I love the new OBS TRI app upgrade. And looking for upcoming 70.3s next year, I came across this. But can’t find any information yet on the Ironman website (unless I did miss it). Does anyone here have the inside scoop on the 70.3 in Springfield MA? Would fit in nicely next spring. And it’s under a 4 hr drive for me in northern New England. Knowing the area a little bit I wonder if the swim will be in the CT river?
If you scroll further there are also place holders for 70.3s in Penn, NY, and Louisville (!!)
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How does this app come up with bike and run difficulty ratings?
How does this app come up with bike and run difficulty ratings?
That’s a good question.
A lot of the races have course maps which show elevation gain. Even the weather each year!
Zero info that I can glean from the City Council meeting minutes for the last 30 or so meetings.
Doesn’t mean there’s not something to it…but if it’s Springfield proper there’s zero indication it is happening.
Zero info that I can glean from the City Council meeting minutes for the last 30 or so meetings.
Doesn’t mean there’s not something to it…but if it’s Springfield proper there’s zero indication it is happening.
Thanks for checking. I do have a contact at OBS TRI. I’m more curious than anything. And it would work well for many of us in the Northeast, US (perfect timing for a 70.3 before IMLP too).
I’m also intrigued as I find swimming in the CT River very surreal. I spent a little bit of time there as a kid and used to be terrified driving over the bridge on I-91. The CT River looked so big and ominous as a small kid. And I did have a fear of the water. And the possibility of doing a swim in it feels wild. I did overcome my fear of the water a bit late in life but better late than never! While I’m sure the CT River has been cleaned up like many rivers, I do remember hearing about stuff that got dumped into the CT river in Springfield during the 1970s. But heck, it’s a half century later!
If you scroll further there are also place holders for 70.3s in Penn, NY, and Louisville (!!)
70.3 Louisville! That would be awesome!
Yes! I never got to do the full. So a half would be worth it for me someday in the near future.
I grew up on the Connecticut during the 70s-80s and into the 90s, it was literally my back yard. Back… water? It certainly had some issues from ag runoff and the mills that used to line it and the tributaries, but in the years since it’s gotten much cleaner and there is a lot more recreation on the river these days. I’d love a race there, and have no issues swimming in it. It would be cool if it were further north though: get in the water around Northfield MA, swim a bit south, exit and bike Rte 142 into VT (very pretty ride), then jump over to NH somewhere around Putney and come back down to MA via 63 or something. That would give you three states in 70.3.
A “Seventy point Three States,” if you will.
If you scroll further there are also place holders for 70.3s in Penn, NY, and Louisville (!!)
Every one of those except Louisville makes me raise my eyebrows at the possibility that IM is trying to crowd out an independent half iron race close by on the calendar.
June 1 Massachusetts - Patriot Half
July 1 Pennsylvania - Poconos Half
Oct 1 New York - Toughman Half
They have a history of doing this and I am not excited to see this for any of these races.
I am unconvinced that this is anything other than a pipe dream. This site does not appear to be accurate in that Cambridge Mass is lumped in with Maryland in the Eagleman race details
we’ll see…
If you scroll further there are also place holders for 70.3s in Penn, NY, and Louisville (!!)
Every one of those except Louisville makes me raise my eyebrows at the possibility that IM is trying to crowd out an independent half iron race close by on the calendar.
June 1 Massachusetts - Patriot Half
July 1 Pennsylvania - Poconos Half
Oct 1 New York - Toughman Half
They have a history of doing this and I am not excited to see this for any of these races.
Oh man, that’s not good. I hope this isn’t the case. Could it be they are taking over a couple independent races like Quassy. That would be unfortunate too since Quassy or IM CT 70.3 is now canceled. ETA: although WTC did a good job with Musselman. I did that last year and had a great overall race experience. Would go back there again someday. (I hear it was really good before WTC too)
I grew up on the Connecticut during the 70s-80s and into the 90s, it was literally my back yard. Back… water? It certainly had some issues from ag runoff and the mills that used to line it and the tributaries, but in the years since it’s gotten much cleaner and there is a lot more recreation on the river these days. I’d love a race there, and have no issues swimming in it. It would be cool if it were further north though: get in the water around Northfield MA, swim a bit south, exit and bike Rte 142 into VT (very pretty ride), then jump over to NH somewhere around Putney and come back down to MA via 63 or something. That would give you three states in 70.3.
A “Seventy point Three States,” if you will.
enough a challenge managing three towns, nevermind three states. keeping it within the springfield mass area, sure.
enough a challenge managing three towns, nevermind three states. keeping it within the springfield mass area, sure.
Oh for sure. No way that would happen. Fun pipe dream though.
i’m due to catch up with a few who may know something, i’ll check in with any info i’m able to share.
I hope IM has evolved from the mindset that killing independent races is good for business. Maybe it was years ago, but killing races that draw people to the sport ultimately is bad for business. Patriot Half is no threat to IM. Let it live and feed athletes to all the other Northeast IM events later in the year.
Only potential thought here - Could Ironman have bought out Rev3 New England (which got canceled last minute this year due to lack of volunteers) similar to how they bought out rev3 quassy to make 70.3 CT for that one year? Timing wise it would be the same weekend
Interesting.
The Pennsylvania one lists State College. So that is a a good 2-3 hours west of the Kinetic Poconos race. And it would be hilly AF.
The Lake Raystown Triathlon was in that general vicinity for a few years. Still one of the hardest races I’ve ever done…
I would love it if they put a race there. It’s a beautiful area…
State College would be awesome. It’d give me an excuse to visit my alma mater again.
If only they’d start offering an aquabike option….
Only potential thought here - Could Ironman have bought out Rev3 New England (which got canceled last minute this year due to lack of volunteers) similar to how they bought out rev3 quassy to make 70.3 CT for that one year? Timing wise it would be the same weekend
That was my thought. Was there specific reference to Springfield somewhere? I didn’t see that.