Any information individuals who have raced this event in the past can share is greatly appreciated!
Whats the bike course like?
Does the run course have shade?
Any specific recommendations or things to keep in mind for this race?
Its my first half iron distance and I’m looking to add info for my mental preparation…
Thanks,
Erika
See:
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=1097141;search_string=tupper%20lake%20;#1097141
See the 9th post down.
Hey rika,
Congrats on your first HIM. I did the Tinman last year. From what I recall…
Good luck!
Great info, thank you!
(Sorry I didn’t search previous posts.)
I’m happy to hear that the race has such great reviews 
Perhaps if I’m bold enough I’ll post a race report…that would also suggest that I survive the race! Lady Luck has not been in my corner over the last two weeks. Three weeks out from my A race I had a terrible bike crash in a group ride. I was fortunate not to have broken anything (and my bike came away needing only a tune up and some bar tape) but I got some good road rash (I’m not able to get aero as a result of the large scab above my left elbow) and some sore muscles. One week later (2 weeks from goal race) my wounds are healing I’m becoming more positive about my race…on my way home from work (1st day at new job) I get side swiped in my car…car is driveable but not ideal to take down to Tupper. So I am currently waiting to hear from insurance company if I will have a rental (covered by them) for next weekend or if I will be carpooling which requires dealing with some scheduling logistics since it will be the long weekend here in Canada. So all that being said my mind has not yet grasped the fact that I have my goal race coming up in just over a week so I thought I’d better start working on getting mentally prepared!
Thanks again,
Erika
Rika,
I’ll be there for my 10th Tupper Lake in a row. It’s a fantastic, low-key affair, on a really beautiful course. I’ve got race reports from all of my previous races there - http://www.bobmina.com. Start with 1998, and read on every year!
Some quick notes:
Swim - Flat. Not usually hilly. If it’s sunny, you will be totally friggin blinded on the way back. People will be zigging and zagging like a group of snakes that swallowed Slinky’s all over the water. Sight on the little gazebo near the swim out, and hang in there.
Bike - Out and Back, “J” shaped course. The biggest, steepest, longest climb of the entire race comes at mile 3; don’t let it worry you. After that the course is rolling and fair - trending downhill on the way to Cranberry Lake, and uphill on the way back. Winds can be from anywhere and everywhere, so just don’t count on a headwind/tailwind deal.
Run - It’s a tough run course. Steeply up the first mile, on a totally exposed shoulder of a state highway the second mile, then turning back towards town. The run continues through town (back the way you came), then out to the “ATV Trail” portion. There are some short, steep rises in the last 4 miles, but then a nice long downhill to the end.
Here are some maps I made in GMap Pedometer:
Bike - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=614196
Run - http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=944542 (This is short - had to wing it on where the unmapped ATV trails go…)
Good Luck - see you there!
Hurricane Bob