For those who did it this year, how challenging was the course? Any problems with hotels and getting around since it’s prime tourist season for the area and where do you recommend staying? Thanks
Course was relatively easy. Ocean swim, obviously, but it wasn’t overly difficult. Bike is rolling hills and fairly fast. The run is two loops with a couple of punchy little hills, but again, not very difficult overall. The day was hotter than I expected.
I stayed in Portland and drove down. I would recommend that if you’re making a long weekend out of it, as Old Orchard Beach is mostly funnel cakes and new england rednecks. If you’re just getting in and out for the race, stay in OOB and get a little place in walking distance to transition.
Did the race last year (2017- don’t know what they changed?) We stayed at an Airbnb halfway between Old Orchard Beach and Portland. From my understanding it’s more of an “in-between” time for tourism- getting too cold for summer, but not yet “peak fall” with the leaves. Not really too many issues with the venue in terms of parking/logistics/etc. Ocean swim is cold! The bike course is really nice with some rolling hills; not pancake flat, but definitely not a climbing course. The run is mostly shaded on the rail trail with some exposed sections; the out-and-back-feature was good for athlete-athlete encouragement, but not so much for spectators. I enjoyed it and had fun, but probably will not be going back (south-central PA, 8-10 hour trip)
Did they have bike-check-in the day before the race. Staying in Portsmouth that week and didn’t know if it was too far to go back and forth.
The swim was with the current so pretty fast. I think the water temp was right around 65F so chilly but actually pretty nice once I warmed up.
Bike was awesome, fast and rolling with some great scenery.
I didn’t love the double-loop run course. There is an out and back section on the rail trail (gravel) that gets very crowded as the race goes on, and I spent quite a bit of energy on my second lap dodging traffic. Other than that I thought it was a great race.
We stayed in OOB on the water about a mile from transition. The hotel was nothing special but it was fine for the weekend and relatively inexpensive. We had no trouble booking a room a couple months before the race, but it was definitely sold out on race weekend and they were turning people away.
And yes bike check-in is the day before the race.
Did they have bike-check-in the day before the race. Staying in Portsmouth that week and didn’t know if it was too far to go back and forth.
Yes, in fact I think it was required.
The swim was with the current so pretty fast.
This depends on the tides. This year the swim was with the incoming tide and it was fast. Last year we swam against the outgoing tide and everyone posted slow times.
The swim was with the current so pretty fast.
This depends on the tides. This year the swim was with the incoming tide and it was fast. Last year we swam against the outgoing tide and everyone posted slow times.
I mean it was the same distance out as it was in…
Did it last year, being my first 70.3…and overall a great race/day. Swim was no problem, pretty calm. I though the bike was a bit crowded, and there were definitely some packs but I guess that’s pretty standard these days. Run course was also great…I liked that it went out on the shaded trail, as it was definitely warming up toward late morning.
OO is trash-town. I agree about staying in Portland (amazing food!), or a rental away from the pier. We airbnb’d a house about a mile south of the pier on the water and it was ‘fine’ at best, but I really didn’t see any decent looking rentals.
It’s not in the cards for me this year, but if it was I’d definitely sign up again.