California Half IM vs. Wildflower Long Course

If I'm not mistaken you need to camp at wildflower. Or its a bit of a drive to get to the race site. I know a lot of people that go and camp there for the weekend. If you are racing on Sunday, I have heard its hard to get a good night's sleep because of all the people partying on Saturday night.

I have done Ralph's half and it is a great race. Very organized and well thought out. (except for the finisher's shirts which were sold out) but that was the vendor and not the race director's fault. It is a IMNA race so the aid stations were fully stocked and were at every mile on the run and every 15 miles on the bike. The swim is in the harbor, the bike is challenging but doable, and the run is pretty flat. If you have any other questions let me know.

The camping part is what really worries me about Wildflower.  The long course is on Saturday and the Oly is Sunday, with most partying being done Saturday night (I hear), so maybe I can get my sleep.  Camping involves even more gear, which I don't own.  And, I need my sleep, especially before abusing my body.  I might have to forgo the seduction of the Wildflower for the more urban Ralph's.    Although seduction is hard to resist.....  Ack!

But are they 3 weeks apart? Isn't Ralphs in March and Wildflower in May??

Actually you are right. Ralph's is March 19 and Wildflower is April 30. So Ralph's is a lot earlier in the year. That may have been my original problem with it. There is also the Florida Half mid May if they ever announce that date..

Yeah. I was considering both those races as prep for my IM in June. I still havnt made up my mind if I should do the Ralph, Wildflower or the Gulfcoast half....

Hmm...since you live in Cal, there's also the Auburn Half (former World's Toughest Half) for you to consider..=)

I guess if I did the World's Toughest Half for my first half I could just die then and get it over with.

Hhahaa...I wouldnt think so...in fact the organisers said that the bike course has been changed and its not as "tough" as the past 2 years. There have been so really good reviews by the Pros for the race. And the pre-race dinner has Gordo Byn as guest speaker too!

Besides, I think that if you did that as your first Half, you would have no problems with ALL THE HALF's around the world!! =)

Their slogan used to be "this course is soo hard that even the swim has a climb". You have to climb stairs to get to T1