Need venue... let's try again

Triathlon Forum
1

I’m reposting my criteria below, this time with rules that will help me in my cause:

A) don’t post venues that ALMOST work. obviously, CDA and madison don’t work, so if you post one of these locales you’ve posted something i’ll read, but not be able to use.
B) don’t tri-newbie this thread. take private banter, cutesy jokes, etc., to another thread. this one is going to have a lot of traffic, so i’d like to keep these posts limited to the usable. post your proposed course, then don’t post again unless it’s another usable course.
C) don’t just list a town. be more specific. don’t post to this thread unless you’ve really got a COURSE in mind, a body of water, etc.

here are the criteria:

  1. clean, dependable (in september), clear, scenic body of water in which to swim.
  2. moderate, reliable weather in august or september (no possibility of hurricanes, for example).
  3. moderately challenging (hilly) bike course.
  4. assuming the money and the political will, the ability to entirely close roads or lanes.
  5. a large town or small city, perhaps 5,000 to 25,000, where the hotels, B&Bs, restaurants can serve 6000 athletes, sponsors, hangers-on, spectators (probably a resort town, one which has more hotels than would normally be expected for a town of its size).
  6. reasonably proximate to a decent sized airport. best is within 1hr from a big regional (sacto, raleigh, spokane) and 2hr from a major airport (SFO, LAX, chicago, st louis, dallas)–note: penticton doesn’t fit this model, so this is not necessarily a deal breaker.
  7. convenient from anywhere in U.S. (not necessarily central, but convenient–las vegas might be easier for a bostonian to get to than, say, indianapolis).
  8. the town should have a “village” atmosphere, small and cultural enough where athletes would run into each other constantly in cafes and on the streets for 3 or 4 consecutive days–like an old mining town: park city, telluride, nevada city, angel’s camp.
  9. it should be that town’s shoulder season, or low season. examples:
    –if it’s a summer resort, the race would be after labor day.
    –if it’s a college town, the race would be before labor day, that is, before “back to school.”
  10. it should not already have a big triathlon there.
  11. ideally should be no higher than 5000’ above sea level.
  12. no split transition, the swim and transition venue should be no more than 20 minutes drive from the town, the closer the better.
2

somebody mentioned Helen, GA. i love that town. that is perfect. but is there water? is there really a course there?

3

Canada, the US or elsewhere?

Please advise.

Fleck

4

The problem with Helen, Ga., as well as Raleigh, NC, is hurricanes. Look at what Ivan is dumping on Helen right now in September. Raleigh certainly isn’t immune, either. I’m hoping the Duke IronDevil will be hurricane free in mid-October! The Nor’easter’s sometimes give the area some nasty weather, too…but, that’s not usually until a little later in the year. FWIW, Helen is a really nice town…there HAS to be good water source there somewhere.

5

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?t=2&s=16&x=55&y=411&z=10&w=1
This is an area north of Wenatchee. About 2.5 hours drive from Seatac. In the past they’ve closed the Waterville grade for sport car club hill climbs. Hills, moderate to leg busting. Fall is usually the best time of the year. After Labor Day, and most Washington colleges and unversities start end of September first of October with the exception of WSU. Lake Entiat is fed by the Columbia, and very senic.

6

What distances are you looking for? Sprint, Oly, Half?

7

The Publix family weekend triathlon series was in Helen this year. They had to swim somewhere, I saw it on TV.

Clarifiaction questions for Slowman. How large is the race going to be? Does it have to be a tri? There are many places (like Boone, NC) that have small lakes that could handle a triathlon, but not a 5,000 person IM. Also, wouldn’t this be a perfect opportunity to have one of the destination duathlons you brought up?

8

And the bad news… there is a fairly crowded schedule!!!
http://www.trifind.net/nf/wa.html

10

You may be able to swim in the Unicoi State Park. There is a small body of water their about 1K in length.

11

I am going to throw out Clear Lake, CA again. 2 hours from Sacramento, 2.5 hours from SFO. Plenty of resorts, and September is slow. Lots of riding around there.

Specific course? Hmm… that will take some thought, but it would have to start in Kelseyville.

12

“canada? distance”

oly distance in the U.S.

13

I have an Ironman course possibility… (don’t laugh) Atlantic City, NJ.

The location has an abundance of hotel rooms, post labor day, is about an hour from Philadelphia International Airport, and is within 1 hour from Philadelphia, 2 hours from NYC, and 4 hours from DC. There is also an airport near Atlantic City which has limited service from Florida and Vegas. The city is not overly large and has plenty of hotel accomodations both inside and on the outskirts of the city. Not as much a destination type of venue as Lake Placid, but there are things to do there, including dining and casinos, and the city is undergoing a continuous revitalization. Usually cooler weather in September, after summer tourism slows down.

Swim course, Atlantic Ocean. There are ocean swim races, including for lifeguard competitions, held in Atlantic City, and if such a race is held in September, you would be able to get lifeguard support from the beach patrol. The only drawback, is that swim conditions can be affected by hurricane season, even down by Florida. There is a back bay, though, and it might be sheltered from such conditions.

