. Not worried about going slow, just rolling the course before it goes away (think they will wind down the full some day here).
I don’t think the altitude made as big of a difference on the run as people speculated it would. Could say the same for the swim as well. You noticed it, but it wasn’t a bloodbath as originally forecast.
The biggest impact on the run in the original course was undoubtedly the bike. Most everyone was out on the bike at least an hour longer than pretty much any other course. Another hour or more in the saddle is another hour of muscle fatigue, another hour to manage your nutrition, another hour to make mistakes that can haunt you on the run. It’s like doing 130 miles when you trained for 112, it changes your day.
For the really fast guys I’m sure you lose more of the top-end speed on the run due to the altitude, but for the majority of the field I doubt that run would have gone much smoother at sea level if you could have magically teleported them.
How does the run feel after all the climbing? Shaded? Thinking of doing Tahoe this year but dont plan on showing up overly fit (that was last year and cannot cash that family check twice). So looking to wing it a bit more. Not worried about going slow, just rolling the course before it goes away (think they will wind down the full some day here).
I don’t think the altitude made as big of a difference on the run as people speculated it would. Could say the same for the swim as well. You noticed it, but it wasn’t a bloodbath as originally forecast.
The biggest impact on the run in the original course was undoubtedly the bike. Most everyone was out on the bike at least an hour longer than pretty much any other course. Another hour or more in the saddle is another hour of muscle fatigue, another hour to manage your nutrition, another hour to make mistakes that can haunt you on the run. It’s like doing 130 miles when you trained for 112, it changes your day.
For the really fast guys I’m sure you lose more of the top-end speed on the run due to the altitude, but for the majority of the field I doubt that run would have gone much smoother at sea level if you could have magically teleported them.
Man do I agree with you. Being on the bike for over 7 hours, and doing the Martis, brockway hill twice, and dollar hill three times, when I got off the bike I was toast. Altitude for the run was the least of my issues.
What really got so many folks was after starting the race cold, then doing all that work on the bike which started cold then got hot, then if you had to run late into the night, it got SO SO cold. I know many who could not finish because
they got hypothermia during the run.
Even with the easier bike, this race still is a tough one to complete, which IMO makes it a great challenge.
Thanks Dave, this helps.
Correct … the main reason people will say “the altitude didn’t effect me in the run” is because their legs were too fatigued to run into a noticeable problem w/ altitude.
Reality is … even if one “didn’t feel it”. physiologically it still impacted people more than they want to give credit for on the run.
One thing I have been discussing since the start (opposite of “holy crap all the climbing”) is the fact of how fast you are moving, at low power, when not climbing. There are long segments of the course, ESPECIALLY on the new course, where this is true. This course will ride very different than any other course … long segments of very fast riding at low power / long segments (brockway) going VERY slow at lower than normal (low altitude) target climbing power (assuming you are not acclimated). Where many will get it wrong is trying to push normal efforts / power on th fast segments.
I like the Tahoe race as it brings in more dynamics if you want to “get it right”
Cheers,
Compact and 11x32 is the only way if you plan on running any portion of the run. Brockway round 2 still sucked with that gearing, the top 1/4 mile is the worst. I have 7,900 ft of elevation for the original and only Tahoe course completed to date.
that’s an important point to have in mind for those training at sea level. reaching same power output in altitud is tougher, and an easy mistake to make race day.
any idea what % of targeted power should be cut at Tahoe altitude?