What are the hilliest half IM races (on the bike I mean)?
i’d have to say the Little Smokies on Memorial weekend is gonna be hard to top.
Auburn International (~6000’)
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By far : iron du Valais (there are both Ironman and Half-Iron races). As hilly (I’d rather say mountainous) as you can get over 90kms.
www.ironduvalais.ch
Gulf Coast in Panama City, FL. Almost 31’ each lap (x2).
I will second the Little Smokies 1/2. I think 4,000 ft over the bike course (the run course is no picnic either). At least you don’t have to worry much about drafting 
St. Croix? Harriman?
Half Max, not the worst on the bike, but pretty bad bike/run combo and then throw in the weather you got yourself a death march.
over 3800 on the bike
and over 1700 on the run. Average Grade 5% on the run.
Ohh and if your lucky 90 degree hot and humid weather.
St. Croix is ~ 3000 vft., only HALF as hilly as Auburn, which covers 6000 vft. It’s the wind at St. Croix that kills you, and the bad roads, and the heat, and the humidity, and the hills.
Harriman covers ~4000 vft. So Auburn, I believe, I still the hilliest in terms of net ascent.
<< Harriman covers ~4000 vft. So Auburn, I believe, I still the hilliest in terms of net ascent >>
The website claimed it was 1500 vft / lap, so that’d be 6000 vft total on the bike for Harriman.
The run had its share o’ hills too. Plus, a nice section of technical trail running**.
** and from what I gather, this trail section will be eliminated from the course next year. However, that means probably more hills on the road, as no matter which direction you go from there, you are going up or down a hill.
May not be the hilliest, but definitely near the top of the list I’d imagine.
One word. One simlpe word that makes me cringe when I hear it.
“WILDFLOWER”
I hear that Mooseman is in the 4,000 ft neighborhood for the 56 miles. Looks like wildflower is it.
Kevin
It’s not that much. I’ve measured the Sprint course, and the sprint course is the “loop” you are talking about in reverse. Sprint course is about 1100 and change. And it’s 16 miles.
However, Auburn’s 6,000 ft. may also be claimed, and measured using something like GPS, instead of an altimeter, meaning it is equally subjective.
Harriman IS hilly enough. Perhaps leave it at that.
Mooseman (in NH) is 2500. It’s not that hilly.
Wildflower is also not NEARLY as hilly as Auburn. Or Harriman. No course where the winner goes under 4:00, even if that winner is Simon Lessing, going to be as hilly as a course like Auburn… Fastest bike split @ Wildflower 2005 – 2:15 (Sindballe). Fastest bike split @ Auburn 2004 – 2:45. DeBoom clocked a 2:48… On the new “easier” bike course, Josiah Middaugh clocked a 2:35 in 2005.
And I just checked, Auburn IS GPS measured, which means it is not as accurate as an altimeter measured course (unless they used surveying grade equipment). Probably they just ran it on TopoUSA software to get the ascent…
I’d say Harriman now that they’ve made Auburn “easier” than in years past is the toughest… Comparing original courses, could be a toss-up.
Wildflower is also not NEARLY as hilly as Auburn.
I’d say Harriman now that they’ve made Auburn “easier” than in years past is the toughest… Comparing original courses, could be a toss-up.
Yes, Auburn is way harder than WF.
Second, the new course is HARDER than the past courses according to a STer who has done all three versions of Auburn.
clm
I’ll 3rd the Little Smokies call. Very hilly bike and run. Gordo said it was tougher than the former ‘World’s Toughest’.
I have the course profile from my Polar S710i somewhere.
I train in Harriman almost every weekend on the loop used for the 1/2, and I have done St. Croix, and I thought that St. Croix is much harder regardless of the total elevation gain. I’ve been in Harriman when it was hot and humid. St. Croix is still tougher. I think it has something to do with the wind and the climbs in St. Croix being 10-15% and the climbs in Harriman being 6-8%.
Hasn’t the new couse ONLY been done as a duathlon? Perhaps that was the difference maker. 3K into the legs is quite different than 1.2 swimming.
I was only going by the word on the street which said the new course was easier. I’ll defer to your (friend’s) experience certainly. But I’d be curious to see what he has to say doing it as a tri, since it sounds like he a glutton for punishment and will probaby go back.
I’m guessing Monaco is not going to be flat.
Question was “hilliest,” though. Not hardest. St. Croix is still probably easier than Harriman. The times on the course do not bear out St. Croix being tougher.
Mimi Boyle, who won the race in Harriman and who is a friend of mine, won Harriman in 5:36. St. Croix women’s winner is usually about 5:40. Mimi regularly goes just a shade over 10 hours for IM. So she is not an hour slower than a top pro women over a 1/2 IM.
Doing the race in St. Croix and comparing it to riding the loop in Harriman is not exactly apples-to-apples, if ya know what I mean…