I just raced a new 70.3 on 9/8 as part of the USAT Regional Triathlon Championships. I was speaking with the race director following the event and she ask me and a few of the other finishers if this was something we would like her to bring back next year, possibly for the spring (Mid May 2020). We all nodded in the affirmative. I wanted to share this here as many have complained that there are not enough independent long course events and I thought the course was an excellent challenge.
Details
https://www.mightymoraineman.com
Location: Moraine State Park, Lakeview Beach, Portersville. Pennsylvania 16051
Pros: A lake swim that is never cancelled (events are put on multiple times a year at this location) and the water is clean, the swim is always wetsuit legal, the course is challenging (specifically the bike), the roads are in really good shape, the run is a 50/50 mix of shade and sunshine swapping back and forth. Nice food tent with grandma (or at least that’s how it felt) serving up comfort foods (vegetarians and carnivores will not be let down). Race is held in a well maintained and clean state park. The race is about half way between two cities, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. Hotels in the college town of Slippery Rock are only 20 mins away. Camp grounds available for overnight stays. A nice beach for kids to play on while they wait for their triathlete to complete sections of the course.
Cons: The bike course isn’t closed to traffic (but the only traffic was support and other athletes) and you share the course with sprint/oly athletes (which wasn’t an issue at all).
Swim:
https://www.strava.com/activities/2691535903
The swim was about 1.4 miles according to my GPS and the GPS of two other competitors I spoke with. The lake is calm and is very clean (lots of sailboats on a nice day). Two loops.
Bike:
https://www.strava.com/activities/2691536169
The bike course is 5 loops of very punchy climbing, descending, and turning. Roads are very smooth/fast and I didn’t see one ejected bottle out of the hundreds of athletes there for the array of races being put on. 4000 feet of elevation gain. I hit 70 kph as a top speed. The course is technical in some places and honestly super fun.
Run:
https://www.strava.com/activities/2691536002
Run course is on and off shade. It featured just over 400 feet of elevation gain on rolling terrain. Aid stations every mile.
Summary:
If you are looking for an early seasons 70.3 that is challenging, beautiful, family friendly, independent, and cheap this may be an event for you.
If this is something you find intriguing please post and let me know. I would like to pass it along to the race director as it will help her decide if she wants to offer it next year (only 43 long course registrants this year). Let me know if you have any questions.
PS: I hope the starva links I have provided work for everyone. I have my profile set to private. Let me know if there are issues.