Did folks get an email from Tom? I have gotten one from Mark, but hope to see the next installment referred to on the FB group, as confirmatuon my deferred entry didn't get droped in transition.

Also curious if there's a recap of whatever happened there? Seems like Marks posts may have gotten pulled from the FB group. I'm always trying to coerce folks to sign up for this race, so found the "it's not cancelled" text a bit outta nowhere.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Was curious about what happened also...have only gotten the one email.

Tom is taking over all RD duties, and Mark Wilson is going to focus on all of his other events.

There will be another email going out shortly to update all current (and former) race registrants w/ the new info.

EVERYONE who registered via Mark Wilson's site, has been carried over to the new site.
https://runsignup.com/Race/FindARunner/?raceId=68687


Here's a little video to get you psyched up!

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float , hammer , and jog

Sue,

I've traded some emails w/ Tom, but I haven't gotten the full skinny on what happened or why.

Suffice it to say, the show must go on!!!

And, as stated above, all prior registration info has been pulled over to the new site.
(Mine wasn't there yesterday, and now it is today)

IF you're one of the handful of folks who had a deferral, etc - good idea to double-check to make sure you're there.
And IF not, then contact Tom, and I'm sure he'll get it all sorted out in a timely manner.

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float , hammer , and jog

Thanks. I was trying to avoid jumping up and down for individual attention, but after 2 days I couldn't stand it any more. Well, not in the face of your reviving the thread, at any rate.

I'm glad to see I'm indeed listed, AAAAND I'm not the only F in LC. W00t, competition! Haha.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

We’ll try to round up a few more badass womens to join you in LC.

Rode the course today after work, it’s flat & fast!
Not.

One of the perks of being a local.
Roads are in pretty decent shape.
Me? Somewhat less so.

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float , hammer , and jog

ML holding court..... only one person pretending to listen to him..... (Exhibit 1)

BUMP.

Only three months to American Zofingen!!!
Get your training on people.

AmZof hills wait for no man or woman.

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float , hammer , and jog

Seriously my favorite race of all time... *sigh* I wish it was a bit easier to get to from Minnesota...

Did both long and short course 10 yrs ago, 2008/2009. wonderful area and awesome course. Just a thought, and feel free to poke holes in it, but what if the short course was run as draft legal/road bike only? i'm pretty sure there would be no large peloton involved, but working together with a few other riders would really make the race more interesting. thoughts?

My running is too slow to have me be part of a peloton, but the idea of riding down Mountain Rest in a pack sounds terrible to me. Result for me would be a slower desent. I also wouldn't feel comfortable with a stranger sucking my wheel down that, or over other parts of the course that is open to cars but doesn't have a great shoulder (NP-Minnewaska, shoulder unpaved and tire line of road some degree of damaged through my years of participation). YMMV.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

You need to come back and try to take back the AmZof descent KOM!!!
I had it for a while, then some local young stud nabbed it from me last summer. Rats!!

You get the biggest props, since you did it during the actual LC race, rather than as a one-off training ride like us locals did.

I think you'd need to leave the fatbike home for that tho. :-)

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float , hammer , and jog

Ahhh man that is SOOOO tempting! When I took that Downhill KOM, it was raining (not kidding), and please don't tell the race officials, but I had to pass an SUV on the double yellow line just after the short esses because he was threatening to slow me down!!! I have a new tri bike now, so would certainly be fun to test it out on that beast!

I'm pretty sure I did similar when I got the KOM in the first place.

I remember being ON the double yellow, passing a car, while another was coming up the hill towards me, all the while my brain shouting "THINK SKINNY THOUGHTS!!!!" for the few seconds it took me to overtake the car.
Ah, good times.

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float , hammer , and jog

jflan wrote:

Did both long and short course 10 yrs ago, 2008/2009. wonderful area and awesome course. Just a thought, and feel free to poke holes in it, but what if the short course was run as draft legal/road bike only? i'm pretty sure there would be no large peloton involved, but working together with a few other riders would really make the race more interesting. thoughts?

One of the many beauties of AmZof, is that there's no drafting, in large part because there's not many places where you can even do it consistently enough to matter.

So, I'm gonna give that a hard NO. Here's why:

First off, you'd need to have your "riding buddies" finish Run 1 and T1 about the same time as you.
Then you'd all need to be roughly equivalent climbers to get up Mohonk in some semblance of the same zip code.
Then bomb down the descent, which regardless of desire to draft, isn't actually gonna happen for any but the absolute best bike handlers
(aka - not 98% of all multisport folks)

Then manage to stay together during The Whole Climb, the stair-stepped ascent to the Awosting lot entrance at Minne, before you bomb down from there.
https://www.strava.com/segments/1421805?filter=overall


Could you "work together" for that? I guess?....
Would it even matter? Or help?

The only section of the course that really would reward drafting, would be the Far Side Flats segment, and even that has a few short punchy climbs.
https://www.strava.com/segments/1307836?filter=overall


But lastly, drafting is the antithesis of everything American Zofingen is all about.
It's an individual challenge, that happens to be timed and have other people doing it while you are.


Followed by FREE BEER in BIG HONKING STEINS.

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float , hammer , and jog

ML,

Any accommodation suggestions/ sites/ locations for this pls? The AmZof site doesn't seem to have anything on this. Thx.

There are a TON of hotels in and around New Paltz, but also in Kingston, Newburgh, Highland, and Poughkeepsie.

I've always been a local, so I can't speak to any of them from personal experience.

Hampton is probably the best, other than the Mohonk Mountain House, which is absurdly expensive (and very very nice).
Hampton is BRAND NEW, just built recently.

There's an America's Best Value place that gets 3.5 *'s on Trip Advisor, which is probably the next "best" one in town.
For a really cheap stay, there's also the Hostel.

Do NOT stay at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa - even tho it is quite literally right on the bike course.
It is a DUMP.
Like a Catskills heyday resort from Dirty Dancing, that hasn't been maintained since the 1950's.

If you wanna keep the fam busy doing their own thing while you outdoor recreate, you could look into Rocking Horse Ranch.

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float , hammer , and jog

Are you F'ing mad?

I felt squeamish passing a slower descender who was riding in the middle of the lane. NFW would I pass a car on that.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Funny, because I always stayed in the Hudson Valley Resort when I went up there. Definitely a dump and creepy in many ways. But that was part of the charm for me doing that race. It was close to the race and was a bed to sleep in, but you're right that it is "frozen in time" circa 1982. My standards are very very low when looking for a place to stay and it did clear that very low bar for me, given that I stayed there again the next year (and the next year).

Gets my vote for the 2019 T-shirt slogan!

Also, gets me thinking about coming out of retirement.

Damn you!!!

I've stayed at these two and give them suitable marks.

There's an America's Best Value place that gets 3.5 *'s on Trip Advisor, which is probably the next "best" one in town.
For a really cheap stay, there's also the Hostel.

I've also stayed at a couple other places. The one in Kingston (Super 8 maybe) was pretty ... interesting, let's say. Like in a saggy mattress, bugs in the bed, mold on the wall under the bathroom sink kind of way.

Seems AmZof frequently falls on the same weekend as graduation (SUNY New Paltz) and can lead to sell-out status at area hotels.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Define "mad". ; )

I pass cars on that semi-regularly. Only on the straights, of course.
I hate getting stuck behind some cager noodling along at 40-45 mph.

And if you don't pass them on the fast part, you will for sure get stuck behind them in the lower turns, and/or at the stop sign at the bottom.

(I'll admit the pass with the oncoming car was, uh, less than my smartest move on a bike.)

Last time out, got out from Mohonk gate just ahead of a dude in a Mercedes SUV.
I could tell by his "car body language" that he was initially not pleased.
However, I dropped him like a hot rock in the turns, and he didn't really catch back up again until just before the bottom turns, where it's a bit less steep.

Anyway - made the R onto Butterville, and so did he.
I waved him by to pass me, and he pulled alongside, rolled down the window, and I thought maybe was going to give me an earful.
Instead, he was like "WOW MAN, YOU HIT 55 FOR A WHILE THERE!!!"

