Hey everyone,
I wanted to post a separate thread to personally thank Chip and the race crew for putting on what I think will be one of the premier HIM’s around the country in the near future. Race direction is a HELL of A LOT of work and to get even close to good in your first year, is very hard…especially if you have a technical and difficult course, as Rockman has. I would say that the race went great today. All of the complaints that I heard were minor.
I think that people should also realize that it takes a few years of success before a race organization can afford to have the extra’s at a race. You first have to get the necessities taken care of and then you can start to add things in.
Chip’s clown costume was STRAIT UP SAWEET…if you were racing today and read the run course markers, you get that one 
I would come again just to see that.
The park is beatiful and something that many missed out on was the camping on the far side of the lake. I believe is was very affordable(maybe free???) and there were not many bugs…this is what I heard. Very similar to Wildflower. The swim course seems dead on…only reason times were a bit slow was b/c of the weeds, which will be taken out next year. NOT race organization’s fault at all. The bike was also right at 56mi and the run was very close.
The race entry was only $100 this year. So there is no reason that anyone should complain about T-shirts, medals, etc. Many of the proceeds were donated to charity this year as well. I don’t think you can get that anywhere. For folks living in the midwest+, this race is something that you should add to your 2008 calendar.
I enjoyed getting to put a few faces with handles on this thread, tho i did miss the gathering. Next year I will get directions to Chip’s place ahead of time.
Congrat’s to everyone on their day! It was a tough one!
Blake Becker
Slowtwitch Smackdown Champion 2007 - Had to do it, I never talk smack…this was my opp.
www.blakebecker.com
