1. Pittsburgh Marathon – May 2
2. Philly Sprint Tri – June 27
3. Pittsburgh International Tri – Aug 1
4. Philly Livestrong Challenge (100mi) – Aug 21-22

Here are some candidates:

1. Ironman 70.3 Syracuse – September 19, 2010 – Syracuse, New York, USA
2. Ironman 70.3 Augusta – September 26, 2010 – Augusta, Georgia
3. Ironman 70.3 Austin – October 17, 2010 – Austin, Texas
5. Rohto Ironman 70.3 California – March 26, 2011 – Oceanside, California
6. Ironman 70.3 Eagleman – June 12, 2011 – Cambridge, Maryland quick

quick thoughts

I’m leaning more towards Syracuse, since it give me just enough recovery time from Pittsburgh and is a drivable distance from where I live.  Only concern would be injury and/or fatigue.  Augusta buys me two weeks, plus more summer-like weather, though is a bit further away.  Austin is questionable, yet gives me an excuse to finally visit Texas.

Regardless, I hope to register for the Eagleman in 2011, where I am volunteering in 2010.  Cool thing about helping out this year is it is 2 weeks before my first Tri.  So I’ll find out how things work and will have Philly and Pittsburgh as practice for the these Ironman events.

So then, what are the Ironman candidates for 2011?
(Ignore the 2010 dates and just add 1 year)

1. Ironman Australia – March 28, 2010 – Port Macquarie, N.S.W., Australia
2. Ironman France – June 27, 2010 -Nice, France
3. Ford Ironman Coeur d’Alene – June 27, 2010 – Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
4. Ford Ironman Lake Placid – July 25, 2010 – Lake Placid, New York
5. Ford Ironman Louisville – August 29, 2010 – Louisville, Kentucky
6. Ford Ironman World Championship – October 9, 2010 – Kona, Hawaii
7. Ford Ironman Florida – November 6, 2010 – Panama City Beach, Florida
8. Ford Ironman Arizona – November 21, 2010 – Tempe, Arizona

2011 thoughts

There is no express route to the Ironman, yet if there were in some injury free ideal world, it would be 70.3 in Fall 2010 and an early Ironman in 2011, such as IM Auzzie.  As much as I want to visit Australia, let’s scrap that idea and just leave it on the list as an option.

My top picks are (1) Lake Placid, (2) Kona, (3) Arizona, and (4) Florida.

If I somehow manage to qualify for Kona, I’m there.  Honestly, I rather not do Kona since I rather not battle the wind and the heat.  (I know, wimp!)  Thing is I’ll battle heat no matter what, so it is really just the wind I rather not battle for 61 miles.  Of course I rather be insane battling the climbs of NY, where my legs disagree.  Florida and Arizona have their appeals and the late event makes it a good back-up plan if Summer 2011 is a bust.

France and Australia have huge appeal, since they are places on my bucket list.  With France, I can kill two birds with one stone, getting that TdF in too.  I think I still know enough french to get around.  As for Auzziland, that’s a pricey trip, yet end of March should give me fall like weather, which would be more ideal.

I almost skipped commenting on Louisville.  It is one of the closer ones and the turf and conditions should not be too much different than what I am use to.  Then there is the Ohio River, the river Pittsburgh created…  Hopefully it is cleaner down stream.

So…

Guess I have some time to figure 140.6 out, yet not as much time for 70.3

• Drive 35 miles or so on the TGAPt from the Maryland line, likely somewhere between Ohiopyle and Rockwood, .
• Sleep in truck overnight.
• Early start, no later than 8am.
• Get to Cumberland, MD by noon.  Plan lots of stops along the way (photos, discovery, etc…)
• Speed back to starting point by mid-afternoon.
• Get in at least 65-80 miles.  I’ll cover TGAPt sections: 7, 8, 9, 10.
  Ohioplye is 74 miles from Cumberland, meaning it will be 150 miles roundtrip.
  I want to hit the tunnels near the PA-MD line.  Ohioplye could be an ideal camping spot Thur and Friday nights.
• Likely this trip I’ll skip out

Agenda Day 2: Ohiopyle & Pittsburgh via TGAPt

• Camp Thursday and Friday around Ohiopyle.
  Relocate to a camp up near Pittsburgh/Butler on Saturday.
• Spend the morning around Ohiopyle, afternoon around Pittsburgh.
• Depending on time, bike to PNC Park and rent a kayak for 1-2 hours.  If not, do on Sunday.

Agenda Day 3: Pittsburgh via TGAPt

• Break Pittsburgh based campsite.  Relocate to New Castle Sunday night.  Camping is optional, yet I should stay over someone’s house.
• Cover incompleted parts of TGAPt and Montour Trails.
• If I didn’t do on Saturday, bike to PNC Park and rent a kayak for 1-2 hours.
• Pens @ Canes on the big screen outside the Igloo!
• Reserve some time later in the day to visit friends/family in Pgh/NC/Ytown.

Agenda Day 4: New Castle & Ohio via Stavich Trail

• Spend the morning in New Castle, relaxing until late in the day.
• Bike the Stavich Trail no more than 25 miles one way.  Max miles will be 50.
• Load up on New Castle food, then hit the turnpike back to Phoenixville.

Trails & Links:

• The Great Allegheny Passage Trail (Cumberland to Pittsburgh):
  http://www.atatrail.org/
• Kayak Pittsburgh (PNC Park)
  http://www.kayakpittsburgh.org/
• Stavich Trail (New Castle, PA to Ohio):
  http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bike/new-castle-stavich-niles.cfm
• Montour Trail (TGAPt: A-D):
  http://www.montourtrail.org/
• Biking Ohiopyle & Beyond:
  http://www.wilderness-voyageurs.com/bike.html
• delicious: cycling_pgh
  http://delicious.com/shevdog/cycling_pgh

Points of Interest:

• OTB Bicycle Cafe (Southside Pittsburgh)
  http://www.otbbicyclecafe.com
• Heinz Field (North Shore Pittsburgh)
• Mellon Arena (Downtown, Pittsburgh, PA)
• Kennywood (Homestead, PA)
• Ohiopyle State Park (PA)
• Moraine State Park (PA)
• McConnell’s Mills State Park (PA)
  http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/mcconnellsmill.aspx