I am competing (OK, more like participating) in the Tinman at the end of the month. I was hoping to get out ahead of the race date and get a ride/run in on the course but that does not look like it will happen. I have seen a couple of RRs, but after reading those threads I still did not get a good feel for the course. Is the run/bike course flat/hilly? Any tips or advice on this race would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
It’s like the Jimi Hendrix experience, only with one less black guy.
Ok, for realz.
Well run race. Swim is a modified ^ shape, so you start and end at different spots on the beach. Coming back is often right into nuclear-holocaust bright sun in your eyes. If you have tinted and/or mirrored swim goggles, this is the race to use them.
On the bike, once you get out of town, its head down and give’r. Rolling course, but pretty fast (I usually go 2-4 mins faster at Tupper than Timberman). 28 miles out to the turn, flip it and ride back. Zero technical bike skills needed.
You’ll brake once - at the dismount line.
Run is flat to rolling, 1 or 2 short stinger hills.
Mile markers, when present, are for entertainment purposes only.
Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. With the exception of the weather, seems like there aren’t any surprises.
there is one surprise…when you leave t1 on your bike it is a left hand turn with a cop directing traffic. You could get stopped for a few seconds before actually getting to bike. It happened to me last year…it seemed like a much longer stop than it probably was.
Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. With the exception of the weather, seems like there aren’t any surprises.
+1
This will be my first half iron distance and I was a bit apprehensive about the course. I am going up on Monday to ride the course.
Here’s a race report I wrote in 2007. I don’t think the swim and bike route has changed, but the run may have.
http://blog-de-phil.blogspot.ca/2007/07/tupper-lake-tinman-race-report-half.html
Despite what the Slowtwitch studs will tell you, I found the course pretty hilly for the first 1/4 and then then next 1/2 is pretty flat, and then the last 1/4 back in to town is up and down.
This RR is just what I needed. The course looks a little hilly. Good information to know going into the race. Really appreciate it.
If you have the time, I would appreciate it if you could post or PM me and let me know your thoughts on the bike course after you ride it. I blew out a hamstring at my last HIM (2011 Syracuse), resulting in a slow painful run, and a personally disappointing finish. I am determined to put up a better time/PR at Tupper Lake and any information you could pass on would be appreciated. Thanks, Dave
Don’t stand up at the swim turn around. You’ll sink in mud up to your ankles. Yuch!
I’m looking forward to the Tupper Lake experience again complete with the Woodstock zone. This is the 30th year of the Tupper Lake Half IM and will probably be my 15th time there. The race has barely changed since 1990 when it was a Kona qualifier. Same community, same swim and bike…slightly different run. You won’t find much better value in the North East for half IM racing. Also keep in mind, that all the profits from the race, go to the local high school’s sports programs. Tupper Lake is not an affluent community and our money allows the high school coaches to pay for travel and equipment for student athletes. If nothing else with all the whining about WTC, if you’re going to spend your money, and don’t want it to go to a corporation, what better option than having it go back to enable youth to realize their sporting dreams. The race organizers are all local high school coaches, putting together a first class event without being triathletes themselves. They must be doing something right or it does not last for 30 years.
Dev
This RR is just what I needed. The course looks a little hilly. Good information to know going into the race. Really appreciate it.
I will let you know how it goes. I am hoping the weather holds for a nice ride Monday. The bike is defintitely my strong area so I am hoping for a good bike leg at the race.
I am really looking forward to this race. Since moving to Upstate New York 5 years ago, my family and I have fell in love with the Adirondacks, especially the Tupper Lake/Saranac Lake/Lake Placid area. IM Lake Placid is on my to-do list, but I am still several years of training away from being prepared to race that distance. Thanks
Dev, you’re camping?
Thanks - that virtually assures rain, possibly torrential.
Not that I mind, my fastest bike split there was on one of those sorta days.
Guess if’n I’m gonna come out and play this year, I’d better think about maybe registering?
Oh, and perhaps do some swimming?
Nah.
