I’ll be doing 70.3 StG on May 6th. I read the athlete guide but still have lingering questions. It will be my first time doing this race and first time doing a split transition race, so there are a lot of unknowns for me.
Spectator shuttle
The athlete guide mentions spectators can take the shuttle from 5:30 - 6:30 am but there’s no mention of the shuttle running back to town. What times and with what frequency do shuttles run back to town for spectators.T1 gear
How do I get everything left in T1 back (wetsuit and other swim gear, etc.)? Do I have to travel there? If so, are there shuttles or can I drive?Water temperature
The Sand Hollow State Park website says today’s water temperature is 57F. I’ve never raced in water this cold. Is it unusual for athletes to use thermal swim gear (caps and booties)? The guide says gloves are not permitted but booties are permitted in water below 65 F. I’m assuming thermal caps are permitted as long as the swim cap fits on top?Descent out of Snow Canyon
How steep is the descent, e.g. light pedaling, no pedaling and coasting for 10 miles? I’m trying estimate my effort level during the bike. Obviously the climb up Snow Canyon is difficult but I’m curious to know more about the descent.I’d also appreciate any advice folks might have. Thanks!
Spectators are brought back after the last swimmer is on the bike.
The water is cold! I like a thermal cap, but many just wear a second race style cap. Booties depends on fit. I’ve never used or needed them.
Your T1 gear will be brought to the finish area.
The decent from Snow Canyon is fairly straight. Some of it is fairly steep, other parts you will need to pedal. You may way want to slow a bit making the left onto Diagonal.
I believe you pack the bag at T1 before you get on your bike, leave it at your rack, and it gets transported back to the finish.
Per snow canyon, it’s free speed, go as fast as you comfortably can back into town. Also, the snow canyon climb in not bad. Not sure where you’re coming from and what the local climbs in your area are like, but it’s really not too steep. Maybe one small section, but really the whole thing just gradually goes. The gorgeous scenery makes it “easier”.
I will say, the run is the hardest part of that race. First 2-3mi is essentially a climb. Lots of downhill, take advantage of that, you will be feeling your quads big time the day after the race.
I did the full last year, but I assume the answers to your questions will be the same for the 70.3, so here goes…
Re: Spectators – I didn’t have anyone with me spectating, but I think this one was answered above.
Re: T1 Gear – Everything was transported back to the finish line area (downtown) for us, then we picked it up after the race. It all worked incredibly smoothly. After finish, have some food, cheer for others, whenever you’re ready to go, pick up your bike and transition bags.
Re: Water temp – It was pretty cold (below 60, I don’t remember exactly) for the practice swim on Thursday, but by race day it had warmed up to the low 60’s, so it wasn’t too bad. I ended up wearing two caps, but probably would have been fine in one. Hopefully it’s warm enough there this week to warm that water up for you!
Re: Snow Canyon descent – Like was said above, the descent is pretty low-effort. You’ll end up going plenty fast just coasting most of it. It feels so nice to give the legs a break after the climb. You may want to soft-pedal a bit just to keep the legs moving though.
Spectators: Wouldn’t advise them going to the start. Will take a while to get back.
T1 Gear: Don’t worry about it. You put everything in a clear bag and hand it to a volunteer. Pick up at the finish line area post race.
Water Temp: Should be in the low-60s. Maybe think about thermal gear. I like the cooler temps.
Descent: It’s a flyer. There are some bumps where you have to do some normal pedaling but you’re not gonna work a ton in that last stretch.
What’s not mentioned? The run. It’s a very honest course that should run a few minutes slower than the flatter courses out there. The climb up diagonal is a false flat and you should be slow there. The bike beats you up. Make sure not to go out too fast on the run. Dial into effort. Take advantage of the downhills but you can only do that if you’re not focused on hitting a certain pace in the opening few miles. Let the splits fall wherever they fall.
Personally I wouldn’t bother having your family go to the swim start. It’s a lot of effort for them to see you come out of the water and leave on your bike. Spectating in town on the run course is fun though, and they’ll see you multiple times.
In October the water temp was about the same as it is now. I didn’t do anything special for the swim but I did wear gloves, arm warmers, a vest and toe covers on the bike. By the time I hit Snow Canyon I was pretty warm, but got chilly again on the descent back into town. Probably could’ve done without the vest but I was glad to have everything else on.
The descent from Snow Canyon is pretty epic. Not steep but big long descents and lots of sections where I was spinning out. There are some flats and small climbs but it’s mostly very low-effort. Make sure you’re comfortable handling your TT bike at high speeds, as you can easily be well over 40mph for extended periods. Fortunately the roads are in good condition and I believe everything on the descent is closed to traffic.
As others have mentioned, be prepared for a slow start to the run. Diagonal Street is a long false flat and the golf course has some punchy hills and mixed terrain to keep it interesting, then you get the benefit of the downhill back into town which feels awesome.
