What are your thoughts on moving the Florida Challenge Tri to June 12?
Great move, I'll be there if I can! (10)
71%
Great move, even though I won't be there. (0)
0%
I prefer the fall date better (3)
21%
Do not care either way. (1)
7%

 

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We currently do not have the Florida Challenge Triathlon on our 2011 fall schedule, but are considering June 12 as an alternative date for the race.  Before confirming the early season move we would like to see if there is interest in having a challenging long course race in Clermont in June.

Please take our date poll above and offer feedback if you wish via this thread.

I definitely like this move. This way, I could race both the Florida Challenge and the Great Floridian with plenty of time for recovery and training in between. Its also not too close to the Gulf Coast Tri.

I agree with Kim - June will be very hot and I train most of the time in Clermont. A fall date would be better. It would be great if there were a few more olympic distance races from Sommer.

Trialhletes complianing about the heat? I don't think I've ever heard that before. You live and train in Florida and are not acclimated to the heat? How do you know what the the weather will be for race day? For example, at the GFT, we've had mornings where we could see our breath. Yes, it was THAT cool. In the 2006 GFT, the temp was over 115 degees on the bike course. Admittedly, Central Florida can be brutal, even steamy, Kona-like, with high humidity. But you train for it. Having the race in September must be a nereve rattling thing for a race director, with constantly watching hurricane updates...

I was looking at an "A" race in the spring, and am considering the IM Disney 70.3 in May. I'm balking at the $300 entry fee. Then Mr. Sommer comes up with moving the FCT to June. Lots of us can't do the half in Sept, it's too close to the GFT. I put myself in the "great move, I'll be there if I can"

This is my all time favorite race (because of the hills.) Hopefully you'll add the race next year. I don't care when it is, I'll be there!

Thanks for the feedback everyone. The bottom line is that we do not have a fall option for the race. The early September date just did not work and we need to stay at least 3-4 weeks away from the GFT's date. That leaves us with late September which we already have booked with out of state events, or mid-November where there are already two other half-distance races in Florida. With the new course change associated with the GFT, a half distance race in conjunction with the GFT would not work. Our middle distance 2K-60K-15K fits in much better.

This leaves us with June 12 as our only viable option for 2011. As a race director I would much rather put on a long course race in early June versus September because the risk of having tropical storm-like weather is much less. The heat factor is almost the same for both June and September.

I just have to decide within the next couple of weeks to either host the event in 2011 or put it on hiatus.

Fred

I love the change to June. I'm in and can't wait!

Count me in! And looking forward to it. It will be a great primer for those of us doing the GFT. Great move by Sommer Sports.

Day two of the 20 week Florida Challenge Half IM plan, and I've already blown it. Monday went perfect. it was an off day. Today was supposed to be an easy bike, but it's way too windy, so I went for a 5.5 mile run instead. Using an hrm, kept the rate at 120-126. Maybe I'll bike tomorrow. Maybe not.
Plantar fasciitis is all but gone. The huge chunk of inflammation in my heel that has had me limping for a LONG time has nearly disappeared. Maybe it got tired of listening to my whining...Strange how it just went away. Next up...13.1 Miami on March 6th.

Hey KAR!
Glad to hear the PF is pretty much gone. Good luck with the half marathon and with the training for the half iron. I just did the Clearwater half this past Sunday and felt great...finally recovered from the GFT Who knew it would take that long? Also planning on doing the Gasparilla half marathon at the end of Feb and the Gator half iron on March 20 in Sarasota. You are excused from not riding today...the wind is like a tornado out there!

KC, great too hear you're training and competing. Can you imagine what folks up North must be thinking when they read this forum? Man, I cringe whe I see all of the snow and cold. But, hey it's off-season anyway, so maybe some xc skiing, snowball fights, king of the mountain, or another winter sport are great for cross training...Today I ran 4 x 400's with 400 recovery jog, 1.5 mi w/u and c/d. Felt good to go and really trash the legs. Remembering the age old adage: If you want to be fast, you have to pracrice being fast.