Ironman Boulder is on my race Schedule for next year I would like to do Tremblant two weeks later I would like so feed back on the course.
Are you asking for feedback on Boulder or Tremblant? What kind of details are you looking for? I think if you make your questions a little more pointed, you’ll get some answers.
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Sorry I wasn’t specific enough I am planning on doing boulder next year I’ve been told it’s a tough course, 2 weeks later I am planning on racing in Tremblant. I guess what I am asking is Boulder as tough as what I have been hearing
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Boulder should not be a tough course if conditions are friendly. Swim is downhill, bike is fairly easy with one climb and a few rollers, then run will be mostly on concrete with a gentle grade.
It shouldn’t be a tough one, but none of us have done it yet. I am expecting fast times none the less.
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how is it on your race schedule already? are you planning to colunteer this year? just curious.
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No unfortunately I am unable to make it to volunteer another option I had thought about is going out there for a week to do some training in June of next year. Did you find the elevation played a big factor? How many days do you recommend I should be out there before race day to get climatized to the elevation?
I agree with Colin on this one. As the RD, I have done each part of this race several times and feel like on a good day this could be a fast course. If the wind does not cooperate it could be a hard one. In terms of big climbing or technical riding, there is not much there. When I was building the course the first thing I wanted to accomplish was that it would be a FAIR course. By having a true single loop course that helps to keep it fair. The multi-loop courses tend to bunch athletes up. This course should prevent that. It also has a decent amount of straightaway riding (aka…long straight roads with no turning). This helps the athletes be able to get into a rhythm and stay low. Once you get back to town on the bike though it gets a bit technical with a couple of punchy climbs and a bunch of turning. In one sense though that should wake your body up a bit.
Colin is also right about the run. It should be fast. It can be a heat fest in August in Boulder but the run course has ample shade and is along the creek path which keeps that area a lot cooler. The new run course is about to be announced so you should have more detail on that soon. If you are not aware already, flooding destroyed the creek path area and we have been patiently working with the City of Boulder to determine what areas will be ready by august and clear of re-construction and stuff like that.
All in all it should be in the middle of the pack in terms of difficulty in the menu of options in North America. I would like it to Wisconsin a bit with a splash of Placid. The swim will be flat and fast like Placid for sure.
DC
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I just don’t see it being all that fast because it is going to be really hot. From my experience that is the number one thing that will crush dreams on any IM course. If you moved Florida or AZ to the first week in August they would be totally different races. In Boulder you will get that higher altitude sun beating down, even if the run course offers some shade along the creek. Mix in higher dehydration rates via respiration at altitude … it is Colorado and freak weather can happen, but chances are it is going to be a very hot sufferfest.
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Remember that it’s a very dry heat. This will keep the bike very cool - even in 90+ temps.
The run is shaded, and if you stay on top of ice/nutrition, you should be good.
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Keep telling yourself that. I used to race the 5430 Half when it was at the end of July. That time of year it is usually a very hot sufferfest. Personally I’ll be fine … I just think a lot of people are in for a surprise and a long day is all.
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Born and raised in Boulder, and I guess that I race fine in the heat. So, yeah, might just be me…
But, I do think it’s much more manageable than a race like Louisville or even Kona.
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I’ve raced Kona and Louisville and I’d say Boulder has the potential to be on par with an average year at Louisville. Without the wind and heat the Kona course would be really fast too. The thing is that everyone knows it will be hot at Kona and they train for it and pace accordingly. I don’t see that happening for a lot of folks the first year of Boulder. They are being told it will be a fast course with lots of shade.
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Dave - it is a very fair course. Kudos.
I also think it is going to be slower than most expect. Those rollers east of I-25, not to mention the stinger when hanging a left of 75th, are not easy. The all concrete run will be slower than most think too. Specifically, I think the second loop of running will slow some down as the path gets crowded and people run side-by-side.
It will be fast overall. The summers are usually hot and when it’s hot the wind usually disappears. With no wind, high altitude and hot air, there will be little wind resistance for the bike. Combined with good roads and it will feel like you are flying with little effort. Keep yourself, cool, hydrated and fueled and pace the uphill first portion and climb properly, and you will be having a blast.
The run, however, will be a bit slow. It’s a deceptive grade and running at altitude will add extra difficulty for most. However, there is a lot of shade and the cold creek helps keep temps down in the area, so if everything is paced properly, it could be a relatively enjoyable IM experience (meaning if you’re racing it properly, the extreme hurt might just come a little later in the race)
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Thanks for the input I really appreciate it
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Remember that it’s a very dry heat. This will keep the bike very cool - even in 90+ temps.
The run is shaded, and if you stay on top of ice/nutrition, you should be good.
LOL. Keep in mind you’re skinny as a string bean and a multiple Kona qualifier (ie: fit)…and body type/size means something when it’s hot out. It’s science.
The swim will be 75.9 degrees, which will cook people from the start.
I think you WILL see people riding fast times. But if it’s hot, watch out…the sun is unrelenting at this altitude…the “run” will be your typical IM death march, regardless of how shaded it is. Nothing can make up for baking yourself out on the prairie for 5+ hours.
The biggest variables (IMO, after having lived here for five years and training for several IMs through the summer months) will be: a) if there’s any cloud cover on the bike and b) just how hot will it be…again, on the bike.
I ride much of the bike course frequently. Carter Lake South, is a tough short climb, the more pressing safety concern is the descent of the north damn in aero bars. On our Sat morning group ride (Ft Collins Oval ride), the final sweeping right bend before the ranger station is taken at about 55mph. Considering Boulder Peak enforced a speed limit for AG’ers I’m curious what they’ll do here.
Carter Climb:
http://www.strava.com/segments/747242
Carter Descent:
http://www.strava.com/segments/1141312