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Post by robreddy on Jul 27, 2008 17:54:41 GMT -5
who is going
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Post by jodi on Jul 27, 2008 18:05:20 GMT -5
me
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Post by sarazim on Jul 27, 2008 21:47:49 GMT -5
I'm in there like swimwear.
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Post by Charlie on Jul 27, 2008 22:30:38 GMT -5
yep.
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Post by buckeyefan10 on Jul 27, 2008 23:03:36 GMT -5
Im there as well
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Cat
Olympic Member
IMFL 2007
Posts: 90
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Post by Cat on Jul 28, 2008 7:07:12 GMT -5
I am scheduled to race, but, am fighting strep throat & a sinus infection that have had me down & out since last Wed!!!! I will be there & will have to see how it goes... BTW-This is a post from a training ride I did about 3 weeks ago... Just an FYI as things may have changed re: the work on the bike course... "Went to Benton Harbor last weekend for a preview of this year's Steelhead course & wanted to alert you all to a few things I noted. Run course-for those of you who have done the race in the past, it now appears that after the 1st loop through the Whirlpool campus, we now turn right & head up a decent hill (instead of the left turn that backtracks on the course to the turn around) to run around to the turn around. We then come back down the hill for loop 2 around Whirlpool & then go back up the hill to return to the beach/finish area… In short-prepare for a couple more hills on the run course. Bike course-Seems to be the same as last year. Just an FYI-there is a few mile stretch (before mi 20) that was rough paving w/ loose stone… It appears the road is being re-paved & no one could say if the road will be done in time for the race… Lots of flats during the training ride (I even had 2??!!)… Bring some spares!! A final note-the bridge that you pass under just after you exit the transition area & park is being repaired & that road is closed to traffic. Again-not sure if it will be open in time for the race... Hope all of this info is helpful & does not alarm any of you!! Just an FYI as things may be done/changed by race day!!!"
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Post by jodi on Jul 28, 2008 7:19:19 GMT -5
Straight from Tom Z on ST:
Race Director's worst nightmare - the day before the race, they tear up the road and your bike course is gone! Having put on races for over 25 years, I've had a few cases where the DOT "forgot" about the race permit and started a project early.
We have a VERY good relationship with Michigan DOT and if you know anything about rural roads in the Mid-West, they have something called - Chip and Seal - We have no such thing in Florida - we blacktop every inch of the state.
Anyway - when they "chip and seal" a rural road the spray down tar and then cover the tar with stones - after about a month of cars running over these stones along with the heat from the summer sun the road gets hard like blacktop. The problem is the first 3-4 weeks you have lots of loose stones that have not been "sealed" into the tar.
About two weeks ago the Michigan DOT decided to "Chip and Seal" Hagar Shore Road, even through our Local Bike Coordinator, Mike Jones (owner of Cycle & Fitness in St. Joe) had told them to wait until after August 3rd. I told him next year to go out and lay on the road and not let them Chip and Seal any of our bike course.
Since Hagar Shores is now newly "Chipped and Sealed" we have changed the bike course and the new one that will be on the Steelhead Web site. It goes north of Hagar Shore and turns eeast and does a loop before coming back to the newly paved Blue Star Hwy. Blue Star travels south along the lake from South Haven to Benton Harbor. MDOT used real blacktop on Blue Star and added a nice bike lane.
So the bike course is fine. Lake will be flat and 70 degrees and you will swim with the current, the run is all downhill in the shade and everyone will have a PR!
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Cat
Olympic Member
IMFL 2007
Posts: 90
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Post by Cat on Jul 28, 2008 7:59:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the more current info Jodi!! Like I said-I was just providing what info I had from the training ride @ the time-did not want to alarm anyone, just provide information... Glad to know that some of the concerns have been resolved!!
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Post by laurajones on Jul 28, 2008 11:59:47 GMT -5
Looks like I picked a good one to start with: Lake will be flat and 70 degrees and you will swim with the current, the run is all downhill in the shade and everyone will have a PR! ...
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Post by Brandon on Jul 28, 2008 18:57:44 GMT -5
I'm with laurajones on this one!! Looks like I picked the right race. The extended forcast I looked at over the weekend called for temps in the mid-80's on Saturday, so I'm glad the run is downhill and in the shade that's for sure! *updated forecast is calling for 90 degree temps on race day
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