I think that your dates are off

The 23rd Tinman Triathlon will be held Saturday, June 14, 2003
Long course start 8:30 a.m.
International course start 9:30 a.m.

Course Closing: Course will be considered closed and no further support provided after last participant passes or at 4:00 PM, which ever comes sooner

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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

On their website which is www.witriseries.com. The date for the the Wisconsin Dells Tinman is June 29th and there is no international distance race attached with it. I do not know if there are other Wisconsin races run by another group. I am coming up from Alabama to visit family and found this race via the chicagoaa.com website. This race is in Baraboo, WI. If you can tell me anything about this race it would be appreciated. Thanks.



Craig

Actually you're both right. The Menomonie "Tinman" is on the 14th and the Wisconsin Dells "Tin Man" is on the 29th. Different races...lots of tin.

Menomonie Tinman Triathlon
Menomonie WI
Long 1.5, 58.5, 20k - International 3/4, 32.9, 10k
Contact: 715-664-6428

Wisconsin Dells Tin Man
Mirror Lake State Park
1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run
Contact: Jenny Rilling 608-441-2464

Check out this Midwest Events link:

http://www.midwestevents.com/php/triPage.php3?rl=0&SID=

No, you've got the right date (it better be, since that's when I'm going to be there). It's officially called the Wisconsin Dell's Tin Man Triathlon, not to be confused with the Tinman Triathlon in Deerfield, IL on 6/14. I believe the Dell's Tin Man is a first year event. Their website has maps of the course: http://www.witriseries.com/

I did the Lake Mills tri last year and it was very well done, so I expect the Tin Man to be the same.

Dave in WI,

Thanks for the information. Do you live near the course? Have you ridden on it? I know they have maps attached on there site but it does not give all that great of a perspective on the course. I am hoping it is going to be hilly since that is what I need for the Ironman I am planning to do later this year. Thanks again and I hope to meet you at the race. As I had stated earlier I am coming up from Alabama so I look forward to doing this race. Thanks.



Craig

Craig,

I'll be there, too, also prepping for IM Moo. I haven't ridden the course yet, but the area is definitely rolling and scenic, probably very similar to the IM Moo course (which I rode 2 weeks ago and it's very cool).

The Tri Series folks know what they're doing. I'm sure they'll put on a great race, although their web site doesn't have a lot of info (nothing on aid stations, bottle exhanges, food and drink on the course, etc.). I may give them a call with a few questions.

Good luck. I'm sure it'll be fun.

-- Big EE

Craig,

My beginning in the sport can be correlated to a very well run race put on up at Devil's Lake, WI back in '94. I participated in that race for a few years (until 2000 I believe), and also participated in their Madison Triathlon Classic. Both are great middle sized races (not sure how many people do them know, but I think Devil's Lake used to be about 300 participants or so).

Jenny puts on a great race, and while this is the first year for their 1/2 IM, I am sure the years of putting on other races, and watching the fiascos of other races (read: Lake Geneva Extreme) have taught them how to make this a first class race.

As far as the area, I'm not sure where the exact location is, but there are ALOT of rolling hills in that part of WI. I would expect the course to sort of emulate the IM MOO bike course, with lots of short little climbs, turns, etc. that make it challenging without really showing it on paper.

Good luck,

~ Craig Preston

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Craig Preston - President / Preston Presentations
Saving the world with more professional, powerful, and persuasive presentations - one audience at a time.

As said before, this is the inaugural race at this location. I live about 30 minutes away and plan on doing a course recon on June 21st. I think T-T-N has ridden most of the course, and from what he says, the terrain is similar to MOO. He said many of the roads are narrow, with trees lining each side making it seem as if you're riding in a tunnel. I'll give my course report for those interested prior to the race.

Craig,

No, I haven't ridden that exact course yet, but I know the area and it is indeed hilly (and beautiful, I might add). It should be a perfect tune-up for IMMOO.

I'll be the extremely bald guy with the beautiful 19?? Pararmount bike. Be kind, this will be my first half!

Dave in WI,

I just spoke with Jenny the race director. It is indeed a first year race which should make Dan Empfield happy that we are taking part in a first year race. It sounds like a pretty challenging run also as she described it being partially on trails. Sounds cool to me... I will be the one on a QR Private Reserve. Do not worry about me this is my first half also. Actually this will be my first triathlon back after about a 10 year lay-off of tris. Please introduce yourself you see me and my bike. Good luck...



Craig

Big EE,



I did speak with Jenny today and she told me that there will be gatorade and water and the bike aid stations and sounds like mostly gatorade products on the run also.

