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2011-07-21 6:02 PM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
Not sure how early we'll get to the area on Thursday, but it should be in time for the dinner.  We might be up for a Friday drive of the course and maybe some doodles. 


2011-07-21 6:11 PM
in reply to: #3273204

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
Doodle doodle doodle.
2011-07-21 6:47 PM
in reply to: #3273204

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
We are staying in Santa Rosa Friday night and I thought I read somewhere to leave yourself an hour and fifteen minutes to drive to the start. Does that seem about right? Will traffic be that bad that early in the morning? I don't like getting there too early and just standing around for an hour after I'm all setup. But on the other hand I don't want to be stuck in traffic 30 minutes before the start and freaking out.
2011-07-21 7:07 PM
in reply to: #3609107

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread

popsracer - 2011-07-21 4:47 PM We are staying in Santa Rosa Friday night and I thought I read somewhere to leave yourself an hour and fifteen minutes to drive to the start. Does that seem about right? Will traffic be that bad that early in the morning? I don't like getting there too early and just standing around for an hour after I'm all setup. But on the other hand I don't want to be stuck in traffic 30 minutes before the start and freaking out.

That seems like an excessive amount of time to me, but I haven't done this race before so perhaps veterans can chime in. I'm staying at the Sandman in Santa Rosa and yahoo maps shows it to be 30 minutes driving. Can't imagine too much traffic on a Saturday morning, but I don't know for sure.

2011-07-21 7:31 PM
in reply to: #3273204

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
There are more than 2100 people signed up for this race. I can see how traffic might be a problem.
2011-07-21 7:56 PM
in reply to: #3273204

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
It's been a long time since I've done this race but I remember we had to park at least a mile away from the swim/bike start!


2011-07-21 10:54 PM
in reply to: #3609119

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
ecpasos - 2011-07-21 5:07 PM

popsracer - 2011-07-21 4:47 PM We are staying in Santa Rosa Friday night and I thought I read somewhere to leave yourself an hour and fifteen minutes to drive to the start. Does that seem about right? Will traffic be that bad that early in the morning? I don't like getting there too early and just standing around for an hour after I'm all setup. But on the other hand I don't want to be stuck in traffic 30 minutes before the start and freaking out.

That seems like an excessive amount of time to me, but I haven't done this race before so perhaps veterans can chime in. I'm staying at the Sandman in Santa Rosa and yahoo maps shows it to be 30 minutes driving. Can't imagine too much traffic on a Saturday morning, but I don't know for sure.

 

There is not much highway traffic at that time, but it's a 2-lane road into Guerneville once you exit the highway.  Once you get into town you may need to park about 15+minute walk down to the water.  It's a very small town and there are more people registered for the full than in any other year.  Maybe give yourself some of that time and if you are early take a nap in the car before heading toward transition, I did that at REV3 last year  

2011-07-22 12:55 AM
in reply to: #3273204

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread

Hmm...BT ate my post about the morning and parking and all...hopefully this won't end up a double post...anyhow...

Parking can be an issue--there's no real central lot like there is at a lot of races.  If you arrive in Guerneville early enough, you can find parking on Main St. just west of Mill (on the street, by the supermarket)...that's only a 2 1/2 block walk to transition.  Arrive later and you'll have a longish walk.

Then there's a line to get admitted to transition...that gets longer by the minute (both times I raced, there was a single entry gate that gets unbelievably congested, esp. with everyone bringing in a bike, since there's no advance bike dropoff).

So the choice is:  Arrive early and hang around or arrive later and hunt for parking, have a longer walk, and potentially stand in a long line.  I opted for the former option...YMMV...

 

As far as the VM/Barb's Race question:  When I did the Full, my wife did Barb's the same day.  I never saw her on the course until I was going out on the run and she was coming in on her last (half) run loop.  The Barb's athletes go out on the bike far enough behind the VM peeps that they really don't ever interact on the bike course...they will be finishing their one loop while the VM riders are on mostly on their second.



Edited by tcovert 2011-07-22 1:04 AM
2011-07-22 5:39 AM
in reply to: #3609410

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
tcovert - 2011-07-22 1:55 AM

Hmm...BT ate my post about the morning and parking and all...hopefully this won't end up a double post...anyhow...

Parking can be an issue--there's no real central lot like there is at a lot of races.  If you arrive in Guerneville early enough, you can find parking on Main St. just west of Mill (on the street, by the supermarket)...that's only a 2 1/2 block walk to transition.  Arrive later and you'll have a longish walk.

Then there's a line to get admitted to transition...that gets longer by the minute (both times I raced, there was a single entry gate that gets unbelievably congested, esp. with everyone bringing in a bike, since there's no advance bike dropoff).

So the choice is:  Arrive early and hang around or arrive later and hunt for parking, have a longer walk, and potentially stand in a long line.  I opted for the former option...YMMV...

