I’m trying to decide which race to do if not both. The Lansing race is new, but I’d appreciate any comments from people who have done the Steelhead or are familiar with the lake and bike course in Lansing.
When do you think Michigan will have it’s own full IM race?
Thanks,
Richard
I’m entered at Steelhead but would like to do Lansing also. I love the 1/2 IM distance.
I think doing both is reasonable.
When will we have our first IM? Good question. Doubtful it will be a WTC event with Madison right next door.
“When will we have our first IM? Good question. Doubtful it will be a WTC event with Madison right next door.”
At first blush this seems absolutely correct. But on reflection, IMAZ is about to sell out before the course is even set! I agree that Michigan would be an unlikely place to look for the next IMNA race, but demand seems to be far outstripping supply, and I can think of a several great venues in Northern Michigan- who knows, maybe all that’s needed is some enterprising RD to approach the powers that be with a solid plan?
Ken
Steelhead is an awesome race. It is challenging on all three fronts and a nice, quite area for a race. The swim is in lake michigan, and was as hard as my IM ocean swim at IMFL with bigger waves than most inland lakes and also some current. It’s itimidating to look out into the big lake and see 1.2 miles of swimming spread out with the shoreline. The bike will have wind as well as rolling hills. The hardest part of the course is the return leg as it is most susceptible to the wind, and also has the steepest and biggest hills. There is I believe a profile of the course at www.michiganoutlaws.com. There is little traffic, and plenty of marshals and aid stations. I DNF’d on the run within in the first two miles because of a stress fracture, but I know the run is challenging as well. There is a pretty big hill in the first mile you have to climb, and it is not exactly flat the rest of the way either. If the finish is like last year, it finishes right next to the beach, which is awesome.
It was extremely well run, challenging, and had quality competition. I highly recommend this race.
We certainly have a lot of high profile people in triathlon based out of Michigan. With the great lakes, and beautiful shorelines with cheap/quite accomodations, it seems like the perfect place for an Ironman race.
“IRONMAN GREAT LAKES” on the fabulous Leelanau peninsula…
Swim from South Manitou Island across Good Harbor Bay to a sugar sand beach
Bike along the Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore then east to Traverse City
Run the historic and beautiful Old Mission Peninsula with views of Grand Traverse Bay from among the vineyards and fruit orchards
Taking entries now, only 2000 spots left…
Ken
I’m doin’ both.
I did the Steelhead last year and loved it. Got sea-sick on the swim and drenched on the bike. A must do. As for Lansing, how can I not do a 1/2 IM in my hometown?
If an IM ever comes to Michigan I am so there! I wouldn’t care if I was in the worst shape of my life at the time.
That would be a freakin’ beautiful race course.
I would recommend Steelhead - because I’m one of the race organizers, I grew up in St. Joe/Benton Harbor - it is a great place for a race and we will have plenty of Gatorade and bike course marshalls on the bike course. No drafting and you’ll get a USAT ranking. Hope to see you at Jean Klock Park! Z
After your post I was thinking about where a good place to hold an IM would be. The traverse city area was first in my mind. In our vacation last year, the wife and I went from Mackinaw city to Manistee stopping in the different cities for a few days along the way. We took the bikes and cycled sleeping bear as well as the entire old pennisula (or one of the them, I think it was the old pennisula). Absolutely incredible. The water is crystal clear, the views are breathtaking, there are enough hills to make the bike course challenging and unique. Plus the town is well equipped for the amount of people that would come in for an IM. It also provides ample opportunity for vacationing before and after the race as many people like to do.
That would be a great place for an IM.
Great! Okay, here’s the plan…
Jack- you’re the race director. Call Graham Fraser on Monday to pitch the new event. I’m thinking late June 2005 for the inaugural event.
FLAJill- you’re the volunteer coordinator. Get ahold of the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce for some leads on charitable organizations with a sizable constituency of people with strong backs and relatively weak minds.
I’m the marketing director- I’ll spend my vacation in the area marking out the course and signing up the Grand Traverse Resort as the host hotel. Then I’ll put the arm on Tom D. for aggressive viral marketing and race support.
Sound like a plan? OK, let’s get at it!
Seriously, maybe one of our local RDs will take the plunge sometime soon, who knows?
Ken