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float , hammer , and jog

I'm signed up for Long Course, my first time at AmZo. I'm also local just over in Dutchess County, been trying to plan some time to go ride the course. Between AmZo and Lake Placid, I need to get my ass on some hills!

Would love to get a ride together with someone who knows the course. More fun than suffering alone.

I'm waiting to make my debut next year. You guys went and scheduled this damn thing the same day as one of the events I direct in CT. BOO-URNS. This is the last year we're directing this race though, so I'm fresh out of excuses for 2020.

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Editor-in-Chief, Slowtwitch.com | Twitter

AmZof has been the Sunday after Mother's Day (and before Memorial Day weekend) since 2009, the first year it was held in the Spring, instead of October.

Mine was one of the dissenting votes; I wanted to keep it in October, but was overruled.

See you in 2020! We'll leave the light on for ya...

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float , hammer , and jog

Yeah, we had to move our date out so as to not conflict with other events in town. Can't win 'em all...

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Editor-in-Chief, Slowtwitch.com | Twitter

Random bump.

Rode the bike course again yesterday, it's in pretty decent shape, for the most part.
The 2 sections where it's a little chewed up are both parts where you're generally not going mach schnell, and can avoid them by either taking the lane, and/or staying well onto the shoulder.

I'm looking forward to when there's no sand and grit on the roads, to really enjoy the descents.

PS - this weather blows.
High 30's and rain is the worst.

That said, I'm heading out for a run shortly. Builds character.

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float , hammer , and jog

The Minnewaska Lodge is a good balance of location, price, and not nasty. It is a stone throw away from the bike course.

^ x2, and good cookies too.

yeah, that place was sketchy (at best!)
@JW - if you come from MN, you can stay with me before & after, me, you and Boer could get an AirBnB near the course like a bunch of us did last year. I will even go LC. I need an excuse to bail on the stoopid NYGF I got talked into!

I'll ping Tom Ganz and suggest he add a link to local lodging options.

That said, I'd just hit up Trip Advisor or Kayak for hotel info, and/or AirBNB and HomeAway for other rental options.

I know a bunch of racers often get a nice local house for the entire weekend, bring their families up, and make a whole long weekend out of it.
There's TONS of non race-related stuff for SO's and families to do in and around the area.

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float , hammer , and jog

BUMP. Spring (Farm) AHEAD!!!

Only 10 weeks to go 'til AmZof 2019!

Yes, you should be very, very afraid.

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float , hammer , and jog

BUMP.

Almost April Fools Day - which means that AmZof is only 7 weeks away.

The roads are in pretty decent shape, and the area trails are drying out (for the moment - you know what they say about April Showers...)

I haven't been over to the Spring Farm trails yet, but once I do, I'll report back on conditions.
One thing I can assure you - the hills are all still there.

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float , hammer , and jog

I got 2 rides in during March...totally ready!

You’re golden.

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float , hammer , and jog

By the time you get to the third run lap, the accumulated fitness you gained from the first two run laps with the easy spin between kicks in and you'll feel great.

He is signed up for LC

April fools!

Ah, I'm told it's just a long, catered training day anyway, so what's the worst that could happen? ;-)

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float , hammer , and jog

I am doing the midcourse. Dig the funky setup with the run-bike-run-bike-run order.

Probably will dig it less when doing it though...

See you for the "first group to the beer" division. Pneumonia has kinda' screwed everything for the last handful of weeks.

F1 format is wicked cool, and very unique.

However - it also means you need to prep for T3 & T4, including whatever fluids & fuel you want for B2, and whether you care if that stuff stays cool or not.
Even if you plan to only use one pair of shoes for all 3 run segments, it's wise to have another pair handy, just in case my username happens.

The 2nd lap of the bike, feels much like the 3rd bike lap of LC.
And that 3rd run definitely feels like about lap 2 of the LC run course.
Lap 3 of LC run course it its own special demon.

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float , hammer , and jog

Great Intel.

I was thinking about bringing two pairs of shoes. Racing trail runners and then my plush and cushy Hoka Clifton's. Good call.

Also, good point on keeping the liquids in a coolers.

I didn't see it in the original AmZof website - what is the elevation gain per loop on the bike, per loop on the run? I am getting the feeling this is going to be much longer than my typical 4.30 - 4.35 for a flat course HIM...

Ah, that's a bummer Brett. Sorry to hear it.

We need SOMEBODY to step up and end the reign of terror that Rich Burke has had on the GCG field since 2012.
Wish I was the guy to do it, but while my training is lightyears better than last season, I'm still way behind where I was from back in the day, when I was actually competitive at Middle Distance.

I'm hoping Baliman and/or Jim Stafford can be talked into taking on Rich - both those guys have been killing it all winter.
I am not above bribrery - I'll offer either (or both) of those dudes a 6-pack of their favorite brewed elixir to race GCG.
And a 12-pack if they win.

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float , hammer , and jog

Here's some more F1 intel. I've found AmZof a great course for wearing cycling gloves - on the run. Because as my legs get more fatigued I seem prone to tripping and it's nice to have the hand protection in that moment.

Rough elevation gain: ~800 ft per run lap, ~2800 ft per bike lap.
In other words, total gain per course:
CWD: ~4400 ft
F1: ~8000
LC: ~11,600 ft.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Ouch!

Are the bike (and run) climbs punchy? Ie steep and short (what I find here in Westchester county / Greenwich)? Or longer, more sustained, and less steep (what I am more accustomed to in Europe)?

Time to see what best bike split will say about time vs watts on the course...

Steep and long.

D - All of the above.

The run is more the punchy kind.
Bike has both. Often in the same climb.

It’s close enough to Westchester that you may want to come up for a recon mission.

Prior to becoming a true local, I used to live in Garrison. And I would go up at least 1-2x each year to ride & run on the course, prior to the race.
Those recon outings were a big part of the success I’ve had racing AmZof over the years.

... except that first year, when none of us knew WTF to expect.
Rappstar was scarred for life - he’s never come back. 😉

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float , hammer , and jog

Fri am BUMP!

I did a recon mission on the AmZof run course yesterday am, on my MTB.
Which was interesting, since those hills are even more brutal when you've got a bike going up them.
I had to hike-a-bike the 2nd half of the really steep climb near Bonticou crag, too steep & leafy to ride it clean.

Run course overall in very good shape.
All the hills are right where we left them.
A bit leafy in several spots, moreso than I would have expected.

The wet section down by the ranger station/entrance area is still wet - does that EVER dry out??
The first wet section in the field has a bridge going across most of it, the rest was mostly frozen, but it won't be that way in May.

The views from the Pavilion are still as spectacular as ever.

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float , hammer , and jog

Had a thought while riding my trip bike.

Is this course better suited for a tri or road bike?

3000 feet / 900m over 30 miles / 48km is pretty borderline for me.

FWIW, I tend to ride HIM @ 250watts / 3.3 w/kg

TT if you have it. Shifting from aero extension on the major climb is admittedly a bit unideal, but it's just the one climb. The rest of the course is no issue. And bonus for you if you've got Di2.

ETA, that's my POV from many fewer W and W/kg.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

People use both. People are often dumb.

TT bike all day, and twice on Sunday.
With all the go-fast, aero goodies you own.

In all the years of AmZof, there have only been maybe 2-3 racers who got on the podium w/ a road bike.
One was Jim Stafford, who has a pimped out Venge VIAS that is probably more aero than 90%+ of TT bikes (or their riders), and the other was a women's winner who probably just wasn't confident on a TT bike.

There's no reason you can't climb as well on a TT bike at AmZof, and then there are oodles of places where you will absolutely, positively be faster in the aerobars on a TT steed.

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float , hammer , and jog

^ x2. For three laps (LC) my tt was about 45 minutes faster than my road.

Thanks.

P3 with disc, deep front, and aero helmet it is.

