That run looks terrible. But then HITS was such a shit show, I won't miss it.

And finally the iron brand whores will see it's not HITS fault for super cold water, high winds, and sometimes freezing rain weather. The venue is spectacular..... Doesn't matter who puts on the show. Just don't have it in dead winter!

Better a golf course I guess than a barn LOL

This So Cal guy will be fat and lazy in December 2018 2019 2020.
Finally, Ironman has done something to help me
save some money and not spend it.

A push to November or April and they might have something.

Pete

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2017 Cervelo P2
2017 Cervelo S2
itraininla.com
#itraininla

seriously....ive never quite understood it.....i ALWAYS want more california 70.3 but why does anyone want to swim in 57 degrees in december?????

Haha fat..... don’t think so

I spoke at this city council meeting in support of the event. They are trying to fill a hole in their race schedule, while filling a hole in tourism here in the valley. HITS has always been a shit show for a number of reasons, but water temp is definitely a problem. We are just hoping that they will do it once and like the venue, but change the date in the coming years. Would love it to be a November race. Either way, I am supremely excited to sleep in my own bed before WTC race on my home turf!

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Salton Sea Triathlon Club
“I swim to get to the bike. I run because nobody gives a shit about aquabike.”

Seriously... What do you think WTC will do better than HITS? They will face the same problems

The cold water, mixed with cold concrete, cold air...I can take cold up top, but when my feet get cold, forget about it! I did a sprint Turkey Tri once in Socal in November...I vowed never again. Too chilly for this CA guy.

Seriously... What do you think WTC will do better than HITS? They will face the same problems //

Mark the course so no one gets lost. If they start with that then they are miles ahead of them. Then perhaps aid stations at other than random intervals, with actual people working them. Then maybe some finish line food and drink.


As to the cold water, how about just being truthful on what it is going to be, then maybe a few lifeguards in the water? It is not that hard to prepare for cold water if you know ahead of time, and if you can't, well you don't have to enter. December races in La Quinta can be a blast, it is almost always sunny and crisp. I did that old hits race a couple times there at that time of year, and other than all the things I mentioned earlier, it was a good bit of fun!

I also did that race and aide stations were manned, with finish line food and drink plenty. Although, I'm not sure the story for people still on the course after sunset...

For starters, they might review the following thread for the long list of problems with HITS execution: Missing course marshals, missing timing mats, HIM run course .6 mi short, better traffic control, zero transition security, aid stations miles off from the published maps, etc., etc., ad nauseum.

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/forum/Slowtwitch_Forums_C1/Triathlon_Forum_F1/HITS_Palm_Springs_P6159099-2/

• Vet their course layout properly
• Clearly mark the course and man areas of possible confusion
• Provide traffic control at intersections instead of telling athletes they have to stop at all stop signs and stop lights
• Ensure safety of athletes by addressing issue of residents with loose dogs running on the course
• Have a decent number of stocked and manned aid stations
• Use a timing system that actually works and doesn’t completely drop out for every third athlete
• Route a much more interesting run course
• Reach out to the local tri community and work with local support to glean local knowledge instead of flatly ignoring all input (already happening)
• HOST ABOUT A TRILLION TIMES BETTER EVENT THAN HITS EVER HAS

Should I continue?

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Salton Sea Triathlon Club
“I swim to get to the bike. I run because nobody gives a shit about aquabike.”

• Have enough water safety personnel available to design a swim course that isn't 4 loops, in which one-third of each loop is along the shallow end of the lake allowing athletes to walk (instead of swim).
• A run course that isn't more than 3 miles short.

[My only experience at this race was doing the full in 2014]

That was bad and it has only gotten worse. It’s in my backyard so I always do it.

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Salton Sea Triathlon Club
“I swim to get to the bike. I run because nobody gives a shit about aquabike.”

Funny, cause iron brand did these screw ups in other races. Think it was boulder 70.3 that was short this year, other races people getting hit by cars, etc etc

I found my old thread from the very first HITS series race in La Quinta(Palm Springs). IT was fun to go back and read through it, some posts from Support Crew(RIP) talking about her and Joe's(Bonness) experience with Hits in Florida.

I was full of hope for that series back then, it was in my back yard at the time. Unfortunately all these years later they seem to not have gotten any more traction. Perhaps Ironman can do a bit better, then we can really see if there is a market for a Dec. race in Southern CA.

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/..._two_races_P3663911/

It's clear you don't like Ironman. While IM has made most of those mistakes across dozens of races over the years, HITS managed to make them all in a single race. That is THE difference and why HITS has shriveled into irrelevance.

You don’t seem to have a good sense of where your feelings stop, and objectivity starts. Go to an IM then go to a HITS event. If you can’t see the difference staring you in the face, you may need to adjust your electrolyte intake, just a bit. Or you’re just trolling with your blatantly disingenuous remarks.

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Salton Sea Triathlon Club
“I swim to get to the bike. I run because nobody gives a shit about aquabike.”

been to both... just a price difference in my eyes, and yes IM may have a more stacked field due to prize money, but that is all

That is demonstrably NOT “all”

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Salton Sea Triathlon Club
“I swim to get to the bike. I run because nobody gives a shit about aquabike.”

Interesting move....

I guess they wan to try out if enough people jump on a race where production cost is lower, making up for the possibly lower customer revenue stream.

We will see how that turns out, but my guess is that race will be profitable, and giving other winter races there the death knell is an added bonus.

They count on the Lemmings, who can be counted on.

OK, cmon. Why lemmings? I am based in LA. I dunno if I'll race it but let's say I decide to do a 70.3 or so late in the season without doing too much travel.
My choices are:

1. Cabo 70.3 - about 2hrs flight, with the distinct possibility of some poor schmuck's corpse being hung from the underpass that I'd be riding thru.
2. Arizona 70.3 - an option, but if I am getting into Tempe fuckin' lake, it'd better be for a Kona slot..
3. Superfrog - also an option.

That's it. So if I wanna race in November, my options are in the midst of the gang warfare, or in Florida or worse. Palm Springs make sense as a replacement for Silverman. No real 3rd party options, except for HITS, with all the warts. What else you got?

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Next races on the schedule: none at the moment

why havent you done this race? http://www.trickortri.com/

for lemmings meant ironbrand only races.

also if you allow superfrog on your radar that opens more 70.3 possibilites. santa cruz, chula vista challenge

The problem with Trick or Tri (and Chula Vista) is the bike course. The ToT features 7 loops for the 70.3, mixed with the Olympic/Sprint folks, entering, exiting, all at different speeds. It sucks, with it being close to traffic being the only redeeming quality. Chula Vista has 4 loops, which is a little bit less sucky, but still. The run course consisting of 3-4 loops is not too terrible. The 70.3 options at both races drawing 100-120 participants every year is another negative.

Santa Cruz 70.3 is definitely an option but it is pretty early in Fall when you have more options.

Again, a December race in Palm Springs might be a total bust, but I think that it will draw enough interest from both the local and the snowbirds.

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Next races on the schedule: none at the moment