When does this race usually sell out?

...and when does Barb's Race (which I understand is on the same course) sell out?

thanks.

[reply]When does this race usually sell out?

...and when does Barb's Race (which I understand is on the same course) sell out?

thanks.[/reply]

HVM usually sells out by now, right Dave?

Barb's==you can enter right up to the day, unless they start to limit the field

clm

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

Oleander ... the last 3 years we have sold out by the end of April and our numbers are almost identical to years past. Our next price bump hits on May 1 and that usually closes things out as folks want to get in under that next price bump.

Barb's Race is same swim & bike course, different T2 (will save about 5min) and slightly different run course. OH ... Barbs race will not sell out!

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Dave Latourette
http://www.TTENation.com

You gonna do an award for the fastest HVM/Barb's double this year???? ;-)

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

You know ... it would be fun to do that! We have talked about doing a fastest double for that AND the 70.3 / Full double too!

Did you see the revised bike course? We are trying to tweak the end of the bike course to get rid of some bad pavement on Faught & safer intersections (trying to get away from airprot - old redwood 4 way)

Also ... i did some investigating the other day and maybe can make a couple tweaks on La Crema property to get the run spot on 13.1 instead of 13.3 ;)

Cheers ...

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Dave Latourette
http://www.TTENation.com

Did the bike course change effect the elevation much?

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"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country" JFK - Replace 'country' with the company you work for, friends, family, and strangers and the world will be a much better place.

What if you turned right at the horse park off Faught (where there is an aid station for the full/Barb's)? That would be an easier crossing of ORHwy, but maybe still need to ride on it a little bit. Paul and I came a different way a few times, but I don't remember street names.

And yeah, if you do the double...I'm all over that!!

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

The change we made between Geyserville and Hwy 128 (Jimtown) because of the bridge lost in flooding does not really change the profile (little longer) but there will be a REAL fast section on Alexander Valley Rd headed down to Jimtown (nice pavement & downhill) ... the change @ Shiloh will put us on better roads and safer intersections (Shiloh is slightly downhill on smooth pavement)

Again ... these are proposed changes assuming county / city permits are approved.

NOTE: because of the bridge detour this year we will be closer to 57m for the bike course. No way around it, it's the only safe route back to HWY 128. Next year we hope to be back to normal w/ just the slight changes @ Shiloh Rd .. that will put us spot on 56

Cheers ...

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Dave Latourette
http://www.TTENation.com

Cool, I hope it happens. I like fast!

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"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country" JFK - Replace 'country' with the company you work for, friends, family, and strangers and the world will be a much better place.

That's where we are turning to tweak things ... right on Shiloh Rd, left on Old Redwood, Rt on Fulton, Rt on Airport ... better pavement, safer ... now we are hoping everyone approves it! We'll hope to keep that long term and next year be back on 128 in geyserville as normal.

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Dave Latourette
http://www.TTENation.com

[reply]That's where we are turning to tweak things ... right on Shiloh Rd, left on Old Redwood, Rt on Faught, Rt on Airport ... better pavement, safer ... now we are hoping everyone approves it! We'll hope to keep that long term and next year be back on 128 in geyserville as normal.[/reply]

OK I am with you until you get to the right on Faught off Old Red...how do you do that? Do you really mean Faught to Shiloh to Old Red to Airport? I am amazed they will let you use the Shiloh, Old Red intersection as that is a busy area with the shopping area near there. It would be much better though and the section down Shiloh will be FAST, albeit short.

It's a an outstanding race. I did the full IM and the half back in the early days.

It goes with out saying that the wine tasting/sampling/buying options in the area are also outstanding.

Fleck

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

Sorry Mike i meant Rt on FULTON ... the Old redwood / Shiloh intersection is signficantly less busy than Old Redwood / Airport. (CHP really dislikes that intersection) Our main reasons for changing things there: \

Bad pavement on Faught (safety), safer 4 -way intersection (mentioned above), nice shoulder on ORedwood (safer and can be coned off), safer to make RT turns on Fulton & Airport (both coned w/ shoulders), we eliminate the 4-way @ Airport/Fulton and make a Rt turn (safer) by approaching it this way.