Dan should like the fact that we are taking part in a first year race. Jenny was informative on the course. She did tell me that the swim is in a shallow lake and will probably not allow wetsuits and that it also will be pea-green looking from all the duck weed. Oh well, I will bring my new wetsuit anyway. I will be the guy from Alabama on a QR Private Reserve. If you see me please come up and introduce yourself. Good luck.....



Craig

Heck, I may have to go up to Tin Man and play too...

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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

When I spoke with Jenny the race director she said that she still had slots open. So, come on. It will be fun. Maybe we should all get purple singlets and race in a pack. Just kidding. Hope to meet you there.



Craig

Yeah, the lake is supposed to be really shallow, but I'll be a little surprised if it tops 78 degrees by then. I live an hour away, and we haven't hit 80 degrees since May 9. It's still getting very chilly at night here and there are no warm fronts on the horizon.

I'm half expecting it to be wetsuit legal, but I'm gonna do a lot of swimming this month just in case they don't let me have my security blanket.

Good luck. I'll be the tall guy with the buzz cut riding the big red Cervelo with Hed Jets on it.

Big EE

I called my doctor - she said "You are going to do what ever you feel like no matter what I say anyways"...so I guess that means that I have permission...I think I need to sign up.

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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

Look forward to seeing yall there. Good luck to all that decided to do the race..... BTW where are people staying? When I spoke with Jenny she told me that the hotels were sold out and that only the Casino still had rooms at $95 bucks I was not real thrilled about that. Does anyone know if the campground is pretty nice? Thinking I might just plant down there. If anyone has any info on the campground let me know. Thanks..



Craig

I rode the course last week. No big climbs. Quite a few rollers and something like 2 or 3 pretty short steep guys (per loop) which may take you out of the saddle for last few meters. Some of the hills play a nasty trick on you. After you crest and start to hammer down hill you come to either a "T" intersection or curve and have to really lay on the breaks. Also the road is pretty rough in parts - almost makes me want to wear a tooth guard.

If I recall correctly, after you turn off Horken onto South you can really crank it up for a few miles since the over all profile is down hill to Coon Bluff road. Overall the course should not be boring. Now pea green water and trail run scare me a bit. Any word on how much of the run is actually on trails and what condition the trails are in?

The campground at Mirror Lake State Park is fine. There are others around the Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton area too. Just do a search. Also, if interested in hotels, try nearby towns such as Baraboo and Reedsburg. They are less than 20 minutes driving time from Mirror Lake Park.

I grew up around 15 minutes away from the park so these roads and the lake is quite familiar. I would be ready for swimming in some murky, possibly green water. It all depends on the type of weather that area gets in June. It will heat up fast if it gets warm in the next weeks, as it was said before, the lake is quite shallow. The roads that the bike travels on are a little rough--in rough, I mean they have those perpendicular cracks running across the road--this will be evident on Reedsburg Rd, unless they have completed some repair work in the last 1-2 years. The roads will be narrow country roads with an evident crown in the road. The course will be a mixture of all . . . flats, rolling, a and a few good hills. It should be quite fun. It looks like the run will be using some of the cross-country ski trails. These are grassy, wide trails. There should be some shady parts on the trail, as well as on Fern Dell Road. If I remember right (memory a little fuzzy) there is a couple of hills on Fern Dell as you are coming back to the park.

Have fun. It should be a good time.

RC

Off road running? Hmmmmmm....



I will split the hotel with anyone at the Casino...but I wont split my winnings (from the Casino silly, not the race)

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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?

I'll be there too.

From what I hear this Jenny is a hotty and runs excellent races.

This will be my first half also.

I'll be riding a Cervelo P3 painted like a Lemond.

See ya there!

The Dells Tin Man will be my first half too - I'm a little nervous at the talk of no wetsuits. Does that mean I have to actually practice swimming? :)

I understand.... I just got a new T1 wetsuit and want to use it.. Guess I am going to have to start practicing the swim also. I guess we can all pray for a cold front to come through before the race and cool it down.... Oh well.. Never swam in pea soup before so this should be fun... See ya'll there. Just registered so I am committed now. Or is it should be committed.



Craig

I am actually looking forward to the trails... When I spoke with Jenny this morning it sounds like maybe 4 to 6 miles will be on trails since we will do the loop twice. See yall there.. I am more worried about the bumpy roads. Oh well.....

Craig

I will be on a Softride Rocket TT7 with Record10 and Zipp 909's...wearing a IronMan Lake Placid outfit...we should all meet up for dinner on Sat.

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What if the Hokey Pokey is what it is all about?