I am trying to figure out my race schedule for next year, but most of the on-line calendars (including the Slowtwitch one) are pretty sparse for 2012. Plus, I haven’t found a site yet that lets me search by distance from my house. So I was wondering if any of you could help me determine what is out there. We have a second baby due in late June, so I want to try to get in a bunch of races before then.
What I care about:
Distance from my house - with a pregnant wife and a 20 month old at home, I am going to have to drive out race morning. I live in Torrance, so that pretty much rules out most of the San Diego / Santa Barbra races unless they are really worth getting up at 3 AM
Bike safety - I not confident in my bike handling when I am going all out in my aerobars. This means that I try to avoid things like sprint tris that have 3 loops on narrow one lane roads so that by the third loop I am passing people going 15 mph slower weaving all over the place and don’t know how to stay right. I’m looking at your Hermosa.
Price - The cheaper the better
On-road - I don’t have a MTB
Packet pick-up - weird to have as a primary consideration, but if I a race is over an hour away, I don’t want to have to drive down the day before just to get my timing chip and drive back.
What I don’t care about:
Distance - I slightly prefer longer, but will race anything
Spectacle - I don’t need anything fancy or a huge party. I’m there to race, not listen to music and eat fine foods. I could care less about shirts or medals.
These are the races that I have seen so far sort of listed in order of interest. Any feedback on them would be great.
Redondo Beach Sprint - June 10, .5 mi. swim/ 6 mi. bike/ 2 mi. run, $65 now (with code), $90 later. Little short even for a sprint, but cheap and close. I did this race last year and the bike course was fine.
**UC Irvine Sprint - ** Feb 11, 400 m swim/ 12 bike / 5k run, probably $75. Pool swim, new unknown bike course this year
**USC Tri – **cancelled for 2012
**UCLA tri - **no date yet, 400 m swim / 13.5 mi bike / 5k run, probably $75, Pool swim, split transitions, 4 loop bike
LA tri series #1 – April 15, 500?m swim / 24?k bike/ 5? mi run, $110 now/ $? later
LA tri series #2 – May 12, 1k swim / 26.1k bike / 8k run, $115 now / $? later
**LA tri series #3 **– June 9, 1k swim / 39k bike / 10k run, $120 now / $? later
**Race the Base Reverse – **Feb 25, 3.7 mi run, 13.1 mi bike / 200m swim, $70 now / $80 later, very short pool swim
**Pasadena Reverse **– March 10, 5k run / 15k bike / 150m swim, $85 now / $95 later, very short pool swim, 3 loop bike
**Strawberry Fields – **April 22, 1/3 mi swim / 14.5 mi bike / 5k run, $95 now, $110 later, a little far but a later start helps
Big Rock – April 14, 1.5k swim / 40k bike/ 10k run, $100 now / $? Later, 2 loop bike. I did this one, it was fun and low key, but a little far.
Superseal – March 18, 1.5k swim / 40k bike / 10k run, $130 now + $15 check in fee, too far away for me
Orange Country – May 20, 1.5 k swim / 40k bike / 10k run, $160 now / $180 later +$30 for race day packet pickup
Oceanside 70.3 – March 31, Soldout