The Scoop On Powerman Ohio

I’ve had a few people email me to ask for tips on the P-Man Ohio course.  Well… I’ve never done it!!  Further, I’ve never even raced in the area before, so don’t know any more than any other person who’s read the description on the website.   So what’s a girl to do? 

Me, I asked a couple of super-duathloners, Kristin Villipoto and Elizabeth Fedofsky, to see if they are in the know.  Kristin is from Chapel Hill, NC and does much of her riding in the hilly, rolling countryside in Orange and surrounding counties.  There are some pretty good hills around there, but certainly no mountains.  Now Elizabeth is from the Chicago area, a.k.a. the Windy City, but definitely not the Hilly City.  It’s important to frame each of these fine athlete’s reference points for you to best understand their responses:

Here’s what Kristin had to say:

Have never done it, Alicia. But this is a new course from other years, so I don’t know if you can compare. Yes, have heard about the hill. Bet it’s not that bad, though…like some out at Umstead.  Bike is just supposed to be rolly.

Here’s Elizabeth’s take:

The year I did it (2005), it was a different course but in the same Mohican Valley Region of Ohio. I have also raced in Mohican Valley back in 2001 and 2002 on a half-Ironman course out there.  In all cases, that region is HILLY AS HECK.  I remember the years I did the Mohican Pineman 1/2 IM out there and they actually labeled the hills as “wicked” on the map and it was no joke.    You wouldn’t think Ohio is hilly but trust me, it is.  It’s more than rolling, it’s long steep rollers.  As for running, I did the course the year it was on the Mid Ohio Race Track.  It was very hilly too.  I’m trying to think of something that compares.  The run will probably be a lot like the hills at Nationals in Portland.  The bike – hmmmmm – I can’t think of anything that compares that we’d both know.  It’s a lot hillier than PM Alabama that’s for sure.

So.  Hmmmm.  What say you, dear friends?  “Just rolly” or “hilly as heck”?  I do all my long training runs on Umstead, which has several mile long hills and some fairly steep pitches, so I guess I’m prepared.  The bike is probably similar to the Winston-Salem and Wilkesboro areas, which is pretty hilly, but not much more so than my typical riding routes. 

I think Bri Gaal said it all when she went back and checked out the feared Duke 1/2 run course.  The first time, she saw it as a Floridian flat-lander.  This time, she trains in Umstead all the time.  Somehow, the course looked flatter this time.

I think it will be the same thing with Powerman Ohio.  If you train on hills, it will just be more of the same.  So since I train on hills and this Saturday I’ll be riding mountains, I bet I’ll be ready. 

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