Trinona Battle for the bluffs

I did the Olympic as my first ever tri last year.  I think I've got a race report out there somewhere.   You can site the 1st leg of the swim off of Sugarloaf, a giant rock formation up on the bluffs, which is pretty cool.

They heavily promoted the bike loop due to the wicked climb up Garvin Heights - 1.1 miles at 9% grade.  Yikes.  I don't think that the sprint course goes up the hill, although there were plenty of good rollers.  

The run was a flat out-and-back around the lake.  

It was a smaller race (99 Oly athletes and around 250 sprinters) but well organized with a beautiful course.  Plus they have great free swag.  I can't do it this year as it conflicts with Liberty, but I'd highly recommend it.

I am doing this as a relay with my college buddies.  We are doing the sprint as they have never done a tri before and didn't want to jump in head first.

The sprint does NOT do the Gavin Heights Climb.

Interesting enough found out the Race Director live near me in Minnetonka.

They seem to be very organized, they have been doing a lot of marketing, if its half as nice as their website it should be a great race. 

I did the sprint last year as my first ever race.  Very well organized and fun race environment.  Only complaint is the water quality of Lake Winona.

I just signed up for the Oly today.

I'm really looking forward to this one.  I love hilly bike courses.

I know this is a longshot, but has anyone here done the Trinona Oly and one of the St. Croix valley races in Husdon?  I'm curious how the hills compare.

Hilly is an understatment for the Winona course.  The Garvin Heights climb is over a mile at 9-10% grade.  You climb from the river valley to the top of the bluffs.

Ugh.  That hill.  Someone please remind me why I signed up for that torture. I am not a good climber (understatement of the year). 

The good news is that you get to enjoy a fast descent back down into the valley on Gilmore Road.  It was around a 2 mile downhill with speeds tickling 40mph.  Definitely a 'Weeeeee' moment.

I signed up for the Sprint. Will be my first tri. 

Someone on here had mentioned to me in a different topic about going down in the next couple weeks and cycling the course to get a feel for it.

Anyone interested in that?   

Thinking of driving down to Winona the 1st or 2nd of May to do the bike course and look things over.

I am only in for the Sprint but am interested in taking the long ride if anyone else is interested.

I have room for 1 more bike...maybe 2.

Shoot me a message if interested...I'd like to do down and back in the same day.  

Drat!  I'm  racing the Cannon Falls Du on May 1, so I'm out for the preview ride.  Maybe could do it on 2 May.  I really need to get out there on that hill.  We found a short steep hill this weekend (17% at the worst).  Over a mile and a half at 9-10% is another beast entirely.  Actually, for me, it might be a long walk.

I can do May 2nd if you want to go. So far you are the only one interested. I can't do the weekend after because I have finals. 

I could however do the weekend of May 15/16 if that seems better for anyone. I am leaving town on the 17th and won't be back til the 31st so that weekend would be my last chance to get down there and check it out.

I don't have to climb this killer hill on the sprint but I think it would be good training and since it's my first tri I know I will be nervous enough already. If I can check out the area I might feel a little better about all of it.

ETA: I have been looking at doing Cannon Falls Duathon as well, though I cannot commit at this time. 

Edited by danfleck1 2010-04-11 9:33 PM

Okay,

Planning on heading down to check out the bike course. I have had one other guy message me being able to go down on the weekend of the 15th so I think I will do it that weekend.

If anyone wants to come along we can get a small crew going. I am unsure if the fellow that messaged me wanted to ride along, but assuming that he did, both racks on my roof are taken. If anyone has an extra yakima skewer, I have a tray that I can install, I just don't have a skewer for it.

I do have a trunk mount rack that I think will fit on my car but I have never installed and if you are comfortable putting your bike back there, that is an option.

Additionally, St Mary's College has a block of dorm rooms that they are going to rent out for the triathletes. I believe it is about $85 a night and is a kitchenette/bathroom with 2 bedrooms each with 2 twin beds.

I reserved one for myself and only need one room for my girlfriend and myself so there is another room with 2 twin beds if anyone is interested in splitting this with me.

Shoot me a PM if any of this interests you.

ETA: the room I have reserved is for Saturday night only, but I think they will be fine with leaving anything there until after the race for you to go clear out of the room. Linens are included but you'd have to take anything else that you'd want to use. 

Edited by danfleck1 2010-05-02 5:11 PM

 I think that's the same weekend that we're going over to ride.  Do you have a time frame yet?  Don't know how big our group will be (at least 3).  I'll keep you posted.

Another guy from the forum and I are going down on Sunday.

Saturday does not really work for either of us.

If you decided to go down Sunday, I'd love to ride as a group and meet some locals.

Shoot me a message. 

A few of us from Rochester went over on Sunday to ride the course.  Aside from ~1 mile of sheer hellish torture, the rest of the course is nice.  I didn't make it up the hill and had to walk.  No biggie, I know I can't climb well.  The downhill is nice and not scary at all.  It's a bit tricky getting from St.Mary's to transition, but I'm sure it will be well marked on race day. 

We are planning on riding the course tomorrow.  The plan is to meet at the BandShell at 9 AM and take off soon after.

If anyone needs directions, drop me a PM.

Edited by Silent Bob 2010-05-21 11:23 AM

I know this is short notice but me and another BTer are riding the course tomorrow. We are leaving Minneapolis around 7:30 so hoping to be on the bike at the bandshell by 10ish.

If anyone is interested shoot me a PM.
 

Weed picker.... <full body shudder>

With Jeremy (husband) out of the race, I have little motivation to do this one.  It was his idea in the first place.  I wanted to go to Liberty.  Maybe I can win those wheels and make it a good day.