Secrets of the Course: IRONMAN 70.3 Boise

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The civilized Saturday mid-day start, stunning course and warm western hospitality make this an event to return to.

By Shawn Skene

The Smithsonian magazine once described wooded, outdoorsy Boise, Idaho as a "study in paradoxes," a place where "you see moose tracks on the bike trails and bald eagles along the river" and can find "velvet hillsides, alpine meadows, ice caves, lava fields, roaming wolves and a last few herds of bighorn sheep" if you're so inclined. It's both "rural and metropolitan, civilized and feral." Which, of course, is a mantra that also succinctly describes the character of IRONMAN 70.3 Boise.

Sleep in, fuel up and race

While most races start at sunrise or shortly after, Boise begins at what athletes call a very "civilized" 12 p.m. "The afternoon start is something I really love, and gives the athlete a chance to have a normal morning to prepare for the event," says American Ben Hoffman.

Canadian professional triathlete and 2011 Boise champion Magali Tisseyre agrees that the noon start time is great, but adds that it does require a different nutritional strategy: "What worked for me was to have two meals: an early breakfast and early lunch." 

Prep for a cool swim 

The one-loop, 1.2–mile swim in Lucky Peak Reservoir has always been a wetsuit swim with cool water temperatures. Tisseyre recommends getting into the water a day or two before the race to get familiar with the temperatures and prepare your body for race day. "Doing these things will help increase your confidence," she adds.

Michael Vander Hyde, a competitive age group finisher at the 70.3 distance, has competed Boise twice and experienced the varying weather conditions that can be can thrown at competitors. He suggests bringing a selection of clothing to choose from, as athletes tend to underdress for the bike.

Attack the bike

The first two-thirds of the single-loop 56-mile bike course are deceivingly tough. Rider focus is paramount for a fast bike split as there are a number of ascents and descents. Hoffman recorded a 2:05:34 bike time in 2011, and knows what it takes to ride the course fast. He chose to go all-out on the bike, knowing the run would be flat and shaded.

"Boise is a cyclist's course," says Hoffman, "Even with a net elevation loss, there are enough challenging climbs and rollers to really break things up. But don't be fooled into thinking you are home free towards the end of the bike segment: You can make up a lot of time in the final miles."

Soak up the crowd's energy

Boise's two-loop, 13.1-mile run takes athletes through downtown and then on to the town's tree-lined Greenbelt tracing the Boise River. The finish line, located in the heart of Boise’s BoDo District, treats athletes to an abundance of local spectator support. 

For those trying to secure an IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship spot in Boise, Vander Hyde believes the run course layout can be used to an athlete's advantage. 

"There are a number of out-and-backs to see where you are relative to your competition," he says.

Tisseyre says the mostly flat course elevation makes it easier to get into a steady rhythm. She adds that the energy of the course helped her race strong: "The feeling you get when you make it back to T2, downtown, is just amazing. The crowd is so present and engaged. And it’s a crescendo from there." 

An unforgettable finish

Tisseyre calls the finishing stretch of the race "the true sweet spot," and Hoffman says the last few miles have an incredible vibe. The early-evening, festival-like finish downtown is the cherry on top of this already satisfying 70.3, which is simply one of his favorite races.


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