Hi All

I have heard tell of a Heartbreak Hill at the Gold Coast Half Ironman, Coomera.

Can anyone who has done this race tell me if it is on the cycle or run leg, does it deserve its name, and if I should ditch my 43 small ring for the good ol' 39?

I note the official course description for GCHIM is 'undulating' - race director speak for 'bloody big hills'.

I've heard tell of a short steep hill out of T2 that you have to run over twice.

But I've never raced over the course before either... lets see what others have to say

--Toby

There are 3 'hills'. 2 on the bike and 1 on the run. The bike one is about 9 or 10 kays out from the start of the lap (I know you are reading dingo and know the actual distance if you want to share). The other side of the same hill is short and sharp. Probably only 500m or so long outbound and 150 or so on the return.

The run leg has a hill, as Toby said, straight out of T2. It would be maybe 200m long and is steepish. It definately has a whole heap of people walking it on lap 2 in the middle to back of the pack. Take note that at the top is a drink station and then a down hill. The down hill is long and gradual and is perfect to recover down. Don't be afraid to run up the hill both times thinking you will leave your heart rate at the top. there are a couple of other gradual inclines and the most annoying is one at one of the turn arounds (up the second side road if you look at the map, maybe 7 kms into the lap) that looks short but hurts a little as you don't really get long enough to recover as it is an undulating part of the course.

The swim is flat, repeat, flat except for the ramp you have to run up out of the water From memory, you are not allowed to stop between the swim and T1 to take of your wettie either which can suck for those with tight fitting suits.

Thank goodness for small mercies ... I guess there's no water skiing, then

Thanks for the info, Plazbot, and I will have a chance to check it out in the days before the race as I am getting up there early.

Heartbreak Hill intrigued me as it was stated as being a good spot for spectators, so I was assuming bike leg!

Hi Muzman,

Your yellow Felt will eat up those hills and afer the Everestine hill at the Hunter Valley Half Marathon these Queensland hills shouldn't worry us!

See you up there!

Danny

Plaz

just did a brick session on the course...1 lap bike + 1 lap run.

Hills...where???

nice little heartstarter straight out of T1 but quite short...far turnaround has changed from previous...over 10k of run loop is flat!

good news on the bike...hotmix has been increased !! now goes out to 5km at the 1st little hill...bridge over the creek is still ordinary as ever...potential bottle launcher !! lap ends with 4.5km of undulating hotmix....45km loop x 2.

an extra 400 bull sharks have been added to help with some faster swim times

Mr Plazman will have a big day ...

did the HIM last year and undulating is correct. would be lucky to use your lowest gears more than a couple of times for teh last 1/4 of the cycle leg. no real out-of-the-seat little hills.
the hill right after T2 is only in the run leg. steepish but wouldn't more than 50-100m tops and over before you realise it. i'm a mid packer and didn't need to walk it on either lap.

the swim is flat but there's no bloody black lines. just watch you don't crash into the moored boats the locals own - the nice mashall on the surf ski kindly advised me which way to go after i swam into one.

the key point is that hills are non-issue for GCHIM. good luck. see you there

PH

SAY WHAT??!!!!

If I so much as glimpse a baby one, my swim leg will become a RUN leg!

Bosun, pass me my brown corduroy tri shorts, please.

Seriously, thanks to everyone for their info. Think I'll leave my 43 on the bike now.

M