How is the road surface? Any nasty potholes or cracks to worry about? Had a nasty crash 18 months ago that has scarred my "grey matter" - physically and psychologically.

What about the run, as in running shoes? Fast and furious trail runners or slow but cushy Hola Clifton's? Or both and change depending upon how the legs feel...

And what is it that I get from the ML prize closet if my ‘reign of terror’ continues???????

Your name on the trophy. Again.

And this laurel and hardy handshake. 😂

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float , hammer , and jog

As far as I can tell from Strava, Rich moved his bed into his paincave a while ago. Unlike us mere mortals who walk into the dreaded basement once in a while ... he only pops up from there to restock on the bare essentials. Killed everyone by more than 20 min in Galveston last weekend and moved up into Superman category. Since he doesn't seem to be tempted by Irish Car Bombs et al .... perhaps we form a relay?

Yeah, I don't even follow Rich, since I don't need yet another old doode showing me on the regular how weak I am.
You, Phil, & Jim are plenty sufficient in that regard.

< checks Strava >
He's been doing double my weekly (weakly) run mileage the past 4 weeks, and has more than TRIPLE my bike mileage/time YTD.

And it shows....
DAMN, winning your AG at an M.Dot 70.3 event by 20 freaking minutes??
1:21 off the bike? DAMN.

Did I mention? DAMN.

related: DAMN.

I don't think even a relay would be sufficient - maybe if we had FIVE guys, one for each leg of the GCG?

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float , hammer , and jog

Roads are mostly pretty decent.
The worst part is the dirt road going in and out of transition from the main Spring Farm entrance station.
It can get pretty rutted, so I’d make sure to eyeball it on the way in (it’s how you drive in and up to the back “lot”, which is a grass field).

As for the main loop proper, the only kinda bad choppy sections are from the West Trapps lot (this is just down the hill from the Steel Bridge overpass at the top of the famous switchback climb past the cliffs) up to about the Peterskill lot.
On the plus side, that’s mostly flat or up, so you won’t be flying along so fast it’ll surprise you.

There are a few stray potholes and cracks on the Minnewaska descent, mostly at the very beginning, and the far part before the sharp 180 turn onto Upper Granite Rd.
Just keep your eyes open - it’s your typical post-winter road riding conditions in the Northeast.

The ripping Mohonk descent is in excellent condition. Super fun.

For the run, I know of quite a few folks who have used normal run shoes, and lived to tell the tale.

I have always worn light trail runners.
Prefer having that extra grip for the few sections it’s handy.
YMMV.

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float , hammer , and jog

Damn

You can say *that* again. 😂

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float , hammer , and jog

Was up riding yesterday and hit a nasty pothole about 13 or so miles from the Spring Farm parking lot. It was in shadow and I didn't see it till I was upon it, hopped the front wheel, creamed the back. Hed Belgium rims are pretty tough- slightly crushed rim up atop brake track but still serviceable after a quick tube change, will have to true it later today. The hole was on the fast lead in to the last short climb into the overlook just before the Minnewaska drop. If I had hit it front wheel head on that would have been a rim crusher. Planning on going up again next week, if I do I will spray it orange.

I do believe I hit that same pothole when I rode it on Sunday. Hiding in the shade until it was too late, hopped the front, flatted the back (and ejected a bottle). Careful boys, that one may have gotten a taste for us.

OK, so the dip before that last roller that leads to the Million Dollar View descent??

I've been thru there a bunch of times so far YTD, and I guess I've just been lucky that the light has been good there.
Was just thru there yesterday afternoon, but the light was perfect then, so not an issue at that time.

(conversely, on the return trip back down from Minne towards the W Trapps lot, it was a goddamn minefield, and also on Clove Road, which had perfect shadow camo for all the potholes on it)

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float , hammer , and jog

Yes, after the hole there is a bit of fast road then up the short hill to the overlook.

OK AmZof peeps!! Less than 4 weeks go to!!!

Hope you've been getting your hills on.
No time like the present.

I had a bit of a setback this weekend, calf pull/mad calf disease acting up again, so my run training is TBD for the moment.
Will just have to get my bike on that much more.
Hope I can bring enough run game to be competitive at the CWD this year.

The GCG F1 is shaping up to be a helluva battle!!
Defending Champ (many times over) Rich Burke will be facing stiff challenges from Duathlon National AG Champ Jim Stafford, and our very own baliman, who has also been crushing it in training.
Game on!

I'll be heckling and drinking (not necessarily in that order) in the Pavillion for the back end of that.

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float , hammer , and jog

That's really a bummer with your calf. You were just getting into your AmZof speed groove. Little break now and then back to running might not actually be a bad training strategy. You will kill it as always. It's your playground.

Thanks for the honorable mention. First time in many many years that I may show up in shape at this lovable early season extravaganza. Looking forward to racing F1 ... but Rich and Jim are in their own league. Run and bike rockets.

As we know, the beauty of this race is that once you cross the finish line, the previous hours of pain are all forgotten and your actual placing doesn't matter any more ... since it's all about drinking beers in the pavillion. Can't wait.

Yup - the apres festivities at AmZof are second to none!!

While SOS has a more posh setup, I think the chill vibe of AmZof, and the fact that you can cheer/heckle racers as they literally run right by, makes it the best.

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float , hammer , and jog

You do realize you are promoting the 'competition' between three 50+ year olds as a featured event at AmZof. Somewhere a millenial duathlete is looking on amused and bored by this development.

Then that millennial duathlete should show up...

... and get his ass kicked by three 50+ year olds, just like the entire rest of the field is going to.

There have been a coupla fast young’uns at AmZof over the years, but they’ve only really done well at CWD -
Justin Harris & Dave Roche are 2 prime examples.

Age, experience, and treachery seem to win out at the longer distances. 😂

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float , hammer , and jog

It is true that SOS has become such a smooth production over the past 10yrs (as opposed to 20yrs ago when it didn't even fill up) that one could accuse it of being somewhat overproduced (for the better or worse). AmZof has more of that raw grass roots feeling that is very cool. It probably comes down to whether you love swimming in lakes for choosing one over the other. For me ... it's still SOS > AmZof but I can see why you would choose otherwise.

You raise an interesting discussion topic. There are epic races with the kind of recognition that get people to ensure they are sitting in front of their computers as the minute ticks over to when registration for something opens (Norseman, Roth, SOS; not meant to be an exhaustive list), and then there are epic events for which I’ve begged / badgered people to consider signing up, and maybe they do but they then back out for various reasons (shinier events come along, travel / life conflicts). I can’t think the answer is, raise the entry fee to AmZof by a couple hundred dollars so that the smooth overproduced feeling can be applied to it, to generate the interest we maybe wish it had.

I’ll say this: I’m a bit jealous of those that seek something like the Boston Marathon as a goal, because when they achieve their goal accolades pour out over how great it is someone achieved a goal they set for themselves. Meanwhile, equally challenging alternate goals – no one understands them, no one cares, and someone out there says – you should really aim for Boston.

Anyway, I just think it’s a really small group of people who are interested in a difficult thing purely for the sake of the thing, versus for the recognition it gets them.

<Pardon me while I now untwist my undies>

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Totally agree - it’s so odd that SOS (as awesome as it is) sells out in literally minutes at like $600 or whatever the hell it is now
vs.
AmZof is at least SOS’s equal in terms of challenge and beauty, and it has only ever sold out a handful of times in its 14 years.
For $100-something bucks.
And with WAAAAAY better beer.

AmZof GCG F1 is harder than SOS, and any HIM other than maybe Savageman.
AmZof LC is harder than any M.Dot IM.

So, it’s certainly not for lack of being a challenge.

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float , hammer , and jog

My money is on Colin Martin to take back his rightful Long Course crown this year.

I'll never forget 2014 when he finished his LC race, then after being 2-3 beers deep, proceeded to run another loop with me since I still had 2 loops to go...

Mitch West is my boy for LC.
But I’m sure Colin will give him a great race.

