Looking for some options for a wetsuit-legal half ironman in the Midwest - Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, CO, etc.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I did the Dutchman in Pella IA this summer. They are slow to update the website, but that is my only complaint. They had great support, water was nice. Now that I think of it, we all had to take our suits off because the water was too warm. Wet suits are allowed if water is under spefied temps.
http://www.dutchmantriathlon.com/
There is a few good ones in MN as well if you want to travel.
Ironman 70.3 Kansas
June 14th, 2009
Lawrence,KS
www.ironmankansas.com
WETSUIT LEGAL
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The Pigman Long Course Triathlon in Iowa was a well run event with a wetsuit legal swim this year. It is in August so expect brutal heat on the bike and (shadeless) run. It was fun though.
I contacted the race director for Dutchman to find out if and when Dutchman would be. His response was “This is most likely a dead event, due to lack of interest on my part.”
However the Pig Man Half is a great (albeit brutally hot, with no shade) race that to my knowledge has always been wetsuit legal. Awesome giveaways, great atmosphere, great course, and a well run event.
Thanks all. I did the Pigman 1/2 a few years ago, and wore a wetsuit (I’m a mediocre swimmer), and while it was legal, it was still a bit warm in the water halfway through the swim. I had to stop a couple times and let water in my suit to keep cooled down. I’ve done the Pigman Sprint a few times now, and I like the venue. I just like using the wetsuit as a crutch during the swim, esp for long distances. I really should HTFU, but I have only limited time for training. (excuses, excuses)
How about Steelhead in Michigan. Its a good run.
The Spirit of Racine Triathlon in Racine, WI (end of July) might be a good one to check out. The swim is in Lake Michigan, so you can pretty much count on using a wetsuit there. Very well-organized event too - HFP Racing is outstanding.
Good luck!
Paul
The Pigman Long Course Triathlon in Iowa was a well run event with a wetsuit legal swim this year. It is in August so expect brutal heat on the bike and (shadeless) run. It was fun though.
Pigman Long Course is not always wetsuit legal. In 2002 or 2003 I raced it and it was a not wetsuit swim for everyone.
Besides the Ironman Kansas Race which has perfect water temps… there’s a new 70.3 race in Petoskey Michigan this summer on August 30th. This is a beautiful lake michigan coastal town. The swim will be wet suit legal, but not hypothermia cold water. That area is beautiful for a bike ride with nice rolling hills. Check out the web site below. Not an “m-dot” race - but much cheaper and less crowded. Getting there is the only hard part. The closest airports are 1hr + away and pricy. If you can drive it, it would be worth doing. The Hampton Inn there is nice (tell James the manager that Harper says hi) or if you have the bucks, definitely stay in the 4 star resort that is “The Inn at Bay Harbour” - it’s incredible, and you can cook smores in a large pit behind the hotel on the shore of the lake. This will be a beautiful race for that time of year.
how about you learn how to swim without the rubber diaper and then that would open up your options…
What about the halfs in Racine, WI or Door Co., WI? I might be looking at doing one of them. What are people’s opinions of them?
I’ve done the spirit of Racine and it’s a great race. It’s pretty much mandatory that you have a wet suit. I think the water temp was around 55 degrees last year. Out of 1800 people, I think I saw two that didn’t wear one and I don’t think they made it past the swim.
keep Steelhead in mind. St. Joe, Michigan. Great atmosphere, enjoyable bike and run courses and wetsuits are allowed in Lake Michigan. Tom Z. (who originally grew up in St. Joe) and his crew serves as the RD.