I’m staying north of Sand Hollow. Are we able to get dropped off anywhere near the main gates of the Swim Start (not parking, just a quick jump out of the car) or do they shut down the road into that whole area. We only have one car there and I would like my wife to have it the rest of the day. And would prefer not to have her or me drive all the way down to St. George just to take a shuttle all the way back to where I just was. Fine with a mile or two walk as a warmup so also okay if that means ducking into the neighborhood across from the opening or coming around that highway on the other side of the reservoir. Just didn’t know if anyone was aware if any roads near the site are close to non-Shuttle vehicles.
I’ll be doing 70.3 StG on May 6th. I read the athlete guide but still have lingering questions. It will be my first time doing this race and first time doing a split transition race, so there are a lot of unknowns for me.
Spectator shuttle
The athlete guide mentions spectators can take the shuttle from 5:30 - 6:30 am but there’s no mention of the shuttle running back to town. What times and with what frequency do shuttles run back to town for spectators.T1 gear
How do I get everything left in T1 back (wetsuit and other swim gear, etc.)? Do I have to travel there? If so, are there shuttles or can I drive?Water temperature
The Sand Hollow State Park website says today’s water temperature is 57F. I’ve never raced in water this cold. Is it unusual for athletes to use thermal swim gear (caps and booties)? The guide says gloves are not permitted but booties are permitted in water below 65 F. I’m assuming thermal caps are permitted as long as the swim cap fits on top?Descent out of Snow Canyon
How steep is the descent, e.g. light pedaling, no pedaling and coasting for 10 miles? I’m trying estimate my effort level during the bike. Obviously the climb up Snow Canyon is difficult but I’m curious to know more about the descent.I’d also appreciate any advice folks might have. Thanks!
Regarding the spectator shuttle, I’d be a little wary. It may not be worth it. When I did the WC back in October, the shuttles left from downtown St. George and they didn’t let spectators on until the last athletes departed. So the line for the spectators was really long and then the bus ride itself is about a half hour. My brother, who came to watch me, reported that the return line wasn’t as bad, but there was still a bit of a wait before departing. And then we couldn’t find each other at the swim start, even though I was there for about 2 hours before I got in the water. So my brother basically spent a lot of time traveling to and from the swim start just so he could cheer me on for five seconds after I came out of the water. I felt guilty and if I were doing it all over again I would have just had him sleep in and go straight to T2. The run course is very spectator friendly.
As for the descent out of Snow Canyon, I think a lot depends on your comfort with speed. I don’t really like going much beyond 30 mph so I did a lot of coasting and light pedaling. It’s definitely a chance to recover. It was cold when we raced and I was glad I had a long-sleeved jersey on because I wasn’t working much those last eight miles or so.
Best of luck! It’s a great race and Snow Canyon is so beautiful that the pain of the climb is worth it.
I’m staying north of Sand Hollow. Are we able to get dropped off anywhere near the main gates of the Swim Start (not parking, just a quick jump out of the car) or do they shut down the road into that whole area. We only have one car there and I would like my wife to have it the rest of the day. And would prefer not to have her or me drive all the way down to St. George just to take a shuttle all the way back to where I just was. Fine with a mile or two walk as a warmup so also okay if that means ducking into the neighborhood across from the opening or coming around that highway on the other side of the reservoir. Just didn’t know if anyone was aware if any roads near the site are close to non-Shuttle vehicles.
Thanks.
I read elsewhere that someone observed athletes getting dropped off near the park entrance and the police told athletes to get back in their vehicles and take the shuttle to T1.
I’m staying north of Sand Hollow. Are we able to get dropped off anywhere near the main gates of the Swim Start (not parking, just a quick jump out of the car) or do they shut down the road into that whole area. We only have one car there and I would like my wife to have it the rest of the day. And would prefer not to have her or me drive all the way down to St. George just to take a shuttle all the way back to where I just was. Fine with a mile or two walk as a warmup so also okay if that means ducking into the neighborhood across from the opening or coming around that highway on the other side of the reservoir. Just didn’t know if anyone was aware if any roads near the site are close to non-Shuttle vehicles.
Thanks.
I raced St. George three times in the last two years. It’s a definite no on getting to the swim start without the shuttle unless you’re in a camper nearby. It’s a well oiled machine in terms of logistics. Unless your family really, really wants to see the swim, it’s probably not worth it. Lots of viewing spots in town to see the end of the bike and up to four times on the run.
I’m staying north of Sand Hollow. Are we able to get dropped off anywhere near the main gates of the Swim Start (not parking, just a quick jump out of the car) or do they shut down the road into that whole area. We only have one car there and I would like my wife to have it the rest of the day. And would prefer not to have her or me drive all the way down to St. George just to take a shuttle all the way back to where I just was. Fine with a mile or two walk as a warmup so also okay if that means ducking into the neighborhood across from the opening or coming around that highway on the other side of the reservoir. Just didn’t know if anyone was aware if any roads near the site are close to non-Shuttle vehicles.
