I happened to see a guy there directing traffic on my first lap so I knew it was coming when the second lap came. Other wise I probably would have been all turned around as well.

I noticed a lot of the volunteers (and thank you to all of them by the way) seemed to be young kids, who may not have understood the importance of making sure runners knew where they were going.

I can not understand how anyone could have made the finish more clear. You ran by there already. You had to see the finish banner for a hundred yards or more. You had passed the 13 mile mark.
I think you just wanted to run more- too tough!

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Team Zoot So Cal

You are right Carl, I had gone by before, but you can't see the finish line until you go past this point. I couldn't remember if the finish was at the top of the hill, but when I got to the top and still didn't see the finish line, I knew I was in trouble.

In this picture, there are people wandeing around the strand. It sure doesn't look like its on the course. Ironman needed to do a better job marking the finish. From the other posts, I see that I wasn't the only one who missed it.

I was actually standing at that corner (where the Lap 2/Finish was)
For the first hour or so of the run there was no volunteer at all, and the spectators took the job of directing racers up the hill. Gina (the RD) noticed this and started doing the directing herself, later finding some young kids to take over.

Thanks Dubd, that's interesting information.

I couldn't see the finish banner until 100y out as there were so many people standing at that straight/ turn point blocking the view.

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_____________________
Don't forget to attack!

I just wanted to say that I was a volunteer at this race for the fifth year in a row. I am on the Harbor Sector team which in years past has been very very busy but this year was very light. There was a large group of volunteers that dropped out at the last minute and we tried to cover as best we could but with a brand new course everything was different. As soon as all the bikes were out, I ran to the downhill to the 90 degree turn spot to get cyclists to slow down for that turn and then tried to cover the run U-turn from over the barrier as well. If this race course is a keeper, we will be better prepared to cover it in the future now that we know what to expect.
I saw more hypothermia symptoms and road-rash than ever, I hope everyone is doing well by now.

Good job to all.

My wife was pretty cautious on the turns and descents. She counted three ambulances and checked every time to make sure the victims were neither me nor a friend who was also racing. There were only 10 thermal blankets at the finish, clearly not enough to meet demand. If you wanted food or a massage you had to stay in the athlete area, but if you wanted to get your clothes you had to leave the area and could not come back in. Finally, for those of use staying neary the harbor, getting back to our hotel was very challenging, since we had all our gear, but were not allowed to bring our tri bags to efficiently pack and move it all.

- Ken

Yeah, I could have used a silver blanket at the end. You could however exit the athlete area and go back in showing the wrist band, I did 3 or 4 times. But the warm clothes were up the stairs and across the street, so I was stuck in my wet gear until my wife found me (didn't know where gear bags were at that point). I had to borrow her bright purple fleece cuz I was freezing.

Also stayed at the harbor. Only a mile, but a pain with the bike and three awkward bags.

I had checked out the Wyndham rates after the finish moved. Weekend before and after? something like $110 a night, no minimum. Race weekend? $250+ a night with a 3 night min.

This is great feedback and I will bring your issues up for next year. I'm not sure if "The Athlete Area" is protected like the transition areas but we work very hard at this race and other races to make sure the athlete's possession are kept safe so we cannot let spectators into these areas. With two transitions this becomes a bigger challenge with less people helping. If people are finishing the race and their loved ones are waiting for them, then want to walk around with them but are not allowed into the transitions or athlete's area, then we are the bad people telling folks where they can and cannot go. I think you'd be astonished at the things that are said to us as we try to keep spectators off the course. It's a fine line but you had some good points and I will let the "powers that be" know what you think.

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

We stayed at the Holiday and booked it early, assuming the whole race would be in the harbor/marina area as in years past. It made everything very convenient on race day.

- Ken

That's where we were too, and I also booked early for the same reason. I like the hotel (except for 2011 when some Camp P boys on leave got the room across the hall from us on Saturday night and partied all night long... Love the troops, but not like that....) This year was fine. Did you notice the "Quiet, Oceanside racers are sleeping" sign for Friday night? Thought that was a nice touch :)

for shts and giggles just went to look at rates for 2013 at the wyndham. $329/night with a 3 night minimum race weekend. It does sleep 4, however, so could be split

Actually, I thought the finish area was good. I could hang out in the concrete bleachers with family and recover a bit, but still go back in and get more food. This worked out well since I couldn't eat for about 1/2 hour until after I finished. Much better than the prior finish area which was too crowded.

