Beach to Battleship

I signed up for B2B because I heard it was a fast course. I have read that on the run we will have to make 6 bridge crossings in total.. I want to be able to train for these bridges, so my question is- how big are these bridges? Can someone post a pic or describe the grade, heigth, length, ect... I am excited for this race and will train hard for a low 10hr time this year, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Hold the phone on those bridges, because they may be making some changes to the run course. Best case scenario, however, is 2 bridges out and 2 bridges back.

I can't really find good info to give you about the grade on these bridges, but what gets you isn't really the grade. Two of the three bridges are drawbridges with steel grating, and you'll be crossing a drawbridge somewhere in the final miles of your marathon. Good place for a walk break if you're tired... a good running buddy of mine was on a relay team, and she was splitting for a 3:15 run when she fell on the bridge at mile 25. She didn't finish... instead she got an ambulance ride to the ER with some significant facial trauma.

The first bridge, within the first mile of each loop, is the Thomas Rhodes bridge. It's the steepest, but not a drawbridge... maybe 100 feet high? This doesn't do it justice because it's from so far away, but here's a pic... http://www.flickr.com/photos/thundersnow/9604981/

The second bridge is the Isabel Holmes bridge, which is the less-feared of the drawbridges because it's a more gradual slope both up and down, and a shorter span. The metal grating is the worst part of it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/thundersnow/9604819/ (also a long shot)

The third, and perhaps most-feared bridge, is the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. It's got a long climb up an on-ramp to get on it, and then you have the steel grating at the main span. Here's a pic from the top of the ramp: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thundersnow/9605162/
And here's someone else's during-the-race view from up on the bridge, so you can see the grating that you'll be dealing with: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldeneyep ... 994373422/

I'm wondering if the organizers have thought about using the same kind of carpeting system that was used on the bridge leading out of T1 for the bridge(s) on the run and improving the bridge crossings on the bike. I would be willing to help in donating some plywood to put down under the carpetting for the bike. Not to sound too crude, but riding over the bridges really sucked. I comtemplated walking over the bridges to avoid a flat or even worse a fall, but came out ok. Still, another set of ideas needs to be worked on before this next years event.

Anyone hear whether the run course will remain the same as 08 or be modified in 09?

Carpeviam- how's your buddy. I was actually speaking with your fried 30 yds prior to her fall on the bridge, saw the fall and stopped to give assiatance; actually ran down the back side, which we had just ran for assiatance. How is she doing? It was one ugly accident. Being a witness, it's hard to belive the injuries she suffered.