I need an october half-iron distance race. My girlfriend is doing kona, but there is no chance in hell i will qualify (mens 30-34 age group). We train together, so i want a race that is close to Kona in terms of timing schedule so we can do our training on cycle. I would also rather do a half than a full (doing IM france this upcoming weekend, only want to do one IM this year). So i’m looking for a HIM in mid october. I live in the northeast, but would be willing to travel for a great race.
Here is what ive been looking at:
9/23 ironman 70.3 cancun
9/30 Mightyman in mantauk, NY
10/7 Bassman in NJ (200 ppl last year) half iron
11/9 Woodlands 101 in texas
Any other ideas? any comments on the above races?
any not to be missed races in late sep or early oct? any help appreciated…
FYI, I am biased, I’m the RD. But, take a look. It’s the week before Kona. If you’re not racing Kona you need to be in Austin…Great course, live music on course, bands throughout the weekend, parties on 6th street, full expo, post-race Budweiser Beer Garden, great food from Freebirds World Burrito…
I think about 200 or so…
Just out on the bike course today, mapping things out. It’s a GREAT bike course. Nice 1 loop. REALLY quiet for 95% of the course. Passed 3 cars the entire time…
No pics on top of the longhorn, but you can get your pic taken NEXT to the longhorn:)
The run is a 2 loop run, and right now 2.2 miles of each loop is unpaved on trails. So, 4.4 miles is on trails, dirt/grass roads. Working on getting permission to run on the dam, which is 1.2 miles across. If that happens, the run course may change. That’s a dirt road on the dam…
If the Woodlands 101 is as well run and supported as the Clearlake 101, do it. I’m thinking of going, just because I’ll probably be rueing the end of the season and wanting one more race. It looks like a much faster course than Clearlake (not so god-awful hilly on the run) so maybe I’ll be able to walk the next day…
Big Kahuna is awesome, but it’s early September (10th). You could do that AND the 101!!
Mightyman is a nice course… last year the weather was terrible- torrential rain and thunderstorms- and they had to shorten the bike. But it was well run despite the weather challenges and would be great on a nice day. Some pretty views from both the bike and the run courses.
I’ll vote for Mightyman…did it last year under a super-storm…but normally the conditions are great and the temperature just perfect. The views on the Bicycle turn around of the ocean are amazing. Well organized and nice area for the family too. The bike has lots of rolling hills but you can still go pretty fast. The run is hilly, challenging but fun.
