I think compartively California/SF Bay Area, has plenty of races of almost all distances. Assuming your are willing to drive a couple hours.

Just off of the top of my head: SJ international/MTB, Big Kahuna, Sentinel, Folsom Int, Tri for Fun Series, Uvas, Escape (2x), Tri-One, Pac Grove, Montery Bay, Wildflower, Windman, World's toughest 1/2, Vineman, Caliman. I'm sure there's more.

Probably 1/2 of those races don't fill up. Wildflower is the major exception ... registration is CRAZY, its like a national triathlon mecca, or something silly like that.

I only race 5-6 Tri's a season, so this is plenty for me. We could probably use another 1/2 and full ironman but I'm not gonna complain when I can drive less than 1 hour to 9-10 races a year.

My friends dad did IM Hawaii in 1983 and while chatting with him once I remember how funny he thought it was when I asked him where he qualified. 'You just sent in money and the race entry form a month or so before the race and you were in - not that many people were interested in doing this type of thing.'

Fast forward to now where IMNA sanctioned races sell out in 24 hours for the following year, the day after the race concludes. The one exception is the Oceanside, CA race, one of two IM Hawaii qualifiers at the 1/2 IM distance in CA.

I would argue that CA has the best choices and the most races, it is the overall popularity of the sport that has yeilded demand that far exceeds the once abundant supply. New races keep popping up; CalMan, World's toughest 1/2, Big Kahuna...as far as access to these races, it is only a matter of time before they are just as hard to get into as wildflower is now. The sport is not getting less popular, as much as it sucks, it is a matter of having to commit at least 6-9 months in advance.

"Probably 1/2 of those races don't fill up. Wildflower is the major exception ... registration is CRAZY, its like a national triathlon mecca, or something silly like that. "

Well, the Wildflower long course just sold out. Slots were still available on Jan 3rd. Very odd...

re: Bay Area races, there are a ton, but there could be more in more interesting locations. Del Valle reservoir in Livermore would be a great venue for a long course event - could rival Wildflower in difficulty, but the location is much more accessable than Lake San Antonio. Alameda County just hasn't bought in to this concept yet.

It would also be nice to see more olympic distance races - I think that market is a bit underserved here.

>>Just off of the top of my head: SJ international/MTB, Big Kahuna, Sentinel, Folsom Int, Tri for Fun Series, Uvas, Escape (2x), Tri-One, Pac Grove, Montery Bay, Wildflower, Windman, World's toughest 1/2, Vineman, Caliman. I'm sure there's more.

Probably 1/2 of those races don't fill up.<<

You are kidding, right????

SJIT: Sells out in advance (MTB doesn't, but then that's an entirely different race)

Sentinel: Sells out in advance

Tri for Fun (Pleasanton): Sells out in advance (all three races); this for a series that doesn't even keep results or gives awards

UVAS: Sells out in advance

Alcatraz: Both sell out in advance; Escape now has lottery and qualifying races to get in

PacGrove: Sells out in advance

Wildflower: Both LC and Oly sold out

Half Vineman: Sells out in advance

One big problem here is venue. There are some great venues, but local counties/park districts won't allow events. The venues being used are at their local community limit, i.e., it would be very hard to add additional days and get permits.

clm

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

>>Del Valle reservoir in Livermore would be a great venue for a long course event - could rival Wildflower in difficulty, but the location is much more accessable than Lake San Antonio. Alameda County just hasn't bought in to this concept yet.<<

Hi John!

Yeah, Mark at On Your Mark has tried for many years to have a race at Del Valle and in fact, had one on the schedule for last year, but had to cancel it when EBMUD wouldn't give a permit.

clm

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

Mike Pigg put on his Dare (500-8-3) and Double Dare (1000-16-6) races at Del Valle this year and I don’t think there were 200 participants between the 2 races. The price was high for a first time sprint $90 and $110. There was also an adventure race the day before but I don’t know how that went. It could have been a big race if he publicized it some. I wanted to volunteer but there wasn’t even a phone number or a contact on the web site. The only reason I knew there was a race was the flyer in the ½ Vineman race bag. When there is a new race in your hometown and you don’t even know about it, that promoter has some PR problems. I think the Bay Area promoters are used to, "if you build it they will come".

Cathy, when are you going to come out to ride in Livermore again with JohnA, Stu, Lon and me? After the last ride you threatened to out me as a Slowtwick lurker. We swim and ride every Sunday.

Dave

Wow, I didn't even know about that race, so you know it was a well-kept secret.

Another problem I see is that there are a few races in June, then a clump of races in August/September, but not much in July (Donner and TFF?). By September, lots of people are mentally and cash-burned out. You're right about the high cost of sprints (Olys too). I'm still amazed that it cost me $10 to bike race last Sunday.

I'll be out soon. Let me get a few more miles in my legs so you boys don't drop me in the first 5 miles. And, I know Stu will yell at me about my (lack of) swimming.

clm

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

Here is the link to the web site http://www.vineman.com/pigg_race.html It was just a link on the Vineman site.

It’s base building time so it won't be that fast. With the Crit experience you now have you should be dropping us. I tired a few of the cat 5 early birds last year. I left with a broken helmet and a concussion. That was just from the warm up. I don't think I will be back any time soon. I am enough of a danger by myself without being surrounded by 100 others taking high-speed corners.

Dave

You may want to check the races organized by BytheBeachProduction in Santa Cruz county. They almost doubled the number of events (mainly by adding Duathlons) from last year. Very solid organization.

http://www.bythebeachproductions.com/