Probably too much to ask but having the morning clothes bags brought to the stage area would have been awesome :)

Thanks for volunteering

Just to clarify so I can pass it along, you have a bag in T1 that you need brought to T2? I'm not clear where the "stage area" is...I was at the run U-turn until after 4pm so I didn't go all the way down to the Athlete's Area after the finish. Please keep in mind that we are trying to keep personal property safe and the best place for us to do that is in the transition areas. I would not be comfortable bringing someone's personal property to an unsecured area and I would really hate it if your stuff was stolen.

We left our morning clothes bags in numbered boxes at T1, and swim gear in bags at T1. Those were all trucked over to T2 for pickup after the race, along with the bike (which some of us then walked back to T1 :) ) . I agree getting one set of morning clothes bags down to the stage, protected, etc. is unlikely and a PITA. I don't see that changing next year.... A guy can dream though :) It's really not that big of a deal, I just didn't know where those bags were. I could have gone up and gotten them and come back down.

I was just glad the RD offered friday run gear dropoff as I had booked the hotel at T1 prior to the course change.

sorry if this has been discussed already, but why was the course changed this?

I'm thinking about doing Oceanside in 2013, but haven't done it since 2008. Is it significantly different?

"Finally, for those of us staying near the harbor, getting back to our hotel was very challenging, since we had all our gear, but were not allowed to bring our tri bags to efficiently pack and move it all"

A suggestion if this remains a 2 transition course. Put an empty backpack in your run/T2 bag along with your shoes/hat and leave it in T2. This way, you can shove all your bags in the backpack at the end of the race when you pick them up with your bike.

I actually don't use a big tri bag, but rather just a standard school backpack for my triathlons, and I was able to put that inside my T1/bike bag without any problems. So I was able to bike to T1 in the morning with my backpack on, then pulled out the race bag and stuffed my 'mostly empty' backpack in it before the race (open to allow me to throw my wetsuit and goggles inside).

I liked the finish where it was this year (not in the harbor), but I definitely could have done without the extra hills :)

I did hear from my spectating crew that some of the hand-cyclists had a hard time up the hill right at the finish/lap2 corner. And that one of the hand-cyclist had a hard time slowing down for the turn as he came down that hill. Must have been tough. Plus I can't imagine going up that pier ramp on a hand-cycle!

I'm not sure why it was changed and when I got there to work in the dark on Saturday morning, I was somewhat lost at first. I think last year part of the run was on the sand which no one liked. It seems like the run as been different almost every year as they were trying to get a good out and back run course that didn't interfere with the bikes. I would say there are pros and cons for both the old course and the new course both from an athlete point of view and a volunteer point of view.
Again, I cannot emphasize enough the power your feedback has, it may not make all the changes you desire but every effort is and will be made to make people happy as well as keep them safe. So speak up.

We used the sling bags. My wife might have been able to fit her transition bag in the morning clothes bag, but mine is way too big. It's something to try for next year though.

- Ken

For what it's worth, a group of us stay at the Motel 6 each year. This year it was $60 on Thur and $80 on Fri/Sat for a grand total of ~$250 with taxes. It's right on North Coast Hwy just about where the entrance/exit from HWY5 is. Comfortable bed, hot water, relatively quiet, small frig and microwave in the rooms, coffee and tea up in the lobby. Nothing glamorous, but completely fine for race weekend needs. And as a bonus this year, I got a handicap accessible shower with handheld nozzle, which my bike fit right into for it's bath after the race! :)

Who knows. They say to make more spectator friendly, and it is. the finish is also better.

Bike has one additional no pass zone as you go along the strand. Run basically covers the same ground except (1) no longer go up and down breakwater to the harbor (2) have to go up and around the pier rather than under it and (3) turn around is extended a bit at the southern end.

LOL, I could have used that shower for the bike, it was a mess.

I drag my wife along. I like for her to have a place that's comfortable and within very close walking distance while i am biking. Hence the Holiday inn. It is way more expensive than the Motel 6 but it's less hassle family wise.

The Holiday Inn is also within walking distance of the bars at the marina.

- Ken

The old setup with the finish at the Harbor made for huge frustration getting out of the area and not much local attention as it is significantly closed off to everyone except athletes. With the finish in the center of town at the pier, it made for a much more relaxed time with family and friends.

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Brett Miller
Cydesdale Triathlon
M2 Revolution

Anyone know when 2013 registration will be open?

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