 

As far as the VM/Barb's Race question:  When I did the Full, my wife did Barb's the same day.  I never saw her on the course until I was going out on the run and she was coming in on her last (half) run loop.  The Barb's athletes go out on the bike far enough behind the VM peeps that they really don't ever interact on the bike course...they will be finishing their one loop while the VM riders are on mostly on their second.

Thanks, that's good info. I've seen terrible race day congestion, for cars and for racers waiting to check in, in what sound like better logistical circumstances than this. Waiting in line while the clock ticks away, not having set up transition yet makes me anxious... Not exactly getting into the zone. I'll be up super early (you gotta love travelling 3 time zones west for a race!) to get breakfast digested before the start, so I'll get there early and will kick back with an mp3 player and do some visualization once everything is taken care of.I'll call the sushi place and let them know there may be a bunch of us coming...
2011-07-22 11:23 AM
in reply to: #3609410

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
tcovert - 2011-07-21 10:55 PM

Hmm...BT ate my post about the morning and parking and all...hopefully this won't end up a double post...anyhow...

Parking can be an issue--there's no real central lot like there is at a lot of races.  If you arrive in Guerneville early enough, you can find parking on Main St. just west of Mill (on the street, by the supermarket)...that's only a 2 1/2 block walk to transition.  Arrive later and you'll have a longish walk.

Then there's a line to get admitted to transition...that gets longer by the minute (both times I raced, there was a single entry gate that gets unbelievably congested, esp. with everyone bringing in a bike, since there's no advance bike dropoff).

So the choice is:  Arrive early and hang around or arrive later and hunt for parking, have a longer walk, and potentially stand in a long line.  I opted for the former option...YMMV...

 

As far as the VM/Barb's Race question:  When I did the Full, my wife did Barb's the same day.  I never saw her on the course until I was going out on the run and she was coming in on her last (half) run loop.  The Barb's athletes go out on the bike far enough behind the VM peeps that they really don't ever interact on the bike course...they will be finishing their one loop while the VM riders are on mostly on their second.



This helps in planning the morning. I'll probably get there early and just doodle around for a while.
2011-07-22 1:37 PM
in reply to: #3273204

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread

We had a family connection, he works the course on a motorcycle, and he advised the following:

FYI, each year, they ask us to be out in Guerneville by 6:15 a.m. The first time I tried it, I took 101 north to River Road, and then west to Guerneville. Unfortunately, so did a lot of other people. It was a slow ride. In succeeding years I've had more success taking hwy 116 through Sebastopol and up to Guerneville. 

So, last weekend for the 70.3, we left our Marriott Courtyard in SR at 5:30, (Fulton, then Guerneville Rd to 116) and arrived to park at 5:55.  Saw almost no other cars.   Parked in the park-ride lot near Safeway, and made it into transition with bikes by 6:15.

 



2011-07-22 5:05 PM
in reply to: #3610359

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
velcromom - 2011-07-22 11:37 AM

We had a family connection, he works the course on a motorcycle, and he advised the following:

FYI, each year, they ask us to be out in Guerneville by 6:15 a.m. The first time I tried it, I took 101 north to River Road, and then west to Guerneville. Unfortunately, so did a lot of other people. It was a slow ride. In succeeding years I've had more success taking hwy 116 through Sebastopol and up to Guerneville. 

So, last weekend for the 70.3, we left our Marriott Courtyard in SR at 5:30, (Fulton, then Guerneville Rd to 116) and arrived to park at 5:55.  Saw almost no other cars.   Parked in the park-ride lot near Safeway, and made it into transition with bikes by 6:15.

 

Great info!  Thanks.

2011-07-23 6:48 AM
in reply to: #3610359

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
velcromom - 2011-07-22 1:37 PM

We had a family connection, he works the course on a motorcycle, and he advised the following:

FYI, each year, they ask us to be out in Guerneville by 6:15 a.m. The first time I tried it, I took 101 north to River Road, and then west to Guerneville. Unfortunately, so did a lot of other people. It was a slow ride. In succeeding years I've had more success taking hwy 116 through Sebastopol and up to Guerneville. 

So, last weekend for the 70.3, we left our Marriott Courtyard in SR at 5:30, (Fulton, then Guerneville Rd to 116) and arrived to park at 5:55.  Saw almost no other cars.   Parked in the park-ride lot near Safeway, and made it into transition with bikes by 6:15.

Cool, so now there will be 500 cars on that route this year??

I'll offer those staying at/near the Sandman in Santa Rosa some carpooling options.  I figure us athletes can carpool early and our sherpas/families can carpool a bit later. 

2011-07-23 8:41 AM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
McFuzz - 2011-07-23 7:48 AM
velcromom - 2011-07-22 1:37 PM

We had a family connection, he works the course on a motorcycle, and he advised the following:

FYI, each year, they ask us to be out in Guerneville by 6:15 a.m. The first time I tried it, I took 101 north to River Road, and then west to Guerneville. Unfortunately, so did a lot of other people. It was a slow ride. In succeeding years I've had more success taking hwy 116 through Sebastopol and up to Guerneville. 