It's a much better traffic control situation by far and safer by far! The glitch we see will be Windsor wanting to deal w/ the Shiloh / Old Redwood ... we know the CHP woul rather have that intersection than the Airport / Old Redwood.

You live in Windsor?

Hope you are well ...

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Dave Latourette
http://www.TTENation.com

I'm curious - people who have done both the 1/2 Vineman and Barb's Race, how did the experience differ? Which one is your preference and why? (Note - I am not out to qualify for Kona or anything so that part of Vineman I don't care about.)

[reply]Sorry Mike i meant Rt on FULTON ... the Old redwood / Shiloh intersection is signficantly less busy than Old Redwood / Airport. (CHP really dislikes that intersection) Our main reasons for changing things there: \

Bad pavement on Faught (safety), safer 4 -way intersection (mentioned above), nice shoulder on ORedwood (safer and can be coned off), safer to make RT turns on Fulton & Airport (both coned w/ shoulders), we eliminate the 4-way @ Airport/Fulton and make a Rt turn (safer) by approaching it this way.

It's a much better traffic control situation by far and safer by far! The glitch we see will be Windsor wanting to deal w/ the Shiloh / Old Redwood ... we know the CHP woul rather have that intersection than the Airport / Old Redwood.

You live in Windsor?

Hope you are well ...[/reply]

Yep...right near Old Red and Shiloh so my kids will nearly be able to see me go by from their bedrooms upstairs. This change does sound much better. I hated that bumpy section of Faught near the end when you are tired.

This will be a great question for CLM!

BUT, from my standpoint being invlolved w/ the race ... the course is virtually the same, Barb's will be lower entry fee, seem more laid back, less people, can be less intimidating, fun to have the Full Vineman Athletes starting ahead of you, Barbs race may be logistically easier for you becasue there are less athletes. Athlete's in both races (Barb's 70.3) are provided the same amenities etc. ... the 70.3 will have more pre-race "hype". I think it depends on what you are looking for in a race.

Hope that helps ...

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Dave Latourette
http://www.TTENation.com

Both are good.

Swim: same


T1: much less crowded for Barb's


Bike: same now that there is no out/back over the Wohler Bridge


T2: easier for Barb's since it's shorter and there is not the run on the dirt/grass to the football field


R: I like the one big loop run of HVM better I think, though it can be hot out by La Crema. I dislike loops and Barb's has 1.5, thankfully we don't have to run up that big hill twice.

Other:

HVM: I HATE having to start in a later wave as the food is gone, the porta potties are generally so full you can't use them at the finish and by the time you go back to get the car at the river, it's just a long darned day, and it can get hot. Starting early is good (like this year!) Of course that means the temps will never go over 75F all day long.

Barb's: More of a "feel good" vibe. Lots of gals are doing their first HIM distance and it's a great race for that. All the top 20 dudes in the Full are always very supportive on the run too, shouting out encouragement. That said, when you have to start in the later Barb's waves (STORY OF MY LIFE!), and then you pass a lot of gals on the bike, there is less adherence to the rules. Lots of blocking, since many people are riding side by side and chatting. I'm not the fastest, but when I race, I RACE (irregardless of speed). At least Russ put a stop to the personal pacing on the run. Two things that are my personal peeves. There is also the dilemma of racing AG or Athena. Last year I raced AG, but if I'd raced Athena, I'd have won wine. ;-)

So, you do like me and race both!

clm

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

[reply]We also rotate the waves around every year so a given age group isn't racing first or last every year.[/reply]

I just love that part.. gives us old guys a chance at uncluttered roads on the bike, once in a while.

I had 5 flat tires last year and still thought it was a great race so hopefully that tells you something =)