Well, I know from the prior several weeks’ posting that there are at least a few of us ST’ers who are going to have “fun” this Saturday, taking on the frigid water (or not) and big hills for the inaugural SBR Half at Harriman SP.
I saw quite a few tri-dorks over there on Saturday am pre-riding the course, perhaps you were one of them?
So, pipe up and be counted. I’ll be there, look for me posing about w/ my Peaceful Tribe shirt and hat (and beer in hand) afterwards.
Oh, and while we’re at it, how about a little poll? What do you think about the potentially shortened* (or cancelled*) swim leg? Now, I know this will sound strange coming from me, self-admitted world-class lousy swimmer, but I hope that they are able to keep the full swim. (Even tho the less swimming there is, the more it in fact favors me). I signed up for a half IM, and by gum, I wanna do a half IM. What are your thoughts??
Happy tapering!
-M
and with the weather forecast for this week, it doesn’t look like the water is gonna warm up all that much… so it appears that it will be a modified swim course more than likely.
I’ll be heading over there Saturday am as well. I wasn’t one of the tri dorks pre-riding the course (were you? any thoughts on the road condition?), but I have ridden over to Lake Welch and it sure is hilly! As a leadup to Placid, I figure these hills should get me into shape a little… Do you think this race will qualify as the new “World’s Toughest Half” now that Auburn has “tamed” itself?
With regards to the swim, after asking about cold water temps and reading the responses from other STers, I am in favor of them canceling if the water is that cold…that said, I - like you - want to do a HALF! Otherwise, I could have done Disney or Devilman or something. I need to do a 1.2 mile swim. My last race found me completely freaking out about 300 yards into it…then finally getting it together after I scared the crap out of the friendly kayakers. Please, oh please, warm up the damn water!
My buddy and I were out there on Saturday morning from 5:30 - 8:00 AM. Did three laps of the four lap bike course. Hilly, yes…
Received an email from Genesis today that said the water temperature is fine for the full swim. Good, I wanted to do a ‘real’ 1/2 also.
I haven’t seen anyone mention the chunk of the run that is actually through the woods. Not singletrack but THROUGH the woods (logs, stream crossings, etc. etc.).
<< My buddy and I were out there on Saturday morning from 5:30 - 8:00 AM >>
Ah, so it prolly was you 2 fellers that I saw on the way in. You were on Lk Welch Dr going down towards Sebago, when I went by around 7am in my beater white Integra w/ the yellow/orange/red Klein on the roof. By the time I got done w/ my 2 loops and was headed out, there were numerous other Tri dorks out (as well as the ubiquitous roadies, of course).
<< the water temperature is fine for the full swim. Good, I wanted to do a ‘real’ 1/2 also. >>
I’ll file this under “be careful what I wish for”…
I haven’t heard diddly about the run from anybody who knows firsthand. I’m used to that sorta thing in general, having done other GenesisAdventures events in the past, but needless to say, it’s gonna be a lot harder than just mindlessly pavement pounding. Gonna be fun to finish up on a 3+ mile long uphill after all of that…
As for disk or no, if I had one, I’d prolly run it. I’ll be running 404’s, as they were 2+ mins faster / lap vs. my Rolfs (decidedly unscientific test protocol - one lap w/ each wheel set).
edited to add: << Hope they sweep the bottom of the hill just before Sebago >>
110% agreed. That was kinda sketchy, if it were clear you could mach scnell thru there pretty easily, otherwise you’d hafta slow quite substantially and lose a lotta “mo” for that next fast part. If you know RD Brian D. then please mention this to him!
Question for other posters - How difficult does this look in relation to other courses? I’m hearing that it’s a ton more difficult than anything else but I’m curious what you all think?
I’m one of the fruitcakes who signed up as part of the relay team, specifically, to jump in the lake. The people who said the water temp is 68 are liars! The word I got that sounds more realistic, is somewhere around 58. I swam in the sound on Saturday and the temp was also around 58. Shocking, for sure, but, not “unswimable”.
I’ll be the girl in the wetsuit Happy to be just swimming that day. See you there!
Okay…who are you, will you be there, and how do you know this? Ben is supposed to be training, not talking. Maybe that’s the reason they say he’s so slow on the hills;)
Let’s hope the forecasters are as off as they were this past weekend. Did the Queens half mary and the ride out to Montauk this past weekend. All I heard last week was rain and T-Storms, neither of which materialized…
Well, the forecast (not that I put all that much creedence into that, look how wrong they were this past weekend), is calling for highs in the 60’s and lows in the 40’s, so:
A - the water ain’t getting much warmer between now and then
B - but, it will feel “warm” compared to the 48 degree air temps we’re likely to have at start time.
Sure glad my HotHead showed up in the mail today. I need all the swim help I can get…
As for “how tough is this course” - my $ says that less than 15% of the field goes under 3 hrs on the bike leg. Maybe less than 10%. That coupled with the hilly run w/ trail running, and a big ol climb to finish, says that there won’t be many half IM PR’s set that day. (The bike and run being 1m and .7m OVER distance ain’t helping either) Rain will only make it all the more epic - bring it on!
“This trail is Very Difficult-there are rocky sections you will have to walk, or suffer a bad fall. You may want to adjust your footwear. Tri guys/girls who are used to running strictly on the road - race shoes or light weight trainers WITH the Quick Elastic shoe laces are Not appropriate for this terrain. Elastic shoe laces have no lateral support, also they can come off your feet if you step in mud, between rocks,etc. Do use a heavier weight cushioned shoe with regular laces. If you insist on using light weight trainers make sure they have regular laces.”
Like you said, bring it on! Thank God for the 9am start…it should warm up a little before then.
You left out this little bit from the organizer email:
“While the risk of hypothermia is reduced at this temperature it remains
a factor. The folks from New York Search and Rescue recommend the following steps;
eat well the night prior to the event, eat the morning of the race (you need fuel to generate heat) and wear a wetsuit and cap.”
In my case, it sometimes pays to have a little extra body fat (excuse me while I have my second Ice Cream Sundae…I’m in training, you know. Have to resist hypothermia now!)
This is the hardest 1/2 you’ll find anywhere, period. The bike is relentless, and you’ll be challenged on every loop. Three loops would be tough, four will be epic.
Rainy? Chilly? Oh, why not…
Going sub-5 will be really tough, particularly given the extra distance and technical single track on the run.
Do you think this race will qualify as the new “World’s Toughest Half” now that Auburn has “tamed” itself?