So, last weekend for the 70.3, we left our Marriott Courtyard in SR at 5:30, (Fulton, then Guerneville Rd to 116) and arrived to park at 5:55.  Saw almost no other cars.   Parked in the park-ride lot near Safeway, and made it into transition with bikes by 6:15.

Cool, so now there will be 500 cars on that route this year??

I'll offer those staying at/near the Sandman in Santa Rosa some carpooling options.  I figure us athletes can carpool early and our sherpas/families can carpool a bit later. 

Umm... I'm pretty sure the total number of BTers reading this thread isn't enough to jam traffic, if that's what you're suggesting.

Packed the bike up and dropped it off at Fedex yesterday. This thing is getting close!

It looks like accuweather and weather.com's models have aligned at 87. It still seems awfully far away for a good prediction though.

2011-07-23 4:39 PM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
43 mile bike 2 mile brick in 87 to 90 F temps... decent day.  Not much left between now and then.  I was able to get in 3000 slow yards lastnight swimming, so I should be able to complete the swim for the race, no promises on time though.  At this point 1:30 will be fine, anything better will be gravey.  I'm fine with temps of 87F as long as we don't have bad wind on the 2nd loop of the bike. 
2011-07-24 12:34 PM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
Bike is packed ready for the plane ride (I hope).  Feeling a bit nervous about it's journey since it's never traveled like this before.  Not getting any sympathy from my wife or the other local triathletes about this either. 


2011-07-24 2:18 PM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
Just make sure you use a spacer on fork and rear which are weaker to side pressure. Also make life easy for tsa and plan on things being opened.
2011-07-24 8:12 PM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread

Swam and did a ride on the course yesterday.  The water was warm, I felt hot in my full, probably will go sleeveless on race day.  We started our ride around 10:30 and it was still cool, low 60s with a marine layer.  The marine layer hung around till 11:30am, pic below   If you don't want to bring/buy arm warmers, I suggest my cheap version on race-day....men's tube socks with the toes cut off....have used these in 4 IM races, works like a charm. When the temps rise, just toss them at an aid station.

marine

2011-07-25 7:02 AM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
Race numbers have been assigned and are posted on the website!.....193

2011-07-25 9:23 AM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread

runrgrlshubby - 2011-07-25 8:02 AM Race numbers have been assigned and are posted on the website!.....193

 

Awesome, I'm 192. Any other BTers in sequence?

Hmm... looks like race numbers were assigned by age, except the first few men. Weird.

Runrgrlshubby -- you just became the competition. Watch your back during those "friendly" BT gatherings....

2011-07-25 9:55 AM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread

#610 for me. 

Looking to finish 11:58--12:30 with splits around 1:15/6:00/4:30 (give or take)



2011-07-25 10:28 AM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
neweyes - 2011-07-25 10:23 AM

runrgrlshubby - 2011-07-25 8:02 AM Race numbers have been assigned and are posted on the website!.....193

 

Awesome, I'm 192. Any other BTers in sequence?

Hmm... looks like race numbers were assigned by age, except the first few men. Weird.

Runrgrlshubby -- you just became the competition. Watch your back during those "friendly" BT gatherings....





Looks like someone isn't going to get sprayed by the super soaker

2011-07-25 10:37 AM
in reply to: #3613277

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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
runrgrlshubby - 2011-07-25 11:28 AM
neweyes - 2011-07-25 10:23 AM

runrgrlshubby - 2011-07-25 8:02 AM Race numbers have been assigned and are posted on the website!.....193

 

Awesome, I'm 192. Any other BTers in sequence?

Hmm... looks like race numbers were assigned by age, except the first few men. Weird.

Runrgrlshubby -- you just became the competition. Watch your back during those "friendly" BT gatherings....





Looks like someone isn't going to get sprayed by the super soaker

Or get vasoline for chaffed nipples

2011-07-25 11:12 AM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
#402 for me - can't wait to race. Can't make the festivities on Thursday but hope to meet a bunch of you at the race.
2011-07-25 11:22 AM
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Subject: RE: Vineman Full Ironman : Official Thread
runnergirl - 2011-07-25 11:37 AM
runrgrlshubby - 2011-07-25 11:28 AM
neweyes - 2011-07-25 10:23 AM

runrgrlshubby - 2011-07-25 8:02 AM Race numbers have been assigned and are posted on the website!.....193

 

Awesome, I'm 192. Any other BTers in sequence?

Hmm... looks like race numbers were assigned by age, except the first few men. Weird.

Runrgrlshubby -- you just became the competition. Watch your back during those "friendly" BT gatherings....





Looks like someone isn't going to get sprayed by the super soaker

Or get vasoline for chaffed nipples

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I take it back!

Our training paces and volumes do look similar though, except that you're a faster swimmer.... I'll be looking for you out there.....

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