Recommend me a Half Iron man Tri

Hi, 

As the title says really, does anyone have any recomendations for a Half IM in the North West area although I'm happy enough to travel as far as down as the Midlands and up to Cumbria if needs be. A flatish course would be better as not a big fan of lots of hills and as it will be my first Tri at that distance I don't want to be put off by a tough course. Ideally I would be looking at around March/April/ May time next year.

Thanks.

I'm going to do this, although its in September so is probably too soon - the swim is downriver, though and not very hilly ... its near Ripon

http://www.functionalfitnesscoaching.co.uk/middle-distance-triathlon-swim-1.9m-bike-90km-run-21km.htm

ignore the hills part and do Bala in june next year...loads of us will be doing it off the forum......

It was my first half race and it was a month after my first sprint......My OH had to buy me a road bike to do it as i only had a rusty hybrid which was fine for the sprint...

The lake at bala is beautiful and clean......it an out and back and there has the hills each side........then out on the bike which is also an out and back.....which is great if you are slower as you can get to see all the quick ones come back in the other direction........and as a pirate you get to shout encouragement to others pirates on teh course.....

the bike course has got some hills but they are long gentler hills not short steep ones..........

the run course is also out and back with it underlating uphill on the wayup snd underlating back down......once again you get to see most of the others on the course ...

so in total a well organised race....in beautiful surroundings...not the easiest but not the hardest.......

Thanks guys, really like the look of the first one, shame it's in Sept, same goes for the  Wild Boar. A few of the girls from my Tri Club are doing Bala next year, Maybe if I see any improvement in my hill training I will consider it but keep the idea's coming please.

Lisa,

you'll struggle to find an early season half (in the UK).  All the middle distances I know are open water swims and the water takes a while to warm up.  The BTF has a good events finder thingy weblink  

Cheers FF. I did wonder about the water Temp so early on. Will have a look at the link.

seren nos wrote (see)

 It's flat isn't it?

Only half I've done in the north west is trentham worth a look but from what I've heard Bala is special.

The swim at Bala is usually uphill!!

The swim at the Bala half last year was up hill both ways !!!

So Its safe to say Bala is not flat then!

I like the look of Trentham, thanks Cake.

the bike is OK at Bala.. Nothing really nasty (I use my TT bike there quite happily)

If you're willing to trek as far as the Cotswolds then they have a half IM in June (well it was 26/6 this year).  Minor bump (seriously, it's not a hill)  that you do on both laps but otherwise flat.

Details here http://cotswold113.com/site/

Bala is gorgeous - it's not flat but the hills give focus to the bike course. It's essentially lots of up followed by lots of down, turn around and repeat. The last downhill section into t2, about 5 fast miles is worth the wait! Still the best race I've ever done.

seren nos wrote (see)

the bike course has got some hills but they are long gentler hills not short steep ones..........

I seem to remember there is one little climb on the way back to Bala and then its pretty much down hill all the way.

Lisa, Bala is a lovely race. Did it as my first and only middle distance and managed to cope with the hills, there are no really nasty hills. Very scenic and the roads weren't that busy with traffic. Very well organised and the marshalls were great.

Thanks Guys, will consider all options, start the training and get something booked early next year....excited!

get on a plane and do Majorca 70.3, its in May and was awesome race.

or Bala

Another vote for Bala.

Lisa

I can highly recomend this one

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/triathlon/pirate-diy-half-im-the-second-coming/202383.html