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float , hammer , and jog

I'll let you draft off my run if you tow me through the bike course. Training for an trail ultra in June, and it's been "interesting" trying to mix some duathlon training in. Seems to take 3-4 days to recover from double long runs, so quality time on my saddle has been REALLY low! Regardless, looking forward to a great race and absolutely shitty weather!

PS- think I'm technically a millennial, but have never felt so removed from a generalization.

Colin has upped his game quite a bit in the last two years and has been going well this year

He knocked about 5 mins off his half marathon time alone last year

I would be surprised if he did not take it , no disrespect to Mitch

I know at least one dark horse considering it also

I entered it back in Jan when I was was looking for motivation but will drop to the SC as I was delusional

The list of athletes who registered for one distance, only to drop down to another, is long but distinguished.

Like my Johnson. 😂

OK, AmZof people!!! 3 weeks to go!!!
No pressure. 😉

It's full-on AmZof conditions here today, 44 and pissing rain.
Hope we don't use up all this awesome weather before the actual main event! 😱


I'm still trying to de-gimpify my run wheels, so the R training took a major step back this past week or so.
Been getting my bike on tho, so we'll see what that does for me.

We've got 2 more weeks to hit it hard, then it's taper time!
Get some. 😎👍🏻

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float , hammer , and jog

My long rides are compete so I'm almost all set for LC. Guess I should try get a couple of runs in.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

So we’ve seen some predictions for the GCG and the LC. What does the line look like for the CWD??

Honestly, I don't know.
Jim & Stefan are both stepping up to the GCG to come play with you, so they're leaving an opening atop the CWD leaderboard.

CWD is a crapshoot - it can either be some young gun who randomly shows up, or the least slow old guy who has a good day.

Sean Dillon could be the former, or maybe somebody else I have no clue about.
Example - If a Mike Tanzi kinda guy shows up and throws down a < 2:38 like in '14, or Kevin Miles' < 2:40 in '13 - then there's your winner.

Myself and Brett (kinda - he's not old, just in AmZof terms) are in the latter AmZof veterans group.

I don't see any of last year's CWD Top 5 registered yet (or 2016's or 2015's or 2014's either; besides me), but that could change over the next 2+ weeks.
Hard to handicap the race, when I don't know any of the horses.

The one thing I can say, is that the winner will likely have to break 2:48, since last year was the only time in recent years that the winner was slower than that time.

And Tri Yoda's glacial 2:54 win in 2010 - where he narrowly avoided getting chicked by Mendy Taylor - was the slowest CWD win this decade.
And possibly of all time.

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float , hammer , and jog

Another q from an AmZof newbie. Am doing the middle distance...

Could you help me calibrate expected time based on flat course 70.3 (eg last year's Atlantic City)? No info, that I could find, on best bike split...

I cycled 2.16 on 255 watts (I weigh 165 lbs / 75kg). Me thinks that would put me at 90 minutes per loop??

I ran 1.33 off the bike. About one hour per run loop?

Btw, am only curious to mentally prepare for how long the race will take, not for Uber performance expectation setting.

Less than 3 weeks to go!

You can do so many things wrong, weather can be all over the place, so it is hard to predict time...especially from a flat half.

You are on the lighter side which helps, I'd guess 95-97 mins per bike loop (average of the two) is more realistic. You should be well under 60 for the run loops, maybe like a 40-42 min average if you decide to go easier on the runs to gain more time on the bike. I'm sure you could go faster on the runs, but since you seem to be a stronger cyclist than runner, save the legs for that 2nd bike loop and then do what you can on the last run.

I'd love to be able to help you here, but I don't have much for flat course data for comparison plus I'm smaller, slower, & female.

The year I completed F1 I biked 2:00 & 2:06 off of NP 144 & 132 W, and ran 59, 54, 57 min.
Later that year I did B2B full, 5:51 bike off NP 115 W and ran in 4:18 (beating my open marathon PR at the time).
That was the week following SOTM, which sounded so cool I had to do it and B2B was a last minute add for the fun of it, anyway.

The year I completed LC (124 lbs) I biked 6:25 at NP 126 W (2:07, 2:07, 206), and ran 55, 3:01.
Then at Vineman (121 lbs) I biked 5:54 off NP 128 W and then wilted-then-ran 4:51.
One might argue I over-biked, regardless - I definitely under-ran.

Anyway, I look at AmZof as 2 h per bike loop, plus or minus depending on which distance I consider, and 1 h per run loop b/c I'm just not a strong runner. I'm looking to complete LC as my victory dance following FAI/labrum repair, so will gladly accept "atta-girl"s as you all lap me all day long.

My only prepatory advice is to stay strong - T3 is THE hardest transition at AmZof.

Well, that and to travel to New Paltz with gear for every condition, regardless of what weather is predicted.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Your bike estimate is probably pretty close - at least for B1.
B2 is usually a pretty decent + split (anywhere from 3-10+ mins), due to that pesky R2 (and R1 & B1) that preceeds it.

1:33 off the bike is pretty solid for HIM.
I would imagine your R1 split would be high 30 mins/low 40 mins worst case.
And then add another 3-5+ mins to each additional R leg.

Here's my ~ splits from '13 (my last year doing GCG), might at least give you a ballpark range for what to expect
(I don't think you'd be dramatically faster, or slower - unless you blow up and die late.)

R1 - :37
B1 - 1:30
R2 - :41
B2 - 1:40 (was in poor bike shape this year, and really, meh overall shape - this is where it started to show up)
R3 - :46
Total - 5:19

So - maybe expect a 5:15-ish if everything goes amazingly well, and 5:30++ - depending on how hard it gets late.

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float , hammer , and jog

Thanks (and thanks to Tsunami and SteelerGuy).

Yes, I think pacing will be uber critical... In many ways, more so than a standard 70.3.

Will mentally prepare for 5.15 to 6.00hrs total.

I am prevaricating on what run shoes to go with... I am wondering whether the downhills are steep and quad busting. If so, tempted to go with Hokas (albeit slow on the flats and uphills). Otherwise, probably a fast pair of Inov8 will be my race shoe. Or... If not muddy, I could try the new VaporFly 4% - Have only used them on the treadmill, but oh my are they fast and cushy.

VaporFly ... yes, you could use them ... and if the conditions are perfect (unlikely), you would be fine. The problem with these shoes is not only that they won't grip in muddy conditions ... but that they are laterally highly unstable on trails (tested it). Trust me ... I would LOVE to use mine ... but there is no way that I will.

Yeah, what baliman said.

It's not like AmZof run course is crazy technical - it isn't.
But, even though maybe 70% is on carriage trails, they're still up and down.
And the 30% that's singletrack, is pretty legit.

Moreover, it's almost always wet.

Not necessarily everywhere, but - there are 2 short sections in the first mile, where you're likely to be plowing thru muddy slop.
I don't think those VaporFly's will even stay on your feet if it's bad - have seen more substantial shoes sucked right off racer's feet when the mud is really bad.

I've always used light trail runners, I have 2 pairs of Inov8 kicks that I've used for ages now;
one super-light pair (X-Talon) for the first run, and a little more substantial pair (TrailRoc, RockLite or currently TerraUltra) for the later run(s).

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float , hammer , and jog

I can't imagine ANYONE using VF4% on the AmZof run course. Just seems not right to me. I consider those as a pavement only shoe.

I have raced it in Hoka Cliftons and in Hoka Challenger ATR's. I was slow and miserable in both pairs! But either would be appropriate.

x2 on a trail shoe or something similar. You WILL need to go through mud/water and there WILL be technical sections that require sure footing. Even with trail runners I have fallen on the run course 2 of the 4 yrs Ive done the GCG.

Thanks (and thanks Baliman, Withrow79, and NatriDIZZ).

I too have the X-talon 212. Super fast trail running shoe. Am concerned that it doesn't have enough cushioning for a gnarly 3 x 5 Miles... Seems like you too have had that experience hence your switch to more cushy shoes later. How do you like the Terra Ultra? That might be a good solution for later runs.

