For an Oly distance race what’s your rule of thumb on how far away it is to determine driving in that AM vs. going in the nite before ? With a 7 AM race start; at site you’ve been to before…
I have one simple rule. I do not wake up before 5 am. Ever.
I’d drive 3-4 hours for an oly but I’m a very frugal person.
I’d drive 2 hours max… any longer I’d drive down the night before.
good question, since i’ve mulled this over frequently, and done it both ways. by now i generally go for the morning drive if it’s not over about 2.5 hours. and i think that’s probably where i’ll keep it.
the reason for this is usually that it takes less total time. there’s way less traffic in the early morning, for one thing. and there’s no loss of time for packing overnight things, the whole food deal, settle in-check-out, and so on.
i’ve gone to this plan for an annual century ride in palm springs, primarily due to the friday traffic situation. coming home after the 100 miler can be an exercise in stay-awake techniques, but i usually make stops here and there, and don’t have anything planned for that night, so that it doesn’t matter when i get here.
peggy
I do not mind a 2hr drive as you gotta be up to eat anyhow,i am doing it this weekend for a race.
tfun~
I’d also say 2 hours is my cutoff. I’ve camped a few times nearby because I’m pretty cheap, and camping for a race can be fun.