Looking more and more like Fri at 6am will be my first swim since Savageman. Hope I still remember how, 9 months later.
Nothing like a good 2.5k (if that) float to knock the rust off…
Not too much more to add. This is my 11th time at Tupper and as mentioned, the bike is a rolling course but you can really move along on this course particularly if you use the downhills to your advantage. If its windy the hills can start to be a problem if you lose momentum but otherwise its one of my favorite races. I use it every year as a final tune up for Lake Placid. As Dev mentioned the community is fully behind this race and that makes it that much better. One other thing, as mentioned in one of the early posts the sun, if out during the swim, can be blinding. Wear tinted or mirrored goggles (not an option). You’ll be glad you did.
The run was changed a few years ago and there’s not much to say. No killer hills and the mile markers are not noted for being very accurate, and I’m being kind. From mile marker 9 to 12 the markers go into the twilight zone. Just maintain your speed, don’t panic and you should be fine.
Don’t be deceived by the course profiles. The first 10-12 miles of the bike has rollers, not hills. Most are short, and in many cases you carry enough momentum from the downhills to maintain a solid pace. The outer end of the course (miles 14-28, then the reverse) is PANCAKE flat. As noted above, keep your head down and crank away. The roads are in pretty good shape, but keep your eye on the occasional “slippery when wet” hazards, and the cop stop coming out of T1.
The run course has one noticeable (but relatively short) uphill section, and it comes within the first couple of miles. After that, you’re looking at one steep downhill then a lot of flatness with the occasional roller thrown in there to keep it interesting. The weather is notoriously Adirondack. I’ve done it the past three years, and it’s been cloudy with on/off rain each year. If the weather is reasonably mild, you should be in decent shape regardless of the rain.
Tupper is a great race, and very well executed. Take it from the people that have been there several times - you won’t find a better race for your money these days.
EDIT: I need to echo the comment above about the mile marker accuracy on the run. In '09, I distinctly remember hitting the 12 mile marker just before making the last turn toward the park, at which point you’re less than 1/2 mile from the finish. That was back when the course was a legit 13.4 miles. It was revised due to flooding last year, and it seemed quite accurate. Just maintain your target effort and the course should give you a decent result.
Thanks this is all great advice and is really helping me begin to put together a race strategy. I really appreciate it. - Dave
The bike is at the hilly end of rolling. It suits a power rider more than a pure climber. If you’re good at maintaining momentum by getting over the top of your big ring and holding it on the short climbs that follow each descent, the rhythm of Tupper’s ride can lead to a very fast bike split. It’s hammer, then tuck, for most of the way. If you’re a slave to your watt meter, you won’t maximize on what this course has to offer.
Thanks. Just placed an order for some mirrored goggles this morning. - Dave
Great to see the Tupper Lake 1/2 iron-distance( what the heck do we call these things now??) still going on. It was one of the original races at this distance in the area, and has some great history behind it.
We used to drive down from Toronto and do the race on Saturday then drive on to Lake Placid and put in a big ride in and around LP on the Sunday - then head home. This was before IMLP even existed! It was a great racing *and *training weekend!
I have not been to the race in years, but my recollections of the course are similar to what has been posted here. Yes, that return leg on the swim was tough because you would be swimming right into the sun!! The bike is awesome, and if you know how to keep the momentum going over those rollers fast. I hear it’s a different run course now, than the original one we did years ago on that old abandoned bush road.
Fond memories of this race. In 1989 - I scored a IMH qualifying spot there and won $500!
The bike is at the hilly end of rolling. It suits a power rider more than a pure climber. If you’re good at maintaining momentum by getting over the top of your big ring and holding it on the short climbs that follow each descent, the rhythm of Tupper’s ride can lead to a very fast bike split. It’s hammer, then tuck, for most of the way. If you’re a slave to your watt meter, you won’t maximize on what this course has to offer.
I rode the course today and I definitely agree with this. None of the climbs were exceptionally steep or long but there are a lot of them. Hopefully it isn’t as hot or windy as it was today on race day!