St. Anthony’s triathlon is open for registration. This is a great early season event. It will be interesting to see how they prevent it from being a draft fest though. They added an extra 1000 athletes to an already packed, flat course.
Too bad they decided to up the field. I have heard 3000. Far too many racers if the course is not modified. I would have said “packed, flat, TIGHT, SOMEWHAT DANGEROUS course” - as the course has far too many tight turns (including acute angles) with both sides of the road carrying racers, and transitions onto cobblestones/bricks. I got lucky last year as my group went second, so was not riding a loaded course, but the turns back into the pack were a bit hairy. I’m likely taking a pass this year, much to the chagrin of my wife. She loves the venue. Any word, Art, if the bike course will be the same?
I very much doubt they would change it significantly, other than the moved transition area. The course maps are supposed to be posted in Janurary.
They always stick us old guys in the back of the pack. I guess I will get to pass hundreds more stragglers. At least they make me think I am moving up when I am actually falling back on the bike leg as usual.
The press release mentions working with the city to change the routes to eliminate bikes and runners being on the same roads, so my completely uneducated guess is that the run will go north, like in years past, but the bike will just go south from Vinoy, with no loop to the north, but maybe pushing a loop westward, and then coming back to join the old route.
I am friends with the race director and the course is going to change from the old course to accomodate additional athletes ,even the swim is changing. This is a great early season race in a beutiful town.I hope that people sign up soon because it will sell out quick and be a cool new race course.
Chig Martin
Softride Bikes
Sale and Marketing mngr
888-258-7303
Has anyone actually been able to register on thier site? I’ve tried a half dozen times and I do the whole damn thing, hit submit and it tells me to try again. Been trying all damn day.
Anyone get through?
SM
As of 2:00 PM today - over 1,100 athletes have signed up for the race. If this keeps up the race will be full in 2 days! Last year is took 6 days to fill up the 1,800 spots! Better sign up now! Z
I had my application rejected the same way when I was using Mozilla. I switched to Internet Explorer and it worked fine.
I couldn’t get the site to accept my application either, so gave up and downloaded the form and mailed yesterday. As did a couple of my friends. Now I read all your posts this morning, I’m worried about the damn thing filling up before our mail gets there. Especially as another friend was able to sign up fine at 6pm last night (and she’s going to be really pissed if I don’t get in, as I’m the one that got her to sign up :~)) I guess I just have to stew for a couple of days until my entry is confirmed. Aaaauuughh!!!
Cheers
Barry
I live not far from the race site (St. Pete, FL). I’ve done the race many times. And it’s a crowded race. This year they are taking it up to 3000 participants. OMFG! So, I’m out. It’s now become an issue of safety. Too many people for this venue. Some of my tri-friends are not going for the same reasons.
Last year on the bike I was going around people like a big fish goes through a school of bait. Yelling at the top of my lungs to stay on the right and hold your line (coming out of a turns). There were 3 people wide at times and you couldn’t pass. Plus, there’s lots of drafting going on, and I’m going to predict this year it there will be accidents due to the volume of bikers on the roads (unless they drastically change the bike and run course).
I feel they’ve sold out and are just looking to make as much money as possible – throwing safety out the window. I respect my body, bike, and others too much. I used to look forward to this event. Now I will go watch it for the amusement aspect. If you race it be very, very careful and know the course.
IMHO, if you have to slow down and wait to pass because there’s 3 across in the road ahead, that’s not racing. But hey, if you want to expose yourself to a really big event, go for it. Just be careful.
Hey, Z, where are they going to put 3000 of us? Is that really the cut-off number? If so, why the increase? I thought 1800 last year was pretty crowded, but doable. I’m worried now about that many people, many of whom, judging by last year, will be neophytes and first timers from T in T. Not to start that debate again…
Cheers
Barry
Barry - Steve has the increased covered with a new transition area in Vinoy Park. The area could hold up to 5,000 as it is much bigger then the field that Chicago uses. The bike course has also been changed to handle the increase in athletes. Should be a GREAT event. Z
Z,
It’s really the bike course, however much they may have changed it, that I think we’ll notice a certain amount of…ahem…congestion. I know the new transition area will be big enough. Still, I’ve always thought of the St A’s race as more of an adventure race, really - bumpy roads, cobblestones, sandy tight corners, big packs to get around or stay out of the way of. Shedding blood and swear words part of it :~)
Cheers
Barry
Well, glad to hear transition area is big enough. That was a major concern of mine. To heck with the drafting problem on a flat course with 3000 competitors. Gee, only 120 bikes per mile on the course, or one every 40 odd feet. I am sure I will have no problem dodging the TNT stragglers so long as the transition area is big enough.
I will be there and give them a chance, but I am making book that this will be a mess.
This should be an interesting race.