I also bought a pair of X talon 210 for the SOS triathlon (also I am a newbie there). But those shoes won't solve my AmZof woes.

Last week of serious training before starting the taper...

I actually have an older pair, which are the 190's - basically race flats for trail running. Stupid light.

They're probably down to 180's now, I'm sure I've worn some rubber off the spikes, but I really only wear them a handful of times / year, so they've held up well.


PS - Don't really need trail runners for SOS.

I've always worn Nike Frees for that, since the heels fold down flat very nicely, for stuffing into Tri shorts during the swims.
Would definitely suggest you practice some run/swim/run transitions with them before you race SOS in them, to make sure they'll work for you.

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float , hammer , and jog

Thanks.

How do you like the TerraUltra? Trying to think about a pair of shoes for R2 and 3.

For SOS, I was thinking about leaving my shoes on during the swim... Also, what do you think about a shortie wetsuit? I did one swim-run 3 years ago; loads of fun. Used a wetsuit as early season and the water was cold; swam with the shoes on.

They're pretty decent. Conceptually like the Graphene soles, since they should last 'forever' and have solid grip.
$150 for shoes always irks me, but I'm hoping they really last so that won't be as much of a long-term issue.

Like I said, I'd practice specific race strategies for SOS long before the race, so you'll have a good idea if what you're planning will work (for you) or not.

For my first SOS, I thought I'd use my Brooks T-whatever #'s, since they were my go-to HIM run shoes.
But then I tried trail running in them, and swimming, and they sucked for both.
I ended up using Nike Frees, and now they're my SOS go-to footwear.
YMMV.

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float , hammer , and jog

BUMP!

T-minus 2 weeks, and counting!

I’m a little verklempt - dealing w a series of calf issues the past few weeks, so what was going to be my big final build, has been rest and recovery jogs on the run side of things.
Sigh.

But at least it’s great biking weather!


NOT.

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float , hammer , and jog

Was out running in the mid 50s rain today. My one thought...very AmZofian.

Shortie works really well for those where a shortie works really well ... like skinny runners with limited swim skills and some others. I tried it a couple of years ago. Total disaster. Didn't make me faster on the swim and slowed me down on the run. If you really want to leave your shoes on ... typically a huge speed penalty in the water ... the suit will lessen the penalty. My recommendation for all SOS equipment choices ... think minimalism. Less is more. As for shoes ... as ML says ... no trail shoes needed ... unlike AmZof.

Me too! And thought the same thing.
Pretty sure I just hit my longest run of the year.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Thanks.

Btw, I am a Skinner runner (triathlete) - check. I am a good swimmer (for triathlon standards) - uncheck.

I guess I will see how cold the water is vs how hot the air temp is... I saw a dude get hypothermia at the swim-run , not good.

So... If no shoes during the swim, then where does one stuff the run shoes while swimming? Inside the race / trisuit? In a ziplock bag and tie to the waist. In my newbie ignorance, I was thinking of going full swim run style - shorties wetsuit + shoes + pull buoy. Go figure.

Taper time!

Great cycling weather indeed. The trainer never felt sooooo good!

Shoes go into your suit or shorts. No need to contemplate swim-run style as pull buoys, paddles, etc are not allowed

x2. For running, it was quite lovely.

Except no on the L run part for me, I haven't done more than 4m in a few weeks now - damn old man calves!!
GRRRR.

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float , hammer , and jog

THIS.

Also, I've seen people use a dry bag to put their shoes in (I have no idea why), and use it like a pull buoy.
As crap a swimmer as I am, I'd end up beating them overall because they had glacially slow T-times trying to keep their shoes dry, etc, rather than just throw them on before you even get fully out of the water
(this is a Pro tip, BTW) -
so you avoid getting shale flakes stuck to your foot, which then goes into your shoe and wreaks havoc.

Less is more.

Ideally, for SOS (post bike) you'd want:

• Cap (required) and goggles (for all of us non-Aquamen; baliman is so badass he doesn't need them)
• tri shorts or suit
• shoes

/fin.

Seriously, that's it.
That's what I used my first time, and I had my best result in my 3 tries.
Due to some chillier weather these past 2 years, I had to incorporate other items, and it becomes a bit of a CF if you have too much going on.


...We now return you to your regularly scheduled AmZof chatter, already in progress...

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float , hammer , and jog

Diversión to SOS continues...

To stuff the shoes in the trisuit... One needs racing flats and/or shoes with little heel structure. Hence your choice of Uber lightweight Nike shoes, correct?

T minus 12 days...

I'm soaking in all the SoS information. But that race is sooo September. For now I'm just trying to make sure my bike is good to go for AmZof, after its refurbishment. My first ride on the completed rebuild will be tomorrow.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Yeah, I’m witcha.

I still need to build the DreamCrusher Express back up - it’s been hanging on the garage wall since just after SOS last year, and the R wheel got borrowed to go on the BTN so I’d have an actual PM on it....

.... and then I only ended up riding the trainer like 3x all winter anyway, so it ended up being a huge waste of time in the end.

Ideally I’ll get a coupla 2-3 rides on the P5 before raceday.

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float , hammer , and jog

AmZof newbie here (short course)...reading this thread and seeing comments for running in Cliftons AND Challengers. Is it recommended to use a different pair each loop or is that weather dependent?

thanks!

Are we in the same AG? If so, then no need to ride your P5 before raceday. No need, all good! :)

I too need to dust off / remove the spider webs from my P3 racebike... Hopefully one shake down ride before the race.

Certainly NOT required to do so.
But - with all the rain we've been having, there is an excellent chance that the often-wet parts of the run course will be really wet.
So, you'll slog thru at least 2 muddy sections within the first mile of the run, and a few other short ones here and there.

I find it easier to put on a 2nd, clean pair of shoes in transition.
(and yes, I have even used 3 pair some years when I did the GCG F1 distance w/ 3 runs)
Definitely a YMMV.

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float , hammer , and jog

Your money is on Mitch West because you are both old! I 'preciate the love... but Colin gonna need to get seriously lost on course for me to get the W... and let's not hope Ross T comin' back. The tortoise beat two hares last year... lightning don't strike twice!!!

My 2 cents: Challenger ATR's a perfect AZ shoe. Not worth changing after a loop... gonna be caked in mud in 1/4 mile out of the pavilion in the first mud-suck.

Us old farts gotta stick together!
LOL.

Now, to all the young'uns: GET OFF MY LAWN!!!!!!!!!

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float , hammer , and jog

Tell ‘em!!!!!! #oldschool. Wait, we don’t know what a hashtag is?!!! F it, Colin go down!!!! Miles in the LEGS!!!!!!

That’s Fkn right boy. And he came in guns blazin!

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They cant stop me....Even if they stopped me!

Oooh, this is heating up nicely!

Little old school AmZof smacktalk going on?

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float , hammer , and jog

HA! I think this is my 6th or 7th year coming back to long course, and never have I ever been so excited to race it. We will be like Allen and Scott, duking it out FTW. Oh, and let me not forget, the Dark Horse Ross T who will be coming back for more! He rode 80+ miles within 20 yards of Mitch last year. Its on... Like Donkey Kong!

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They cant stop me....Even if they stopped me!

you need to get back out there race it my man.... less bagpipe... more watts!

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They cant stop me....Even if they stopped me!

Methinks you're confusing Sue, and John McGovern.

Which I guess is understandable, as they both wear skirts on occasion. ;-)

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float , hammer , and jog

Fighting talk !

See you tonight for beers and you can tell me all about it (again:)

Hope you plan to take on more than 100 calories for the whole event

Yeah, ML is right, I have no bagpipe game. Of course, I don't know that I'll have much racing game either...
But hey, someone has to take one for the team and come in last at LC! It would be awesome if the pavilion weren't totally empty this time, though. (<-- Not pink.)

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Your bagpipe game is probably no worse than JM's was that first year he drug them out of the closet.

Sounded like he was slowly strangling wet cats.

