I’m thinking about signing up for the SOMA 1/2 and making the road trip but I can’t get myself to pull the trigger yet. Does anybody know when or if this race fills up? I’ll hate myself if I procrastinate too long and it fills up.
I’m wondering the same…when does it usually fill up?
You guys are safe. Did not fill up in the last two years but there are a lot of people talking about it so I would not wait too long. Hope things are going well Relax. I hope you come out and race. It would be good to see you and the wife again!!!
Make that 3 wondering the same.
From what I heard about last years race, the 1/4 sold out, but the 1/2 never did. Hope that’s the same this year, cause I haven’t entered yet!!!
-bcreager
4, still trying to decide. Had a bad ankle for most of the season, now that’s taken care of got achillies tendonites in the other trying to make up for lost time. Did my first race of the season last weekend and wasn’t sure how well I’d do in that based on the level of prep I’ve gotten in.
I did look into hotels though, the host hotel is not honoring the rate anymore and the courtyard where I stayed last year is jacking up the rates.
The Marriott is doing the same for Ironman too…it happened in Lake Placid as well. It’s junk because they know the race is going to fill their hotel, so they don’t do anything for the athletes anymore and hike the rates. There are other local hotels that are honoring discounts though.
The quarterman sold out already according the the participation list, but they’ve opened up 50 more spaces. The half has about 500-600 in it now http://www.redrockco.com/2005participants_000.htm
I have no idea of last years rates but I booked online and it was $15 dollars cheaper than over the phone. That is for the Courtyard Marriot.
Looks like they only added 50 slots for the quarter. Also looks like 500 registered for the half so far.
I last year the hotels were 99 per night with the athlete rate at Court yard. This year they were 139 for the same type of room. I wasn’t dissatisfied w/ that place but two things to consider. A train goes by about 3 times per night, so expect to hear that thing. Then someone set off the fire alarm in the hotel on the night before the race, and woke everyone up at 2 in the morning. Neither I can fault the hotel for but the train would have been nice to know about before staying there.
It’s a great location to the race but for 139 plus taxes I’ll commute a little.
Our room this year is $95 a night (two queen beds) at the Courtyard Marriot. Booked online as mantioned earlier.
I just signed up for the race, and booked my rooms. I got two rooms at amerisuites on Rio Salido PKWY for 99.00 Per. both rooms have 1 King w/ a pullout in the other room. My bike will like the pull out, doesn’t mind the bar in the middle.
Your bike will enjoy the pullout after the race for sure, but the night before the poor thing has to sleep outside in the transition area after check in. I hope I can get in the morning of to pump up my tires, they lose alot of pressure overnight. Plus I will have to warm that Ti up.
That wasn’t an issue last year, I’m sure you’ll be able to bring a pump in. It was chilly in the morning so bring a disposable long sleave t-shirt and some flip flops you can toss or hand off.
I noticed the bike course changed from a two loop out and back to three loops around the city, any idea why?
Thanks for the heads up on the morning weather, I did figure the water may be a bit chilly by then. As for the course I am not sure, but they did change the swim to be like the Ironman swim so who knows maybe they are trying different options.
Seriously, there will not be a probem, getting a room within 15 miles of the race. Usually races at Tempe Town Lake you just need to figure out which exits they are going to close and when if you are communting. Check to see if the Cardinals or ASU is in town. If ASU is, stay outside of Tempe as the town gets a little rowdy. Cardinals, well, visiting teams bring bigger crowds that the home teams. So, once again, you may want to stay outside of town. There is a Best Western that is right by the bridge going over and a lot of people forget about it being there. Believe me, a ton of hotels. PM me if any of you ‘out of towners’ need help.
Yeah, I noticed that as well. It seems that if you look at the ITU race, IMAZ and the half, the towns outside of tempe want none of the headaches associated with closing roads, rerouting traffic etc. They get some spillover benefit of having people visit them w/out the headaches. Of course I could be completely wrong.
I’m thinking about going but have not pulled th triggr yet - guess I better get on it - but this is a long trip from OH - trying to make a work trip out of this so it can go on the expense acct
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I’m coming from Chicago so I know what you mean, but it was worth it for me last year. I had a great time and the west coast contingent of my family could come see me to a race.
I think you’re right Brian. I know from IMAZ that the Indian Community was very upset with the bikes and Scottsdale have never let streets stay closed for that long. Tempe probably does get the most benefit from the races too. I rode the course yesterday and was in my bars for a long time most of the course, the turns weren’t bad, and very small amount of hills and it should be fun since it’s ASU’s homecoming Saturday, so maybe there will be some great spectating or college kids we’ll have to swerve around still laying on rio salado from the night before.
I just booked a suite-style room on-line at the SpringHill Suites (a Marriott hotel) on Rio Salado Pkwy for $89 with a AAA discount. It’s a 1/2mile from transition next to AmeriSuites.
Just to bump this back to the top. I believe the race is at least 600 strong at this point.
New email today:
The Quarterman Triathlon is sold out for the 2nd consecutive year! Because of the new bike course changes, we will be limiting the Half Ironman to 900 spots to keep the course from being conjested and allow athletes to have an enjoyable bike ride!