I think about racing there in 2005. Has anyone an opinion about this race? Share it with us/me.
regards,
Frank
I was not there, but the general opinion of the 2004 iron distance course was that it was pretty bad. The bike was WAAAAAAAAY long, some of the roads were just crap and the wind was pretty brutal. Oh, and in their infinite wisdom, they changed the bike course during the race, so some people had to ride 6-8 miles longer than others… The two transition area thing was a pain, too. I also heard one complaint that there wasn’t enough food at the finish - which is odd, since J&A have a reputation for lots of post-race pizza. The on course drink was Amino Vital, which wasn’t readily available at the time, so locals couldn’t train on it. I did not hear any complaints about the run - it actually seems pretty scenic. I did hear that the aid stations were well stocked with a variety of fresh fruit, which is a nice change from just oranges…
Now, things look very different for 2005. They are moving to a single transition area, the most painful road has been repaved, and I doubt they will make the mistake with the over distance bike course again. The weather in October is also much less likely to be super windy, and should be quite a bit cooler. J&A has a great reputation, and I am pretty sure the problems with the 2004 race were just growing pains that sometimes happen with a first year race. I am looking at a late season Ironman to build my base for racing IMCDA in 2006, and I am pretty sure I will be toeing the line at Californiaman in October - unless I can take 75 minutes off my 1/2 Vineman time and qualify for Kona…
I would disagree with the “pretty bad” and the no food (maybe I’m the only late finisher who was offered food???), though this has all been hashed out previously in the forum.
My complaint is that they are putting the race on the same day as IMH. Not everyone who goes to Kona goes to race. I was thinking about doing Caliman again, but I’ll admit, I’d rather be drinking beer in Kona.
clm
“I was not there,”
This is where people should stop taking the thread seriously.
“but the general opinion of the 2004 iron distance course was that it was pretty bad.”
Generally speaking I’d beg to differ. While it had first year quirks I believe it was far from “pretty bad.” (Speaking from personal experience.) Was the course long? Yes (Better then to short). Was it windy? Hell yes!!! Since when did wind make a course bad? Were the roads rough? One section was rough but in my opinion it was not a “fast” stretch of road anyway. It was curvey and somewhat hilly.
I believe the run stations were better equipped then the IMNA run stations.
Amino Vital? I dont know about availability, but I dont care for the stuff.
Two Transitions? It didnt bother me.
Its been about 5 months since the inagrual race and 95% of my memories are sweet. Im bummed the bike was to long but that still doesnt change the fact I took the run out to hard. DAMN!!! If I could only have that moment back. Until 05…
PS - I think the Caliman…being $350 is not a great value vs. an IMNA event ($425).
it was my first iron distance but i thought it was great. i havent been doing tri’s long so i wasnt expecting as much. I had a massage after the race and some good food(then a happy meal on the way back to the room). The bike and run courses were closed so that was cool,the exra miles in the wind sucked. The downtown folsom location was cool but all the local food places closed early. i’d like to be back but after IMAZ im gonna take it easy for awhile and just do olympics and some mt biking but i would definetly go back, i thought the guys that put it together were way cool too.
I did the 1/2IM this year.
The things I liked:
The swim, the swim venue, the organization, the volunteers, the course, the temperature, and the t-shirts (one the best I’ve ever gotten!)
Things I didn’t like:
Very rough roads in places, very narrow trail for the bike in places, bike leg was too long, there was no food at the finish.
Things I didn’t mind:
two transitions.
Bottom line for me personally. The race has huge potential and the staff to make it happen, however, the bike course sucked in more ways than one. Supposedly that is being addressed in several ways. If so it would be a great race. Otherwise I would not do that race again on those roads. It was an insult to my disk and 404 to ride them on those roads.
I did the half and hope to be back next year for the full.
Swim, Very wide floating start. I didn’t realize how nice it was until the floating bar fight this year in CDA. They mentioned that they had moved the markers the day before the race to make sure the sun wouldn’t by in your eyes which was a nice touch. They are athletes as well as directors so I think they see it from the competitor’s point of view. The swim location will change this year but I hope the floating start remains the same.
Bike, A lot of out and backs and the wind was killer. There is a section where you go through a high security restricted area in the Jet Lab. There were no volunteers, spectators or race officials, just real serious guys in uniforms watching everybody through binoculars. Scott road was so bumpy that it looked like a yard sale for bike accessories. There were water bottles, tubes, and tires up and down the road. This is the section they repaved for next years race. The roads were totally closed so it was safer than most races I have been to. The volunteers were cool and if it wasn’t for the Amino Vital there wouldn’t have been any complaints. There were some issues with directing the ½ and full folks as we came off Scott road. The only thing that identified you was a colored wrist band so there was some confusion on which way to go. That was just a first year issue I am sure. I have to point out that I saw absolutely no drafting at this race. This is the only race I have ever been to where that was the true.
T2, They took your bike and gave you your run bag. Nice touch for a non IMNA race.
Run, Great run course, most of the time you could run on the soft shoulder and give your legs a break. Also very beautiful scenery. The aid stations were the best I have ever seen at any race, IMNA included. Ice, ice water, Amono Vital (big issues with this item), gels, giant fresh strawberries, peach and orange slices, bags of peanut M&M’s, pretzels, coke and chicken soup. Some looked more like a buffets than aid stations. The finish line was cool but nothing like an M Dot finish.
Post race was confusing because you had to get your bags that were delivered from the various transitions. Than you had to go get your bike that was a few miles away. The no food thing wasn’t a big deal to me.
