Missouri Ultramax Opinions?

xyz@pdq.com (MJuric) wrote in message
> Do you know anyone who has done UltraMax?

I've done it the past two years, or at least most of it. It's a
fabulous race, probably the best volunteers I've seen in 15 years of
racing. In 2002, the bike course was wicked--11,000 feet of climbing
and in the heat. They changed the bike course this year and I loved
it (except for some head wind). Only 5,500 feet, I think. I hear
that they may do some minor changes for next year to make it even less
hilly (damned shame, IMO). Swim is good, run is fine.

There are some reviews in a thread on the slowtwitch.com forum and I
believe another thread here in rst. Do a search and you should find
it. Also, on the ultramax website, there is a link to comments by
participants. All of the above should give you more information than
you need.

I've done both years of Ultramax (as well as IMUSA, full Vineman, IMCAli the
last year it was a full IM, IMC, and volunteered at IMFL).

In terms of organization, Mark did a much better job both years than the
first year of IMUSA (which says alot!). You not only get 2 t-shirts (one at
the finish line), but you also get a high quality pair of X-dot bike socks,
and a finisher's medal that was heavy enough to knock you unconscious, if
you accidentally hit yourself in the head with it (!!). AND, if you were
fast/lucky enough to win your age group, you got a free Aquaman wetsuit.

I loved the hilly bike the first year of Ultramax. And despite the course
changes this year, the bike was still challenging, comparable to Vineman,
but without the notorious long climbs in IMC and IMUSA. I think it is a
very do-able bike course in terms of terrain, and a couple interesting
sections in Amish country (i think the families in their horse-drawn buggies
wished that they had blinders on their children what with all the
spandex-clad triathletes out on the roads!) and a 12 mile section (24 miles
total, including the return trip) of highway that had an entire lane coned
off for the bikes. The modified run course this year was much more fun,
with a section at the far end that you crossed 6 times (it was at the center
of the 'T') with music, a live announcer, burgers, pizza (seriously!) and
lots of spectators.

The Tan-tar-A resort was quite convenient and reasonably priced, as is that
section of the country in general. The entry fee for race itself much less
than an m-dot, and all the proceeds from Ultramax went to the Missouri
Lions Eye Research Foundation. I think that in itself makes the event more
valuable than any m-dot.

You don't have the chaos and buzz of an m-dot event (which i personally
think is a plus), and the expo this year was quite good. Not only was the
owner of the Aquaman wetsuit there at his booth (and he did the race), but
so was the founder of Hammer Gel, Steve Born, and both were wonderful
fountains of knowledge and advice. (Steve was inducted into the Endurance
Hall of Fame last month)

IMHO, do one M-dot just for the experience, and you needn't do another one;
they're like any fast-food chain.

<MJuric> wrote in message news:3faa6940.254341248@news.choiceone.net...
> A group of people I know are contemplating doing the Ultramax IM
> distance. Any comments on this race, Course, organization
> accomidations etc?
>
> ~Matt

But how hilly is the run? After a moderately hilly bike course, I'm looking
for a flatter marathon...

"Cathy Morgan" <ironclm@mac.com> wrote in message
news:16d9637e.0311070604.167b7cb3@c om...
> xyz@pdq.com (MJuric) wrote in message
> > Do you know anyone who has done UltraMax?
>
> I've done it the past two years, or at least most of it. It's a
> fabulous race, probably the best volunteers I've seen in 15 years of
> racing. In 2002, the bike course was wicked--11,000 feet of climbing
> and in the heat. They changed the bike course this year and I loved
> it (except for some head wind). Only 5,500 feet, I think. I hear
> that they may do some minor changes for next year to make it even less
> hilly (damned shame, IMO). Swim is good, run is fine.
>
> There are some reviews in a thread on the slowtwitch.com forum and I
> believe another thread here in rst. Do a search and you should find
> it. Also, on the ultramax website, there is a link to comments by
> participants. All of the above should give you more information than
> you need.