Compete and Unwind IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead is the race weekend getaway athletes need to experience before the craziness of summer begins. Athletes start their day on a scenic journey through Southwest Michigan, traversing through wine country and beaches to the finish line. After competing, premium vacation amenities are close by …
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Compete and Unwind
IRONMAN 70.3 Steelhead is the race weekend getaway athletes need to experience before the craziness of summer begins. Athletes start their day on a scenic journey through Southwest Michigan, traversing through wine country and beaches to the finish line. After competing, premium vacation amenities are close by to help athletes unwind and toast to a job well done.
Swim
The swim course will start and finish at Jean Klock Park. Athletes will walk about 200 yards from the transition to the swim start. The swim will be a one-loop swim of 1.2 miles. Athletes will exit the water and will run/walk through sand for 200 yards to the transition area.
Lake Michigan can be calm or choppy depending on the winds, so expect 1-3 foot waves. Athletes will swim outside a line of buoys and inside a line of lifeguards on rescue boats, kayaks and surfboards.
Bike
The 56-mile bike course will take triathletes through the scenic northern Berrien and eastern Van Buren counties. This area is part of the Michigan “fruit belt” and includes numerous farms as well as vineyards and orchards.
Run
Athletes will start on the beach at Jean Klock Park and run through part of Harbor Shore’s Jack Nicklaus golf course. Then athletes will run through two loops of the beautiful Whirlpool Corporate campus park. You will finish up on the gorgeous beach at Jean Klock Park. The course is mostly flat with a couple of short hills.
Swim: LAKE
Bike: FLAT
Run: HILLY
Avg Air Temp: 68° F / 20° C
Avg Water Temp: 63° F / 17° C
Airport: SBN
LESS
Be prepared for a tough swim
In summary, bike and run were fast and issue free. Swim caught many off-guard. In order to prepare for this race, I recommend having a game plan for swimming in … MORE
In summary, bike and run were fast and issue free. Swim caught many off-guard.
In order to prepare for this race, I recommend having a game plan for swimming in very wavy water. Many people, including myself, had never encountered a swim so challenging with wave after wave. It made it very challenging to swim front crawl and many treaded water until turning the first corner (which is pretty exhausting). Don’t underestimate how difficult swimming in this type of environment is or you will be very disappointed.
Bike was a fast course overall with a couple bigger hills, but it was mostly rolling and easy to keep momentum throughout. Run had a couple hills too but nothing absurd. I was very impressed with the high frequency of water stations on the run.
The swim is canceled
Wind on the morning of the event prevented us from starting the swim so a biking we went. I felt strong on the course cycling and then had a good … MORE
Wind on the morning of the event prevented us from starting the swim so a biking we went. I felt strong on the course cycling and then had a good run after. I’m 50 50 on if I want to do this one again. I had a wonderful time but not enough to make me want to risk having a swim canceled again. Ironman always puts on a good show and this was not an acceptation.
The run course and bike course make for nice views.
rough swim
thankfully was wetsuit legal to help/cope with rough waves and current. Hot on the run course, especially around the muggy pond on Whirlpool campus. Fun finisher's chute with an excellent … MORE
thankfully was wetsuit legal to help/cope with rough waves and current.
Hot on the run course, especially around the muggy pond on Whirlpool campus.
Fun finisher’s chute with an excellent announcer and good crowd support.