New tri event 5/5/2013 on central east coast Kennedy Space Center: Sprint+, Olympic+, HIM (Page 3)

MOST races I would be believe get the permitting out of the way up front before the announcement is even made about the race.  I sent the RD an email back on the 5^th asking what the status of the bike was and have heard nothing back. Like you I am starting to have doubts and concerns as to whether they can really pull this off.  And if they do get the permits, what other items have been forgotten in relation to the race?  Does anyone know if the race doesn’t take place if there is a refund policy?  I know most races say no refund due to inclement weather, but I wonder how it breaks down due to poor planning by the RD?  Maybe I’m getting nervous too soon, but with the poor communication with the RD coupled with the lack of permits…

I'm pretty optimistic in most cases, but this has me worried. I think it's pretty reasonable to expect that the course to be firm and to know at which mile markers the support stations will be placed long before now.

I mean...uh...it's almost taper time and we still don't know much more than we knew in November.

I have friends coming in from across the country to do this race--just to do this race. They chose it over another race here just a couple of weeks after that--same price BTW--but the information void has them freaked out.

Maybe this is a good thing. I can worry about this instead of the things I usually worry about--keeps my mind off of me and the weather. 

Some unofficial, but still "kinda-official" news from a local training group post on Facebook:

 I talked with Mitch Varnes [RD] about 5 days ago. I'm also the person who made the video which is on the website (viewed 10,000x).I've driven the course. Mitch confirmed everything is under control. There were some very minor changes to the bike course butnothing to be concerned about or would affect anyone's plans. 

There were some unexpected difficulties with US Fish & Wildlife Service because this form of use does not fit perfectly into the terms of their charter originating to Teddy Roosevelt. Apparently President Roosevelt hadn't anticipated the sport of triathlon needing to use a wildlife refuge as a venue! However, with the aid of various high level federal government officials a way was found to allow conformance with the purposes of a wildlife refuge.

Do consider Rocket Man sets precedent for future requests on all US Wildlife Refuges across the nation so they must be careful what is permitted with how and why. Nothing like this has ever been done before. But it will be done at KSC for the first time. Copy and pass this on anyone who may be wondering. I'm certainly not an official spokesman but this is my understanding.

Some new news at least, right?

@MightyMo Not a problem--one more bits of news...

[actually, removed for now until I check and find out it's ok to post]

Now the funny part. My buddy claims he hasn't been training and was part of the lobby to stop the race. LOL. Here's what he had to say...

"The event will happen, and all my legal avenues are exhausted. I will have to try and cobble together an 8 hour performance."

Haha...I'm an eternal optimist. I look at it the other way around...why not make them good for only that day if we weren't going to get to race? I mean, we'd all be there looking for something to do, right?

Lobby to stop the race?  Legal action? WTF?

Those are pretty vague statements. Why is there a lobby to stop the race? It's my understanding that the issue was with the Wildlife Commision, but you're saying there is a group of local triathletes that are against this?

I think that was meant "tongue in cheek".  I don't believe there was any lobby trying to stop it.  It was just humor because he claims to not be trained for the event.  I'm sure the race will go on.  There is too much money for the race director to lose if it doesn't. 

I guess the part where he stated. "[actually, removed for now until I check and find out it's ok to post]" made me think it wasn't tongue in cheek. But maybe my coffee just hasn't kicked in yet.

Sorry...didn't mean to scare anyone!!! 

No...was just trying to bring some levity by sharing what my friend had sent me that made me laugh. That was his reaction to finding out that everything was a go for the race. He thought not training wasn't going to be a big deal for hum up until a couple of weeks ago when he went for a long bike ride.

What I posted that I ended up removing was that I talked to the RD before another local event on Saturday and he said the bike is good! Sounds like there's basically a ton of red tape that had to be dealt with, and that's all finished. There's a public comment period required by law that lasts until the 24th.

I just removed the quote of what he said because I didn't want to get him in trouble in case he isn't allowed to talk about it. Should have re-posted with more info...sorry about that. 

They just go approval from NASA.  I didn't even know we were waiting on that.  I don't think this is normal.  I have been around a lot of race directors and have never heard them talking about getting approval this late in the game.  OH well!  Taper is about to begin and I am ready to get this race in the books! 

I must say, it's kind of cool to get to do a race that may never be done again.  We ROCK!!!!! 

Anyone know were I can find out the current water temps?  I want to start preparing. 

Closes I could find in my limited search.  Across the lagoon about 10mi NE from the race site.  It's been hot here lately (upper 80s) but now a cold front is passing though and is only 70 today.

I thought the same thing.  I thought they were waiting on the wildlife center to give the all clear, not NASA. The website still has the "approximate" map up.  When will we get to see the "actual" course?

Based on how they have been doing things, we probably won't see the "actual course" until we are racing!   I know the approval from the wildlife people can't come before the 25th because they have it open for comments through the 24th.  That means we are still waiting on that. 

Sorry to keep bugging you, but is there any word on when the course is going to be made available to view?  I've sent a couple emails but can't seem to get a response.  Also I've seen some people asking on the events Facebook page regarding the course and location of aid stations.  The RD or whoever responds on there says they are available on the race website, but nobody can locate it.  Ideally I wanted to know awhile ago to make sure my nutrition plan is dialed in, but this waiting until the last minute is starting to frustrate me.

I don't have any other info. I did notice that the wave times and swim course has been updated on the site, but no idea about anything else. I'm also really curious about the mile markers for the aid stations, especially for the run. I'm going to err on the safe side and bring a fuel bottle with a hand strap on the run...just in case.

I usually haul enough stuff on the bike that I can make it without aid stations if I have to. I've dropped bottles and had other mishaps in the past, so I don't chance it there.

I totally don't know the area and I am not at a host hotel as they were sold out by the time I made my reservation.