Anyone do the Lake Geneva Half IM last year (2006)? If so how would you rate the swim conditions? I did it and just want to know what others thoughts are about the swim to give me some perspective.
Frank Dobbs.
I meant to say how would you rate the swim conditions?
I did the sprint a few years ago, but I remember people saying that there were issues with the out and back course. The “out” is directly into the sun, so the people leaving on the later waves were colliding with the half-IM swimmers who left earlier and were on their way back. I don’t think it was particularly wavy or rough, but rather the lack of organization and the head-on collisions seemed to be the major problems.
I can’t speak to 2006, but in 2005 the HIM swim was in decent enough water, but was .4 or .5 miles too short. To expand on sentania’s reply–do a search here and on other forums on Frank Dobbs and you may see that his races sometimes are not
a) organized
b) safe
c) correctly measured
d) awash in volunteer help
e) well-marked
f) all of the above.
It’s a shame b/c the Lake Geneva is the perfect time & place for an end of season half here in Wisconsin.
The water was choppy. The local paper reported that several people had to be fished out of the water. I can’t remember the exact quote, but the guy in charge of the lifeguards said it was almost a disaster. I didn’t think it was that bad, but I train in Lake Michigan so it may just be a function of what people are used to seeing.
Dobbs really benefits from timing. I am looking for a HIM that weekend somewhere near just to avoid his 2nd rate event. It’s tough though, the timing is perfect for my IMFL training.
Last year they fished out 49 swimmers, yes 49! The water was choppy, but not that bad,this course usually has a crosswind, into it on the out leg. I remember many 1/2ers swimming about 100yds and turning around back into shore??? For that much money I’m swimming. I’m swimming the entire length in 3 weeks so hopefully won’t be to bad (7.65 miles). On the other hand two words Frank Dobbs, his distances are usually way off.
http://www.mattoonbeachtri.com/GreatIllini/index.html
I did the Mattoon half last year to avoid his 2nd rate tri and I’m going back again this year. Doing the full this time.
I don’t want to overstate it, but doing a half at such a poorly organized race may be a bad idea. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll probably do the sprint (I know I’m a hypocrite), but I wouldn’t do a 1/2 there. It’s just too much of a commitment for the almost inevitable disapointment.