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float , hammer , and jog

I absolutely love the trash talk and fun banter here. I was never competitive in any of the distances, but the AmZof race in all of it's versions remains to this day my favorite racing venue/experience/environment/vibe/course/etc... Even though I was pretty much miserable for most of the time I was actually trying to make my way around that painful (but awesome) course! I'm bummed I won't be there to watch it all go down this yr.

I also want to add that every year when this race rolls around I think about Chris Gleason (and his family). I barely knew the guy, but it was early on in my racing life and I definitely learned a lot from his moxy/mojo/spirit/competitiveness and overall willingness to try to help others. I'd be willing to bet that he's looking down hoping the weather is miserable in the Mohonk Reserve and surrounding areas on May 19th!

Amen.
Chris dragged my sorry ass up that last steep hill by the church and even made me smile as I suffered and he pulled away. A good man taken way too soon. RIP Chris.

I don’t agree with fat-shaming... however, Colin has NO shot on the 19th having ballooned up to 4% body fat...
Please See Exhibit A:
(Is there swimming in this race?)

Ah, you were competitive at the thing that matters most! The infamous Mohonk Descent!!

Took me years to get that back.
Only to have it get snatched again.... ... it's back on the "To Do list".

I miss Chris all the time.
American Zofingen is a celebration of his spirit;
that willingness to embrace Stupid Human Tricks, push yourself beyond what you thought might be possible -
and then have beers after with all your buddies and swap war stories, enjoying the company of like-minded peeps.

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float , hammer , and jog

Speaking of 4%. No nike 4%!!! Not bc I dont want you to have an edge... more bc I don’t want you to ruin them.

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They cant stop me....Even if they stopped me!

Last weekend of training before raceday!

Get some.

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float , hammer , and jog

The 10 day forecast is looking good for next Sunday.

Rain before the race to ensure that the trails are nice and sloppy for us...

Oh, they're already nice and sloppy!
We aim to please!!

Did a final recon mission this am w/ Jim Stafford, we rode 2 laps, ran 1/2 of a lap.
We hit the bike pretty solidly, right on 1:30 for each lap.
(We rode from the main Spring Farm lot, not from the Pavillion, so that cuts a good minute or so off the lap times)

Both of us felt like the Tin Man without his oil can at the start of the run, but that got a little better as we moved along.
The views from the Pavillion were in full effect, as the sun came out late and it turned into a gorgeous morning.

Taper time begins NOW.

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float , hammer , and jog

Beautiful day!!

How many watts/kg gave you 90min / lap?

The slop will make the terrain soft which will be great on the joints - glass (more than) half full.

Logistic question: pick up race packet in the morning or day before? I need to get logistics sorted and stop prevaricating!

It was ~ 3.4 w/kg today.

Disclaimers:

Jim did pull a bit, but he was mostly in front on the climbs, and sadly there’s little to no benefit to having a beast climber pulling away from you.

I’m aero AF, and I know the course like the back of my hand. I’d imagine the average AmZof lemming would need some more watts to go the same speed - particularly on the descents.

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float , hammer , and jog

Nice, 3.4w/kg is very good. Especially for 3hrs+ and especially if one can run well off afterwards!

Homecourt advantage counts on descents, especially with poor road surface!

Race week!

Forecast looking pretty solid, but with all the rain we've been getting and just got, I can guar-on-tee you that the swampy parts of the run course will be very muddy.

Here's a quick recap of areas of the bike course to be aware of:

• Coming out of transition, the dirt road going down by the ranger station at the entrance has several LARGE potholes. Really nasty, be careful here.
• 1st time I ever saw this - there was some dirt/sand washed onto the road on the first tight L sweeper at the top of the Mohonk descent. Hope this clears up by Sun.
• Bottom of Mohonk descent at stop sign, R onto Butterville Rd - several small/medium potholes, some sand and grit.
• several sections of very rough pavement from W. Trapps Lot going up towards Peterskill. I'd suggest taking the lane if traffic allows.
• few small rough spots below top of descent after Awosting lot.
• HUGE pothole (as has been metioned up-thread) directly after the Jenny Lane hikers parking lot entrance, a bit before the Million Dollar View descent.
• some rough road lower down on this descent near the bottom

After the 180 turn onto Upper Granite, the vast majority of the back half of the course is in good shape, but there may be some stray things here and there, so keep your eyes peeled.

Get some.

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float , hammer , and jog

Thanks for the detail. This is why I always drive the course the day before, unless I'd been up in April for scouting rides.
Some of these locations are tough to understand for folks (me) less familiar with the names of various parking lots. Therefore I recommend: drive the course.

BTW, did you cross post this to the FB page?

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

There is also a deep pothole, hard to see in the shadows, under the old bridge on Butterville Road.

Sue - I'm not on BookFace, but I just emailed Tom the RD this info.

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float , hammer , and jog

Who, I ask you.... who, is better than ML!!!!!!!

Thanks for the information

I have done this before so can picture the rough spots apart from that the big pot hole

Is that right before you hit the hard downhilll after the last of the climbing ?

I am not familiar with the names of places and only arrive morning of the race

are you likely to be at speed when you come across it ?

Appreciated

Thanks

Assuming we're both talking about the same BIG pothole, it's a bit down from the Minnewaska and then Awosting lot entrances (the final summit of the climbing that starts on 299, and goes up in stair steps to that point).
Perhaps a half mile or so, after you start going down?

You start the descent after Minne/Awosting, go down a ways, and then there's a short roller UP, before you then start going down again, and see the parking pullout ahead for the Million Dollar View, where it goes to the left, and straight for a while.

It is the area near that short roller UP (where you are still carrying a lot of speed) that the pothole is located.
It's BIG, like probably 18" x 24" rectangle, and deep, with square edges all around.

Looks kinda like somebody carved a brownie randomly out of the middle of the pan.

It would line up w/ the R wheels of a car or truck - so, you can easily avoid it if you either stay near/on the shoulder there, or move further out towards the center of that lane.

Some folks have claimed it can be hard to see, depending on light/shadows etc.
I've personally never hit it, nor come close.
But i'm also now very much aware of where it is.
YMMV.

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float , hammer , and jog

Cheers thanks , I know where you mean though does sound somewhat dangerous

Thursday BUMP!!!

Forecast for Sunday looks pretty solid - typical mid-50's at race start, warming up as the day goes on, maybe a bit too warm by later afternoon.
Sorry LC'ers!!

At least the run course is almost entirely shaded, so you won't simmer too badly there.
You could roll around in the mud to cool off. ;-)
Or wait for the (currently low %) potential late-afternoon T-storms to roll in.

I'm dealing w/ some new knee issues, which I'm hoping I can get sorted out so I can still toe the line and race.
The bike is fine, but I'll need to be able to run before and after, which right now is not a given.
Seeing an Ortho first thing tomorrow, and hoping for something good to come of it.

Enjoy your last few days of tapering!!
See ya Sunday am-

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float , hammer , and jog

Good luck to everyone racing, especially the long course crazies, wish I could be there with you.

Everyone be safe and enjoy the beautiful suffering.

OK, so THIS is pretty cool!!

Going to have live tracking at AmZof for this year!!

http://www.racetecresults.com/...p;RId=4023&EId=3

You can click on whichever distance and racer(s) you want, and check their progress as they hit the timing mats throughout the day!!


As long as I can make it thru Run 1 in one piece, I think I can have a pretty decent day.
Hope everybody else is feeling ready, but - ready or not, it's almost game time.

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float , hammer , and jog

Last night I built up my Captain America themed P3, and rode outside today. That’s about as ready as I’m going to get. Doing 15 on the trails tomorrow, so I should be fully tapered Sunday morning!

Sounds perfect! 🤪

Conversely, I haven’t run at all since last Sat.





OK AmZof peeps!!! Under 24 hours to go!!

It’s a beautiful day here in Ulstertucky, 50 degrees and sun is shining. ☀️

Some bike sprites went out and marked the worst of the bike gremlins, from the stop sign turning onto Butterville Rd at the bottom of the Mohonk descent, to the 180 turn onto Upper Granite after the end of the Million Dollar View descent section.