Thanks.
I read elsewhere that someone observed athletes getting dropped off near the park entrance and the police told athletes to get back in their vehicles and take the shuttle to T1.
Do you know where they were turning people around (I assume at the park entrance)? It’s a 1.2 mile walk to the boat ramp from the place we’re staying so I was just going to walk there in the morning. Seems pretty stupid to have to drive into town just to travel 1.2 miles down the road.
The Water temperature was 60 on Monday, but the weather is cooling down considerably the rest of the week, and the wind picking up- so it could be anywhere from 56-60 ish.
Race day forecast looks perfect for racing- hope it happens that way!
I’m staying north of Sand Hollow. Are we able to get dropped off anywhere near the main gates of the Swim Start (not parking, just a quick jump out of the car) or do they shut down the road into that whole area. We only have one car there and I would like my wife to have it the rest of the day. And would prefer not to have her or me drive all the way down to St. George just to take a shuttle all the way back to where I just was. Fine with a mile or two walk as a warmup so also okay if that means ducking into the neighborhood across from the opening or coming around that highway on the other side of the reservoir. Just didn’t know if anyone was aware if any roads near the site are close to non-Shuttle vehicles.
Thanks.
I stayed much closer to Sand Hollow than St. George and ultimately decided to take the shuttle. It’s not ideal, but the parking in St. George is easy and the shuttle process is very smooth. You just have to get up extra early. My memory is that there is only one real road into Sand Hollow and they block it off from quite a distance. I may have seen a couple of people walking in, but there sure weren’t many. I thought it was kind of silly to drive 15-20 minutes just so I could jump on a shuttle and spend thirty minutes going back to where I started, but if I were racing again I would still take the shuttle. It stress free and there’s something to be said for that.
What is the recommendation for bike pumps at transition? Look to borrow one or worth bringing one on the shuttle and trying to hand it off to family member?
What is the recommendation for bike pumps at transition? Look to borrow one or worth bringing one on the shuttle and trying to hand it off to family member?
As I recall there were plenty in transition on race morning. No need to bring one.
I recall that too. The race had some stationed around the perimeter of transition for everyone to use (use those as soon as you get to transition to avoid the last-minute rush), and there were also people who had brought their own who were generously letting others use them.
Thanks everyone for their replies and additional questions/feedback, I really appreciate it. Sometimes I wish Slowtwitch had Facebook-style likes or Reddit-style up votes so it’s more obvious that I’m thanking all posts.
Based on what I’ve heard, I’ve decided on the following:
I will advise my family not to go to the swim start and just stay in town.I’m not 100% clear on how my T1 gear will be handled, but it sounds like I stuff it all in a bag before leaving on my bike.Water temp will be on the cooler side. Despite the recent hot weather, highs (air temp) will be in the 60s on Thursday and around 70 on race day. So I will anticipate the water temp will be 60 or below.Snow Canyon decent looks like fun…unless it’s windy, I imagine.I appreciate the run leg insight. It’s my strongest leg, so it was of the least concern to me. I do have issues with the stress and force of steep downhills, but I’ll be using Alphaflys, the cushiest shoe I’ve ever raced in.
Looking at the weather, it seems like Saturday will have a low of 50, rising to 63 around noon and topping out at 71 in the afternoon. So I think I will pack some arm warmers and a vest for the bike leg, just in case. Winds are forecasted to be in the 4-5mph range; fingers crossed that doesn’t change.
I’m going to watch my athletes race after racing in St. George 3x in the past 2 years. Just like everyone else’s insight, take my comments with a grain of salt because this is what has worked for me!
I will be heading to the swim start, but I know the kind of day I’m getting myself into (long) and am not worried about the shuttle on the return to downtown. The bike route change actually makes getting out of the swim start way better for the shuttles so I think we’ll be able to get out of there earlier than expected.
Your T1 bag will be taken care of, I promise. St. George volunteers are professionals. It seems like you’ll rack your T1 bag at your bike the night before (they may have vertical racks that you hang your bag on, which means you hang your bag in one spot, do 90% of T1 there and leave your bag, and then run to your bike, but that also may just be world championship routine) or you just have a normal T1 with your bag at your bike. In May '21, we left our T1 bag at our bike rack. Don’t forget to drop your run bag in T2 on Friday, too.
St. George is the desert, the morning will be cold (air). Bring layers for pre-race. The water will feel cold but it may be warmer than air temp. The sun feels very warm.
Snow Canyon descent is great, take care and control your bike appropriately. The wind can be a little spooky if it picks up.
There were a handful of ‘steep’ downhills in the golf course but really its a great run course.