I think that J&A will have the kinks worked out for next year and with one transition area most of the issues will go away. Overall I have to say it was a good race put on by good people that I will keep on my schedule.
Dave
I was a bit disappointed. They charged $400, the same as an IMNA event, and the event didn’t even come close to meeting IMNA standards.
No post race food whatsoever, bike was WAY too long, and there was no one at the run turnaround(I ran an extra mile before getting back on course)
Can’t really complain about the wind which was 30mph+ virtually the entire ride - can’t do anything about Mother Nature. BTW, you can pretty much always expect wind out there, though not always that bad.
I agree, the run aid stations were even better than at an IMNA event. The run course is very nice and very scenic.
For $250, I would have been satisfied. At $400, the race was lacking.
Oh yeah, thumbs down for Amino Vital and Scott Rd.
I did the half and had a great time. The swim was great. The water was really clear and perfect temp. The bike wasn’t to bad. The only section that really sucked was the out and back on Scott road and maybe the bike path in the first few miles. The run was great. The wind kept the temp down just enough. The volunteers were great and the aid stations were stocked with more than you could ever want. You didn’t need food at the finish with all the stuff they had on the course. All in all for a first time event I thought it was great and I will be back next year.
I just raced up in that area and it is beautiful country. However, the 2005 race is now $400 before Feb. 1, 425 before March 1 and $475!!! after June 1. That is a lot of cash. I was pondering the race as a first Ironman, but last weekend made me reconsider.
I did a half IM with only 68 starters and it is a lonely rode out there all by yourself. Two or three hundred people are spread pretty thin on an 140 miles of roads and water. For some that is a good thing, others not, but certainly something to consider.
Chad
Chad, those are the relay prices. The individual prices are $350 before Feb. 1, $375 Feb. 1 through May 31, $400 starting June 1.
True enough,
I looked at the race name and read right and down. Forgive me for posting bad gouge. $400 is still not to far behind the IM NA prices that give people pause. Well, actually they didn’t give about 10,000 people any pause for next year. Crazy.
Chad
The race had it’s bugs. I think JohnA has heard from me and others there that we had complaints. I had a lot of complaints on race day, but they’re fading and I have good memories of the day. Overall the race was a positive experience and I’ll be back, because I love J&A and I love Folsom.
I’m a long time fan of J&A, except they’re doing this thing now where they reserve 98% of the bike racks for the various tri teams, so those of us who like to show up super early for good racking get the leftovers, even at 4:30. That sucks, but then that didn’t apply at Cali, it’s just my bitch at what used to be my favorite race organizers…
Meanwhile, there was a trade off at Cali. I loved the three out and backs on the bike course, because I got to see all my friends three times on the bike and then again on the run. I liked how flat the course was. The wind blew something fierce, but I’d rather be blown than have to climb. One big complaint - the condition of Scott Rd was inappropriate for racing. I survived it, but a lot of folks not only flatted, quite a few tacoed. That’s just wrong. You shouldn’t pay $400 (±) and then have to potentially replace a wheel at $500 or more. At any rate, it’s been repaved.
The multiple transition deal sucked, but J&A handled it magnificently. IOW it was annoying but worked out just fine. I’ll be happier next year with a single transition, a properly measured bike course, and NOT having that stupid section of narrow bike trail at the very beginning. I saw a few crashes there.
There was food, but not as much nor as good as J&A usually offers.
For a first time event, I’d have to give it a 9 for organization and a 5 for the course. My only decision for next year is half or full. For a half, I’d rather do the Big Kahuna, but that’s too close to Sentinel, my biggest race every year.
If you’re thinking about it, then why not do it. It’ll close out your year in style.
Nah. It all comes down to the bike course for me, and this bike course suuuuuuuuuuucks. Swim’s probably going to be great, and the run course if lovely, but I would dread all 112 (or more) miles in all my training leading up to the race.
not to hijack, but when is the masters swim at Natomas?
I raced Californiaman last year. And second most of the complaints already mentioned.
Two transitions makes life a somewhat more difficult unless you have a supporter driving you around. If you did not have someone driving you. Life was difficult since other means of transportation were poor. In the end the confusion was the worst. First they announced buses from from t1 to t2 then recalled it later? Moving spectators at race start etc…A few glitches here and there. Stuff you do not need, but I guess they got it worked out.
The bike coerce sucked. Somewhat due to wind, but that does not excuse putting on the coerce on some stretches of not so well paved roads…Rather the opposite…And the best part about the bike leg being long, was that they bragged pre race about how they had GPS measured everything. I wonder…
The run was good, with good aid stations. Of coerce the amino vital stuff, but I guess they had no choice. In addition, I spoke to some volunteers after the race. And apparently they were not given any food or drink. They had to pay or bring their own? So I don’t think I would volunteer again if I were one of them. Hopefully someone will show up for 2005.
Oh, buy the way, who ate all the food at the finish. I did not see any. Not that I really wanted food at that point anyways.
All in all. They probably learned from their mistakes. And 2nd time over should be better. On a positive note. The race was way less crowded than what an some of the sold out IMs no are.
Look for another Open Water Swim at Lake Natoma in mid Sept '05 - 1.2 & 2.4mile. About a month prior to the Caliman!
I think about racing there in 2005. Has anyone an opinion about this race? Share it with us/me.
Frank, a second IM after Roth? I hope also to race in US on 15.Oct 05 
Felix
Felix,
from July 3rd to Oct 15th should be enough time to recover and train?
regards,
Frank