Signed up for the race today. Man, prices keep going up. Anyone else sign up yet?
Dave
I was thinking of it, have you done it before? Won’t be able to sign-up for anything till Friday.
I have done it 1.1 times. The first time I crashed a few miles into the bike, broke the collar bone, concussion, and the finish line with the hospital via ambulance.
Last year I finished!!! Great run race. Weather can be hot or real hot. Looking forward to seeing if I can improve me time. Was also a great place where I met a lot of ST folks.
Cathy, I assume you are doing next year?
Dave
Where do people stay?
Where do people stay?
Back in the days of the Olympic Distance Vineman, I would stay at a hostel in Pt. Reyes National Park, for $10/night. Fun and adventurous, but a little farther than I would like nowadays.
Chris
I have parked my motor home on the street at the swim start the last 2 years. Lots of parking for overnight free staying.
Dave
Is Santa Rosa too far, or are there accomodations in Guerneville etc. worth considering?
Santa Rosa is a good place to stay. It’s not too far to Guerneville for the swim start, and you’re close to the finish. The Vineman website has a link to recommended lodging for the race.
If all goes according to plan I’m doing the full Vineman in 2006, but I’m going to wait and see how the winter training goes. If things fall apart I may fall back and do the half Vineman. That’s one of the benefits of a nice quiet race like this- you don’t have to make a commitment almost a year in advance. I will be at one of these two races though.
Lots of folks do it. Is it like 45 minute drive?
Dave
With no traffic (like Sunday AM) you can make it to T2/finish line area in 10-15 minutes from Santa Rosa depending on where you are staying. Probably around 20-25 to Johnson’s Beach (T1).
Thanks for posting Dave … entry includes $10 GTG license … only went up $5
-High Temps avg low to mid 80’s, w/ cool mornings … we have been blessed the last two years
-I’d advise getting accomodations early and staying north of the Hwy 101/12 interchange - closer to Windsor the better … there is a new Holiday Inn express in Windsor that is well located. Plenty of reasonable places to stay if you are willing to research a little on your own. Guerneville even has some cool places (www.russianriver.com) Book early, always lots of stuff going on here.
-JK aslo mentioned places on the site to stay … as mentioned previous, many other places w/ better pricing/location too! … Fountaingrove Inn is well locate but i don’t know anything about the property
My best …
Dave, I thought you told me that the weather the last two years was the norm? :o)
At least I will not be the last swim wave which will help me in my battle to pass Cathy.
Dave
"Where do people stay? "
In my own bed - I love local races!
Santa Rosa is probably the most convenient, least expensive option. Stay away from hotels on Santa Rosa Ave. unless you are on a serious budget. Guerneville has a bunch of inns and bed and breakfasts that always fill up. Healdsburg, Windsor, etc. will all have hotel options, but there will probably be fewer of them, and they’ll be more expensive then in Santa Rosa proper. there are a bunch of campgrounds all along the russian river area - most of them are geared to a permanent crowd, but they might have spots open for weekend use.
come visit Sonoma County. bring your bike. stay a while.
J
Dave, I thought you told me that the weather the last two years was the norm? :o)
More often than not 
… actually 2003 & 4 were unreal, last year was pretty good but it got hot QUICK after the marine layer burned off!
Glad to have you back!
I’m probably in but not 100% certain yet. I’m thinking about combining with FINA Masters Worlds which are at Stanford the following week. Or maybe AlcaTRI - have they set the date for that yet?
Hi Dave!
Had fun hanging with you at Lake Degray this year…looks like there may be an Arkansas crew coming to do the full Vineman in '06! How soon should we be looking at making lodging reservations? Also, what’s the best airport to fly into? See you in '06.
Signed up for the race today. Man, prices keep going up. Anyone else sign up yet?
Dave
Doubt I will. Didn’t think all that much of the swim in that green river that left my stomach feeling gross for most of the bike. I’d think they could re-route it somehow and use the lake or something. River = yuck. Nicely run race otherwise, though.
Interesting, I had no issues.
Dave, have you heard of folks having issues in the swim. I assume it has to be better than NY?
Dave
Hey Dave … Russ can access water quality daily (available because of the resorts/beachs) and we must provide this data for sanctioning purposes. Water quality is actually quite good. Folks do training swima in the river weekly (especially on our Saturday swims) in the summer and have no problems.
Cheers …