Notes: the sandy section on the L hand decreasing radius turn up top on the Mononk descent is clear!
Back to its normal level of terrifyingness. 😱

The rough patch at the stop sign is now very clearly marked, you can either cut inside (very tight) or swing around outside (recommended)

The holes under the bridge on Butterville are clearly marked.

Only marked the first batch of crap starting right after W Trapps Lot (this is just below the Steel Bridge) - it’s a cheese grater there for a while, so just keep your head up and either stay on shoulder, or take the lane if safe to do so.

There’s some rough stuff juuust after you start descending following the Minne climb, but now the worst is marked, and you’re not up to speed there anyway.

The nasty one(s) by Jenny Lane lot are marked.
It’s after the first ‘power roller’, just a bit after you start going down again.
There are 3 in a row, all marked - if you hit them now, you need to go hang out with Mr Magoo.

A bunch of cheese grater stuff in Kerhonkson, it’s almost all where a cars R tires would roll, so stay on shoulder or take the lane.
Only the most egregious stuff is marked, but it goes on and off thru there for a while.

Nothing after the 180 turn onto Upper Granite is marked, because I was nearly out of paint & time, and didn’t recall anything nasty thru there.

Related: I look like I have early-onset Skittles Pox, a bunch of small orange splatters on my arm from shaking the can.

Don’t know the status of the nasty potholes on the dirt road just below the ranger station at the entrance.
The Preserve is supposed to fix those, but we shall see....
(I do have a tiny bit of paint left, so I’ll mark them tomorrow if they’re still there.)

Looks like it’s gonna be a great day for racing tomorrow.

Game on!

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float , hammer , and jog

That’s all super-interesting ML... but says nothing about what’s gonna be on tap afterwards. I need a REAL race re-con... what kind of IPA are we talking about? I’m gonna need something that’s really “hop-forward.” I want to make sure I have Colin and Ross’s beers ready when they finish... 🤣🤣🤣

Ok, now the REALLY important stuff!!

Kings Court Brewing (new, in PoK) is a sponsor.
I’ve been there, they make some excellent stuff.

https://www.kingscourtbrewingcompany.com/beer

Jim Stafford (in a classic “bringing coals to Newcastle” manner 😂) claims he will also be bringing along a bunch of great beers.

So, I don’t know exactly what beers you’ll be giving the 2nd and 3rd LC losers, but they will be cold, FREE, and can be quaffed from BIG HONKIN STEINS!!!
(But, smaller than yours. 😉)
🍺😎👍🏻

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float , hammer , and jog

Hey,

Thanks for the Intel on the road conditions. Any chance you could provide the mile / km markers for those nasty craters in the road? I tried to match your description to the GPX file but was struggling...

Thanks, appreciate it

Eric

That is most excellent Intel. Let’s not CWD and F1 racers take more than fair share before the real race finishes... 🤣

Nope! Not a chance.

That’s already waaaay too much coddling and spoon feeding for AmZof.

Back in the day, we had potholes all over the place, and nobody marked them or told us where they were, and that’s the way we liked it!
We loved it!!!

GET OFF MY LAWN!!!! 😂









[/img]

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float , hammer , and jog

Yes, yes... spoon feeding is what I want!! :)

Well, in that case... I am going to get an industrial strength rubber band and attach your P5 to my P3, and I am going to love getting towed around the course! Not drafting, I am sure.

See you and everyone tomorrow!

Best of luck tomorrow, everybody. It's going to be a great day. Race hard and smart. Finish well, and enjoy a couple of cold ones from a BIG HONKIN STEIN!

I'll be following the streaming coverage. But I'll be back next year for short course at 70!

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

GOOD MORNING AMZOF PEEPS!!!!

IT IS RACE DAY!!!
🏃‍♀️🚲 🏃 🍺

It’s a lovely morning here in Ulstertucky, 55 and mostly cloudy, light breeze from the SW.

Forecast looks solid, warming to mid 70’s, but with a chance of late afternoon T-storms to cool off the slower LC racers on their final run laps.

Keep the rubber side down, and get some!

Sweeney - see ya next year!! 👍🏻

PS - registration for AmZof 2020 is already open!!!
And for a VERY limited time, all distances are the absurdly low price of $100.
A single Benjamin. 💵

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float , hammer , and jog

Whoo Hoo! It's a beautiful morning! Enjoy the pain!

Just a little pic to remind you all of the good old days;

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---------------------------
''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Who the heck is Ross McGraw? 32 minute first run in CDW. Murphy's and Jim Stafford had great runs but this guy killed it!

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Looks like a decent bike split as well.

Man that guy was flying! ML should be calling for him to be tested to see if he had the proper level of beer in his system!

Great job Murphy's; 4th overall for one of the old guys!

AZ has me excited about triathlon again. I have a few races this year including Montauk in a few weeks, but next year I'm coming back strong!

(if you've never done Montauk, it's something you need to experience. It's one of the originals, and it still feels that way)

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

Very impressive 65-69 Scott Harrison right behind Dillon who was earlier mentioned as a contender.

Wow - no stein for ML? Me thinks that may have never happened (other than the inaugural, when he didn't race).

Miss the atmosphere out there. Was originally hoping to make it out to help Tom G with race day stuff, but a change in work travel schedule necessitated my absence.

For those newbies out there today, congratulations on finding a new definition of pain and suffering. Too bad you aren't getting the good stuff (Zofingen-style weather). 😂

Yes, the steins continue for ML; got one in his age group. All the old geezers get one because they are the only ones in their age group!

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

(slaps forehead)
Oh yeah, there's that AG thingy. See kids, you lose more than just fitness when you don't race for a few years.

Hope everyone's is off the bike. Heavy rain coming through Shandaken right now. Coming your way!

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

I somehow managed to keep my streak alive of never finishing worse than 4th OA at whatever distance AmZof race I have done.
12/12.

Thought that streak was going to die a fiery death today after a sluggish Run 1 for me, but apparently I must have passed some peeps on the bike, or they dropped out, I dunno.

MEGA PROPS TO Tom Ganz and the whole race crew , volunteers , Preserve personnel, etc for pulling off yet another AMAZING EVENT.

Always psyched to see old friends and meet new ones at this event - it’s just the best way to spend a Sunday in May that has ever been invented.

I need a shower. Badly.

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float , hammer , and jog

Krol - YOU of all people should know that I’m an OG - I finished 4th OA LC in Year One.
And WON (some of) TETSUONI’S MONEY.

Some young punk named Jordan Rapp won that year, but he’s been too asceered to ever come back.
Rappstar - show us where the bad man hurt you. 🤪

We need you and your lovely ladies to come back out again next year!!
Just ain’t the same without any other OG’s in the hizzouse. 😎👍🏻

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float , hammer , and jog

Good job Murphy's!

And good job to everyone who raced. It must have got hot out there!

Just checking the results a few times today has me fired up for a comeback next year.

Can't believe I'm 69 already!

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

OK, that was completely stupid exhausing fun. Stafford and you cleaned my clock with local knowledge. Thanks to the gremlins who marked the numerous potholes and Tom, his wife, the scorekeepers, all the volunteers and Murphy'sLaw (who I can now confirm is a real person). Will be faster next year with lessons learned today.

Such a great time today!!

(Even when it wasn’t)

Terrific racing at all 3 distances, AmZof regulars and noobs alike all out having fun, and then kicking back with some BIG HONKIN STEINS afterwards!!

So great to see some of the ‘old’ faces, and meet a bunch of new ones.
I think we’ve got a bunch more members of the hardcore AmZof tribe hooked after today.

Thx so much to Tom and the whole RD crew, all the amazing volunteers, and the Mohonk Preserve for making this ridiculously awesome event go off again!!

Multisport just doesn’t get any better than this.

I’m thrilled to notch my 12th finish, an even 4 each at all 3 distances now.
Gonna hafta figger out which one to do next year to break the tie, for Lucky #13!

