bluemonkeytri wrote:
Alot of it is logistics. Ample hotel space within a few blocks of the start, finish, expo and t-area. Same with restaurants. Louisville is 5-6 hr drive for about 60% of the country's population, it's big enough to have things to do for the family/kids while the race is going on all day, but small enough to easily get around the entire course without too much traffic. Finish line is loud. Bike course is scenic, but not as much as say a LP or Tremblant.
I decided to go down to spectate the week-10 days before. Got a room at Embassy Suites right outside the finish line really nice!!
It was a 6.5 hour drive from Milwaukee not a bad drive. The only traffic problem I had was 3 miles from hotel with the bridge under construction.
I drove to La Grange. Not quite as many people as Verona for IMWI but nice. Cars/drivers weren't real patient but that could be because it just moved to Oct. and nobody knew this was the weekend of the race.
Getting back from La Grange was a challenge for someone not familiar with LOU. Because of the way the run cuts downtown in half if you cant end up on the right "half" it is tough. I took two shots at getting west of 4th St. via the highways and ended up on 2nd (east) both times. Proceeded to park off 2nd and leave car overnight.
I picked up bike and gear for an athlete after. I would say it is pretty spread out from finish line to T1&2 (and from T1&2 to swim start). I wouldn't want to make that walk as a finisher.
Couldn't beat cheering the final runners in and then being back in my room 3 minutes later though. Finish line is a great venue.