Brian I did IM Choo last year and know you put on a great race so I am really looking forward to it.

Ps, killing some of those hills on the run would be appreciated!

I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn (311 Chestnut) for $230 a night. It's 2 blocks to the IM Village and Transition, and tons of restaurants.

I have a res there next year for the 70.3 in May and the WC.

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Proud Member of Chris McDonald's 2018 Big Sexy Race Team "That which doesn't kill me, will only make me stronger"
Blog-Twitter-Instagram-Race Reports - 2018 Races: IM Florida 70.3, IM Raleigh 70.3, IM 70.3 World Championships - South Africa, IM North Carolina 70.3

$229 at Residence Inn 215 chestnut for the 70.3 this year. Like above, excellent race location

Not a hotel question, but any idea on whether bike check-in would be day before the race or two days out? Most 70.3 races are day before, but I think the 70.3 WC at Tremblant was 2 days.

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Blog: http://262toboylstonstreet.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/NateThomasTri
Coaching: https://bybtricoaching.com/ - accepting athletes for 2023

It has to be the day before since the men and women race on different days. Unless they have two separate transition areas, it will have to be a late check in for the men since we will have to wait for the women's bikes to be removed.

With the women's race the day before I'd say 2 days is out. Maybe the day before but later in the day.

I'm local, so I can give you more information than those that have only raced. First and foremost, checkout https://rootsrated.com/ironman-chattanooga. It has lots of great information. Second, I think people are nuts to drive from Atlanta or Nashville to only save a few dollars on flights. Both Nashville and Atlanta can get very congested plus you will need to arrive 2 hours or more early for your flight. In Chattanooga you can get there 30 minutes before the flight and be fine. It's not worth the hassle for a few dollars. Third, almost every hotel in downtown Chattanooga will be fine. I would recommend any hotel north of MLK Boulevard. Fourth, the temperature and humidity can be high. I believe the race is the second weekend in September. That is usually when the summer heat starts to break. This year was hot. For instance, September 10th was 95F for a high with the humidity at 81 percent. Other years it has been lower. Finally, the course will be different the IM Chattanooga or IM Chattanooga 70.3. I've been told it will be going over Lookout Mountain which I think is awesome! But who knows (other than Brian).

Congratulations and enjoy our awesome city!

P.S. Make sure to follow Brian. He knows what he is talking about. :)

I know a lot of people are saying to fly into Nash or ATL. In my experience with Delta, it is cheaper to fly into CHA than ATL. I fly back home a couple times a year from SLC and it is always cheaper to fly into CHA than ATL even though it is the same flight.

Food check out Taco Mamacitas as well.

All I can say is it was way cheaper and direct flights to ATL vs. more $$$ and connections to Chatt, travel time was less to fly + drive for less than fly direct to Chatt. Just my experience. Folks obviously just need to check airfare and connections from their homes for the right time of year

Any idea if the swim is more than likely to be non wetsuit?, may well start looking for a swim skin in the off season.

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It's only impossible if you stop to think about it.

Definitely more likely to be NON wetsuit. The full that is at the end of September is usually non wetsuit.

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Proud Member of Chris McDonald's 2018 Big Sexy Race Team "That which doesn't kill me, will only make me stronger"
Blog-Twitter-Instagram-Race Reports - 2018 Races: IM Florida 70.3, IM Raleigh 70.3, IM 70.3 World Championships - South Africa, IM North Carolina 70.3

So does anyone have any idea what the schedule is going to look like with a 2 day event now? Can men check into the race on Saturday or do we have to be there on Friday to check in?

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Only RD Brian knows for sure, but at Vegas Worlds there was no athlete check the day before the race. In Australia there was. With a 2 day event, I would doubt they would offer Male athlete checkin the day before as that is when the Women's race is.

I would anticipate that Friday would be the last day for any Athlete check in. I'll be there Thursday anyways.

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Proud Member of Chris McDonald's 2018 Big Sexy Race Team "That which doesn't kill me, will only make me stronger"
Blog-Twitter-Instagram-Race Reports - 2018 Races: IM Florida 70.3, IM Raleigh 70.3, IM 70.3 World Championships - South Africa, IM North Carolina 70.3

Yeah I would be surprised if they let us check in on Saturday with the women's race the same day. Just trying to figure out travel schedule and vacation time.