Bike course could run up the White Horse Pike (South NJ and Philly ST’ers might know what I’m talking about), and most traffic could be rerouted to the Atlantic City Expressway. Probably connect up Rt. 9 in Absecon and then head out towards the quiet roads of Port Republic, Galloway, and Hammonton. A one lap course is very doable with the area. Not a hilly course by any means, but can get very windy in some areas.

Run course, can take place along Atlantic City boardwalk, and also down towards Ventnor, Margate, and Longport. Should be flat and fast. There is a marathon in Atlantic City in October, so definitely doable.

Other South Jersey shore towns could work similarly well, such as Wildwood or Cape May, but I don’t know as much about those places. About 45 minutes south of Atlantic City. Probably more conducive to a low traffic bike course, and more of a village atmosphere, but might not have as much accomodation options.

Edit - damn! Went to this whole thought process, then see Slowman respond it’s for Oly distance. Well, still could be done in this area, probably just route through a different bike course.

14

My suggestion is Pueblo, Colorado. The elevation is just under 5000 feet. Swim would be in Pueblo reservoir, plenty of hilly lightly used roads in the area for both the bike and run. Pueblo has numerous hotels and a nice downtown area. They have an airport, but not many air carriers serve them. Colorado Springs has a bigger airport within an hour and Denver is within 2 hours. Weather in late August/early September is usually warm to hot in the afternoon after a cool morning. I think it meets most, if not all of your criteria.

Don

15

All have lakes and tris there:

Lake Geneva, WI

Pleasant Prairie, WI

Lake Zurich, IL

Tom D, isnt there some nice venues on Lake Michigan in western MI?

St. Joe Michigan? Holland MI?

16

Hello,

Actually if you insist on an exact match of your criteria and an exact course you may not get many replies, but here goes:

Either of the courses near ann arbor michigan used for the Pizzaman and Waterloo tri. The run/bike would have to be modified to make 10k/40K, but could be done. Near Ann Arbor and very near Chelsea, Mi, which is a quant town with a few bigger hotels near the exit.

Near Brighton, Michigan (just outside of detroit) use Island lake and Kensington State parks They are about a 1/2 mile from each other and connected by a paved jogging path) . Both have many park roads two or three good lakes and paved running paths. Actually this might be ideal venue/closed course wise. Roadbike races have been run as well as numerous mountainbike and running races.

Neither of these are resort towns but both brighton and chelsie are quaint arty type places.

Muncie at the same venue as the spring endurathon.

Styrrell

17

I still say Lake Mission Viejo, CA is a great venue:

The lake may turn around that time (you never know).
California weather - no need to say more
L.A. Olympic bike course - the La Paz climb is on the edge of out-of-saddle, but area may be too built up. But, if they can close major blvds. for L.A. Tri, this isn’t insurmountable. Rest is rolling hills with non-technical turns.
Plenty of hotels nearby, but parking at site may be issue.
John Wayne Airport within 10-15 miles
Sorry, no real historical/quaint/village atmosphere
Pacific Coast Regional Tri is close and in Sept - a calender move due to a stupid ‘interrupts the summer vacation season’ local ruling.
a few hundred feet above sea level
one transition zone - sandy beach entrance/exit - parking lot or closed street transition.

Potential problems - city may turn deaf ear to concept as there used to be an event there. A car got on the course, hit a racer, racer sued promotors, city, et. al. City didn’t like to pay big money. USAT would have to assure city would be absolved of any burden from incidences such as this.

18

“I am going to throw out Clear Lake, CA again.”

i’ve thought of that. okay, so we have:

  1. clear lake, CA
  2. helen or thereabouts, GA

any more out there? yes helen’s a bit prone to hurricanes, which cancels out the entire southeast. however, the blue ridge is not as prone as, say, miami. so, let’s find the perfect blue ridge area oly tri course, and design me the clear lake course, 40k bike, road closures, etc.

and re the clear lake idea. any thought of berryessa or thereabouts? town of st. helena or calistoga as more/less race hdqts? is that any better?

colorado? durango too high? no water? too far to get to? what about pacific nw? anywhere else in WI? northern MI? vermont? southern maine? western sierras? san diego mts? bend, or? sun valley or ketchum, ID? find me courses, goddamit.

19

My suggestion would be the Hot Springs, Arkansas area. It meets every criteria you mention. A resort area with plenty rooms and between to hubs, Dallas and Memphis. Beautiful venue. Just did a tri at DeGray Lake, about 20 miles away, and it was great. The RD is the President of the SMW region, Fred Phillips of DLT Events.
If you go to a wetsuit venue, don’t you have the same argument cropping up about weak swimmer advantage?

Bob Sigerson

20

Lake of the Ozarks Mo.

big lake, lots of hotels, relatively hurricane proof. (although I don’t think any location East of the Mississippi River is totally hurricane proof) Sept. Oct. Time frame the place is pretty slow so I’m sure the locals would like to extend the season a little longer by getting 6000 folks in to feed and what not.

About 2.5 hours from St. Louis about 1.5 from KC

Ultramax was there two years ago, don’t know why they moved it away.

21

how about lake mead? too hot?