What was your hottest race ever

[benmiralia]

After Sunday in June I started thinking about my hottest races and how this one compared (even though it's not really a "race").

Mine was at The Great Buckeye Challenge half Ironman when it was still at Buckeye Lake. 98 degrees and absolutely no shade on the run. An article the next day dubbed it "The Great Buckeye Death March". I had ice stuffed in every pocket and under my had and singlet and I still almost dropped out. It was just miserable.

[MattCollister]

I'm not sure if it was the hottest, but the one I remember struggling with the heat the most was Ironman Wisconsin in 2003. The temperatures did get up into the 90s, but they told us that there were areas of the course, running through the city, where the temperature coming off the asphalt was over 100.

I do remember vividly the lap around the soccer fields on the UW campus. No protection from the sun. Every now and then you see someone stop, put their hands to their knees, throw up, take a second to gather themselves, and move on.

Such fond memories.

[jimdehner]

Ben - I think I might have been at that race - it was nasty but my hottest was at Eagleman a couple of years back - it is a half iron held in Cambridge Md. in early June - weather here had been cool so I wasn't ready for the day - The swim is in the mouth of the Choptank river - essentially Chesapeake bay and the waters temps were high enough that no wet suits were allowed (not optional - literally not allowed) - the bike and run are in a flat area that's adjacent to the water so the humidity combined with the 98 degree heat on the run were a killer - I remember there were eagles (hence the event name) circling overhead - guess they were waiting for someone to drop

[agordon10]

Eagleman is notorius for being Hot every year. Add to that the flat bike with no real wind and the fact that the wind coming off the bay is hotter than heck during the run, it is a deceptively hard course. I remember the water felt like soup the year you are talking about, Jim.

Done it twice (missed this year due to vacation) and it was hot as can be both times and it seems that is the norm. I'd agree, tough course in heat.

2010 Louisville Ironman was hotter and humider (sp?) than anything I ever competed in as well.

[marie]

No doubt Ironman Louisville 2010! It was so hot at 6 in the morning that I was sweating while standing in line for the swim.

Then, around mile 70 on the bike (at least for me), they ran out of water for two water stops so I had to get them to fill a water bottle with the disgusting water used to cool the Powerbar Performs. It was 90+ degrees and humid as heck, no way I was leaving an aid station without water.

By the run, it was a death march. About 14 miles into the run, my calves could no longer shake the oncoming cramps. I ran/walked on cramped calves for 2.5 hours. When I finished, my calves finally gave up, and I fell (that's why those catchers are there).

It's not a joke to say the sound of ambulances was the soundtrack for most of the day.

It took my body until Wednesday to recover from the depletion. I literally had no appetite for anything other than sugar. I thought it was just from doing an Ironman, but had no such problems after Wisconsin in 2011.

[kenb321]

Musselman 2011 was bad but the worst was Spirit of Morgantown 2009. Started the race in upper 80's- low 90's and finished at 96 with heat index at 106. Flat run with not enough aid stations supplied with necessary things in the heat. The bike ride offered Heed but it had all spoiled in the heat.

[robreddy]

IMCdA in I think '06 - full sun and temp got to 104 before noon - I got crushed and DNFed w 3 IVs - to this day I believe this race messed my body up - I never cramped in my back before that day and WHOA did I ever cramp - now it happens often.

At least it was a 'dry heat' - ya bull sh it

fun times

r