Another Vineman Take

Triathlon Forum
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Sorry for the delay, but we just returned yesterday from Santa Rosa to Phoenix and it appears as though I may have missed the post-Vineman rush. But I had to post this so that I could ask the Cali folks - HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT TRAFFIC??!!??!!??!!??

The race itself was great, though my time does not reflect a great effort on my part at almost 30 minutes slower than my PR. But Vineman is not Ralph’s and I had to take what the day and course gave me, and in the end I still had fun.

I liked the swim in the river, it was pleasant and there was not a lot of churning, at least in my wave (6:38). The return was much quicker than the out and I netted a 39:58 swim, which is about 3-4 minutes off for me. I did not think T1 was that bad, but man I was wishing for some arm warmers for the first 2 hours of the bike.

It was pretty cold while I was out there and I felt like I never really did warm-up at all. I was longing for a shell or at least some arm warmers and will be sure to carry them with me at all times from now on. Other than that I really liked the bike course and ultimately was glad when the sun did break through the clouds and warmed me up a bit towards the end. I ended up with a 2:51 which is about right for me on for a course like that, could have been a few minutes faster perhaps if would have been a bit warmer.

T2 was still pretty empty when I got there so I was able to hit the portojohn right away with no wait. I felt really good, or comfortable at least, for the first 7 miles of the run. But a missed calorie intake had a long lasting affect and I started to fall apart and saw my already slow pace of 10/mi slip further along to more like 11.5/mi. I am not a blazing fast runner to begin with, but it has always been tough for me since I have done 1:57 for a 1/2 but can’t seem to produce the same after a bike leg. I walked the hills and a lot of mile 12 of the run and felt pretty decent for the last mile but was very happy to see the finish line. I finished with a 6:13:xx that I am sure I will be able to improve upon for SOMA later this year. Anyone doing SOMA?

The logistics of a point to point race were a bit more daunting that I was prepared for. I will never again travel the day before a race - we woke at 3:15 on saturday morning to fly from Phoenix to Sacramento, a 1:45 flight. We did not stop/rest until after dinner around 8, this does not make for a restful day obviously. But I have to ask - what the hell is with the California traffic on the weekends??? It took us over three hours to get from SMF to Santa Rosa on saturday, and right about 2 hours from Santa Rosa to SMF yesterday morning. I just don’t understand.

I really enjoyed the race, the venue, and the area. I don’t think I will be back for a few years as the logistics of the race were just a bit tough with a young son and I can only imagine they would be more difficult with more kids. Sorry for the late post on the race, hope you can handle this one more thread, and I would be interested in hearing opinions about that traffic. I still can’t get over it… :slight_smile:

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Having grown up in the bay area I can tell you that specific area has always been bad. I think a two lane highway is the problem!!

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But I have to ask - what the hell is with the California traffic on the weekends??? It took us over three hours to get from SMF to Santa Rosa on saturday, and right about 2 hours from Santa Rosa to SMF yesterday morning. I just don’t understand.<<

You travel at times when you know it won’t be like that. Or, just deal. (SMF??? where is that?)

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The traffic in the area is always crazy like that. Only one line roads to get out. I know it took me an hour just to get to 80. Nothing but bumper to bumper.

Living up out of Auburn, Ca,. I am not at all used to that crazy trafic anymore! This is why I left on Sat at 8. Was no traffic going in and was nice to meet everyone there.

I would much rather have dealt with some cold. When the sun came out an hour into our bike, I knew we were in trouble.

Please, being in the last group, we got to have used water cups. Finding dirt at the bottom of a cup, oh well, for as many folks who race, the event was super!!

Dave

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I would agree about the two lane road, and I guess that my experience would not limit the traffic situation to just the Bay Area.

I have been to San Diego several times over the years. One year it took us 2:45 to get from Oceanside (Camp Pendleton) to San Diego - Point Loma. LA/OC seems to be plagued with the same traffic as is Santa Clara.

I guess when you live there you come to know and understand the traffic times and conditions and work around them.

Phoenix is fast becoming the same way with traffic and is often referred to as LA in the Desert.

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SMF is the airport code for Sacramento. The flight was cheaper from Phoenix to Sacramento and about the same mileage to Santa Rosa as either San Jose or San Francisco.

It was really just frustrating given that the race was the next day. I learned yet another lesson!

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Same two lane highway since the 1950’s. I think all the highway money goes to SoCal. I am still supporting splitting California into two states (north and south). You can have everything south of Modesto…whadya think!

They will be building a third lane from Highway 12 to Steel lane beginning next spring. They are doing it about 3 miles at a time to torment us!