2020 Ironman 70.3 @ Santa Rosa May 9th - final nail in the coffin for Wildflower? I hope not

Triathlon Forum
1

There is no word on Wildflower for 2020. Yet IM just confirmed the 1/2 distance @ Santa Rosa as May 9th.
I don’t see how Wildflower can attract enough participants for the first weekend in May with IM Santa Rosa competing for the next weekend.
Such a shame b/c the WF course and experience are far better than the Santa Rosa 1/2 IMO.
Why?

  • Logistically, Santa Rosa is a PIA. Lodging is very far from race site. You need to leave your bike in transition the day before. And you need to use the shuttle to get to race start. Worse still - it’s a point to point.
  • WF is a better overall experience IMO, esp hanging out with friends and camping during the race.
  • Remarkable how May races are essentially perfect timing - kids still in school and likely no external commitments.
2

I’ve done both the full Vineman (pre-IM) and WF. I agree with you that 70.3 SR being in early May doesn’t bode well for WF. However, I’m not sure I share the same love for WF. Frankly, camping has zero appeal to me and having to come in from Paso or some other place on race morning is a PITA. The two transition setup of SR is definitely less than ideal, but overall I still think that WF is logistically a far bigger PITA for me. I already signed up for 2020 70.3 SR yesterday.