Hy-Vee Triathlon Official Website

The "Nitty Gritty" Details (User Opinions)

Hunter C.
Clear Lake, IA

  (08-04-2009)

"Logistical nightmare to get your bike into transition on Saturday and then get back to your car on Sunday. I guess that is par for the course with an event this large.

Have done the race all 3 years. Different course each year. Hope they will sick with the same as this year. Was hilly, but I would like to see if my time is consistent."

Reviewed by a: Repeat Participant for 2009

Karen N.
Windsor, CO

  (07-03-2009)

"This was my first time racing HyVee, and I will definitely be going back. I have races several triathlons, and this ranks at the top. Everything was very organized. Course was completely closed and marked very well. Great swim with very little sun to deal with. Bike was mostly flat and fast. A few bumps along the highway, but nothing to slow you down. Run was tougher than I anticipated. Several long hill climbs.
Being able to watch the pros compete the day before was a nice touch. Able to stay out of the sun and sit in shaded grandstand. Good expo, if you like lots of free snacks!
Pre-race meeting about 20 min long and I got through registration in about 10 min Friday night. Free backpack, visor/hat and cycling jersey. They don't let you leave empty handed.
My one and only complaint was the post race food. I'm not diabetic, but felt bad for those who are. Food included, bananas and bagels...ok; not ok were the cookies, brownies, cupcakes and ice cream treats, well, ice cream was good!
No breakfast or pasta after. I was pretty disappointed. Although, the ice cream sandwich was good, I had to leave to buy pizza.
I plan to do this race again for sure!"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

don p.
davie, FL

  (07-03-2009)

"They have a unique deal being an ITU race. The pro women race noon saturday, men 3pm...age goupers 6am sunday. I had intended to check out the pro races but the travel snafu took that out of the equation. The pro race is set up 'stadium style' as they dive off a dock and make 2 laps in the lake, 6 laps on bike and 4 laps on the run...I heard the atmosphere was awesome as you really could watch the athlete's race and strategize. The Men's race had the top 4 finishers within 2 seconds....It is the highest top prize in the sport with each winner getting $200k. NBC is showing the race on July 4th weekend. It is all filmed in HD

The mandatory pre-race meeting is in a nearby High School. The chat is short but line for race package took 40 minutes..yikes...Good shwag (bike jersey, visor and back pack). Mandatory bike drop was from 6-10p. The parking is a good 10-15 minutes stroll from transition.

Race morning was pretty mello considering about 2,000 athletes. The transition area is a grassy area. It is not perfectly smooth so it was important to preview and choose the best path to your gear. This race is embraces relay participants. I have never seen as many relay teams!!

Daybreak was a very comfortable 65 with the lake temp @ 81 thanks to the past week heat wave. The swim is a clockwise oval with a quick turn within 200 yds. The swim is in the Racoon River which is a lake shaped spur off the river. The locals are not very fond of swimming in the river. The water was pretty murky and made it virtually impossible to draft.

The swim is fairly wide and the bumping was minimal.

The bike course is a straight out and back. Iowa is not as flat as an east coaster may think. There was a quick hill within the first 1/2 mile...the next 7 or 8 miles were pretty flat through corn and soybean fields into a head wind...the final 3-4 miles was a series of decent size hills

The run is predominantly an out and back course through some neighborhoods. There are 4 hills..2 of which were fairly testy. The run starts out flat and behind the big grandstands. Weirdly enough the only mile markers were 3k,6k and 9k. I guess it was because it was an ITU race??

Iowa is not the flashiest place to travel to..however the people are as warm and genuine as you will find. They relish the summer and are super patriotic...very cool visit just before July 4th.

This is only the 3rd year for the race. The race itself is well run and I hear getting better each year. They have tremendous level of corporate sponsorship and local involvement. I think the race will only grow in stature
"

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009

Joe C.
Des Moines, IA

  (06-29-2009)

"Incredible Triathlon, for first timers (like myself) or veterans. The finish line felt like crossing the finish line in the Olympics. Great Facilities. Definitely will do this race again."

Reviewed by a: First Time Participant for 2009