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I agree with this. Check the flights into CHA and avoid all the major hassles associated with the major airports (long security lines, etc.) in Nashville and Atlanta and then fighting traffic for 100+ miles. CHA is a small airport and so easy to get into and out of. Your sanity is worth the cost.

In Zell last year they raced the 70.3 on the Saturday and then racked the W.C 70.3 later the same day. Same transition but the bike racking was split in two.

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It's only impossible if you stop to think about it.

Not sure if folks noticed but IM posted accommodations on the event website. I was able to snag a room downtown at the doubletree.

http://www.ironman.com/...p/accomodations.aspx

https://mmxreservations.com/...2017IRONMAN70.3WORLD

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Yep, the official travel partners and now offering a selection of different hotels and packages.

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It's only impossible if you stop to think about it.

At IMChoo 2014 I booked the Doubletree for 3 nights for $600 total.

At Choo 70.3 in 2015 I know the hotels downtown wanted a 2-3 night minimum stay.

For Choo 70.3 in 2016 & 2017 I've stayed at the Courtyard right next to transition for 2 nights for $500.

For IMChoo 2016 I had 3 nights at the Marriot Convention center for ~$600. The closer hotels wanted 3 nights for over $300 a night. I just used the rental bikes to get around pre-race and after the race rode my bike back to the hotel.

For the WC 70.3 I booked a room a the Chattanooga Choo Choo for 3 nights for $600 total. I'm from Atlanta and haven't attempted to qualify for it yet, but I figure even if I don't I want to go up there and watch it.

From what I gather, there's an ample amount of parking available on race day, so the need to stay within walking distance of the race isn't that crucial. I also have yet to qualify, but am thinking of reserving a room outside of the downtown area and just driving in on race morning.

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Blog: http://262toboylstonstreet.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/NateThomasTri
Coaching: https://bybtricoaching.com/ - accepting athletes for 2023

There is plenty of parking. That being said, downtown Chattanooga is pretty fun. If it's your first time to the city I'd suggest the Choo Choo, Covention Center, Staybridge Suites. It's still downtown but usually not as expensive.

I'm staying downtown for both 70.3s but for the full this year I'm going to stay around hamilton

That's true, but it is really nice to stay downtown. You literally don't have to drive all weekend if you don't want to. Transition, IM Village, tons of restaurants are right there, like 2 blocks.

I can only think of a couple of venues that I have raced that are like that. Kona is and Challenge Knoxville was a 3/4 mile walk to swim start, so maybe just one.

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Proud Member of Chris McDonald's 2018 Big Sexy Race Team "That which doesn't kill me, will only make me stronger"
Blog-Twitter-Instagram-Race Reports - 2018 Races: IM Florida 70.3, IM Raleigh 70.3, IM 70.3 World Championships - South Africa, IM North Carolina 70.3

Not knowing when they'll let us check in and coming from the west coast, I booked 5 nights at the Hilton Garden Inn and it was like $1,600. Cancelable. Looks like they're gouging for the weekend (no surprise). The first two nights are at $200 and then the price jumps to $300 for Fri, Sat & Sun. Will check out some other options.

Gouging is an understatement...

Most of the hotels I've checked in the downtown area (mostly IHG brand) are "unavailable for that weekend". I never saw them become "available", though. I'm booking for 4 nights, but will cancel that extra night if we don't need to check in until Friday.

Yeah, I booked the Hilton Garden Inn back in September before WTC/Visitors Bureau scooped up all the rooms. I booked 4 nights: Thur/Sun was $219, but Fri/Sat was only $229.

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Proud Member of Chris McDonald's 2018 Big Sexy Race Team "That which doesn't kill me, will only make me stronger"
Blog-Twitter-Instagram-Race Reports - 2018 Races: IM Florida 70.3, IM Raleigh 70.3, IM 70.3 World Championships - South Africa, IM North Carolina 70.3