Spirit of Racine Half Ironman Triathlon

Well, I'm not doing the 1/2, but I am doing the sprint the day prior.  For the past couple of years there has been a BT gtg the evening before the 1/2 at the Chancery Pub at the Radison (that's not too far from North Beach) for dinner and socializing.  The Radison is a popular place to stay, but there are also a number of hotels out on Hwy 20 that are perfectly servicable (about a 15-20 min drive from the race site).

As far as hills, I can't speak to any rollers on the course, but I can tell you that the biggest hill is probably the one coming right out of transition.  Make sure your bike is in a good gear for an immediate climb.  The sucky part about that hill (aside from the fact that it's right out of transition) is the fact that you can't fly down it on the way back or you'll overshoot the dismount area.

This will be my first HIM, as well. I have ridden in this general area extensively, but not the whole course. I'd consider it relatively flat, rollers tossed in. The course map has a elevation graph on it - all the riding is done between about 500 and 800 feet above sea level - don't have a total climbing amount (suppose I could map it and find out...).

There will be a large BT contingent, as well as a good group from the local tri club, the "Donkey Nation", aka "Donkeys", "Turbo Donkai", "Jack A$$es", etc. Have heard of no specific plans, but there WILL be something....

SOR was my very first triathlon I did, the 70.3, and it's a terrific race.

1).  Sat. before the 70.3 was a free seminar at the swim start on how to prepare for the swim.
2).  Being it was my first triathlon and swimming an OWS, with waves, and a current, and trying to sight, and swimming more than 1000 yards continuously, it was a little daunting.  But those prepared should find it a pretty good swim.
   a). The swim is a wave start.
   b). If your eyesight is good, use the lighthouse as a guide for sighting when doing the long straight-away portion that follows along the shoreline.
   c).  The sunrise may get in your eyes, so be prepared with tinted swim goggles.
   d).  You run on beach sand for about 100 yards or so after the swim to get to T1, which may cramp you up.
   e).  There are containers to step into to wash the sand off your feet before hitting the T1 timing mat.

3). The steep incline out of T1 to start the bike course will catch many novices.  Start in a low gear to get up it.
4). The course is quite flat, IMHO.  I felt there was a lot of cracks and bumpiness on the concrete town roads.
5). Hopefully the helicopter that follows the leader won't get close to the transition area and blow everybody's stuff around like last year.
6). The run has the first climb within the first 400 - 800 meters, and there is a photographer near that area usually, so prepare to smile instead of looking exhausted!
7). Course is an "out-and-back" 2-looper that is quite flat.  If it was warm as it was last year, there usually are a couple of local residents that have a hose out willing to cool you down.
8). I thought the aid stations were well-stocked.

My personal like was that InfinIT was there.  I like that stuff.

Overall, a very good race to do.

Dude...it's Lake Michigan, aka a fresh water ocean...whatchu expect?

Is THAT what that stuff was? 

PJ, it's an inside joke that will be made public very soon, I suspect.  I won't be living that one down.

:P well, fine then...   I'm assuming this has something to do w/ this past weekend's IM mini-camp.

Yep, on an interview w/Scoobysdad.  I obviously cracked up Birkie, mutri and Yams.

Ill be there too.  Its a good time.

The swim isnt that bad-  the hardest part is getting out there with the waves coming in- once you areout to calm water its a sraight shot.

And if Davey is gonna be there I guess I will too....but I'm just doing the sprint..

um, i already claimed that spot travis.  find someone else's back to jump on.