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float , hammer , and jog

Murphy's Law is crafty...crafty people know that 4th place automatically wins their AG and gets the same size stein as 1st place...2nd and 3rd place OA get smaller steins. Once he saw he wasn't going to win, he probably slowed down so he could finish 4th to make sure he got another Big Honkin Stein.

ML - How did I not know you were an OG'er? I think I was confusing you with another Michael (Halstead?).
That 2005 race was about as epic as there have ever been - when 41% of the field DNFs, including legends like Jeffrey Timm, and 3rd OA uses the RD's kid's winter gloves because he was woefully under-dressed (du tank & shorts in 40F and piss rain? only the Germans can get away with that).

I'd like to think that I'd get back to at least do CWD one of these years, but man does 25 years of obliterating my body catch up. If nothing else, I'm a pack mule for the RD. And bring back some decent weather. LOL

Krol, after a good run with my bionic hips and then a couple of years away, I'm coming back next year for CDW at 70. Come and join the OG CREW. We need you!

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''Sweeney - you can both crush your AG *and* cruise in dead last!! 😂 '' Murphy's Law

My question about bike mechanical workings could be better placed elsewhere, but placing it here let's me have some whine with my LC bike leg DNF.

My bike was recently built up w/ di2 - you may have seen the taped wiring monstrocity in transition resulting from the A jn not fitting inside my stem cavity. The bike shifted fine on my trainer at home and the gears held on my hilly rides w/ some standing climbs ~10 d prior to race day. I pulled the bike off the trainer, swapped out the training skewer, put the bike on top of my car, racked it race morning, and had no use of the lowest 2-4 rings of the cassette. Those gears slipped so badly the chain slipped right out of them under even under easy load.

So my question is: what gives? The chain and cassette are still paired as they were on the mechanical build. Could the single new chain-joining link cause that? Or maybe bumping of the A jn button leading to some miss programming?

I tried reseating the rear wheel a couple of times, but it didn't help much.

Could my whole cassette be loose? Maybe I bumped the derailleur?

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

ML - great to see you at AmZof. Excited for Epic Man/ day.

You mentioned the registration link for 2020. Can you share?

I'm in.

2020 registration link.

https://runsignup.com/...ZofingenDuathlon2020

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

Sue,

I'm no Di2 expert, nor did I sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but -
sadly, I have seen far too many instances of folks getting hosed when their Di2 went wonky, or worse, completely died.
Brighter minds than mine can probably suss out the likely cause.

That sucks.

We'll see ya next year!

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float , hammer , and jog

Want to give a shout-out to Ross McGraw, who dominated the CWD almost as much as Rich Burke did the GCG.

Ross finished less than 2 minutes off the course record, set in '08 by Justin Harris (who went Pro just a short time later).
Justin did 31/1:26/:33, and Ross went 32/1:25/35

I believe that's the 2nd fastest CWD time ever - I know Dave Roche had a very fast time there too one year, but I can't find that result at the moment.

For anybody who's wondering if that's the bike course record - nope.
Not even close.

The incomparable Josh Beck set the LONG COURSE record at a mind-numbing 6:42 in 2010, where he biked THREE LAPS in < 4:11 -
an average lap time of < 1:24, THREE TIMES IN A ROW.

Yours Truly had the fastest Mohonk Descent of the day, at 3:01.
Next was local bike stud Jim Stafford at 3:11, and then those hipster dudes from Brooklyn at 3:19.

I don't think Rich Burke uploaded his rides to Strava, since he didn't want me to mock him for melting his brake pads the whole way down...
EDITED TO ADD: oh, wait! There he is!!!!
3:46, a new PB!! Awwww!! How cute!


And, as the official Keg Tapper of 2019, I also had the first (and second) beers of the day.

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float , hammer , and jog

That 3:46 moved me from 419th to 402nd all time on Strava. Huge jump. And, yes, my hands hurt today from holding the bars as if my life depended on it...and it did. I am that much closer to your stoopid human tricks on a bike.

Ditto on Tom and team

I crashed out and he e mailed me today to check on my injuries

When does that ever happen ?! , top man

And he offered me both Advil or a beer at 9-30

Obviously I took the beer

Smart man. 😎👍🏻

Bummer about the wreck, glad the bike’s ok, and hope you’ll soon be fully on the mend and back faster than ever.

Tom is truly one of the good guys.
We’re blessed to have him.

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float , hammer , and jog

BUMP!!!!

https://runsignup.com/...ZofingenDuathlon2020

until MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!!!! -
$100 gets you 3-10++ hours of the most Multisport fun you can have, along with amazing food from Main Street Bistro, and FREE BEER in BIG HONKIN STEINS!!!!!!!!!!!!

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float , hammer , and jog

...or a tiny stein in my case...or tiny specimen cups for those who do not place. Free beer is free beer! BTW...the Mountain Mist was perfect post race, nice selection.

Yeah, anybody who got their beer in a specimen cup now has super extra motivation to make sure to earn a BIG HONKIN STEIN next year.

Baliman is going to have his Dixie cup nailed to the wall of his pain cave for the next 363 days.

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float , hammer , and jog

First, I want to thank Tom and the crew for a great race. I also would like to thank ML for the great information and how well some random people marked the dangerous parts of the course. Here is my race report from AmZof 2019. Be forewarned, it's a little long.

https://www.endurancelab.fit/...en-2019-race-report/

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https://www.endurancelab.fit
https://www.teamodz.com
https://discuss.endurancelab.fit

Nice write up, Ian. It would have been awesome to me if my teammate(s) was(were) able to make this race, but I'm glad you were able to benefit from Ryan's donated entry slot. Your observation of the low-key nature of this race, and its difficulty, are two of my favorite things about it.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

GREAT RR!! Thx for sharing!!

LOL on the "warning light".

Yeah, I've seen and felt some pretty weird shit out there in the latter stages of the race.

See ya next year!
I'm hoping to return to the GCG and in good enough form to at least worry Rich for a *little* while.

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float , hammer , and jog

Thanks! This definitely would not have been possible without Ryan’s generosity.

ML - I will be gone for the 2020 edition, but 2021 is already on my radar if I get sent back stateside. Start getting yourself prepped so we can have an epic battle with Rich. Well, at least a battle where we keep him in sight for more than the first hill.

Ian

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https://www.endurancelab.fit
https://www.teamodz.com
https://discuss.endurancelab.fit

I'll be up around Mohonk this weekend (I have a 3 day LC redoux planned and have conned 3 friends into coming) and hear there is a swim hole somewhere local to the hairpin turn, as per the radius dot drawn around one air bnb place I was considering. Would you happen to know where said swim hole might be? I'm wondering if it mignt be nice to go fo a float after my 3 laps of bike torture.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.

I’m not aware of any swimming holes near the hairpin turn. Sorry.

Split Rock on the Coxing Kill is a popular place to cool off.
It’s a mile or 2 down Clove Rd, you park at the Preserve lot there, then walk across the street.
But - they change $$ for a day pass.

Minnewaska is another option, there’s a roped off swim area at Minne, and a “beach” (stone slab) at Awosting - but it’s 3 miles to get to the latter.

Minne charges per car, not per person, so it’s much more reasonable entry fee.

Much better than that would be to park at the lower Awosting lot, go thru the Awosting Carriageway gate, then immediately take the Mossy Glen trail to the left.
It works it’s way up a rambling river w multiple small waterfalls and swimming holes along the way.
Very nice ez hike, low effort, high payoff.


PS - excellent news!!!
They have repaved the road from where 299 ends at 44/55 (Mtn Deli, Brauhaus) all the way up to just below the final climb before the Minne gate.
It’s a pristine black ribbon of smooth awesomeness!!
ENJOY!!
😎👍🏻

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float , hammer , and jog

Hey now, what narrow tire riding cyclist doesn't love some fresh smooth pavement!

Thanks for the local rundown on options for cooling off. Much appreciated.

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To breathe, to feel, to know I'm alive.